20/10/2023
BOOK REVIEW
This week's book review is by Sarah Anderson (thanks Sarah!).
THE KING'S SON by Darren Harris
This book, The King's Son by Darren Harris, is one I had in my library but never got around to reading, and I'm really glad I finally did.
It tells the story of Richard of Eastwell, a young boy who is looked after and brought up by a village priest and seems to know nothing about his family or where he came from. Life seems to be same old, same old. until he is rescued from some nasty pieces of work who regularly terrorise the village by a retinue of knights. The knights, led by Francis Lovell, take Richard to a field in Leicestershire where he meets King Richard III and finds out some amazing things that change his life.
The book is really enjoyable and covers the events after the Battle of Bosworth to just after the Battle of Stoke Field which I found interesting as I don't think I've read a novel about Richard III set in the aftermath of Bosworth. You can feel the innocence, sadness, anger and disbelief of Richard Eastwell as his life is turned upside down from joy to despair as he journeys with various characters who all help him, without question, due to the fact he carried a certain ring given to him by King Richard.
Historical characters and fictitious ones are cleverly interwoven together and the story tells of the unmovable loyalties some of these men held to the House of York, Francis Lovell chief among them. I've never read a bad word about this man, he sees to be the sort of person everyone would want on their side and my secret historical crush.
This book is the first part and Richard Eastwell's story will carry on into the Tudor reign. I can't wait to read the next instalment and part of me hopes Francis Lovell does make it from the River Trent and together with Richard Eastwell causes more trouble for Henry Tudor.