Book Look: ‘Princess of Thorns’ by Saga Hillbom
Mary Knab
Idyllwild-area resident
I am obsessed with all things written about the Middle Ages in England. I have probably read most of the novels written about the famed War of the Roses. I read both fiction and nonfiction about this time in world history. So, when a new novel appears in my Kindle recommendations, I am always pleased.
This novel begins in 1482 and the story is told from the point of view of Cecily of York, daughter of King Edward IV, King of England and Lord of Ireland. Cecily is one of 10 children born to her father and his wife Elizabeth Woodville, seven of whom survived. She had two brothers, Edward and Richard, an heir and a spare.
The novel begins with Cecily at age 2, playing on her Uncle Richard’s lap. He holds a special place in his heart for Cecily. The story continues as told from child Cecily’s perceptions. It is a fresh perspective on the oft-told tale.
Hillbom’s descriptions of the court and the characters are spot on and she drew me into the dazzling balls, the ornate gowns and the decadent food. Even more skillfully she developed the characters well.
The intrigue at the court was thick and perpetual. Cecily and her family had to change sides and pledge allegiance with alarming regularity. Cecily’s mother, Elizabeth Woodville, never gave up plotting an overthrow of the king, Richard III, Cecily’s beloved uncle. Cecily learns this intrigue at the knee of her mother and continues it into adulthood.
Richard imprisons Cecily’s young brothers in the Tower of London and they are never seen again. They were the biggest threat to his hold on the crown.
Cecily asks her uncle at one point if he killed the boys and he tells her they are dead but killed by an overzealous underling. Because of her deep love for her uncle, she believes him. The mystery of the princes in the tower remains unsolved to this day.
Cecily endures the death of her uncle at the hands of the next king, Henry Tudor, Henry the VII. She endures tragedies that most of us could not survive and in the end, she is finally rewarded with love anonymity away from the court.
The story is well written, superbly researched and told from a fresh point of view. Saga Hillbom is the author of three other historical novel: “City of Bronze, City of Silver,” “Today Dauphine Tomorrow Nothing” and a “Generation of Poppies.” I have already added them to my library.
