(The Plantagenet Legacy, Book 1)
By Mercedes Rochelle
Publisher: Sergeant Press
Page Length: 313 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Richard II found himself under siege not once, but twice in his minority. Crowned king at age ten, he was only fourteen when the Peasants' Revolt terrorized London. But he proved himself every bit the Plantagenet successor, facing Wat Tyler and the rebels when all seemed lost.
Alas, his triumph was short-lived, and for the next ten years he struggled to assert himself against his uncles and increasingly hostile nobles. Just like in the days of his great-grandfather Edward II, vengeful magnates strove to separate him from his friends and advisors, and even threatened to depose him if he refused to do their bidding.
The Lords Appellant, as they came to be known, purged the royal household with the help of the Merciless Parliament. They murdered his closest allies, leaving the King alone and defenseless.
He would never forget his humiliation at the hands of his subjects.
Richard's inability to protect his adherents would haunt him for the rest of his life, and he vowed that next time, retribution would be his.
A Five Star Read
As someone who enjoys historical fiction about the Plantagenets, I was very interested to read A King Under Siege. Richard II is a king I tend to associate with the troubles that came later in his reign, so I particularly enjoyed going back to his youth and seeing how some of those earlier experiences may have shaped him.
One of the things I liked most was that Richard isn't portrayed as either a hero or a villain. He can be courageous and thoughtful, but he can also be impulsive, proud and spectacularly bad at accepting criticism. It made him feel very human. I often understood why he was angry even when I thought he was handling the situation in completely the wrong way.
The relationships surrounding Richard are equally interesting. His friendship with Robert de Vere becomes increasingly complicated, while Simon Burley provides a much steadier influence. I also loved Anne of Bohemia. Her relationship with Richard is affectionate and supportive, and some of their quieter scenes together were among my favourites in the novel.
There is plenty here for readers who enjoy the political side of historical fiction. Parliament, powerful nobles and Richard's own relatives are all struggling over how much authority the young king should actually possess. As those tensions increase, the title A King Under Siege begins to feel particularly appropriate.
This was a fascinating introduction to The Plantagenet Legacy. By the end, Richard is no longer the fourteen-year-old boy we met during the Peasants' Revolt, and I am very interested to see where his story goes next.
A five-star read from me. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mercedes Rochelle
Born in St. Louis, MO, with a degree from University of Missouri, Mercedes Rochelle learned about living history as a re-enactor and has been enamored with historical fiction ever since. A move to New York to do research and two careers ensued, but writing fiction remains her primary vocation. She lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.
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