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The Oxenbridge King
Tender, lyrical, surprising, and magical - think Sarah Winman with a dash of Neil Gaiman - The Oxenbridge King is a delight, a true original.
Imagine, if you the lost soul of King Richard III; a talking raven; a lost, lonely angel; and Molly Stern - heartbroken, grieving, a bit stroppy and definitely not feeling herself.
When the worlds of the lost soul of a King and the angel sent to collect him collide messily with the 21st century world of Molly Stern, anything can happen. Hilary Mantel meets Sarah Winman, with a dash of Neil The Oxenbridge King is endearing, quirky, tender, lyrical and magical - and entirely original.
The lost soul of Richard III is trapped in the afterlife, below the last Abbey he visited while alive. Though his soul has been between worlds for hundreds of years, up in the real world, it's 2012 and Molly Stern has a broken heart from losing her father and a recent breakup. Leaving London, Molly goes home to seek solace from her Aunt Peggy and Uncle Frank in Oxenbridge, but there are strange noises in the basement of her childhood house, and Peggy and Frank seem to have domestic troubles of their own, and nothing feels right. When the soul of Richard III is startled from the Abbey catacombs and the angel sent to collect him goes missing in action, all their worlds messily and unexpectedly collide, with surprising and definitely unexpected consequences.
Inspired by the discovery of the bones of Richard III found buried underneath a car park in the UK, award-winning poet Christine Paice has fashioned a beautiful, singular, warm and funny novel that weaves in and out of time and space and possibility. The Oxenbridge King is a love story, a meditation on what survives of us when we're gone, and how, in the end, love and family is everything.
Imagine, if you the lost soul of King Richard III; a talking raven; a lost, lonely angel; and Molly Stern - heartbroken, grieving, a bit stroppy and definitely not feeling herself.
When the worlds of the lost soul of a King and the angel sent to collect him collide messily with the 21st century world of Molly Stern, anything can happen. Hilary Mantel meets Sarah Winman, with a dash of Neil The Oxenbridge King is endearing, quirky, tender, lyrical and magical - and entirely original.
The lost soul of Richard III is trapped in the afterlife, below the last Abbey he visited while alive. Though his soul has been between worlds for hundreds of years, up in the real world, it's 2012 and Molly Stern has a broken heart from losing her father and a recent breakup. Leaving London, Molly goes home to seek solace from her Aunt Peggy and Uncle Frank in Oxenbridge, but there are strange noises in the basement of her childhood house, and Peggy and Frank seem to have domestic troubles of their own, and nothing feels right. When the soul of Richard III is startled from the Abbey catacombs and the angel sent to collect him goes missing in action, all their worlds messily and unexpectedly collide, with surprising and definitely unexpected consequences.
Inspired by the discovery of the bones of Richard III found buried underneath a car park in the UK, award-winning poet Christine Paice has fashioned a beautiful, singular, warm and funny novel that weaves in and out of time and space and possibility. The Oxenbridge King is a love story, a meditation on what survives of us when we're gone, and how, in the end, love and family is everything.
352 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2024
23 people are currently reading
339 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
March 27, 2025
Definitely a contender for 2025’s quirkiest book, ‘The Oxenbridge King’ is breathtakingly original in premise and underpinned with whimsy and beautifully fluid writing.
Deeply moving, funny, enchanting; this is much closer to Susannah Clarke and Peter S. Beagle territory than that of Gaiman, Pullman, Mantel or Winman. Highly recommended.
Deeply moving, funny, enchanting; this is much closer to Susannah Clarke and Peter S. Beagle territory than that of Gaiman, Pullman, Mantel or Winman. Highly recommended.
April 25, 2025
This was… something.
I wanted to dnf this within the first two chapters, pushed on and was enraptured. This varied from two stars to fours and this makes it a frustrating book to review and rate.
I don’t even know how to describe the plot to you because it is utterly unique.
We have King Richard III wandering around, unable to move on with Raven (name and animal), as his sarcastic, annoying guide. Who, for some reason , refers to everyone as ‘mate’ and has a cockney accent.
Then we jump hundreds of years to 2013 to people who are all grieving and lost and struggling in their own ways.
Paice’s writing style is unique and you can tell that she is an acclaimed poet.
These are the most important things in the world, everyday gestures of love and belonging, because without them, nothing else makes sense. Out of anyone in the world you have chosen this person to stay with, to put up with all their irritating ways. Love is an arm around the shoulder and endless cups of tea. Love is a button sewn back on a cardigan, a meal at the end of a day, a phone call to say hello for no reason. Love is the strongest thread of all, even if you don't recognise it, or become exasperated by it, or a litany of endless desires gets in the way.
There is a running stream of conscious, an inner monologue that is very raw and honest and poignant.
Every character is distinct and both hard to like and easy to love.
She's read enough Philippa Gregory books (one) to see how ancient kings and queens could serve up death to loved ones who betrayed them, like a retaliation for the hurt. Betrayal is a punch in the guts, a cramp in the belly, an ache in the softest parts of yourself.
This is definitely a book cultivated for UK readers. There are so many references and history and relevance that made me feel right at home.
One of the reasons I almost stopped reading within the first few pages:
He's shuddering and moaning, there's a wet patch on his robes, and, very soon after that, beneath the ecstasy, his cock softens like a fat little worm.
Physical arc gifted by Publisher.
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I wanted to dnf this within the first two chapters, pushed on and was enraptured. This varied from two stars to fours and this makes it a frustrating book to review and rate.
I don’t even know how to describe the plot to you because it is utterly unique.
We have King Richard III wandering around, unable to move on with Raven (name and animal), as his sarcastic, annoying guide. Who, for some reason , refers to everyone as ‘mate’ and has a cockney accent.
Then we jump hundreds of years to 2013 to people who are all grieving and lost and struggling in their own ways.
Paice’s writing style is unique and you can tell that she is an acclaimed poet.
These are the most important things in the world, everyday gestures of love and belonging, because without them, nothing else makes sense. Out of anyone in the world you have chosen this person to stay with, to put up with all their irritating ways. Love is an arm around the shoulder and endless cups of tea. Love is a button sewn back on a cardigan, a meal at the end of a day, a phone call to say hello for no reason. Love is the strongest thread of all, even if you don't recognise it, or become exasperated by it, or a litany of endless desires gets in the way.
There is a running stream of conscious, an inner monologue that is very raw and honest and poignant.
Every character is distinct and both hard to like and easy to love.
She's read enough Philippa Gregory books (one) to see how ancient kings and queens could serve up death to loved ones who betrayed them, like a retaliation for the hurt. Betrayal is a punch in the guts, a cramp in the belly, an ache in the softest parts of yourself.
This is definitely a book cultivated for UK readers. There are so many references and history and relevance that made me feel right at home.
One of the reasons I almost stopped reading within the first few pages:
He's shuddering and moaning, there's a wet patch on his robes, and, very soon after that, beneath the ecstasy, his cock softens like a fat little worm.
Physical arc gifted by Publisher.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
August 11, 2024
Let me be honest from the outset. I am on a bit of a King Richard III binge. Ever since finishing Annie Garthwaite’s novels I have become obsessed with learning more about this King - the last English king to lose his life in battle. Annie portrayed Richard in such a modest way that would make many historians fire up in opposition - especially Shakespeare and his damning play.Therefore when this intriguing book came up promising an engaging spin - I was in!
‘The king with a crown that didn't belong to him, but all kings had blood on their hands. That's how they stayed king.’
The Oxenbridge King is such a unique and extremely satisfying read and, I promise, no prior knowledge on Richard III is necessary - but it certainly does increase the enjoyment. Inspired by the actual discovery of Richard III’s bones this book is a fantastical journey if you allow yourself to swim with the tide. With Richard’s soul trapped he is reliant upon a talking Raven (his link between heaven and earth) to become free and ascend to the afterlife. Yet, Richard is a very, very minor player in this tale.
‘Life happens, we're all caught and tugged by desires we claim not to know anything about.’
This is a tale of the contemporary characters and it is warm and funny, full of love and forgiveness in this life. No major events here except how souls can become lost when on earth and learning about the things that give us direction and make us feel love, getting us back on the right path. At first I thought,’this is a bit weird’ but then I just went with it and found it truly delightful.
‘… maybe one day we'll discover the great villain of history isn't so bad after all.'
If you are looking for something that is left of centre, a retelling from a different direction with a touch of magic then look no further. As the blurb promises, Oxenbridge King is ‘tender, lyrical, surprising, and magical - think Sarah Winman with a dash of Neil Gaiman’.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
‘The king with a crown that didn't belong to him, but all kings had blood on their hands. That's how they stayed king.’
The Oxenbridge King is such a unique and extremely satisfying read and, I promise, no prior knowledge on Richard III is necessary - but it certainly does increase the enjoyment. Inspired by the actual discovery of Richard III’s bones this book is a fantastical journey if you allow yourself to swim with the tide. With Richard’s soul trapped he is reliant upon a talking Raven (his link between heaven and earth) to become free and ascend to the afterlife. Yet, Richard is a very, very minor player in this tale.
‘Life happens, we're all caught and tugged by desires we claim not to know anything about.’
This is a tale of the contemporary characters and it is warm and funny, full of love and forgiveness in this life. No major events here except how souls can become lost when on earth and learning about the things that give us direction and make us feel love, getting us back on the right path. At first I thought,’this is a bit weird’ but then I just went with it and found it truly delightful.
‘… maybe one day we'll discover the great villain of history isn't so bad after all.'
If you are looking for something that is left of centre, a retelling from a different direction with a touch of magic then look no further. As the blurb promises, Oxenbridge King is ‘tender, lyrical, surprising, and magical - think Sarah Winman with a dash of Neil Gaiman’.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
August 4, 2024
This is a very English book. Those of us in the boomer generation will recognise characters like Frank and Peggy from the TV shows we watched as children. It's also a nostalgic book. It's set in 2012 (the year Richard III's remains were discovered) but it feels as though it's set a generation earlier. This may make it a bit hard for younger readers and the 99% of the world that isn't English to relate to the book.
It's a "feel good" book. Everyone in the book is basically nice, even the much maligned Richard III, and it has a happy ending. It's entirely character driven and there isn't much plot, so you won't enjoy it unless you can relate to the characters. I loved it, though I did find myself wishing the characters would snap out of it and stop feeling so sorry for themselves.
I'm not sure I can unreservedly recommend this as I suspect a lot of readers will find it mystifying and possibly tedious, but for those of us who like this sort of book it's a real treat!
It's a "feel good" book. Everyone in the book is basically nice, even the much maligned Richard III, and it has a happy ending. It's entirely character driven and there isn't much plot, so you won't enjoy it unless you can relate to the characters. I loved it, though I did find myself wishing the characters would snap out of it and stop feeling so sorry for themselves.
I'm not sure I can unreservedly recommend this as I suspect a lot of readers will find it mystifying and possibly tedious, but for those of us who like this sort of book it's a real treat!
July 31, 2024
This book was outside of my usual genre and the writing style is somewhat poetic.
I wasn't sure what to think at the start but after the first few chapters I found myself really getting into it and wanting more!
I really liked the characters, especially the talking raven, who is a conduit between heaven and earth. (He is such a character!) The story follows King Richard the third and his trek through to the afterlife, where his world collides with those of the present day.
This book was unlike anything I have ever read but I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I wasn't sure what to think at the start but after the first few chapters I found myself really getting into it and wanting more!
I really liked the characters, especially the talking raven, who is a conduit between heaven and earth. (He is such a character!) The story follows King Richard the third and his trek through to the afterlife, where his world collides with those of the present day.
This book was unlike anything I have ever read but I thoroughly enjoyed it!
September 26, 2024
A strange book, beautifully written. Perhaps not for everyone, but certainly for me.
The Oxenbridge King by Christine Paice is an intricate interweaving of historical fiction with the 21st century that deals with life’s big certainties, love, death, grief, truth, and family. In the beginning, the book follows a young man named Deadalus, a monk at the Abbey of Stern in the late 15th century during the end of the reign of King Richard III before his defeat at the battle of Bosworth. The narrative follows Daedalus in his heartbreak over the death of his king, and the soul of Richard, stuck in ‘Threadbare’, unable and unwilling to pass to heaven with the guilt and the grief of his choices on his shoulders. Then, we have Molly Stern, the Trembles, and Edward Farraday living in Oxenbridge in 2013, navigating life and loss in the 21st century.
Before battle with your beloved, fortify the body with toast and Marmite.
The story was inspired by the discovery of the bones of Richard III in 2012 under a car park in Leicester, and while the reinterment of the remains certainly does have its place in the book, Richard III acts as this tenuous link between all of our characters, playing a different role in the lives of each of them. You don’t need to know anything about Richard III or English history to enjoy and appreciate all this story has to offer. The narrative is very character driven, which will not be for everyone, but it certainly was for me. Without a doubt, it’s a weird, strange tale full of human emotion, and the best way to enjoy it is to let the story unravel in front of you, because it will all make sense in the end.
They take notice of him without knowing why. His body at peace with all the contradictions it inhabits. Confidence does that. Confidence in purpose, in the corridor of knowing between the outside and inside.
Raven (yes, an actual raven) was undoubtedly my favourite character in this book, and the sheer ingenuity behind the story is a wonder to read. From reading this, I would like to read more of Paice’s work because her prose is enchanting. The seamless transitions between character perspectives gives the narration an intimate quality that allows the reader a front row into the lives of these delightfully English characters. These characters, their thought processes and interactions felt so real, whilst the entire story had a completely unreal, dreamlike quality. A lovely, strange book that I enjoyed immensely!
“Out of all the souls on the battlefield, this one truly believed he was good. So I shows him, in his great and stumbling afterlife, he’s both good king and bad king. It’s a balancing thing.
The Oxenbridge King by Christine Paice is an intricate interweaving of historical fiction with the 21st century that deals with life’s big certainties, love, death, grief, truth, and family. In the beginning, the book follows a young man named Deadalus, a monk at the Abbey of Stern in the late 15th century during the end of the reign of King Richard III before his defeat at the battle of Bosworth. The narrative follows Daedalus in his heartbreak over the death of his king, and the soul of Richard, stuck in ‘Threadbare’, unable and unwilling to pass to heaven with the guilt and the grief of his choices on his shoulders. Then, we have Molly Stern, the Trembles, and Edward Farraday living in Oxenbridge in 2013, navigating life and loss in the 21st century.
Before battle with your beloved, fortify the body with toast and Marmite.
The story was inspired by the discovery of the bones of Richard III in 2012 under a car park in Leicester, and while the reinterment of the remains certainly does have its place in the book, Richard III acts as this tenuous link between all of our characters, playing a different role in the lives of each of them. You don’t need to know anything about Richard III or English history to enjoy and appreciate all this story has to offer. The narrative is very character driven, which will not be for everyone, but it certainly was for me. Without a doubt, it’s a weird, strange tale full of human emotion, and the best way to enjoy it is to let the story unravel in front of you, because it will all make sense in the end.
They take notice of him without knowing why. His body at peace with all the contradictions it inhabits. Confidence does that. Confidence in purpose, in the corridor of knowing between the outside and inside.
Raven (yes, an actual raven) was undoubtedly my favourite character in this book, and the sheer ingenuity behind the story is a wonder to read. From reading this, I would like to read more of Paice’s work because her prose is enchanting. The seamless transitions between character perspectives gives the narration an intimate quality that allows the reader a front row into the lives of these delightfully English characters. These characters, their thought processes and interactions felt so real, whilst the entire story had a completely unreal, dreamlike quality. A lovely, strange book that I enjoyed immensely!
“Out of all the souls on the battlefield, this one truly believed he was good. So I shows him, in his great and stumbling afterlife, he’s both good king and bad king. It’s a balancing thing.
July 10, 2025
The Oxenbridge King is one of those rare books that feels impossible to summarize—and that’s half the magic. Christine Paice weaves a lyrical, oddball tapestry of grief, history, the afterlife, and absurdity, blending it all together with the kind of poetic writing you’d expect from an award-winning poet.
At its core, the story follows the lost soul of King Richard III, wandering through the afterlife centuries after his death, unable to ascend. His only companion? A sarcastic, Cockney-accented, talking raven who calls everyone “mate” and steals every scene he’s in. The pair’s strange, purgatorial limbo collides with the very-much-living Molly Stern, who returns to her childhood home in Oxenbridge grieving both the loss of her father and a failed relationship. And from there… well, things only get weirder.
The plot is difficult to describe—it’s part historical fantasy, part existential musing, and part absurdist comedy. There’s no clean structure, no traditional pacing, and honestly, Richard III ends up being more of a background character than you'd expect. But if you surrender to the flow of it, The Oxenbridge King rewards you with moments of deep beauty, wit, and emotional resonance.
Paice’s writing is what truly shines here: tender, sharp, and poetic. The story moves between time and space with grace and strangeness, creating an atmosphere that feels both grounded and otherworldly.
That said, this won’t be for everyone. The book leans hard into the whimsical and philosophical, and if you need a tidy plot or likable characters to stay engaged, you might struggle. Molly, in particular, is a deeply frustrating character—petulant, self-absorbed, and hard to love. But oddly enough, that felt intentional and fitting within the book’s tone.
For readers willing to let go of convention and embrace something different, The Oxenbridge King is a treasure: weird, moving, and unlike anything else.
At its core, the story follows the lost soul of King Richard III, wandering through the afterlife centuries after his death, unable to ascend. His only companion? A sarcastic, Cockney-accented, talking raven who calls everyone “mate” and steals every scene he’s in. The pair’s strange, purgatorial limbo collides with the very-much-living Molly Stern, who returns to her childhood home in Oxenbridge grieving both the loss of her father and a failed relationship. And from there… well, things only get weirder.
The plot is difficult to describe—it’s part historical fantasy, part existential musing, and part absurdist comedy. There’s no clean structure, no traditional pacing, and honestly, Richard III ends up being more of a background character than you'd expect. But if you surrender to the flow of it, The Oxenbridge King rewards you with moments of deep beauty, wit, and emotional resonance.
Paice’s writing is what truly shines here: tender, sharp, and poetic. The story moves between time and space with grace and strangeness, creating an atmosphere that feels both grounded and otherworldly.
That said, this won’t be for everyone. The book leans hard into the whimsical and philosophical, and if you need a tidy plot or likable characters to stay engaged, you might struggle. Molly, in particular, is a deeply frustrating character—petulant, self-absorbed, and hard to love. But oddly enough, that felt intentional and fitting within the book’s tone.
For readers willing to let go of convention and embrace something different, The Oxenbridge King is a treasure: weird, moving, and unlike anything else.
July 28, 2024
This story made my “i did 3 English literature papers at university” self very happy. A very unique story - or what I like to call ‘fact fiction’ - about the death of King Richard the Third and his attempt to go into the afterlife. This spooky/gothic and often comedic story is full of history, religion and adventure. The importance of family and love play a key role in the success of the book. With poetic writing that brings life to its pages, readers are left captivated by the beautiful images being portrayed in their minds. The talking raven gets a special mention. I wish I could siphon some of his patience and optimism into my being as he seemed to have it in spades!
Best read on a cold rainy day with a cup of tea and some biscuits this book will suit those who are looking for something a little bit different and enjoy history retellings with a splash of magic.
(Recipient of an ARC these are my true and unbiased opinions)
Best read on a cold rainy day with a cup of tea and some biscuits this book will suit those who are looking for something a little bit different and enjoy history retellings with a splash of magic.
(Recipient of an ARC these are my true and unbiased opinions)
August 22, 2024
This is book is unique and totally different to anything I have read before.
A king killed in battle. A monk who is really an Angel. A Raven who guides souls to the underworld. Hidden underground tunnels and a modern day discovery. A mix of history and mystery. I particularly loved the ghostly aspect to the story and the journey from mortal life into the afterlife. The debate as to whether a soul can be good and bad, not particularly a religious story but certainly spiritual. A wonderful mix of factual information about King Richard and the discovery of his bones and the fictional modern day story of Molly and her family, Molly now lives in the Abbey where King Richard last visited before his death. This book is very different but frankly I couldn’t put it down. The sensitive nature in which it deals with aspects of life and death keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end. Highly recommend, a wonderful read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A king killed in battle. A monk who is really an Angel. A Raven who guides souls to the underworld. Hidden underground tunnels and a modern day discovery. A mix of history and mystery. I particularly loved the ghostly aspect to the story and the journey from mortal life into the afterlife. The debate as to whether a soul can be good and bad, not particularly a religious story but certainly spiritual. A wonderful mix of factual information about King Richard and the discovery of his bones and the fictional modern day story of Molly and her family, Molly now lives in the Abbey where King Richard last visited before his death. This book is very different but frankly I couldn’t put it down. The sensitive nature in which it deals with aspects of life and death keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end. Highly recommend, a wonderful read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 8, 2024
In sad news, this one ended up being a #DNF for me! Now on paper this sounded like such an interesting read, the lost spirit of king Richard the third is trapped under the old abbey where current grieving Molly Stern lives, so original, so fun buuuut sadly it just wasn’t for me and I think perhaps I just wasn’t the right audience for it. It has a lot of British culture in it that I just didn’t connect so much to being a NZ gal, and I think a lot of the references just went straight over my head 🤷♀️ oh well, definitely still recommend checking this one out if it sounds like a bit of you because I think I’m in the minority here!
January 21, 2025
An original writing style unwraps the mystery of Richard the Third. His recently discovered burial in a car park has reignited his story and the accompanying mystery of the princes in the Tower. Enter an entourage of engaging characters to tell this story over time and space. Richard himself and his soul searching alter ego, Ricardo. Raven, the keeper of souls. Daedalus, the once devout monk who is reborn as an angel. And in the present town of Oxenbridge the current descendants, Frank and Peggy Tremble, Molly Stern (of Stern Abbey fame) and Edward Faraday. Set in both past and present Oxenbridge, the wholly believable story unfolds gloriously.
September 18, 2024
(3.5 stars)
The writing style was very unique, not like something I’ve seen before. It was slow to start up, with good scenes that seemed unrelated, but once it got going it all began to link together and go really well.
The characters were all so deep and well written and developed, with interesting backstories that made them feel almost lifelike.
The plot was interesting, unlike anything I’ve seen so far. I also loved the multiple timelines.
The writing style was very unique, not like something I’ve seen before. It was slow to start up, with good scenes that seemed unrelated, but once it got going it all began to link together and go really well.
The characters were all so deep and well written and developed, with interesting backstories that made them feel almost lifelike.
The plot was interesting, unlike anything I’ve seen so far. I also loved the multiple timelines.
November 5, 2024
I don’t know where to start when it comes to describing this story as it feels truly original. Paice has expertly woven together several genres to create a story that dips between historical fiction and magical realism.
Several perspectives are introduced throughout, but personally I liked Raven the most. A unique story that, at its heart, is about grief and the people that death leaves behind.
Thanks so much to HarperCollins NZ for gifting me this vibrant proof to review.
Several perspectives are introduced throughout, but personally I liked Raven the most. A unique story that, at its heart, is about grief and the people that death leaves behind.
Thanks so much to HarperCollins NZ for gifting me this vibrant proof to review.
August 19, 2024
It took me a few chapters to get into the story although I loved Christine Paice’s writing style. Despite what I found to be a slow start, it unfolded to be a beautifully crafted tale full of rich and fun characters, the type of book you really don’t want to end, which isn’t what I would have thought at the beginning. I’m pleased I persevered.
August 29, 2024
I really appreciated the poetic style of writing. It was dreamy and spiritual and I love Raven very much. He rang completely true to my experience of Raven. It was a very unique book, about a topic, and in a style I have never read before.
July 3, 2024
A lot to absorb and consider. Love the raven.
September 2, 2024
I found this book by random whilst browsing on Libby and wowowow.
I loved the premise, I loved the characters, and I loved the spooky part of it entwined throughout.
I loved the premise, I loved the characters, and I loved the spooky part of it entwined throughout.
November 2, 2024
Very well written, I just didn’t fall in love with the story or feel that connected to the characters.
Read
November 6, 2024DNF pg. 135
December 30, 2024
Actual rating 3.5 🌟
January 4, 2025
I adored this book. Loved all the characters, the angel, 'the ghost' of King Richard III, THE raven. Gave the book a hug when I finished
January 19, 2025
It was an interesting story but was a bit too philosophical for my liking.
January 21, 2025
3.5 stars. Clever mix of historical fiction and characters at different points in time. Very English book. Enjoyable read.
Read
January 24, 2025wonderful
May 4, 2025
not really what I was expecting and struggled with the writing style the whole way through
May 23, 2025
Thank you to Harper360YA and 4th State Books for the ARC, it has not affected my honest review.
TW: death, child death, violence, blood, murder, grief, religion
22nd August 1485, the Battle of Bosworth. King Richard III dies in a clash with a man named Henry Tudor, and though his body is lost, his soul is trapped between worlds for the sins he committed in life. Richard’s only companion is a talking Raven, one who assures him an angel will be along as soon as Richard admits his wrongs. Dedalus, a monk from Stern Abbey in Oxenbridge, arrives too late to pray for the king’s victory and is forced to contend with the shame of his failure before a traumatic event at the abbey leaves him trapped below ground and turning into something else. Centuries later, just weeks after the bones of Richard III are found under a car park in Leicester in 2012, Molly Stern returns to her hometown of Oxenbridge to deal with the grief over the loss of her father, the disappearance of her mother and a recent breakup. Her aunt and uncle, Peggy and Frank Tremble, are the only family she has left in the world, but even now things at home aren’t right either. Frank has become obsessed with history, particularly Richard III and her childhood home, where her father died, is making the strangest noises. When Molly encounters a strange man in her father’s basement, and Raven seeks out the angel to finally take Richard’s soul, they all come together.
Strange, heartfelt and a beautiful examination of history, grief and the power of love, ‘The Oxenbridge King’ is unlike anything I’ve ever read. I never thought I could be so touched by a book about the ghost of Richard III and a sassy talking Raven mashed with the contemporary story of Molly, Frank and Peggy in Oxenbridge. I adored Dedalus, he’s my favourite character and I loved the way he was written, especially as his role became more obvious and relevant to the story. Molly is deeply brave and broken, she’s made some bad choices and needs to fix herself; I found her relationship with her aunt and uncle to be beautifully written. I wish we’d spent more time with the character of Edward because I think he could have done more though I did like how things all came together in the end. I loved the humour and heart of this book most, it felt very English and I remember all the excitement after the bones of Richard were found here. ‘The Oxenbridge King’ is deeply quirky, very original and I raced through it, drawn in by the gorgeous language and the characters.
TW: death, child death, violence, blood, murder, grief, religion
22nd August 1485, the Battle of Bosworth. King Richard III dies in a clash with a man named Henry Tudor, and though his body is lost, his soul is trapped between worlds for the sins he committed in life. Richard’s only companion is a talking Raven, one who assures him an angel will be along as soon as Richard admits his wrongs. Dedalus, a monk from Stern Abbey in Oxenbridge, arrives too late to pray for the king’s victory and is forced to contend with the shame of his failure before a traumatic event at the abbey leaves him trapped below ground and turning into something else. Centuries later, just weeks after the bones of Richard III are found under a car park in Leicester in 2012, Molly Stern returns to her hometown of Oxenbridge to deal with the grief over the loss of her father, the disappearance of her mother and a recent breakup. Her aunt and uncle, Peggy and Frank Tremble, are the only family she has left in the world, but even now things at home aren’t right either. Frank has become obsessed with history, particularly Richard III and her childhood home, where her father died, is making the strangest noises. When Molly encounters a strange man in her father’s basement, and Raven seeks out the angel to finally take Richard’s soul, they all come together.
Strange, heartfelt and a beautiful examination of history, grief and the power of love, ‘The Oxenbridge King’ is unlike anything I’ve ever read. I never thought I could be so touched by a book about the ghost of Richard III and a sassy talking Raven mashed with the contemporary story of Molly, Frank and Peggy in Oxenbridge. I adored Dedalus, he’s my favourite character and I loved the way he was written, especially as his role became more obvious and relevant to the story. Molly is deeply brave and broken, she’s made some bad choices and needs to fix herself; I found her relationship with her aunt and uncle to be beautifully written. I wish we’d spent more time with the character of Edward because I think he could have done more though I did like how things all came together in the end. I loved the humour and heart of this book most, it felt very English and I remember all the excitement after the bones of Richard were found here. ‘The Oxenbridge King’ is deeply quirky, very original and I raced through it, drawn in by the gorgeous language and the characters.
December 4, 2024
I picked up this book because I had noticed that the previous books I had read this month all had a similar colour-scheme. I do not recommend this as a good book-choosing strategy!
I saw in a blurb that it had been likened to Neil Gaiman's works, and the similarity begins and ends at a sassy talking raven with some Brit history and angels. The story has some cloistered monk energy, and timeywimey-ness.
King Richard III has to come to terms with his misdeeds, but seems incapable of the necessary introspection required to Move On, and everyone else in the story seems to be failing to get on with their lives properly because they never attempt to communicate with the people they care about. I'm continually frustrated by their secrets and miscommunications, but probably because in my life I can never leave a thing alone until it's talked out.
As far as the production of the audiobook is concerned, I was frustrated with some of the pronunciation. The narrator keeps saying the word Phở as if it's her direst enemy, rather than a soup. It's unfortunate that they keep trotting out another of my pet peeves, and I don't know if it's a mistake of the author, the narrator, or the production team - they keep referring to the internment of royal remains.
Interment is burial,
whereas Internment> is getting locked up for political reasons.
I doubt they are sending a dead monarch to jail.
The story talks a little about history, but only enough that you don't get lost, and there is some fascinating exploration of ruins and mystical spelunking. I do wish the pace wouldn't lag in some places, especially those where I am screaming at the characters "why don't you just SAY something!". As someone with a general disinterest in monarchy and Christianity this book falls a bit flat for me, but it's generally charmingly descriptive and it is imaginative.
I saw in a blurb that it had been likened to Neil Gaiman's works, and the similarity begins and ends at a sassy talking raven with some Brit history and angels. The story has some cloistered monk energy, and timeywimey-ness.
King Richard III has to come to terms with his misdeeds, but seems incapable of the necessary introspection required to Move On, and everyone else in the story seems to be failing to get on with their lives properly because they never attempt to communicate with the people they care about. I'm continually frustrated by their secrets and miscommunications, but probably because in my life I can never leave a thing alone until it's talked out.
As far as the production of the audiobook is concerned, I was frustrated with some of the pronunciation. The narrator keeps saying the word Phở as if it's her direst enemy, rather than a soup. It's unfortunate that they keep trotting out another of my pet peeves, and I don't know if it's a mistake of the author, the narrator, or the production team - they keep referring to the internment of royal remains.
Interment is burial,
whereas Internment> is getting locked up for political reasons.
I doubt they are sending a dead monarch to jail.
The story talks a little about history, but only enough that you don't get lost, and there is some fascinating exploration of ruins and mystical spelunking. I do wish the pace wouldn't lag in some places, especially those where I am screaming at the characters "why don't you just SAY something!". As someone with a general disinterest in monarchy and Christianity this book falls a bit flat for me, but it's generally charmingly descriptive and it is imaginative.
January 5, 2025
King Richard III is dead - the last English king to be slain in battle. And yet, he finds himself in conversation with a cocky Raven in a place called Threadbare: ‘It’s what’s left of you, my Kingly King. The thread of you, the bare of you, the who you really are of you…’ They are awaiting the arrival of an angel to take Richard to the next place, wherever that may be. But Richard is going nowhere until he accepts his sins, and asks for forgiveness.
Meanwhile, the angel is having his own difficulties as he grapples with his new form, centuries after his mortal death, in modern-day London. He is suffering from sensory overload and is unsure of the role he is to play.
And there are several mere mortals whose lives are deeply impacted by these spiritual shenanigans. There is a love story, and a story of unrequited love, and of old love.
I recently visited Richard III’s tomb in Leicester Cathedral and the fabulous museum nearby, which is built over the place in the carpark where his remains were finally discovered in 2012. The events in the book centre around the reburial of his bones in the Cathedral in 2015. I found this book moved me as I thought of his remains, lost for so many centuries, finding their final resting place. And if we have a soul, how his could finally be at peace.
This book defies classification: it surprised me, and it moved me. Highly recommended.
Meanwhile, the angel is having his own difficulties as he grapples with his new form, centuries after his mortal death, in modern-day London. He is suffering from sensory overload and is unsure of the role he is to play.
And there are several mere mortals whose lives are deeply impacted by these spiritual shenanigans. There is a love story, and a story of unrequited love, and of old love.
I recently visited Richard III’s tomb in Leicester Cathedral and the fabulous museum nearby, which is built over the place in the carpark where his remains were finally discovered in 2012. The events in the book centre around the reburial of his bones in the Cathedral in 2015. I found this book moved me as I thought of his remains, lost for so many centuries, finding their final resting place. And if we have a soul, how his could finally be at peace.
This book defies classification: it surprised me, and it moved me. Highly recommended.
July 24, 2025
This was quirky and whimsical, blending historical fiction with modern day magical realism.
Like Uncle Frank in the story, I found the story of Richard III’s reappearance in a Leicester car park fascinating. The last king to die in battle, the mystery of the missing Princes in the tower, and his portrayal as history’s bad guy are all elements which make for a compelling tale.
In fact, I wish Richard had had a bigger role. The focus was more on the raven and the ‘angel’ who are tasked with helping Richard’s soul, and on the modern day humans of Oxenbridge who become involved with them.
I did find this book a little hard to engage with. There was so much miscommunication between all the (slightly unlikeable) main characters. They were all struggling with grief, but I did not understand why they couldn’t tell each other the truth. Especially regarding Molly’s mother - I was actually fuming about how that unfolded!
If you like gentle-paced, lyrical books about history and grief, and families coming together, with a little bit of fantasy thrown in, you might enjoy this.
Like Uncle Frank in the story, I found the story of Richard III’s reappearance in a Leicester car park fascinating. The last king to die in battle, the mystery of the missing Princes in the tower, and his portrayal as history’s bad guy are all elements which make for a compelling tale.
In fact, I wish Richard had had a bigger role. The focus was more on the raven and the ‘angel’ who are tasked with helping Richard’s soul, and on the modern day humans of Oxenbridge who become involved with them.
I did find this book a little hard to engage with. There was so much miscommunication between all the (slightly unlikeable) main characters. They were all struggling with grief, but I did not understand why they couldn’t tell each other the truth. Especially regarding Molly’s mother - I was actually fuming about how that unfolded!
If you like gentle-paced, lyrical books about history and grief, and families coming together, with a little bit of fantasy thrown in, you might enjoy this.
August 14, 2025
DNF.
This book just wasn't for me. I thought the premise was interesting but after 140 pages it just wasn't going anywhere.
King Richard III wanders a baren spirit realm where he grapples with his past. His spirit guide, a raven, renames him Ricardo and goes in search of an angel to take the wayward spirit to heaven. Meanwhile, a handful of other characters live out their mundane lives in the mid 2010's. There is some sort of vague connection between them and Ricardo but I didn't find any of it particularly interesting.
There is a classic case of "no one wants to talk about the event" but once you learn about what that even actually was it just feels like kind of a non-issue. As in, the book does not convince me the big mysterious event is at all important. In fact, none of the characters feel important, not even Ricardo or the raven, and I think that's where my biggest problem with the book was. I didn't like any of the characters, couldn't relate to any of them, and couldn't figure out why what any of them were doing mattered.
This book just wasn't for me. I thought the premise was interesting but after 140 pages it just wasn't going anywhere.
King Richard III wanders a baren spirit realm where he grapples with his past. His spirit guide, a raven, renames him Ricardo and goes in search of an angel to take the wayward spirit to heaven. Meanwhile, a handful of other characters live out their mundane lives in the mid 2010's. There is some sort of vague connection between them and Ricardo but I didn't find any of it particularly interesting.
There is a classic case of "no one wants to talk about the event" but once you learn about what that even actually was it just feels like kind of a non-issue. As in, the book does not convince me the big mysterious event is at all important. In fact, none of the characters feel important, not even Ricardo or the raven, and I think that's where my biggest problem with the book was. I didn't like any of the characters, couldn't relate to any of them, and couldn't figure out why what any of them were doing mattered.
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