What do you think?
Rate this book
The Queen and the Countess: The spellbinding new historical novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author!
England 1450s
Queen Margaret knows she must protect the crown - and her son Prince Edward's claim to it - at all costs. With her husband, King Henry, increasingly frail, it is up to Margaret to fight for their inheritance. And as the Wars of the Roses rage on, her enemies and their wives lurk close, threatening to unravel everything she is trying to protect.
Anne, Countess of Warwick has long striven to be a loyal and accomplished wife to the Earl of Warwick. But when she develops an unlikely alliance with the Lancastrian Queen Margaret, her husband's adversary, she wonders how much power now lies in her hands to determine the course of history.
Crossing enemy lines, the pair strike up a thorny friendship - yet in the midst of treachery and the turmoil of battle, can the two women trust each other?
Or is it only a matter of time before war drives a sword between them...
Queen Margaret knows she must protect the crown - and her son Prince Edward's claim to it - at all costs. With her husband, King Henry, increasingly frail, it is up to Margaret to fight for their inheritance. And as the Wars of the Roses rage on, her enemies and their wives lurk close, threatening to unravel everything she is trying to protect.
Anne, Countess of Warwick has long striven to be a loyal and accomplished wife to the Earl of Warwick. But when she develops an unlikely alliance with the Lancastrian Queen Margaret, her husband's adversary, she wonders how much power now lies in her hands to determine the course of history.
Crossing enemy lines, the pair strike up a thorny friendship - yet in the midst of treachery and the turmoil of battle, can the two women trust each other?
Or is it only a matter of time before war drives a sword between them...
464 pages, Hardcover
Published June 24, 2025
175 people are currently reading
405 people want to read
About the author
Anne O'Brien
66 books775 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
My home is in the Welsh Marches, although much of my early life was spent in Yorkshire, most recently in the East Riding.Ann O'Brien The Marches is a remote region of England, surrounded by echoes from the past. Hereford is close with its famous Mappa Mundi and chained library.So is Shrewsbury, and also Ludlow with its splendid castle and its connections with our Plantagenet and Tudor kings. With my husband, I live in an eighteenth century timber framed cottage, which itself must have seen much history over two hundred years.
I have always enjoyed the appeal of History.I taught the subject with enthusiasm but it became my ambition to write historical romances. My first novel, The Runaway Heiress, was published by Mills and Boon in 2004.
This first book was a Regency Romance in the great tradition of Georgette Heyer - who has not admired her skill and delicate touch for the period? I have drawn on my interest in the Stuart century to write about the English Civil War and Restoration England of Charles II. Living in the Marches however I soon discovered the wealth of atmosphere and legend in this isolated part of England from medieval times. It was not long before I was encouraged to create a medieval romance inConquering Knight, Captive Lady.
When not writing, I have a large rambling garden where George and I grow organic vegetables and soft fruit - or perhaps I should admit that he grows them whilst I pick and cook them. We have a wild garden, an orchard, a formal pond and herbaceous flower borders. We share it all with rabbits and pheasants, frogs and goldfinches, hedgehogs and buzzards. It is a beautiful place. When we first settled into our cottage I planted a herb garden on a Tudor pattern with stone pathways and clipped box hedges. From this I developed my interest in herbs and their uses.
Nicholas Culpeper's The Complete Herbal, a fascinating resource to a historical novelist first published in 1649, has become essential bedside reading. As a result the use of herbs in medicine and witchcraft, for both good and ill, has appeared in some of my novels.
For pure relaxation I enjoy yoga as well as singing with a local Choral Society. Watercolour painting allows me to simply sit and appreciate the landscape and the flowers in my garden, when my mind is busy constructing my next plot.
My home is in the Welsh Marches, although much of my early life was spent in Yorkshire, most recently in the East Riding.Ann O'Brien The Marches is a remote region of England, surrounded by echoes from the past. Hereford is close with its famous Mappa Mundi and chained library.So is Shrewsbury, and also Ludlow with its splendid castle and its connections with our Plantagenet and Tudor kings. With my husband, I live in an eighteenth century timber framed cottage, which itself must have seen much history over two hundred years.
I have always enjoyed the appeal of History.I taught the subject with enthusiasm but it became my ambition to write historical romances. My first novel, The Runaway Heiress, was published by Mills and Boon in 2004.
This first book was a Regency Romance in the great tradition of Georgette Heyer - who has not admired her skill and delicate touch for the period? I have drawn on my interest in the Stuart century to write about the English Civil War and Restoration England of Charles II. Living in the Marches however I soon discovered the wealth of atmosphere and legend in this isolated part of England from medieval times. It was not long before I was encouraged to create a medieval romance inConquering Knight, Captive Lady.
When not writing, I have a large rambling garden where George and I grow organic vegetables and soft fruit - or perhaps I should admit that he grows them whilst I pick and cook them. We have a wild garden, an orchard, a formal pond and herbaceous flower borders. We share it all with rabbits and pheasants, frogs and goldfinches, hedgehogs and buzzards. It is a beautiful place. When we first settled into our cottage I planted a herb garden on a Tudor pattern with stone pathways and clipped box hedges. From this I developed my interest in herbs and their uses.
Nicholas Culpeper's The Complete Herbal, a fascinating resource to a historical novelist first published in 1649, has become essential bedside reading. As a result the use of herbs in medicine and witchcraft, for both good and ill, has appeared in some of my novels.
For pure relaxation I enjoy yoga as well as singing with a local Choral Society. Watercolour painting allows me to simply sit and appreciate the landscape and the flowers in my garden, when my mind is busy constructing my next plot.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 30, 2025
The heiress Anne Beauchamp grants her husband Richard Neville a great deal of wealth and the title “Earl of Warwick” upon their marriage. Richard also supports his cousin-in-law The Duke Of York in his fight against the ill-advised Lancastrian King Henry VI ending in bloodshed in St. Albans. Henry’s queen Margaret Of Anjou fights for her husband and their son Edward. On Love Day, Lancaster and York try to patch up the pieces, but war is looming. Anne follows her husband but will soon have to admit that she has more in common with Margaret Of Anjou than she might like to admit.
With the queen and the countess, O’ Brien once again delves into the Wars of the Roses. She chooses the perspective of two women: Queen Margaret Of Anjou and Anne Beauchamp, the countess of Warwick. Good choice because neither woman is featured very often and there are a lot of parallels to draw.
Each chapter alternates between them. The book starts on Love Day – a charade where Lancaster and York shake hands, less than a year later the Civil War will really erupt. Anne and Margaret meet there and each recognizes something of herself in the other.
I expected a lot from this book, but unfortunately my expectations were not fully met. The novel recounts the Wars of the Roses with Margaret and Anne mostly reporting and sharing their reflections. There’s not a big difference between both women’s perspective so I was sometimes a bit confused whose thoughts I was reading exactly.
Also there fictional letters to each other are a big part of the novel. I find the whole idea that these women would have written letters – even during the period when they were each other’s enemies a bit far-fetched. The letters themselves also provided little insight.
And that’s the whole thing: because it are all short chapters that mostly describe the known facts you get little insight into the characters. The women themselves are not that hard involved in everything that happens – even Margaret does not take such an active role in the war.
Margaret and Anne also barely have conversations with others. Warwick is a loving husband one moment while in the next paragraph he forgets his wife exists. Henry VI and Margaret occasionally have a brief dialogue. We never get to know Anne’s daughters, nor the other Yorkists like Cecily Neville or Edward IV. It’s actually only after the war is over that there is a little more focus on the lives of the ladies in exile. So I liked the ending the most.
O’ Brien also once wrote a book about Anne Neville (The virgin widow) and I have now become very curious about that one since I couldn’t get any height from her in this book. And maybe there is also a book about Alice De La Pole coming soon? I liked her in this novel.
Don’t get me wrong, this is not a bad book. It’s just not very imaginative or new when you’ve read more about the Wars of the Roses. And I favor a few other of O’ Briens books. I would recommend starting with The Shadow Queen, Queen of the north or A tapestry of treason.
Thanks to Netgalley and the published for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
Dutch review:
De rijke erfgename Anne Beauchamp geeft haar man Richard Neville heel wat rijkdom en de titel 'Earl of warwick' bij hun huwelijk. Richard steunt ook zijn aangetrouwde neef The Duke Of York in zijn strijd tegen de slechte raadgevers van de ziekelijke Lancaster koning Henry VI. Diens koningin Margaret Of Anjou strijdt voor haar rechten en die van haar zoon Edward en komt zo lijnrecht tegenover Warwick en York te staan. Op Love Day proberen ze de brokken te lijmen, maar een spanning hangt in de lucht. Anne volgt haar man maar zal snel moeten toegeven dat ze meer gemeen heeft met Margaret Of Anjou dan ze misschien zou willen toegeven.
Met dit boek duikt O' Brien opnieuw de Rozenoorlogen in. Ze kiest voor het perspectief van twee vrouwen: koningin Margaret Of Anjou en Anne Beauchamp, the countess of Warwick. Goede keuze want beide vrouwen komen niet zo vaak aan bod en er zijn heel wat parallellen te trekken.
Elk hoofdstuk komen ze afwisselend aan bod. Het boek start op Love Day - een charade waarbij Lancaster en York de handen schudden, minder dan een jaar later zou de burgeroorlog echt losbarsten. Anne en Margaret ontmoeten elkaar er en herkennen iets van zichzelf in de ander.
Ik had veel verwacht van dit boek, maar mijn verwachtingen werden helaas niet zo goed ingelost. Het boek raast door de hele rozenoorlogen waarbij Margaret en Anne vooral verslag doen en hun bedenkingen delen. En soms brieven schrijven naar elkaar. Het hele idee dat deze vrouwen brieven zouden hebben geschreven - ook in de periode dat ze elkaars vijand waren vind ik wat vergezocht. De brieven zelf geven ook weinig inzicht.
En dat is het gehele verhaal: doordat het allemaal korte hoofdstukken zijn die vooral de feiten beschrijven krijg je weinig inzicht in de gebeurtenissen en de personages. Ze zijn namelijk zelf niet zo hard betrokken bij alles wat er gebeurt - ook Margaret neemt in dit boek niet zo'n actieve rol op.
Margaret en Anne hebben ook amper conversaties met anderen in dit boek. Warwick is het ene moment een liefdevolle echtgenoot, de paragraaf daarna vergeet hij dat zijn vrouw bestaat. Henry VI en Margaret hebben af en toe een korte dialoog. We leren Anne's dochters nooit kennen, noch de andere Yorksisten zoals Edward IV.
Het is eigenlijk pas na afloop van de oorlog dat er iets meer focus ligt op het leven van de dames in ballingschap. En dat ik wat interessant en vernieuwend vond. Jammer want ik ben meer gewoon van O' Brien. Ze kiest hier duidelijk eerder voor de aanpak van haar boek over Cecily Neville waar ook brieven centraal staan (The queen's rival) dat ik nog niet gelezen heb en dat niet beste reviews kreeg.
O' Brien schreef ook ooit een boek over Anne Neville en daar ben ik nu wel heel benieuwd naar geworden aangezien ik van haar geen hoogte kon krijgen in dit boek. En misschien zit er ook een boek over Alice De La Pole in binnenkort?
With the queen and the countess, O’ Brien once again delves into the Wars of the Roses. She chooses the perspective of two women: Queen Margaret Of Anjou and Anne Beauchamp, the countess of Warwick. Good choice because neither woman is featured very often and there are a lot of parallels to draw.
Each chapter alternates between them. The book starts on Love Day – a charade where Lancaster and York shake hands, less than a year later the Civil War will really erupt. Anne and Margaret meet there and each recognizes something of herself in the other.
I expected a lot from this book, but unfortunately my expectations were not fully met. The novel recounts the Wars of the Roses with Margaret and Anne mostly reporting and sharing their reflections. There’s not a big difference between both women’s perspective so I was sometimes a bit confused whose thoughts I was reading exactly.
Also there fictional letters to each other are a big part of the novel. I find the whole idea that these women would have written letters – even during the period when they were each other’s enemies a bit far-fetched. The letters themselves also provided little insight.
And that’s the whole thing: because it are all short chapters that mostly describe the known facts you get little insight into the characters. The women themselves are not that hard involved in everything that happens – even Margaret does not take such an active role in the war.
Margaret and Anne also barely have conversations with others. Warwick is a loving husband one moment while in the next paragraph he forgets his wife exists. Henry VI and Margaret occasionally have a brief dialogue. We never get to know Anne’s daughters, nor the other Yorkists like Cecily Neville or Edward IV. It’s actually only after the war is over that there is a little more focus on the lives of the ladies in exile. So I liked the ending the most.
O’ Brien also once wrote a book about Anne Neville (The virgin widow) and I have now become very curious about that one since I couldn’t get any height from her in this book. And maybe there is also a book about Alice De La Pole coming soon? I liked her in this novel.
Don’t get me wrong, this is not a bad book. It’s just not very imaginative or new when you’ve read more about the Wars of the Roses. And I favor a few other of O’ Briens books. I would recommend starting with The Shadow Queen, Queen of the north or A tapestry of treason.
Thanks to Netgalley and the published for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
Dutch review:
De rijke erfgename Anne Beauchamp geeft haar man Richard Neville heel wat rijkdom en de titel 'Earl of warwick' bij hun huwelijk. Richard steunt ook zijn aangetrouwde neef The Duke Of York in zijn strijd tegen de slechte raadgevers van de ziekelijke Lancaster koning Henry VI. Diens koningin Margaret Of Anjou strijdt voor haar rechten en die van haar zoon Edward en komt zo lijnrecht tegenover Warwick en York te staan. Op Love Day proberen ze de brokken te lijmen, maar een spanning hangt in de lucht. Anne volgt haar man maar zal snel moeten toegeven dat ze meer gemeen heeft met Margaret Of Anjou dan ze misschien zou willen toegeven.
Met dit boek duikt O' Brien opnieuw de Rozenoorlogen in. Ze kiest voor het perspectief van twee vrouwen: koningin Margaret Of Anjou en Anne Beauchamp, the countess of Warwick. Goede keuze want beide vrouwen komen niet zo vaak aan bod en er zijn heel wat parallellen te trekken.
Elk hoofdstuk komen ze afwisselend aan bod. Het boek start op Love Day - een charade waarbij Lancaster en York de handen schudden, minder dan een jaar later zou de burgeroorlog echt losbarsten. Anne en Margaret ontmoeten elkaar er en herkennen iets van zichzelf in de ander.
Ik had veel verwacht van dit boek, maar mijn verwachtingen werden helaas niet zo goed ingelost. Het boek raast door de hele rozenoorlogen waarbij Margaret en Anne vooral verslag doen en hun bedenkingen delen. En soms brieven schrijven naar elkaar. Het hele idee dat deze vrouwen brieven zouden hebben geschreven - ook in de periode dat ze elkaars vijand waren vind ik wat vergezocht. De brieven zelf geven ook weinig inzicht.
En dat is het gehele verhaal: doordat het allemaal korte hoofdstukken zijn die vooral de feiten beschrijven krijg je weinig inzicht in de gebeurtenissen en de personages. Ze zijn namelijk zelf niet zo hard betrokken bij alles wat er gebeurt - ook Margaret neemt in dit boek niet zo'n actieve rol op.
Margaret en Anne hebben ook amper conversaties met anderen in dit boek. Warwick is het ene moment een liefdevolle echtgenoot, de paragraaf daarna vergeet hij dat zijn vrouw bestaat. Henry VI en Margaret hebben af en toe een korte dialoog. We leren Anne's dochters nooit kennen, noch de andere Yorksisten zoals Edward IV.
Het is eigenlijk pas na afloop van de oorlog dat er iets meer focus ligt op het leven van de dames in ballingschap. En dat ik wat interessant en vernieuwend vond. Jammer want ik ben meer gewoon van O' Brien. Ze kiest hier duidelijk eerder voor de aanpak van haar boek over Cecily Neville waar ook brieven centraal staan (The queen's rival) dat ik nog niet gelezen heb en dat niet beste reviews kreeg.
O' Brien schreef ook ooit een boek over Anne Neville en daar ben ik nu wel heel benieuwd naar geworden aangezien ik van haar geen hoogte kon krijgen in dit boek. En misschien zit er ook een boek over Alice De La Pole in binnenkort?
April 9, 2025
When I saw Anne O’Brien’s latest historical fiction offering I was really interested in her choice of protagonists. There are a wealth of big women characters in the War of the Roses - and the focus usually falls on the indomitable Cecily, Margaret Beaufort or Elizabeth Woodville.
All are relegated to side characters in The Countess and the Queen as O’Brien focusses on Queen Margaret (the ill-fated King Henry VI’s young French wife) and Anne Beauchamp, Countess of Warwick - wife to Richard, Earl of Warwick.
It seemed an intriguing choice to start with, but as the story progressed it made more sense. At first on opposite sides of the conflict brought about by Henry VI’s inability to rule and the factions that sprung up - and then on the same side as Warwick defected to the Lancastrians.
The book was an interesting take on the lives and roles aristocratic women had - both the expected roles of wives and mothers, but also those borne out of necessity or grasped by opportunity. We know there were many powerful women of the time who moved political chess pieces both behind the scenes and out in the open. I also appreciated the exploration of the significant amount of frustration and terror it must have created when the trajectory of your entire family’s survival is changed on the whim of your husband’s thoughts and feelings. Yikes.
For me, I am not sure how plausible I found it that these two particular women would have corresponded or found as much common ground as they did, but I still appreciate it as a different take on a well-written about period.
Thank you so much to @orionbooks for an advanced copy of The Queen and the Countess, which is out now!
All are relegated to side characters in The Countess and the Queen as O’Brien focusses on Queen Margaret (the ill-fated King Henry VI’s young French wife) and Anne Beauchamp, Countess of Warwick - wife to Richard, Earl of Warwick.
It seemed an intriguing choice to start with, but as the story progressed it made more sense. At first on opposite sides of the conflict brought about by Henry VI’s inability to rule and the factions that sprung up - and then on the same side as Warwick defected to the Lancastrians.
The book was an interesting take on the lives and roles aristocratic women had - both the expected roles of wives and mothers, but also those borne out of necessity or grasped by opportunity. We know there were many powerful women of the time who moved political chess pieces both behind the scenes and out in the open. I also appreciated the exploration of the significant amount of frustration and terror it must have created when the trajectory of your entire family’s survival is changed on the whim of your husband’s thoughts and feelings. Yikes.
For me, I am not sure how plausible I found it that these two particular women would have corresponded or found as much common ground as they did, but I still appreciate it as a different take on a well-written about period.
Thank you so much to @orionbooks for an advanced copy of The Queen and the Countess, which is out now!
March 9, 2025
A marvellous book the story of two women who survived The Wars Of The Roses and on opposite sides A 6⭐️read for me
March 28, 2025
I’ve been looking forward to reading Anne O’Brien’s new novel as it’s set in one of my favourite periods of history, the Wars of the Roses. O’Brien has written about this period before, from the perspectives of Anne Neville in Virgin Widow (which I haven’t read) and Cecily Neville in The Queen’s Rival, but this book is slightly different because it focuses on not just one woman but two: Margaret of Anjou, wife of Henry VI, and Anne Beauchamp, Countess of Warwick.
The two women take it in turns to narrate their story, alternating chapter by chapter throughout the book and beginning in 1458 with the Loveday Parade – a procession through London intended to promote peace between York and Lancaster, the two feuding branches of the royal House of Plantagenet. In the parade, Queen Margaret walks hand-in-hand with the powerful Duke of York, while Anne watches her husband, Richard, Earl of Warwick, walk with his rival nobleman, the Duke of Exeter. The peace is very short-lived, however, and the following year York and Lancaster are at war again.
As the mental health of the Lancastrian king, Henry VI, goes into decline and he gradually retreats from real life into a world of prayer, Margaret does her best to rule in his place, aiming to keep the throne safe for Prince Edward, their young son. When Margaret’s army is defeated in battle and Warwick helps to put the Yorkist heir, Edward IV, on the throne, it seems that her life is in ruins, but it’s not long before Warwick falls out of favour with the new king and comes to her ready to form a new alliance with Lancaster. Meanwhile, Anne stays loyal to her husband throughout all of this but, with no real influence over his decisions, she can only hope that he’s picked the right side this time…
I was intrigued by O’Brien’s decision to pair Margaret of Anjou’s story with the Countess of Warwick’s in this book. There are so many other interesting women from this period – Margaret Beaufort, the mother of Henry Tudor; Edward IV’s wife Elizabeth Woodville and her mother Jacquetta, to name a few – it seemed like a bit of an arbitrary choice to put these two together, but as I read on and saw the shape the novel was starting to take it did make sense. Margaret and Anne are at first on opposite sides of the conflict, then on the same side, but in the difficult position of never fully being able to trust each other, which is an interesting dynamic for O’Brien to explore. Although they are two very different women, there are some parallels between them which begin to emerge as the novel progresses.
This is an eventful and dramatic period of history, so there’s always something happening in the novel – a battle to be fought, a marriage to be negotiated, a plan for invasion to be put into place. Using two narrators rather than one gives O’Brien a wider scope instead of being limited to one character’s personal experiences. However, the two threads of the story come together now and then through a series of fictional letters sent between Margaret and Anne. I’ve no idea if they really corresponded or not (I don’t think there’s any evidence of it, and if they ever did, I doubt it would have been as often as depicted in the book) but it’s a nice touch and makes the lives of the two characters feel less separate and disconnected.
The narrative voices of the two women sound almost identical, so I had to pay attention to the section headings, otherwise it sometimes took me a few paragraphs to decide which of them was narrating. Margaret of Anjou never really seems to be portrayed in a very positive light and she’s not very likeable here either, but I could at least have some sympathy for her. She was in a very challenging situation, trying to hold onto the throne for Lancaster with a husband who didn’t understand what was going on and who was by now completely incapable of ruling. Anne is a much easier character to like, but then, she doesn’t have the difficult decisions to make that Margaret does. Things aren’t easy for Anne either, though, as her fate is determined by the actions of her husband, Warwick, and while she does involve herself in politics to a degree, she has very little say in the course her life will follow.
This is ultimately quite a sad story – anyone familiar with the Wars of the Roses will know what happens to Margaret, her husband and her son, and how Anne’s later life plays out (at one point she’s declared legally dead while still alive in order to settle an inheritance dispute) – but I enjoyed reading it. It was nice to see some links to O’Brien’s previous novel, A Court of Betrayal, whose heroine, Johane de Geneville, was an ancestor of Anne Beauchamp’s – something I wasn’t aware of until I started reading this book and Anne mentioned her great-great-grandmother! I’ll look forward to O’Brien’s next book, whatever it may be, but I should probably try to find time to go back and read the earlier ones that I’ve missed as well.
The two women take it in turns to narrate their story, alternating chapter by chapter throughout the book and beginning in 1458 with the Loveday Parade – a procession through London intended to promote peace between York and Lancaster, the two feuding branches of the royal House of Plantagenet. In the parade, Queen Margaret walks hand-in-hand with the powerful Duke of York, while Anne watches her husband, Richard, Earl of Warwick, walk with his rival nobleman, the Duke of Exeter. The peace is very short-lived, however, and the following year York and Lancaster are at war again.
As the mental health of the Lancastrian king, Henry VI, goes into decline and he gradually retreats from real life into a world of prayer, Margaret does her best to rule in his place, aiming to keep the throne safe for Prince Edward, their young son. When Margaret’s army is defeated in battle and Warwick helps to put the Yorkist heir, Edward IV, on the throne, it seems that her life is in ruins, but it’s not long before Warwick falls out of favour with the new king and comes to her ready to form a new alliance with Lancaster. Meanwhile, Anne stays loyal to her husband throughout all of this but, with no real influence over his decisions, she can only hope that he’s picked the right side this time…
I was intrigued by O’Brien’s decision to pair Margaret of Anjou’s story with the Countess of Warwick’s in this book. There are so many other interesting women from this period – Margaret Beaufort, the mother of Henry Tudor; Edward IV’s wife Elizabeth Woodville and her mother Jacquetta, to name a few – it seemed like a bit of an arbitrary choice to put these two together, but as I read on and saw the shape the novel was starting to take it did make sense. Margaret and Anne are at first on opposite sides of the conflict, then on the same side, but in the difficult position of never fully being able to trust each other, which is an interesting dynamic for O’Brien to explore. Although they are two very different women, there are some parallels between them which begin to emerge as the novel progresses.
This is an eventful and dramatic period of history, so there’s always something happening in the novel – a battle to be fought, a marriage to be negotiated, a plan for invasion to be put into place. Using two narrators rather than one gives O’Brien a wider scope instead of being limited to one character’s personal experiences. However, the two threads of the story come together now and then through a series of fictional letters sent between Margaret and Anne. I’ve no idea if they really corresponded or not (I don’t think there’s any evidence of it, and if they ever did, I doubt it would have been as often as depicted in the book) but it’s a nice touch and makes the lives of the two characters feel less separate and disconnected.
The narrative voices of the two women sound almost identical, so I had to pay attention to the section headings, otherwise it sometimes took me a few paragraphs to decide which of them was narrating. Margaret of Anjou never really seems to be portrayed in a very positive light and she’s not very likeable here either, but I could at least have some sympathy for her. She was in a very challenging situation, trying to hold onto the throne for Lancaster with a husband who didn’t understand what was going on and who was by now completely incapable of ruling. Anne is a much easier character to like, but then, she doesn’t have the difficult decisions to make that Margaret does. Things aren’t easy for Anne either, though, as her fate is determined by the actions of her husband, Warwick, and while she does involve herself in politics to a degree, she has very little say in the course her life will follow.
This is ultimately quite a sad story – anyone familiar with the Wars of the Roses will know what happens to Margaret, her husband and her son, and how Anne’s later life plays out (at one point she’s declared legally dead while still alive in order to settle an inheritance dispute) – but I enjoyed reading it. It was nice to see some links to O’Brien’s previous novel, A Court of Betrayal, whose heroine, Johane de Geneville, was an ancestor of Anne Beauchamp’s – something I wasn’t aware of until I started reading this book and Anne mentioned her great-great-grandmother! I’ll look forward to O’Brien’s next book, whatever it may be, but I should probably try to find time to go back and read the earlier ones that I’ve missed as well.
October 9, 2025
I recently finished "The Queen and the Countess," a historical fiction novel that I found absolutely brilliant and a real pleasure to read. As someone who loves historical fiction, especially stories told from a female perspective, this book was right up my street. It offers two distinct female viewpoints during the turbulent era of the Wars of the Roses, which I found incredibly engaging. The plot was beautifully crafted, and I was completely drawn in by the setting and the characters. I have a real soft spot for historical fiction set during the Wars of the Roses and the Tudor period, so this was a perfect fit. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, particularly if they're looking for a fresh, female-centred take on the Wars of the Roses. You should really give it a read yourself!
September 18, 2025
One was a queen, the other the wife of a kingmaker. These two women, destined as rivals, are irresistibly linked—if only by hate. Their intertwined lives reflect how personal animosity and politics shape the trajectory of history and of individual destinies.
“The Queen and the Countess” by Anne O’Brien is the story of two extraordinary women navigating the complexities of power, loyalty, and identity within a society in turmoil. It explores their struggles, desires, and the unexpected bond that formed between them as they sought to reclaim their voices in a world neither of them recognised.
The narrative unfolds through a captivating dual perspective, paralleling events as they occur. The first-person accounts of both Anne, Countess of Warwick, and Margaret, Queen of England, add intimacy to the story. This storytelling technique immerses readers in the rich nuances of their thoughts, emotions, and motivations. It allows for a profound exploration of their complex personalities and the turbulent circumstances surrounding them. As the story develops, readers gain vivid insights into the perilous political environment and the deeply personal struggles each woman faces during this chaotic time. Despite their opposing positions in the Cousins’ War, the impact of their experiences resonates powerfully with one another. The trials they face—ranging from heart-wrenching betrayals to devastating battlefield losses—highlight the universal nature of their struggles and the immense sacrifices required during this era of shifting loyalties. Ultimately, this rich dual perspective enables readers to form deep connections with both Anne and Margaret. It fosters a greater appreciation for their individual struggles, resilience, and the historical complexities of the world they inhabit.
The mood of this novel mirrors the turbulent era in which it is set, characterised by a sombreness and tension reflecting the nobility’s unrest and conflicts of the time. O’Brien avoids long paragraphs of battles and executions yet vividly conveys the emotional turmoil of losing loved ones. Readers are drawn into Anne and Margaret’s harsh realities as they anxiously await news of victory or defeat.
The story presents a compelling and sobering account of one of the most intense rivalries in English history. It pits the ruling House of Lancaster against the powerful and affluent House of York. At the centre of this tumultuous saga is Richard Neville, the 16th Earl of Warwick. His considerable influence, strategic brilliance, and relentless ambition earned him the renowned title of the “kingmaker.” Initially, the reader views Warwick as a noble character. He is portrayed as a man of honour, deeply committed to his family; a loving husband to his wife, Anne, and a devoted father. Moreover, he serves as a wise counsellor to the sons of York, particularly Edward. He guides them through the treacherous landscape of scheming intrigue. His charisma and leadership qualities endear him to many, thus rendering him a pivotal player in the power struggles of the time. However, as the story unfolds and Warwick’s relationship with Edward deteriorates, a darker facet of his personality begins to emerge. The reader begins to witness the transformation of Warwick from a beloved ally into a proud and increasingly arrogant figure. His profound sense of self-worth and entitlement leads him to believe that he has the right to dictate who sits on the throne. Yet, this very ambition blinds him to the consequences of his actions, leading to a series of conflicts that weaken his position. Adding to this complexity is the position of his wife, Anne, who is caught in the crossfire of her husband’s ambitions. She is compelled to support his decisions unconditionally, even when they conflict with her own beliefs or desires. This dynamic showcases not only Warwick’s insatiable thirst for power but also the personal sacrifices made by those closest to him in the pursuit of his grand ambitions. Ultimately, the narrative paints a rich and multifaceted portrait of Warwick. His desire for control leads to both his personal and political undoing.
King Henry VI is characterised as a kind-hearted and benevolent ruler. Rather than embracing kingship, he would find greater solace in a quiet monastery, away from the demands of the throne. His understanding of the division between the Houses of Lancaster and York is limited. He longs for an ideal world where differences can be set aside. He wishes everyone could coexist in peace. The idea that anyone would wish him harm seems almost foreign to him. This reveals his naivety and gentle spirit. Portrayed as a frail and harmless old man, Henry’s physical and mental health make him ill-equipped for kingship. He often immerses himself in books and prayers, retreating into his sanctuary of spirituality and knowledge while neglecting the chaotic political landscape. This detachment from governance adds to his character’s poignancy. He embodies a tragic ruler caught in circumstances beyond his control. Henry’s vulnerability evokes empathy. Readers see in him a man with no appetite for conflict or violence. His unwavering desire for reconciliation leads him to forgive those who wrong him repeatedly, showing remarkable compassion. However, this trait often leads to frustration for those around him, especially his wife, Margaret, although she is careful not to show it. King Henry VI emerges as a tragically sympathetic character. His gentle nature and reluctance to engage in power struggles make him a beloved character.
Anne, Countess of Warwick, is depicted as an astute observer of the intricate dynamics within the royal court, demonstrating a keen understanding of the political arena around her. Her loyalty to her husband, Richard, is unwavering; however, she also possesses a compassionate awareness of King Henry’s plight. This empathy allows her to perceive the potential risks posed by the House of York’s ambitious nature, which could jeopardise not only her family’s safety but the stability of the throne itself. Throughout the novel, Anne’s suffering is palpable, evoking a deep sense of sympathy and love from readers. She embodies kindness and grace, making her eventual isolation all the more painful. As the plot unfolds, the indifferent treatment she receives from her daughters becomes increasingly evident. It is particularly distressing when Parliament declares her legally dead, a political manoeuvre designed to allow her daughters to inherit her wealth. This act not only strips Anne of her identity and legacy but also emphasises the tragic reality of her situation, highlighting how power dynamics and societal expectations can lead to the erasure of a woman’s contributions and existence. Through Anne’s experiences, the narrative explores themes of loyalty, ambition, loss, and the sometimes-harrowing consequences of political machinations.
Margaret, Queen of England, comes across as a formidable and ruthless figure, driven by an unyielding ambition to secure the throne for her beloved son. With a fierce determination that knows no bounds, she plunges into perilous situations that would make even the bravest hesitate. Fearless in the face of adversity, she never shies away from sending men to battle, wielding her royal authority with an iron fist. Amidst the turbulence of the court, she is acutely aware that her husband’s weaknesses are the seeds of unrest, yet as the Queen of England, she remains steadfast, unwilling to be marginalised or cast aside. Her plight is often desperate; she finds herself vulnerable, reliant on the Queen of Scotland and the King of France. In her father’s home, where one might expect refuge, she discovers only isolation, with no relief from the burdens she bears. Yet, the one bright light in her tumultuous existence is her son, who stands faithfully by her side. Margaret’s love for her child is unwavering and fierce, illuminating her path forward. She is determined to see him grow into a man capable of reclaiming the throne from the grasp of usurpers. However, the road ahead is fraught with challenges, demanding patience and cunning. Though Margaret often resorts to ruthless vengeance against those she deems traitors, readers cannot help but feel a deep sympathy for her plight. Torn between her responsibilities as a mother and the harsh realities of her position, she grapples with the burden of protecting her family. In this storm of loyalty and ambition, one haunting question lingers: Who will protect Margaret in her time of need?
Anne’s relationship with Margaret is a complex tapestry of emotions, marked by underlying tension and unspoken feelings; they are neither outright friends nor enemies. It takes the entire course of the narrative for them to finally grasp the reality of their connection. Caught in a relentless conflict that offers no victory for either woman, they face the harsh reality of banishment, a fate that looms ominously over them both. The poignant letters that pass between Anne and Margaret reveal their innermost thoughts and vulnerabilities, offering readers a deeper understanding of their characters and transforming their intertwined journeys into an intimate and personal saga.
The historical settings of this era are intricately detailed, as vivid and compelling as the characters themselves. The narrative begins with a stunning “Love Day” procession, masterfully orchestrated by King Henry VI to symbolise reconciliation after the fierce and bloody Battle of St. Albans. This grand event, alive with the buzz of the crowd, the colourful and lavish attire of the participants, and the resplendent architectural details of St. Paul’s Cathedral, serves to immerse the reader in a vibrant period. As the story unfolds, the reader is transported to the grandeur of Warwick and Middleham Castle. London emerges as a powerful hub for the Yorkists, while Scotland becomes a refuge and a crucial staging ground for Queen Margaret’s daring campaign. The opulent halls of Westminster and the coastal strongholds of Dover and Calais are portrayed as a labyrinth of intrigue, ambition, and ever-shifting loyalties. Descriptions of ships braving turbulent seas, the stormy waters crashing against their hulls, and the dramatic French coastline invoke a sensory experience that pulls the reader deeper into this historical drama. As the scene shifts to the Château d’Amboise in France, where the countess and her daughters, cloaked in exile alongside Queen Margaret, find themselves in a place of grandeur that feels paradoxically suffocating. The opulent surroundings of the chateau reflect their gilded cage, underscoring their vulnerability against the larger, tumultuous winds of political fate. Furthermore, the story weaves in references to Burgundy, Ireland, and other significant locations, painting a broader picture of the politics and the high stakes involved in this relentless conflict.
“The Queen and the Countess” by Anne O’Brien is a beautifully crafted novel that weaves a tragic yet mesmerising tale. O’Brien’s storytelling captures the complexity of relationships and the weight of ambition, making it an unforgettable reading experience.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde
Yarde Book Reviews & Book Promotion
“The Queen and the Countess” by Anne O’Brien is the story of two extraordinary women navigating the complexities of power, loyalty, and identity within a society in turmoil. It explores their struggles, desires, and the unexpected bond that formed between them as they sought to reclaim their voices in a world neither of them recognised.
The narrative unfolds through a captivating dual perspective, paralleling events as they occur. The first-person accounts of both Anne, Countess of Warwick, and Margaret, Queen of England, add intimacy to the story. This storytelling technique immerses readers in the rich nuances of their thoughts, emotions, and motivations. It allows for a profound exploration of their complex personalities and the turbulent circumstances surrounding them. As the story develops, readers gain vivid insights into the perilous political environment and the deeply personal struggles each woman faces during this chaotic time. Despite their opposing positions in the Cousins’ War, the impact of their experiences resonates powerfully with one another. The trials they face—ranging from heart-wrenching betrayals to devastating battlefield losses—highlight the universal nature of their struggles and the immense sacrifices required during this era of shifting loyalties. Ultimately, this rich dual perspective enables readers to form deep connections with both Anne and Margaret. It fosters a greater appreciation for their individual struggles, resilience, and the historical complexities of the world they inhabit.
The mood of this novel mirrors the turbulent era in which it is set, characterised by a sombreness and tension reflecting the nobility’s unrest and conflicts of the time. O’Brien avoids long paragraphs of battles and executions yet vividly conveys the emotional turmoil of losing loved ones. Readers are drawn into Anne and Margaret’s harsh realities as they anxiously await news of victory or defeat.
The story presents a compelling and sobering account of one of the most intense rivalries in English history. It pits the ruling House of Lancaster against the powerful and affluent House of York. At the centre of this tumultuous saga is Richard Neville, the 16th Earl of Warwick. His considerable influence, strategic brilliance, and relentless ambition earned him the renowned title of the “kingmaker.” Initially, the reader views Warwick as a noble character. He is portrayed as a man of honour, deeply committed to his family; a loving husband to his wife, Anne, and a devoted father. Moreover, he serves as a wise counsellor to the sons of York, particularly Edward. He guides them through the treacherous landscape of scheming intrigue. His charisma and leadership qualities endear him to many, thus rendering him a pivotal player in the power struggles of the time. However, as the story unfolds and Warwick’s relationship with Edward deteriorates, a darker facet of his personality begins to emerge. The reader begins to witness the transformation of Warwick from a beloved ally into a proud and increasingly arrogant figure. His profound sense of self-worth and entitlement leads him to believe that he has the right to dictate who sits on the throne. Yet, this very ambition blinds him to the consequences of his actions, leading to a series of conflicts that weaken his position. Adding to this complexity is the position of his wife, Anne, who is caught in the crossfire of her husband’s ambitions. She is compelled to support his decisions unconditionally, even when they conflict with her own beliefs or desires. This dynamic showcases not only Warwick’s insatiable thirst for power but also the personal sacrifices made by those closest to him in the pursuit of his grand ambitions. Ultimately, the narrative paints a rich and multifaceted portrait of Warwick. His desire for control leads to both his personal and political undoing.
King Henry VI is characterised as a kind-hearted and benevolent ruler. Rather than embracing kingship, he would find greater solace in a quiet monastery, away from the demands of the throne. His understanding of the division between the Houses of Lancaster and York is limited. He longs for an ideal world where differences can be set aside. He wishes everyone could coexist in peace. The idea that anyone would wish him harm seems almost foreign to him. This reveals his naivety and gentle spirit. Portrayed as a frail and harmless old man, Henry’s physical and mental health make him ill-equipped for kingship. He often immerses himself in books and prayers, retreating into his sanctuary of spirituality and knowledge while neglecting the chaotic political landscape. This detachment from governance adds to his character’s poignancy. He embodies a tragic ruler caught in circumstances beyond his control. Henry’s vulnerability evokes empathy. Readers see in him a man with no appetite for conflict or violence. His unwavering desire for reconciliation leads him to forgive those who wrong him repeatedly, showing remarkable compassion. However, this trait often leads to frustration for those around him, especially his wife, Margaret, although she is careful not to show it. King Henry VI emerges as a tragically sympathetic character. His gentle nature and reluctance to engage in power struggles make him a beloved character.
Anne, Countess of Warwick, is depicted as an astute observer of the intricate dynamics within the royal court, demonstrating a keen understanding of the political arena around her. Her loyalty to her husband, Richard, is unwavering; however, she also possesses a compassionate awareness of King Henry’s plight. This empathy allows her to perceive the potential risks posed by the House of York’s ambitious nature, which could jeopardise not only her family’s safety but the stability of the throne itself. Throughout the novel, Anne’s suffering is palpable, evoking a deep sense of sympathy and love from readers. She embodies kindness and grace, making her eventual isolation all the more painful. As the plot unfolds, the indifferent treatment she receives from her daughters becomes increasingly evident. It is particularly distressing when Parliament declares her legally dead, a political manoeuvre designed to allow her daughters to inherit her wealth. This act not only strips Anne of her identity and legacy but also emphasises the tragic reality of her situation, highlighting how power dynamics and societal expectations can lead to the erasure of a woman’s contributions and existence. Through Anne’s experiences, the narrative explores themes of loyalty, ambition, loss, and the sometimes-harrowing consequences of political machinations.
Margaret, Queen of England, comes across as a formidable and ruthless figure, driven by an unyielding ambition to secure the throne for her beloved son. With a fierce determination that knows no bounds, she plunges into perilous situations that would make even the bravest hesitate. Fearless in the face of adversity, she never shies away from sending men to battle, wielding her royal authority with an iron fist. Amidst the turbulence of the court, she is acutely aware that her husband’s weaknesses are the seeds of unrest, yet as the Queen of England, she remains steadfast, unwilling to be marginalised or cast aside. Her plight is often desperate; she finds herself vulnerable, reliant on the Queen of Scotland and the King of France. In her father’s home, where one might expect refuge, she discovers only isolation, with no relief from the burdens she bears. Yet, the one bright light in her tumultuous existence is her son, who stands faithfully by her side. Margaret’s love for her child is unwavering and fierce, illuminating her path forward. She is determined to see him grow into a man capable of reclaiming the throne from the grasp of usurpers. However, the road ahead is fraught with challenges, demanding patience and cunning. Though Margaret often resorts to ruthless vengeance against those she deems traitors, readers cannot help but feel a deep sympathy for her plight. Torn between her responsibilities as a mother and the harsh realities of her position, she grapples with the burden of protecting her family. In this storm of loyalty and ambition, one haunting question lingers: Who will protect Margaret in her time of need?
Anne’s relationship with Margaret is a complex tapestry of emotions, marked by underlying tension and unspoken feelings; they are neither outright friends nor enemies. It takes the entire course of the narrative for them to finally grasp the reality of their connection. Caught in a relentless conflict that offers no victory for either woman, they face the harsh reality of banishment, a fate that looms ominously over them both. The poignant letters that pass between Anne and Margaret reveal their innermost thoughts and vulnerabilities, offering readers a deeper understanding of their characters and transforming their intertwined journeys into an intimate and personal saga.
The historical settings of this era are intricately detailed, as vivid and compelling as the characters themselves. The narrative begins with a stunning “Love Day” procession, masterfully orchestrated by King Henry VI to symbolise reconciliation after the fierce and bloody Battle of St. Albans. This grand event, alive with the buzz of the crowd, the colourful and lavish attire of the participants, and the resplendent architectural details of St. Paul’s Cathedral, serves to immerse the reader in a vibrant period. As the story unfolds, the reader is transported to the grandeur of Warwick and Middleham Castle. London emerges as a powerful hub for the Yorkists, while Scotland becomes a refuge and a crucial staging ground for Queen Margaret’s daring campaign. The opulent halls of Westminster and the coastal strongholds of Dover and Calais are portrayed as a labyrinth of intrigue, ambition, and ever-shifting loyalties. Descriptions of ships braving turbulent seas, the stormy waters crashing against their hulls, and the dramatic French coastline invoke a sensory experience that pulls the reader deeper into this historical drama. As the scene shifts to the Château d’Amboise in France, where the countess and her daughters, cloaked in exile alongside Queen Margaret, find themselves in a place of grandeur that feels paradoxically suffocating. The opulent surroundings of the chateau reflect their gilded cage, underscoring their vulnerability against the larger, tumultuous winds of political fate. Furthermore, the story weaves in references to Burgundy, Ireland, and other significant locations, painting a broader picture of the politics and the high stakes involved in this relentless conflict.
“The Queen and the Countess” by Anne O’Brien is a beautifully crafted novel that weaves a tragic yet mesmerising tale. O’Brien’s storytelling captures the complexity of relationships and the weight of ambition, making it an unforgettable reading experience.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde
Yarde Book Reviews & Book Promotion
April 9, 2025
DNF at 35%
I was excited for this book as I enjoyed Anne O'Brien's previous book, THE COURT OF BETRAYAL and also love the Wars of the Roses. I think Anne Beauchamp is a fascinating, often overlooked figure, and was really looking forward to seeing someone take her on.
But this book just didn't work for me.
It took me a while to work out why - the fact that Anne is always at home in and of itself wasn't the issue (I also love Phillipa Gregory's THE WHITE QUEEN series and that likeways has "historically accurate, nearly always away from the battlefield" leads. It was the lack of tension I felt.
This is one of the most tense periods of history, fortunes reversing in a matter of days and constantly. But it's just not harnessing that. There's no build up to these events, no stretching of tension and worry to breaking point as both sides fret about what this means, what can be done if anything to help. There's also very little reaction post battle. Instead it's just racing between the reversals, not letting that tension build then break in waves.
More tension would have really helped engage me, worrying alongside them and then celebrating or commiserating as fortunes reversed (and I think giving Anne some more things, no matter how minor, to engage with events rather than just waving hubby off and then fretting, would have also helped emotional buy-in).
Given I know the history of this period, I'm not continuing as I know what happens and I'm not invested in either woman so why keep reading?
I was excited for this book as I enjoyed Anne O'Brien's previous book, THE COURT OF BETRAYAL and also love the Wars of the Roses. I think Anne Beauchamp is a fascinating, often overlooked figure, and was really looking forward to seeing someone take her on.
But this book just didn't work for me.
It took me a while to work out why - the fact that Anne is always at home in and of itself wasn't the issue (I also love Phillipa Gregory's THE WHITE QUEEN series and that likeways has "historically accurate, nearly always away from the battlefield" leads. It was the lack of tension I felt.
This is one of the most tense periods of history, fortunes reversing in a matter of days and constantly. But it's just not harnessing that. There's no build up to these events, no stretching of tension and worry to breaking point as both sides fret about what this means, what can be done if anything to help. There's also very little reaction post battle. Instead it's just racing between the reversals, not letting that tension build then break in waves.
More tension would have really helped engage me, worrying alongside them and then celebrating or commiserating as fortunes reversed (and I think giving Anne some more things, no matter how minor, to engage with events rather than just waving hubby off and then fretting, would have also helped emotional buy-in).
Given I know the history of this period, I'm not continuing as I know what happens and I'm not invested in either woman so why keep reading?
June 26, 2025
DNF, way too unrealistic for biographical historical fiction. This isn’t supposed to be alternative history. Never mind the fact the queen would never apologize for something so ridiculous, let alone in writing to a women on the other side of the war that she doesn’t trust, and who could show it to anyone… so many things could not be put down on paper. And they put it all down… at a time when people didn’t write letters. Wouldn’t their spies notice the couriers going back and forth between them? So many problems with this book I had to quit. Too bad, I’ve like all her other books that I’ve read l, which is at least half of them, but it makes me wonder now about how realistic they are? I assumed she did her research and tried to make her story fit with the times. Now I doubt.
June 18, 2025
The latest historical-fiction from one of my favourite authors, which takes us back to England of the 1450s. Where Queen Margaret and Anne, Countess of Warwick form a thorny relationship, through brief encounters and imagined letters, across the War of the Roses divide. A cleverly written, gripping tale of power, loyalty, betrayal and loss, that had me gripped from start to finish!*
My full review: https://thebookwormchronicles.wordpre...
*I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from Orion Publishing Group, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.
My full review: https://thebookwormchronicles.wordpre...
*I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from Orion Publishing Group, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 1, 2025
4.5*
Review for Aspects of History Magazine - all views are my own.
The Queen and the Countess is Anne O’Brien’s latest medieval historical fiction, following two women on opposing sides of the Wars of the Roses. Set between the 1450s and 1480s, this novel centres on Margaret of Anjou (Queen of England and wife of Lancaster King Henry VI) and the Countess Anne of Warwick (wife of the Yorkist ‘Kingmaker’ Richard, Earl of Warwick).
Renowned for writing about the overlooked women of medieval history, O’Brien creates an unusual, yet compelling, pairing in her choice of protagonists. Though on opposite sides of the war, Margaret and Anne share many strikingly similar experiences - particularly the uncertainty of motherhood and the loneliness, pain, fear and despondency they must have felt as they awaited the return of their absent husbands. For most of their lives, Margaret and Anne were defined by their titles: Queen, Countess, Wife, Mother. O’Brien doesn’t shy away from this, but she ensures that they are remembered not only for these roles but also for their fortitude, resilience, courage, determination, love and sacrifice.
With rich descriptions of characters, settings, crowds and clothing, this novel immerses readers in both the era and the lives of its complex protagonists. Spanning three decades, it follows Margaret and Anne from Loveday in 1458 – a symbolic reconciliation attempt between the warring Houses, orchestrated by Henry VI – to the far-reaching consequences of the Act of Accord, a pivotal legislation that ultimately leads both families to face exile, violence, and the sorrows of war.
Written in the first person, with each chapter containing the perspectives of both Margaret and Anne, readers gain a unique insight into how these women view themselves and how they are perceived by others. This clever narrative device allows for a deeper understanding of their private and public personas. It is particularly fascinating to see how both women interpret the same events, especially in terms of their perception of power (or lack thereof) and their ability (or inability) to influence outcomes. Bound by societal gender expectations, and often used as pawns in marriage alliances or to secure wealth and titles, O’Brien presents Margaret and Anne as examples of how many women were treated during this period. Yes, despite these constraints, both women continue to fight for their voices and what they are owed.
This novel considers several interesting questions: What is love? Or perhaps, more accurately for women of their status, what is owed to them in marriage? What does it feel like to no longer feel at home in a place you once cherished? And what is it to be a woman reduced to a pawn in a man’s relentless and indiscriminate quest for power and glory?
The Queen and the Countess shows the human cost of the ‘cruel game of crowns and kingdoms’. Whilst this could be seen as a tale of two women who ultimately fall victim of to the ambition of others it is, arguably, the opposite. It is a story of two women who sacrifice everything in their fight to protect their families – and themselves.
Review for Aspects of History Magazine - all views are my own.
The Queen and the Countess is Anne O’Brien’s latest medieval historical fiction, following two women on opposing sides of the Wars of the Roses. Set between the 1450s and 1480s, this novel centres on Margaret of Anjou (Queen of England and wife of Lancaster King Henry VI) and the Countess Anne of Warwick (wife of the Yorkist ‘Kingmaker’ Richard, Earl of Warwick).
Renowned for writing about the overlooked women of medieval history, O’Brien creates an unusual, yet compelling, pairing in her choice of protagonists. Though on opposite sides of the war, Margaret and Anne share many strikingly similar experiences - particularly the uncertainty of motherhood and the loneliness, pain, fear and despondency they must have felt as they awaited the return of their absent husbands. For most of their lives, Margaret and Anne were defined by their titles: Queen, Countess, Wife, Mother. O’Brien doesn’t shy away from this, but she ensures that they are remembered not only for these roles but also for their fortitude, resilience, courage, determination, love and sacrifice.
With rich descriptions of characters, settings, crowds and clothing, this novel immerses readers in both the era and the lives of its complex protagonists. Spanning three decades, it follows Margaret and Anne from Loveday in 1458 – a symbolic reconciliation attempt between the warring Houses, orchestrated by Henry VI – to the far-reaching consequences of the Act of Accord, a pivotal legislation that ultimately leads both families to face exile, violence, and the sorrows of war.
Written in the first person, with each chapter containing the perspectives of both Margaret and Anne, readers gain a unique insight into how these women view themselves and how they are perceived by others. This clever narrative device allows for a deeper understanding of their private and public personas. It is particularly fascinating to see how both women interpret the same events, especially in terms of their perception of power (or lack thereof) and their ability (or inability) to influence outcomes. Bound by societal gender expectations, and often used as pawns in marriage alliances or to secure wealth and titles, O’Brien presents Margaret and Anne as examples of how many women were treated during this period. Yes, despite these constraints, both women continue to fight for their voices and what they are owed.
This novel considers several interesting questions: What is love? Or perhaps, more accurately for women of their status, what is owed to them in marriage? What does it feel like to no longer feel at home in a place you once cherished? And what is it to be a woman reduced to a pawn in a man’s relentless and indiscriminate quest for power and glory?
The Queen and the Countess shows the human cost of the ‘cruel game of crowns and kingdoms’. Whilst this could be seen as a tale of two women who ultimately fall victim of to the ambition of others it is, arguably, the opposite. It is a story of two women who sacrifice everything in their fight to protect their families – and themselves.
March 5, 2025
Medieval wars were not just fought on the battlefield. They also fought in court through marriage alliances and politics. While we often think about wars and men, we should also consider the women who played their parts either in exile or glistening palaces. We often think about medieval queens like Margaret of Anjou as these strong women who fought in their ways, but we have to consider the wife of Richard Neville Earl of Warwick, known as the Kingmaker; her name was Anne Beauchamp Countess of Warwick. The relationship between Margaret of Anjou and Anne Beauchamp has not been discussed much until now. Anne O’Brien tells the stories of these two women and the wars that bound them together in her latest novel, “The Queen and the Countess.”
I want to thank Orion Publishing and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. What attracted me to this novel was the cover at first and then the description. I love reading novels about the Wars of the Roses, so when I saw it was a novel featuring both Margaret of Anjou and Anne Beauchamp Countess of Warwick, it was a must read for me.
We begin in the year 1480 as both Margaret and Anne reflect on their lives while they are in exile. Then, we get a flashback to the famous Love Day “celebration” of 1458, when members of the Lancaster and York families joined hands as a way to try to mend the rift that was bound to tear the country apart. It is the idea of King Henry VI that his wife, Margaret of Anjou, joins hands with the Duke of York. It is a complete and utter failure as the Wars of the Roses kick off in full force. Since the King is very weak, it is Margaret who must take the reigns of government to protect the Lancaster family and the throne for not only her husband but also for their only son, Prince Edward.
On the other side of the conflict is Anne Beauchamp Countess of Warwick, the wife of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, also known as the King Maker. She is the mother of two daughters, Isabel and Anne, but she desires a son. Being on the rebellious Yorkist side means that Anne is directly an enemy of Margaret of Anjou, but something remarkable happens: the two women form a thorny friendship. For over twenty years, the relationship between Anne and Margaret ebbs and flows as the crown passes from Henry VI to Edward IV like a ping-pong ball. Both Anne and Margaret understand what it means to lose their husbands and children whom they love; they know the glory of victory, the terror of defeat, and the uncertainty of being in exile.
I enjoyed this novel very much. It gave more depth and heart to the conflict as a whole, as well as a better understanding of both women. Anne O’Brien was able to create such dynamic characters and a thrilling novel that any fan of medieval novels will enjoy. If you are a fan of novels set during the Wars of the Roses featuring strong women, I highly suggest you read, “The Queen and the Countess” by Anne O’Brien.
I want to thank Orion Publishing and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. What attracted me to this novel was the cover at first and then the description. I love reading novels about the Wars of the Roses, so when I saw it was a novel featuring both Margaret of Anjou and Anne Beauchamp Countess of Warwick, it was a must read for me.
We begin in the year 1480 as both Margaret and Anne reflect on their lives while they are in exile. Then, we get a flashback to the famous Love Day “celebration” of 1458, when members of the Lancaster and York families joined hands as a way to try to mend the rift that was bound to tear the country apart. It is the idea of King Henry VI that his wife, Margaret of Anjou, joins hands with the Duke of York. It is a complete and utter failure as the Wars of the Roses kick off in full force. Since the King is very weak, it is Margaret who must take the reigns of government to protect the Lancaster family and the throne for not only her husband but also for their only son, Prince Edward.
On the other side of the conflict is Anne Beauchamp Countess of Warwick, the wife of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, also known as the King Maker. She is the mother of two daughters, Isabel and Anne, but she desires a son. Being on the rebellious Yorkist side means that Anne is directly an enemy of Margaret of Anjou, but something remarkable happens: the two women form a thorny friendship. For over twenty years, the relationship between Anne and Margaret ebbs and flows as the crown passes from Henry VI to Edward IV like a ping-pong ball. Both Anne and Margaret understand what it means to lose their husbands and children whom they love; they know the glory of victory, the terror of defeat, and the uncertainty of being in exile.
I enjoyed this novel very much. It gave more depth and heart to the conflict as a whole, as well as a better understanding of both women. Anne O’Brien was able to create such dynamic characters and a thrilling novel that any fan of medieval novels will enjoy. If you are a fan of novels set during the Wars of the Roses featuring strong women, I highly suggest you read, “The Queen and the Countess” by Anne O’Brien.
February 10, 2025
Finding the right voice for historical fiction can be very difficult. Sound too modern and it feels very inauthentic but sound too stilted and old fashioned and the same thing can happen. Anne O’Brien is experienced enough to make sure she treads the fine line perfectly and creates a real sense of time and place.
The story is set in the Wars of the Roses and centres around Margaret of Anjou, Queen of Henry VI, and Anne Beauchamp, Countess of Warwick. Both come from powerful families in their own right and now find themselves in the middle of the battle for the crown of England. This is such a complicated time in history and many authors find it hard to keep the timeline straight, particularly since so many people share the same few names, but by focussing on these two women, O’Brien handles it very well. The women are at the heart of what’s happening but slightly removed from the actual action, so they find out what’s happening from rumours and messengers, allowing us to find out at the same time. The impact on their own lives makes clear who is ahead and behind at various points and gives an excellent opportunity to explain the actions of those involved.
The story is very much based on the experience of the women and the men take second place, all of them flawed in their own way. Henry VI is a decent man completely unsuited to being King, his son grows up to be impetuous and obsessed with fighting, and Warwick is arrogant and prone to feeling he is not valued highly enough. Margaret, on the other hand, rules strongly as regent when Henry is unwell and Anne is loyal to her husband but also much more realistic about their own position. An imagined correspondence between the two allows the author to portray how they may have felt both about their own positions and each other.
There is obviously limited information on even the most important women of the era but historical fiction done well can help place them more in their own stories. Anne O’Brien is one of the finest writers in the genre and this is another excellent book. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
The story is set in the Wars of the Roses and centres around Margaret of Anjou, Queen of Henry VI, and Anne Beauchamp, Countess of Warwick. Both come from powerful families in their own right and now find themselves in the middle of the battle for the crown of England. This is such a complicated time in history and many authors find it hard to keep the timeline straight, particularly since so many people share the same few names, but by focussing on these two women, O’Brien handles it very well. The women are at the heart of what’s happening but slightly removed from the actual action, so they find out what’s happening from rumours and messengers, allowing us to find out at the same time. The impact on their own lives makes clear who is ahead and behind at various points and gives an excellent opportunity to explain the actions of those involved.
The story is very much based on the experience of the women and the men take second place, all of them flawed in their own way. Henry VI is a decent man completely unsuited to being King, his son grows up to be impetuous and obsessed with fighting, and Warwick is arrogant and prone to feeling he is not valued highly enough. Margaret, on the other hand, rules strongly as regent when Henry is unwell and Anne is loyal to her husband but also much more realistic about their own position. An imagined correspondence between the two allows the author to portray how they may have felt both about their own positions and each other.
There is obviously limited information on even the most important women of the era but historical fiction done well can help place them more in their own stories. Anne O’Brien is one of the finest writers in the genre and this is another excellent book. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
October 12, 2025
I was really interested in finding out more about Margaret of Anjou and Anne, Countess of Warwick. I was fairly familiar with this period in history but had not read anything about these two ladies. At first, when I saw the book was written in the first person, alternating from the Queen's to the Countess's point of view, I feared it might be confusing, but it was not at all. Anne O'Brien managed to slightly change the style and "voice" of the two protagonists and it was very easy to know who was speaking. Her version of events helped me to understand more clearly episodes I had previously known about, for example, why Edward was so opposed to his brother Clarence wedding Isobel Warwick.
Very little was said about the love between Anne and Richard of Gloucester, but I had read several books about that, so was able to supplement the scant narrative.
At all events, what I found the most interesting and at the end of the story, particularly moving, was the relationship between Anne and Richard Warwick. For our contemporary minds, it is perhaps difficult to truly comprehend how a strong loving bond between people who were married for political reasons could develop. Yet , thanks, no doubt to the writer's skill, it seemed so natural.
This is of course historical fiction, so the correspondence between Margaret and Anne is only an interesting device to make us understand how these two women could find so many points in common even though their political spheres were so totally different.
The book ends with Anne determining to fight on to get her property back; I wonder whether there will be a sequel taking the story on to beyond king Edward and up to Henry VII on the throne. It would be interesting.
This is an easy, though fairly long, book to read but fans of Sharon Penman would enjoy it I think
Very little was said about the love between Anne and Richard of Gloucester, but I had read several books about that, so was able to supplement the scant narrative.
At all events, what I found the most interesting and at the end of the story, particularly moving, was the relationship between Anne and Richard Warwick. For our contemporary minds, it is perhaps difficult to truly comprehend how a strong loving bond between people who were married for political reasons could develop. Yet , thanks, no doubt to the writer's skill, it seemed so natural.
This is of course historical fiction, so the correspondence between Margaret and Anne is only an interesting device to make us understand how these two women could find so many points in common even though their political spheres were so totally different.
The book ends with Anne determining to fight on to get her property back; I wonder whether there will be a sequel taking the story on to beyond king Edward and up to Henry VII on the throne. It would be interesting.
This is an easy, though fairly long, book to read but fans of Sharon Penman would enjoy it I think
February 7, 2025
Anne O’Brien always tells a good story & this novel is no exception. Two women, naturally on opposite sides of the Wars of the Roses, share many similarities. Margaret of Anjou is traditionally known as a powerhouse, refusing to give way & give up what was her husband & son’s right to the throne. Duchess Anne is no less affected by the conflicts, married to the Kingmaker who famously switched sides from York to Lancaster. The fall out from Richard Neville’s actions has far reaching consequences for his family. The two women form a respectful & honest relationship, told in letters to each other as well as the wider narrative. As a traditional Yorkist, I enjoyed reading the story from the opposite point of view, although I haven’t switched camps! I’m left with a lingering sadness for the women who had no choice in how their lives played out.
March 9, 2025
Margaret of Anjou is queen of England but her husband is ineffective and is deposed. Now Margaret must fight against the usurpers to restore the throne for her son. Anne Beauchamp is Countess of Warwick and her powerful husband has supported the enemies of the rightful king. She must protect her daughters as politics swirls. Both women are tied to their families and are on opposing sides but they may have to work together for peace.
This is another excellent novel from O'Brien which tells the story of the Cousins War from a different perspective. Although not as overly 'romantic' as her previous novels, this is a fairly sanitised version of the tale with no scenes of fighting or bloodshed. What it does do is shed light on the impotence of women at the time and how beholden they were to the males in their family.
This is another excellent novel from O'Brien which tells the story of the Cousins War from a different perspective. Although not as overly 'romantic' as her previous novels, this is a fairly sanitised version of the tale with no scenes of fighting or bloodshed. What it does do is shed light on the impotence of women at the time and how beholden they were to the males in their family.
March 16, 2025
Another fascinating insight into the lives of two formidable women in history from author Anne O'Brien. This book is set during the War of the Roses and features Anne Beauchamp and Margaret of Anjou.
I enjoy O'Brien's immersive writing style and meticulous research into the lives of these two women bringing them back into prominence. This novel gave me a greater understanding of this time period and added depth to the characters of these two resilient and pragmatic women.
Thank you to Orion Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me with a complimentary copy for review consideration.
I enjoy O'Brien's immersive writing style and meticulous research into the lives of these two women bringing them back into prominence. This novel gave me a greater understanding of this time period and added depth to the characters of these two resilient and pragmatic women.
Thank you to Orion Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me with a complimentary copy for review consideration.
January 27, 2025
I enjoy Anne's books, highlighting the often forgotten women in history. This book is set during the War of Roses, focusing on 2 women on opposite sides of the battle for the crown - Anne Beauchamp the countess of Warwick and Margaret D'Anjou.
The story is told from both their perspectives, with an uneasy correspondence between the 2 tying it together. For some reason it took me a while to get into it but once I did I enjoyed it. It's not the author's best book but it was interesting to see this period of history from a different viewpoint.
The story is told from both their perspectives, with an uneasy correspondence between the 2 tying it together. For some reason it took me a while to get into it but once I did I enjoyed it. It's not the author's best book but it was interesting to see this period of history from a different viewpoint.
November 12, 2025
This book revolves around what’s as far as I can tell, is a completely fictional relationship and correspondence between the two main POVs. Usually I don’t mind a bit of artistic license, but this one seemed really to be a stretch.
Speaking of stretch. Wowowee this book was unnecessarily long. You really lost me there.
But it was okay i guess. And I finished it. And i do feel i learnt more about the War of the Roses
3/5 stars 🌟
Speaking of stretch. Wowowee this book was unnecessarily long. You really lost me there.
But it was okay i guess. And I finished it. And i do feel i learnt more about the War of the Roses
3/5 stars 🌟
December 20, 2025
Interesting viewpoints.
The wife of Warwick is seldom mentioned in History, but this 'personal' viewpoint of the War of the Roses gives a fascinatingly fresh insight to the conflict.
Much more is known about Queen Margaret, (She Wolf), but this 'personal ' perspective was intruiging. If you enjoy Phillippa Gregory's historical novels, you will most likely enjoy this 'woman centered' perspective.
The wife of Warwick is seldom mentioned in History, but this 'personal' viewpoint of the War of the Roses gives a fascinatingly fresh insight to the conflict.
Much more is known about Queen Margaret, (She Wolf), but this 'personal ' perspective was intruiging. If you enjoy Phillippa Gregory's historical novels, you will most likely enjoy this 'woman centered' perspective.
June 26, 2025
Set between 1458 and 1480 this is the story of the imaginary friendship/exchange of letters between Anne, Duchess of Warwick and Queen Margaret wife of King Henry VI, who are on opposing sides in the War of the Roses. As usual, the author gives us a good social history of the time and the novel is well researched historically, it just didn’t grab me like some of her other books did.
April 11, 2025
D.N.F just not forme
August 31, 2025
great book one the mother of the last Lancaster prince of Wales the other the grandmother of the last York Prince of Wales
February 27, 2025
A great novel! I think it was a very good idea to write this story through two powerful women! This way, the reader is more intimately linked to their lives as to their hopes, feelings and wants. This was fascinating as nowadays we definitely don't perceive life-planning the same way...
The Queen and the Countess are powerful, yes, but they will learn that power is relative. First, because they are "simply" women, second because of their absolute desire to remain in power despite many odds and whi holds the reins right now. One might find both women despicable: don't they have any feelings, integrity? Their upbringing was not based on emotional bonding, but rather on political bonding. They can't trust anyone because they can't be trusted.... Could both women become friends? Definitely not in our modern definition, I would say! However, they do need a friend!!
I found this novel very interesting and compelling even though I knew about that part of history. I have enjoyed it as much as I have enjoyed all books by the author.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.
The Queen and the Countess are powerful, yes, but they will learn that power is relative. First, because they are "simply" women, second because of their absolute desire to remain in power despite many odds and whi holds the reins right now. One might find both women despicable: don't they have any feelings, integrity? Their upbringing was not based on emotional bonding, but rather on political bonding. They can't trust anyone because they can't be trusted.... Could both women become friends? Definitely not in our modern definition, I would say! However, they do need a friend!!
I found this novel very interesting and compelling even though I knew about that part of history. I have enjoyed it as much as I have enjoyed all books by the author.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews