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Kingmaker #4
Kingdom Come
1470
The recent tensions between King Edward and his great ally the Earl of Warwick lie forgotten these past months, but even as winter tightens her grip on the land, the peace is shattered by a vicious attack on one of the King’s allies.
Long buried secrets are brought to the surface, and Thomas and Katherine must finally decide where their loyalties lie and to choose between fight or flight, knowing either choice will incur a terrible price.
From Lincoln to Bruges, from Barnet to the great battle at Tewkesbury, both must play their part in one of the most savage wars in history.
The wars of the roses.
Toby Clements does it again with another powerhouse of a book: thrilling and literate, engaging, passionate, deeply moving and full of historical detail of the sort that fills me with awe for the fortitude of our ancestors and yet makes me so glad I live in the safety of the twenty-first century. This is going to be one of the stellar series of our generation, redefining that period of history that we think we know, and discover we really don’t. Bravo!
- Manda Scott
The recent tensions between King Edward and his great ally the Earl of Warwick lie forgotten these past months, but even as winter tightens her grip on the land, the peace is shattered by a vicious attack on one of the King’s allies.
Long buried secrets are brought to the surface, and Thomas and Katherine must finally decide where their loyalties lie and to choose between fight or flight, knowing either choice will incur a terrible price.
From Lincoln to Bruges, from Barnet to the great battle at Tewkesbury, both must play their part in one of the most savage wars in history.
The wars of the roses.
Toby Clements does it again with another powerhouse of a book: thrilling and literate, engaging, passionate, deeply moving and full of historical detail of the sort that fills me with awe for the fortitude of our ancestors and yet makes me so glad I live in the safety of the twenty-first century. This is going to be one of the stellar series of our generation, redefining that period of history that we think we know, and discover we really don’t. Bravo!
- Manda Scott
464 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2017
36 people are currently reading
301 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
August 24, 2025
This wonderful book is the 4th and regrettably the final volume of the incredible "Kingmaker" series by the author Toby Clements.
The book is of a superb quality and it gives the reader an enormous thrill and satisfaction when reading this splendid tale.
Like it predecessors this book also contains a beautifully expounded author's note at the end of the book, while at the beginning you'll find once more the Family Tree of Edward III, with interwoven the Houses of York, Lancaster and Tudor, while there's also a wonderful detailed map with a "List of Battles", as well as a great list of the cast of Major Historical Figures.
Great storytelling is once again of a top-notch quality from this author, for he really makes this book such a joy to read, because he produces believable life-like characters, whether they are real or fictional figures, and they come all vividly to life within this astounding story of heroics, treachery, fear and courage between all the people involved.
Within this maelstrom of battles and slaughter between different factions, our main fictional characters, Thomas and Katherine Everingham of Marton Hall, must come to terms with these circumstances and their surroundings, and especially hope to make the right decisions for their future.
We have now come into the year AD 1470 and England is still in turmoil with King Edward IV on the throne but attempts to regain the throne are to be made not only by the Lancastrian claimants under the guidance of Margaret of Anjou, wife of King Henry VI, and her son Prince Edward of Westminster, but also by the "Kingmaker", the Earl of Warwick, who is scheming with George, the Duke of Clarence, who's Edward IV's brother, by getting this same George on the throne as King of England.
What will follow is that after an exile in Holland and Flanders King Edward IV will return to England to reclaim his crown, and so after assembling his armies he will fight his enemies at the Battle of Barnet first, in AD 1470, and after that the decisive battle of Tewkesbury in AD 1471 to become at that particular moment of history the undisputed King of England.
Highly recommended, for this book is absolutely astonishing and in my mind it deserves to be called: "A Fantastic Fitting End"!
The book is of a superb quality and it gives the reader an enormous thrill and satisfaction when reading this splendid tale.
Like it predecessors this book also contains a beautifully expounded author's note at the end of the book, while at the beginning you'll find once more the Family Tree of Edward III, with interwoven the Houses of York, Lancaster and Tudor, while there's also a wonderful detailed map with a "List of Battles", as well as a great list of the cast of Major Historical Figures.
Great storytelling is once again of a top-notch quality from this author, for he really makes this book such a joy to read, because he produces believable life-like characters, whether they are real or fictional figures, and they come all vividly to life within this astounding story of heroics, treachery, fear and courage between all the people involved.
Within this maelstrom of battles and slaughter between different factions, our main fictional characters, Thomas and Katherine Everingham of Marton Hall, must come to terms with these circumstances and their surroundings, and especially hope to make the right decisions for their future.
We have now come into the year AD 1470 and England is still in turmoil with King Edward IV on the throne but attempts to regain the throne are to be made not only by the Lancastrian claimants under the guidance of Margaret of Anjou, wife of King Henry VI, and her son Prince Edward of Westminster, but also by the "Kingmaker", the Earl of Warwick, who is scheming with George, the Duke of Clarence, who's Edward IV's brother, by getting this same George on the throne as King of England.
What will follow is that after an exile in Holland and Flanders King Edward IV will return to England to reclaim his crown, and so after assembling his armies he will fight his enemies at the Battle of Barnet first, in AD 1470, and after that the decisive battle of Tewkesbury in AD 1471 to become at that particular moment of history the undisputed King of England.
Highly recommended, for this book is absolutely astonishing and in my mind it deserves to be called: "A Fantastic Fitting End"!
January 3, 2018
Sensational conclusion to the series! Powerful writing. Deeply affecting.
September 4, 2018
While I very much enjoyed the series by the fourth book it had all begun to feel a little stale. All in all though I cared enough about the characters to see where they landed at the through the war of the roses. Read the first would be my advice for excellent taut historical fiction at its best.
April 25, 2020
Good but could have been better.
The writing in present tense grated on me so that I didn't always know which 'he' we were talking about and whose PoV i was supposed to be in. Present tense is not always a bad thing if done well, but i think this book would have been more reader friendly had it been in past.
I liked the premise, i think that was a great idea especially with the mysterious ledger at the centre of it all. The characters, Thomas and Catherine did not always warm me and their fight for survival was a little too over the top at times but i did find myself thinking, 'oh God!' at crucial parts of the story, rooting for them. I think the author wrote them cleverly, giving them 'real' personalities, but as i said, I didn't really warm to them or any of them for that matter.
I think this author will go on to write more books that will be very popular, especially among the medievalist/warsoftherosesfans and will do well. his ability to make your ears prick up at a nailbiting scene is truly amazing and I would read another if he decides to write in past tense this time.
The writing in present tense grated on me so that I didn't always know which 'he' we were talking about and whose PoV i was supposed to be in. Present tense is not always a bad thing if done well, but i think this book would have been more reader friendly had it been in past.
I liked the premise, i think that was a great idea especially with the mysterious ledger at the centre of it all. The characters, Thomas and Catherine did not always warm me and their fight for survival was a little too over the top at times but i did find myself thinking, 'oh God!' at crucial parts of the story, rooting for them. I think the author wrote them cleverly, giving them 'real' personalities, but as i said, I didn't really warm to them or any of them for that matter.
I think this author will go on to write more books that will be very popular, especially among the medievalist/warsoftherosesfans and will do well. his ability to make your ears prick up at a nailbiting scene is truly amazing and I would read another if he decides to write in past tense this time.
February 18, 2018
This will get you through the Game of Thrones drought of 2018!
June 15, 2019
An ok addition to an average epic.
July 29, 2022
The fourth and final book of the Kingmaker series. Nothing makes our times look so good as reading about life in 15th century England during the War of the Roses. I love how the author places his lead characters (the apostate monk and nun who are now married with children) among real historical figures and real historical events. His fictional characters fill in gaps in the record. Thomas and Katharine are often pawns in the power plays of the "gentles" and constantly have to weigh what side to support, when, in order to stay alive. At a critical point in a battle bungled by the leaders, Thomas reflects. "It is the first unfolding of a catastrophe no man can believe will happen to him: that his life will end in ignominy because of a silly mistake." And yet, it happens, then as now.
Half the males at the time bore the same names, it seems, and lacked surnames, so people used various descriptors to signify who exactly they were talking about. E.g., Bald John, John Stumps (an amputee), and my favorite, John-Who-Was-Stabbed-By-His-Priest.
An excellent series that really brings the times alive.
Half the males at the time bore the same names, it seems, and lacked surnames, so people used various descriptors to signify who exactly they were talking about. E.g., Bald John, John Stumps (an amputee), and my favorite, John-Who-Was-Stabbed-By-His-Priest.
An excellent series that really brings the times alive.
January 1, 2026
Bit cheeky to pretend I read this in 2026, when I finished it on New Year's Day. This proved a fitting end to an excellent series. Perhaps I liked it even more as it's largely set in my home county, but the action and characters are rich. I learned a lot from this series, despite thinking I knew most of what there was to know about the War of the Roses / Cousins' War. It's clearly very well researched, and a shame that more people haven't read this series.
February 17, 2025
Puiki serija apie Rožių karus. T. Clements koncentruojasi į paprastesnių žmonių gyvenimą, nors jie irgi momentais labai priartėja prie to meto galingiausių. Mano skoniui gal kiek per smulkiai aprašyti mūšiai, bet turbūt kitaip ir negalėjo būti
February 4, 2024
The final instalment of the Kingmaker series and it didn't disappoint.
April 14, 2021
An absolutely superb end to an enthralling series. One of the best historical fiction series set during the wars of the roses I’ve ever read. Clements does well (throughout the series) to keep his fictional characters at the forefront of the novels, relegating the true historical characters of the period to provide an intriguing backdrop.
The wars of the roses was a tumultuous time in English medieval history, jumping intermittently from fragile peace to full-scale war in the blink of an eye, over a long period of time. Many historical fiction writers tend to base their own stories from the fall of the English provinces in France to Bosworth in a neat little bow, throwing the fictional parts in to suit. This in itself isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I just think that when this method is executed, a lot of key moments during the war are skimmed over — or poorly utilised to bolster the author’s fictional side.
Clements doesn’t do this, which is very refreshing. He manages to keep your attention fixed solely on his wonderful characters and settings, at the same time, subtly throwing in developments regarding the power struggles between the Yorkists and Lancastrians.
I hope Toby Clements begins a new historical fiction series. I’m somewhat disappointed I’ve finished this one...
Thoroughly recommend!!
The wars of the roses was a tumultuous time in English medieval history, jumping intermittently from fragile peace to full-scale war in the blink of an eye, over a long period of time. Many historical fiction writers tend to base their own stories from the fall of the English provinces in France to Bosworth in a neat little bow, throwing the fictional parts in to suit. This in itself isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I just think that when this method is executed, a lot of key moments during the war are skimmed over — or poorly utilised to bolster the author’s fictional side.
Clements doesn’t do this, which is very refreshing. He manages to keep your attention fixed solely on his wonderful characters and settings, at the same time, subtly throwing in developments regarding the power struggles between the Yorkists and Lancastrians.
I hope Toby Clements begins a new historical fiction series. I’m somewhat disappointed I’ve finished this one...
Thoroughly recommend!!
October 14, 2019
I have loved this series - it's quite immersive, you do feel that it's well grounded in the period, and I got very fond of Thomas and Katherine. However, I found the end quite disappointing. Yes of course I want it to end happily for them, but the ending felt rushed. I want to know whether Thomas told Katherine who she was, and what she thought about it. I want to know how Jack and John Stumps were. And how did Thomas get away in the end with holding property while being a cleric? Mostly, I wanted more character time and less fighting. I'm sure the fighting was impeccably researched, but it doesn't really interest me much. Katherine was a shadow of her former self in this last installment, and while that's understandable given she lost a baby, it's still disappointing.
May 30, 2018
Oh Thomas and Catherine - how I'm going to miss you and your adventures. I just adore this series and have to say that Clements has shown himself as not only a master storyteller but an outstanding researcher of this subject.
A brilliant conclusion to the series. I never get tired of stories from this era and superb offerings like this series from the author only serve to satisfy my appetite for it and then leave me wanting more.
What next Mr Clements? Please hurry and bring more of your brilliance to print - thank you :)
A brilliant conclusion to the series. I never get tired of stories from this era and superb offerings like this series from the author only serve to satisfy my appetite for it and then leave me wanting more.
What next Mr Clements? Please hurry and bring more of your brilliance to print - thank you :)
April 2, 2023
It’s 1470 and Catherine and Thomas are startled when a small rebellion breaks out in Lincoln that seems a dedicated attack on one of King Edward’s men. Not soon after, it is rumoured that the Duke of Warwick is behind the scheme and a lawyer comes to threaten to evict them from Martin Hall, their home. Thomas must once again seek out Lord Hastings in the hope that he can mediate, while the threat of war is again getting a little closer.
Kingdom come is the last book in the Kingmaker series, and so Barnet is quietly approaching. The book finally solves all the riddles that have been developed in the previous three books. One about Catherine her parents (I had already guessed the outcome during book 1 and am proven right) and about the ledger that they have been trying to hide from both Warwick and Hastings’ bloodhound.
Kingdom come also contains some battle scenes as this was a gruesome episode of the Wars of the Roses with both Barnet and Tewkesbury. But for some reason these chapters didn’t grip me as the Towton battle scene that we had in the first book. As always, the novel has a slow start and picks up more and more as we are nearing the end. The ending for both Catherine and Thomas satisfied me.
This is a good series about the life of the common man during the gruesome Wars of the Roses, but after four books, the story (not yet the wars) comes to an end. And I was fine with that. I don’t know if Toby Clemens still writes books, but this series was very well researched. It just lacked some gripping storytelling at times.
Now that I’ve finished this series, I might finally start Conn Iggulden’s series on the Wars of the Roses, which I’ve always put off because it seemed too similar to this one.
Dutch review:
1470. Catherine en Thomas worden opgeschrikt op Martin Hall wanneer in Lincoln een kleine rebellie uitbreekt op een van koning Edward zijn mannen. Er gaan geruchten dat de hertog van Warwick erachter zit. Niet veel later komt er een advocaat dreigen hen uit hun huis te zetten. En dus moet Thomas opnieuw op zoek naar Lord Hastings in de hoop dat die kan bemiddelen. Terwijl de dreiging van oorlog alweer wat dichterbij komt.
Kingdom come is het laatste boek in de Kingmaker serie, en dus komt Barnet stilaan in zicht. Het boek lost eindelijk alle raadsels op. Over Catherine haar ouders (had ik al geraden, maar toch) en over The ledger.
Het verhaal bevat daarnaast heel wat veldslagen, die me deze keer wat meer tegenstaken om een of andere reden. Het boek komt zoals steeds valstraag op gang en toch komt het einde heel snel.
Dit is een goede serie over het leven van de gewone man tijdens de gruwelijke rozenoorlogen, maar na vier boeken komt er een einde aan het verhaal (nog niet aan de oorlogen). En dat vond ik prima zo.
Ik weet niet of Toby Clemens nog boeken schrijft, maar deze was heel goed onderzocht. Het miste gewoon soms wat pakkende storytelling.
Nu ik deze serie uit heb, kan ik ook eens beginnen aan de serie van Iggulden over de Rozenoorlogen.
Kingdom come is the last book in the Kingmaker series, and so Barnet is quietly approaching. The book finally solves all the riddles that have been developed in the previous three books. One about Catherine her parents (I had already guessed the outcome during book 1 and am proven right) and about the ledger that they have been trying to hide from both Warwick and Hastings’ bloodhound.
Kingdom come also contains some battle scenes as this was a gruesome episode of the Wars of the Roses with both Barnet and Tewkesbury. But for some reason these chapters didn’t grip me as the Towton battle scene that we had in the first book. As always, the novel has a slow start and picks up more and more as we are nearing the end. The ending for both Catherine and Thomas satisfied me.
This is a good series about the life of the common man during the gruesome Wars of the Roses, but after four books, the story (not yet the wars) comes to an end. And I was fine with that. I don’t know if Toby Clemens still writes books, but this series was very well researched. It just lacked some gripping storytelling at times.
Now that I’ve finished this series, I might finally start Conn Iggulden’s series on the Wars of the Roses, which I’ve always put off because it seemed too similar to this one.
Dutch review:
1470. Catherine en Thomas worden opgeschrikt op Martin Hall wanneer in Lincoln een kleine rebellie uitbreekt op een van koning Edward zijn mannen. Er gaan geruchten dat de hertog van Warwick erachter zit. Niet veel later komt er een advocaat dreigen hen uit hun huis te zetten. En dus moet Thomas opnieuw op zoek naar Lord Hastings in de hoop dat die kan bemiddelen. Terwijl de dreiging van oorlog alweer wat dichterbij komt.
Kingdom come is het laatste boek in de Kingmaker serie, en dus komt Barnet stilaan in zicht. Het boek lost eindelijk alle raadsels op. Over Catherine haar ouders (had ik al geraden, maar toch) en over The ledger.
Het verhaal bevat daarnaast heel wat veldslagen, die me deze keer wat meer tegenstaken om een of andere reden. Het boek komt zoals steeds valstraag op gang en toch komt het einde heel snel.
Dit is een goede serie over het leven van de gewone man tijdens de gruwelijke rozenoorlogen, maar na vier boeken komt er een einde aan het verhaal (nog niet aan de oorlogen). En dat vond ik prima zo.
Ik weet niet of Toby Clemens nog boeken schrijft, maar deze was heel goed onderzocht. Het miste gewoon soms wat pakkende storytelling.
Nu ik deze serie uit heb, kan ik ook eens beginnen aan de serie van Iggulden over de Rozenoorlogen.
October 14, 2024
My comments here relate to the whole four book series.
You will rarely read a series of books where the heroes (Thomas and Katherine) as wimpy and stupid as these. All four books are pretty much identical plots where the heroes pasts and enemies keep coming to kill them....and of course the heroes don't have the wit or gumption to kill the enemies when they have the chance to.....why? Because there would be no plot otherwise. The protagonists are the most irritating to read about that I have ever encountered. I was seriously hoping they would be killed by one or more of their evil enemies.
Having said that the books, are a damned good read.....set in the Wars of the Roses with all the turmoil and fog of endless wars and battles, with evil scheming turncoats and kings. Indeed all the nobles, on both sides are disgusting human beings but have the power of life and death over the peasantry. And the clergy are no better....a more unchristian lot you would never meet....although today's American 'peacemakers' i.e. warmongers are no different.
My conclusion: definitely a page turner, complex and interesting plots, grounded in the battles of the 1450s and 1460s. Great descriptive but gruesome description of live for peasantry and nobles of the period. In some of the battles the descriptions make it seem as though you were actually there watching.
You will rarely read a series of books where the heroes (Thomas and Katherine) as wimpy and stupid as these. All four books are pretty much identical plots where the heroes pasts and enemies keep coming to kill them....and of course the heroes don't have the wit or gumption to kill the enemies when they have the chance to.....why? Because there would be no plot otherwise. The protagonists are the most irritating to read about that I have ever encountered. I was seriously hoping they would be killed by one or more of their evil enemies.
Having said that the books, are a damned good read.....set in the Wars of the Roses with all the turmoil and fog of endless wars and battles, with evil scheming turncoats and kings. Indeed all the nobles, on both sides are disgusting human beings but have the power of life and death over the peasantry. And the clergy are no better....a more unchristian lot you would never meet....although today's American 'peacemakers' i.e. warmongers are no different.
My conclusion: definitely a page turner, complex and interesting plots, grounded in the battles of the 1450s and 1460s. Great descriptive but gruesome description of live for peasantry and nobles of the period. In some of the battles the descriptions make it seem as though you were actually there watching.
August 3, 2025
I have read all the other books in this series and am sad that this is the final one. This is not the period in history that I know the best (that would be the Tudors, particularly the Henry VIII times) but The War Of The Roses is fascinating especially to someone from Yorkshire. I thought all the characters in this book were well written and I thought the deaths were dealt with compassionately. I think my favourite character was Katherine as she was intelligent and not afraid to stand up for herself but wasn't so feisty that she would have doomed herself amongst the extremely male-orientated society of the time. It's interesting to read about characters who interacted with the nobility but who weren't nobility themselves, or servants. I found the plot thrilling and I enjoyed the ending as well which I have traditionally struggled with, especially the ending of a series, but I didn't feel like the answers were spoon-fed to me, nor were things left unresolved. I recommend the series but I think you have to read them in order to get the most out of them.
February 8, 2025
A good end to an enjoyable series. The Kingmaker quartet of novels takes us from Towton to Tewkesbury 1460-71 during the tumultuous Wars of the Roses. Clements uses this dramatic historical background to tell the story of two ordinary people, Thomas and Katherine, whose lives are shaped by being caught up in the dynastic conflict between Lancaster and York.
I'd advise reading the books in order for continuity.While the series is largely about war and power struggles between Important People, following Thomas and Katherine brings home to readers their impact on the humble folk who just want to live in peace and security with adequate living standards and freedom to be with those they love and raise families.
Battle scenes are intense and depictions of Edward IV, Warwick, Hastings etc interesting , but common people like Thomas and Katherine are interesting for their ordinariness, their often brutal conditions, lack of proper medicines and healthcare, the way constant strife and fear wear people down, the danger of doing or saying the wrong thing and how whims of the rich and powerful have devastating impact on the people who make up the majority of the population. All sadly relevant to our own divided times.
What a marvelous TV series could be made from these books!
I'd advise reading the books in order for continuity.While the series is largely about war and power struggles between Important People, following Thomas and Katherine brings home to readers their impact on the humble folk who just want to live in peace and security with adequate living standards and freedom to be with those they love and raise families.
Battle scenes are intense and depictions of Edward IV, Warwick, Hastings etc interesting , but common people like Thomas and Katherine are interesting for their ordinariness, their often brutal conditions, lack of proper medicines and healthcare, the way constant strife and fear wear people down, the danger of doing or saying the wrong thing and how whims of the rich and powerful have devastating impact on the people who make up the majority of the population. All sadly relevant to our own divided times.
What a marvelous TV series could be made from these books!
January 8, 2018
Toby Clements is a brilliant writer. He writes in the present tense which is hard to do, but extremely effective as it makes the action scenes (of which there are many) so immediate and vivid. This is the concluding part of the story of two ordinary people during the Wars of the Roses, which makes a change from historical novels about the major characters such as the kings and queens and other nobles. It really brings to life the hardships that ordinary people suffered because of the conflicts regarding who should be on the throne. It is realistic and believable - most ordinary people probably just wanted to be left in peace to live their lives. The storyline is excellent as well, intriguing and with a satisfying conclusion. There is mystery, romance, happiness, tragedy, all of life in the story of Katherine and Thomas and they are characters whom we care about from the start.
January 9, 2021
And so this great series comes to an end. The later books never quite reached the heights of the first book but they were all entertaining, well written and evocative.
This final book did feel a little contrived at times as the plot was manipulated to place Thomas and Katherine at the heart of events. However, those events were so well described and the characters so well drawn I was soon pulled into the story.
This whole series has been superb at depicting the harsh reality of the brutality of fighting battles. This time the fighting moves away from the archers and focuses instead on the armoured knights, bringing the battle even more up close and personal.
I loved the enigmatic Wilkes, was amused by the final reveal of Katherine's parentage, and I was glad to see the back of that ledger!
Looking forward to more works by this author in the future.
This final book did feel a little contrived at times as the plot was manipulated to place Thomas and Katherine at the heart of events. However, those events were so well described and the characters so well drawn I was soon pulled into the story.
This whole series has been superb at depicting the harsh reality of the brutality of fighting battles. This time the fighting moves away from the archers and focuses instead on the armoured knights, bringing the battle even more up close and personal.
I loved the enigmatic Wilkes, was amused by the final reveal of Katherine's parentage, and I was glad to see the back of that ledger!
Looking forward to more works by this author in the future.
December 26, 2020
The final, and probably best, part of Toby Clements' masterly tale of the War of The Roses.
Once again Thomas and Katherine's world is turned upside down as their allegiance is tested to the absolute limit and they pay a mighty price for that loyalty. Historical research is spot on and the story is told with great empathy.
What happened at the Battle of Tewkesbury is well known, the telling of it here is beautifully done. the many threads of Thomas and Katherine's story come together in an unexpected way so no spoilers.
It is an epic series but well worth the listening to. Narration by Jack Hawkins adds immeasurably to the story.
Once again Thomas and Katherine's world is turned upside down as their allegiance is tested to the absolute limit and they pay a mighty price for that loyalty. Historical research is spot on and the story is told with great empathy.
What happened at the Battle of Tewkesbury is well known, the telling of it here is beautifully done. the many threads of Thomas and Katherine's story come together in an unexpected way so no spoilers.
It is an epic series but well worth the listening to. Narration by Jack Hawkins adds immeasurably to the story.
April 8, 2021
This is a well-researched and absorbing story, as were the previous books on this period. The plot is marvellously complex and had me guessing until the end. The only reservations I have are on the cutting of Catherine's ear, which would have been difficult to hide in the ensuing years, so probably should not have been in the story, and the ledger - which Toby admitted in his notes is rather tiring. Otherwise I would love to read further books in a similar vein, as I am only interested in historical novels, particularly with the Covid pandemic encouraging me to find escape in an absorbing story set in simpler (though equally difficult) times.
January 27, 2025
An excellent final entry in the Kingmaker series which wraps everything up nicely. Plenty of action and ups and downs which all add up a very fast paced drama, superbly set in the Wars of the Roses. The historical accuracy and sense of time and place are what made this series really special for me - it's such a complicated period of history but this really lays it out well and makes it all easy to follow through the characters of Thomas and Katherine. Can't recommend them highly enough for any fans of historical fiction, especially the likes of Ken Follett - superb.
I listened to the audio version of these books and the narration is perfect too.
I listened to the audio version of these books and the narration is perfect too.
January 18, 2026
Finished the last book of this saga a a loved it,
Loved the way it’s written, the stories it tells, and more importantly for me, from the point of view of normal people just you and me, people whose concerns was not who wore the shiny hat but if the crops would be ruined by the troops, if their husbands and sons would come back from the war, if tomorrow’s weather would be mild to work the field
The historic background is fully researched and this is something I really liked throughout the 4 books: the perfect combination of fiction and non fiction facts
I might re read the books again at some point
For now - 5 stars and round of applause.
Loved the way it’s written, the stories it tells, and more importantly for me, from the point of view of normal people just you and me, people whose concerns was not who wore the shiny hat but if the crops would be ruined by the troops, if their husbands and sons would come back from the war, if tomorrow’s weather would be mild to work the field
The historic background is fully researched and this is something I really liked throughout the 4 books: the perfect combination of fiction and non fiction facts
I might re read the books again at some point
For now - 5 stars and round of applause.
April 20, 2023
Satisfying conclusion to this excellent series. As other reviewers have commented I would have liked a bit more detail at the end but I suppose most ends were tied up sufficiently. I wonder if Toby Clements will write about Richard 111 - Rufus will have grown up by 1483. The ledger will be relevant again then too. I will enjoy reading it if he does write that book.
I listened to the whole of this series on Audible and commend the narrator, Jack Hawkins,who made even the duller parts interesting.
I listened to the whole of this series on Audible and commend the narrator, Jack Hawkins,who made even the duller parts interesting.
January 12, 2018
This was a most satisfying conclusion to the series. The only disappointment for me was that I had forgotten too much of what had happened in the previous three volumes. I could have done with a short preface telling the story so far. Toby Clements tells a very engaging story and the nice little twist regarding Katherine's background is quite touching. This can be read as a stand alone story but it is worthwhile to read all four volumes.
April 22, 2018
Any chance to give 6 stars to this series! Maybe the best war of roses saga I’ve came across! Just wondering whether will see more of Thomas and Katherine during the downfall of King Edward and Hastings! That would be a remarkable story.
I love all series books, I could not choose one as the best, but the first one and all the drama that leads to Towton is superb.
Thomas and Kat! What a set of characters! Awesome! Great book, fantastic saga!
I love all series books, I could not choose one as the best, but the first one and all the drama that leads to Towton is superb.
Thomas and Kat! What a set of characters! Awesome! Great book, fantastic saga!
April 29, 2022
Couldn't put it down
Totally engrossing. Although I don't usually care for reading a story written in the present tense, once I got past that, I found that I was completely drawn into the world of Thomas and Katherine. I read all four books because I just had to know what happened to them! I learned a little bit of 15th century medical hygiene practices and weaponry too. Well done, Toby Clements
Totally engrossing. Although I don't usually care for reading a story written in the present tense, once I got past that, I found that I was completely drawn into the world of Thomas and Katherine. I read all four books because I just had to know what happened to them! I learned a little bit of 15th century medical hygiene practices and weaponry too. Well done, Toby Clements
September 30, 2017
End of a brilliant series
Highly recommend the series for fans of historic fiction. A very honest walk through some social history of the 15th century, and how people (low and high) were affected by the conflicts; yet never far away from the principle figures of the period, or the action, climaxing with the major clashes of the late-middle wars of the roses.
Highly recommend the series for fans of historic fiction. A very honest walk through some social history of the 15th century, and how people (low and high) were affected by the conflicts; yet never far away from the principle figures of the period, or the action, climaxing with the major clashes of the late-middle wars of the roses.
June 6, 2018
Final book in the series of four.
As with the previous three, some nice historical details. The book is fast paced, action packed and does a good job trying to make sense of a very confusing period of English History. I thought it ended quite abruptly with part of the story solved but not really resolved. Perhaps he is leaving it open for the possibility of another book?
As with the previous three, some nice historical details. The book is fast paced, action packed and does a good job trying to make sense of a very confusing period of English History. I thought it ended quite abruptly with part of the story solved but not really resolved. Perhaps he is leaving it open for the possibility of another book?
May 26, 2023
It kept me interested through the series
It’s always fun to watch the characters try to resolve their truly dangerous and difficult problems. Throughout the series, you grow to truly care about them. Given the title, I did rather expect more on Warwick, but while he moved a lot of the action, he was ultimately peripheral to the story. Excellent battle descriptions and scenes.
It’s always fun to watch the characters try to resolve their truly dangerous and difficult problems. Throughout the series, you grow to truly care about them. Given the title, I did rather expect more on Warwick, but while he moved a lot of the action, he was ultimately peripheral to the story. Excellent battle descriptions and scenes.
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