The Queen of Last Hopes: The Story of Margaret of Anjou

by Susan Higginbotham

A man other than my husband sits on England's throne today.

What would happen if this king suddenly went mad? What would his queen do? Would she make the same mistakes I did, or would she learn from mine?

Margaret of Anjou, queen of England, cannot give up on her husband-even when he slips into insanity. And as mother to the House of Lancaster's last hope, she cannot give up on her son-even when England turns against them. This gripping tale of a queen forced to stand strong in the face of overwhelming odds is at its heart a tender tale of love.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, British Literature, Medieval, 15th Century, Royalty

345 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Welcome! I write historical fiction and nonfiction set in medieval and Tudor England and, most recently, nineteenth-century America.

As a writer of biographical fiction, one of my main goals is to avoid the stereotypes, myths, and misconceptions that have gathered around historical figures over the centuries. At the same time, I strive to remain true to known historical facts and to the mores of the times in which my characters lived. I use both primary sources and modern historical research to bring my characters to life.

Reviews

[Susan]

Well, I wrote it, but it is on my bookshelf!

[Orsolya · Rating 4 out of 5]

History tends to remember King Henry VI merely as a “mad king” and his French, fiery wife Margaret of Anjou as a staunch fighter for the Lancastrian cause while the Yorkists took the lead. As with everything in life; there are two sides to every story. Susan Higginbotham explores the often lesser depicted side of Margaret of Anjou in, “The Queen of Last Hopes”.

“The Queen of Last Hopes” follows typical Higginbotham protocol by spending what feels like a lengthy time (approximately 100 pages in this case) procuring the setting and background of the novel before events truly begin to stir. Some readers may find this to be slow and tedious but Higginbotham’s writing and the apparent undercurrents keep the pace moving.

Higginbotham focuses more on history than on fictional fluff which is ideal for history lovers and/or those looking to gain knowledge on the topic. “The Queen of Last Hopes” has depth and intellect making it a solid read. Higginbotham doesn’t dummy down the subject matter or the extensive characters involved (a list of figures is available for reference).

One of the best qualities of “The Queen of Last Hopes” is Higginbotham’s clever and unique look at events and people. Instead of the usual stereotypes; Higginbotham explains actions in a witty and sort of psychological way not often expressed in novels. Even the madness of Henry is portrayed in a more rational way than the view of most authors (we must take a moment to remember that any mental oppression that is commonplace today was considered madness: we would all be considered mad!).

On a negative note, the characters don’t display enough development and Margaret isn’t truly broken down, filtering the reader. This isn’t helped by the fact that chapters progress with time lapses: some portray a matter of days while others are years later. The chapters also alternate between figure view points and narrators but thankfully this opens up the story rather than creating a mess of it.

“The Queen of Last Hopes” is abundant with highly emotional and raw moments which truly transport the reader. None of these are expected and are therefore gripping. Also included in the novel are some of Higginbotham’s usual smart-ass whit and some foreshadowing on history but these are only noticeable to those familiar enough to catch them.

At the halfway point, “The Queen of Last Hopes” becomes detached from the rest of the story by following a romantic angle (between Margaret and the Duke of Somerset); which it had thus far avoided almost like it ‘had’ to be included to satisfy the general reader. Also unwelcome is the overuse of the term “whoreson”. I understand if it was used extensively during that time period but I wanted to scream at its multiple appearances on the pages.

These slight detours can be ignored per the positive effects of surprising readers with new character view points (such as Prince Edward and King Henry) later in the novel; highlighting emotional moments. This rolls into a strong ending for “The Queen of Last Hopes” leaving the novel on a memorable note and arching the plot well.

Worth noting is that Higginbotham’s “Author’s Note” is one of the strongest in HF novels as she addresses each historical liberty she contrived and explains historical details. This is important for both new and familiar readers. Also presented is a short list of sources which is useful for further reading.

Overall, “The Queen of Last Hopes” is an exceptionally great HF novel as it is not only well-written but doesn’t fall victim to the typical stereotypes and instead presents characters and story angles from a different perspective. “The Queen of Last Hopes” is one of Higgintbotham’s stronger works and is recommended for all readers (general and those familiar with the topic).

[Vickie (I love books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thorough enjoyed this book. I liked having the queen Margaret of Anjou not being portrayed as an unfeeling vindictive she wolf. In this she was supportive of the king and valued the men who stood with her. If she had taken a couple of the suggestions history may have been different. I am sure she like the rest of us would do things differently in hindsight. I think of her differently now and hope to read more about her. I admire many of histories queens and now she is on my list.

[Rio (Lynne) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! This is my 4th Higginbotham novel, well 5th if you count The Prince Who Did Not Become King: Edward of Lancaster, 1453-1471 (a short biography) and once again I was not disappointed. As many reviewers have mentioned, most books we have read about The War of Roses are usually about The Yorks and very biased. This is the first book I have read about Margaret of Anjou. She is known historically as the "She Wolf" because how dare a mere woman fight for a cause. The author takes you through the years of her marrying Henry VI as a young woman until her death. She covers all the famous battles, the rumors and the relationships of so many lessor known characters. I also liked how she described her son, Edward of Lancaster. Little has been documented about him which blows me away considering he was the Prince and next in line to Henry VI. My only issue with the book was the first person narration. I was fine after I got into the rhythm, but when each chapter covered a different person, you could forget who's thoughts you were reading (but I can also blame this on having to put the book down often). I love the little details that Higginbotham always adds. In this one it was where they were about to begin the final battle and they were inside Tewkesbury Abbey. Anne showed Edward her ancestor's shrines (those of us who have read The Traitor's Wife will enjoy revisiting The le Despenser's tombs). Higginbotham is who you want to read if you want to learn history with fiction thrown in. It helps to be familiar with the characters beforehand, otherwise your mind can go numb with character titles and history. I loved this book and recommend it to anyone who wants to know both sides of The War of Roses. Oh and a side note....no magic, hocus pocus or Joan of Arc guidings like so many of the new popular books out on this era.

[Jinny · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of his-fics on the War of Roses seem to focus primarily on the York side of the battle. This novel decides to focus on the Lancaster side of the battle, a story that is told much less often. The title refers to Margaret of Anjou, the queen of King Henry VI (Lancaster side) during the war and this story is supposed to focus on her tale. I say “supposed to” because despite the title, I found the novel focused on the entire Lancaster story, not just Margaret. Margaret certainly got more chapters, but I never once felt that this novel is “her story”.

For those of you unfamiliar with the War of Roses, it was a war between two branches of the Plantagenet family, an English ruling house, around mid-1400′s. In this novel, in the beginning, the current king is King Henry VI, of the Lancaster branch of the family tree, and his wife, Queen Margaret. Henry was a kind and forgiving man. He marries Margaret of Anjou (a place in France) and together they have one son. What makes Henry’s reign a little difficult for him is the fact that he is so kind and forgiving, people took advantage of it. Also, his father was Henry V who was known to be a fierce warrior and leader, and Henry VI was the complete opposite of him. He also took a French bride which upset some people. Lastly, he was considered “mad”; Henry VI had some lengthy episodes of what they called “madness” — basically he clammed up and couldn’t speak and barely moved, for months and months.

His throne is usurped by his cousin Edward from the York side of the Plantagenet family tree. Henry VI fails to do much due to his condition, and so, his wife Margaret assumes unofficial control and fights bitterly for her husband’s throne. They encounter all sorts of heartbreaking and tragic moments, such as being separated from one another, having their most loyal subjects killed, and betrayal. Time and time again, it seems like all hope is lost for their cause and that the usurper will get to sit on Henry’s throne forever.

As I mentioned earlier, I didn’t get the vibe that this novel was about Margaret. Rather, it felt like it was about the entire war, from a Lancaster point of view. It was written in first-person point of views of various characters. Margaret had the most chapters, but in between her’s were various other’s. Everyone else’s chapters came and go as it fit the story; none of the other characters’ chapters were continuous like Margaret’s. I thought that was kind of silly because to me, it seemed like the novel should have been written from a third-person point of view, rather than just throw in a random character chapter because it suited the story at the time.

The characters also did not feel very real or fleshed out for me. They felt very flat, which was disappointing. I don’t think I would have cared if everyone else was flat if Margaret, at least, was interesting and three dimensional, but wasn’t. She actually came off — to me, at least — as an indecisive and poor leader, and the novel made it sound like the reason the Lancasters were losing the war was because of this queen and her “womanly ways”. This novel is very rich in detail and I thought it was extremely well researched, but perhaps because of this, it did read a bit like a textbook in narrative format. I suppose the writing style just wasn’t my cup of tea. It focused a lot more on facts than character development, and as a result, I didn’t feel as engaged as I hoped to be.

The Queen of Last Hopes failed to impress me much. It isn’t a bad book or anything. But it’s only just ‘okay’ for me.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susan Higginbotham excels at writing historical fiction that makes the reader think. After dozens of books casting Woodvilles as evil, Yorkists as saviors, and Lancastrians as inept usurpers, this author will make you rethink the stereotypes and assumptions. In this particular novel, it is Margaret of Anjou we are tempted to think of as a devoted and upstanding queen rather than the she-wolf ravaging England with her hired mercenaries.

It was a challenge. While I don't know that I feel much more sympathy for Margaret after this reading, I certainly mourned for each follower of hers who was slain fighting for her lost cause. How I would love to get a moment with one of these noblemen so that I could ask them, "What made you go forth to an almost certain death in an attempt to put the addled descendant of a Lancastrian usurper back on the throne?"

Higginbotham corrects some often stated assumptions about Margaret, such as the one that has her ordering the heads of York, Salisbury, and Rutland to be displayed on the gate at York. Other authors have Margaret personally leading and commanding troops which is unlikely to have ever happened. Unfortunately, even this more realistic look at Margaret made me wish she had just chosen to retire into obscurity rather than continue to rile up dissention in favor of her husband who she admits is not fit to rule.

Maybe I've read too much Yorkist propaganda, but I felt like the reasons for the rebellion were not really given. We are supposed to sympathize with Henry because these noblemen are inexplicably turning against him, but of course that's not true. There were reasons, otherwise why would men fight for Richard and then Edward?

Though Higginbotham does an exemplary job of writing historical characters from a refreshing point of view and uses the switching first person point of view better than anyone else, I still have a difficult time really liking anyone in this book. Maybe they're too real and nobody stands out as a hero or victim, but I wanted someone to stand out and make me want to get out there and fight myself.

Overall, this is a very thoughtful and well-researched look at the Wars of the Roses. It may not make you a Lancastrian, but it will likely help you to see that there were those deserving sympathy on both sides.

[Jackleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Queen of Last Hopes was the first novel I have read by Susan Higginbotham. It will not be my last. This story of Margaret of Anjou was a much needed, if tragic, alternate point of view in the current York saturated historical fiction genre. And, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The writing was lovely; the characters well drawn and endearing; the plot well paced, (if not completely surprising as the events entailed are well known,) refreshing and captivating. However, the greatest achievement of this novel was the balanced view of the events portrayed. There are no true heroes in this book; only people who drag a country into a violent family squabble.

Margaret of Anjou is portrayed as a woman who does not seek out power but is put in the unassailable position of defending the rights of both her husband and son against those who clearly become increasingly ruthless in the pursuit to first control the throne, and as time passes and the need for pretense lessens, to claim the throne itself. The most ironic scene in the story is when the Yorks declare their loyalty to Henry after shooting him in the neck with an arrow. The need for power and control of the throne certainly over powers the need to protect the physical body of the person who actually sits on the throne.

Higginbotham addresses the view of woman in power at this time in England. The lack of acceptance of Margaret as a woman in power contrasts sharply with the contemporary regencies of women in both Scotland and France. The derogatory names and slanders used agianst Margaret continue to be believed despite any historical supporting facts. The Yorks circulated the sexual slanders of Margaret, calling her son Edward a bastard. Ironically, the use of sexual slandering and declaring children illegitimate ultimately becomes the downfall of the Yorks as first; the duchess of York is slandered in order to make Edward illegitimate to place George on the throne initiating fissures into the strong York family relations. This carries on for Edward following his death, as his children are then removed from the throne under a legal twist which eventually leads to the boy prince’s imprisonment and death in the tower. As they say, what goes around, comes around.

The Queen of Last Hopes emphasizes the still persistent popular love of the fighter hero versus the peaceful thoughtful man. The people of England at this time had an obvious preference for Edward and he did manage the country well and peacefully enough following the events of this novel. But, being tall, handsome, and strong and willing to kill does not give anyone the right to take that which is not theirs.

[Natasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Queen of Last Hopes gives a voice to one of the most maligned women in history. But, Margaret was so much more than what history and men branded her to be. She was a strong female figure, intelligent and cunning when dealing with plots, enemies and other issues considered to be outside the world of women. Highly recommend. Full review on my blog: https://poetryofreading.blogspot.com/...

[Judith Arnopp · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1445, aged fifteen, Margaret of Anjou was married to King Henry VI of England, a marriage intended to restore peace between France and England. When Henry declined into madness eight years later, the heavily pregnant Margaret was drawn to the forefront of English politics. In stepping from her prescribed feminine role to oppose the claims of the Yorkist faction she became a target for enemy propaganda. Her fierce protection of her son, Edward of Lancaster, and her refusal to admit defeat did not attract acclaim, as would have been the case had she been a man, instead she was accused of a variety transgressions.
Since the Wars of the Roses Margaret of Anjou has been seen as a vengeful, violent figure. Shakespeare presented her as an adulterous bitch whose natural female instinct for nurture was corrupted to homicide. Later historians and novelists have taken this opinion of Margaret and run with it and in numerous works she appears as a virulent, unnatural woman, a ‘she wolf’ meddling in the affairs of men. Recently, however, there have been revisions of Margaret’s character, a reassessment of her actions and a more balanced, detached view of her is emerging.
Susan Higginbotham’s novel, The Queen of Last Hopes, is spawned of this revisionist opinion. The tale is told from a Lancastrian perspective, multi-narrated by Margaret herself and various members of her retinue.
Although meticulously researched Higginbotham’s Margaret is, for me, unconvincing. In trying to negate the slander I feel the character emerges as ‘too nice for words,’ as my mum would say. Recorded instance of brutality are glossed over or excused and so she emerges almost as saintly as her husband, King Henry.
I also found that, in many areas, Higginbotham’s research gets in the way of a good story. I wanted to feel blades slicing through flesh, the horror of cousin fighting cousin, the raw, tearing grief of losing a child. Instead the trauma of Margaret’s experiences seem twice, even thrice removed. I did not hear her voice and received instead an anaesthetised account.
On the whole I found the male characters more convincing. The Duke of Somerset, Henry Beaufort, slightly rakish, foolhardy, is likeable because of his flaws and a far more comfortable read than Margaret. King Henry’s complex mix of confusion, religious dedication and loyalty makes him a likeable king, touchingly naive. And Margaret’s son, Edward of Lancaster’s honest narration and unfortunate end is just as well rounded and his death painfully poignant.
I appreciate the amount of research that Susan Higginbotham has put into this novel. Most novelists have approached the Wars of the Roses from a Yorkist point of view, I believe and I like the refreshing Lancastrian perspective. I admire the way Higginbotham dispenses with the propaganda against Margaret but, for me, she shines just a bit too brightly to be real. Also in ignoring the vilification against Margaret it would have been good if she could have done the same with the slanders that the Tudors levelled against the Yorkists but instead, many of the old defamations of Richard of Gloucester and Edward IV remain.
On the whole it is a solid, entertaining read, a little less historical detail and a little more blood and sweat would have improved it for me but, there, I am a bloodthirsty girl. The Queen of Last Hopes is a winner and will please Higginbotham’s fans and attract new readers from the adherents of the Lancastrian faction.

[Dianabent · Rating 3 out of 5]

I very much wanted to like the book, and it does, indeed, have some nice qualities. It is full of interesting, historically accurate information, and it is obvious the author is passionate about her subject and tries very hard to leave an impression on the reader, to make him/her reflect on the story and to come to a decision regarding who is the villain in the Cousin's War - York or Lancaster. Unfortunately, this passion does the book more harm than good; all Yorks are painted as cartoon villains, all Lancasters are shiny and good, and they spend a lot of time justifying themselves to the reader, explaining how their reputations have become tarnished over time (Yorks emerge as the main culprits, of course). After a time it started to grate on my nerves; I prefer characters who are fleshed out, interesting and exciting. The ending, however, was very touching and I truly felt for Margaret in her hour of despair.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I liked Susan Higginbotham’s The Queen of Last Hopes so much more than I did.

I have seen Higginbotham praised again and again as an author whose approach to historical fiction is brilliant and refreshing, sticking closely to the “truth”, as far as it can be determined, challenging the popular narratives around controversial figures, and avoiding needless sensationalism. These are all things that I care about in the historical fiction I read. And a lot of that praise comes reviewers and friends whose opinions usually align with mine.

True, when I read Higginbotham’s The Traitor's Wife, I found myself severely disappointed by the quality of the writing. But I also loved Higginbotham’s blogposts about the Wars of the Roses and wanted to give her another chance since she had been praised so strongly and her attitudes towards Margaret of Anjou, a fascinating and often demonised woman, and writing historical fiction aligned with my own. So I tried The Queen of Last Hopes.

I wanted to love it. I wanted to write The Traitor’s Wife off as an aberration.

I didn’t love it.

I didn’t even like most of it.

Let me start by talking about the things I liked.

Probably the shallowest but: that title. The Queen of Last Hopes. It would be predictable to turn to roses, she-wolves and the colour red for a novel about Margaret of Anjou but, instead, we have this beautiful linking of Margaret with hope and hope in its most fatal form. Margaret refused to accept the reversals of fortune or defeat but continued to fight until she had lost everything but her own life. I also really enjoyed – and shed a tear – at the way Higginbotham wove this emblem of hope into Margaret’s final chapter.

Secondly, this is a novel that challenges our perceptions of Margaret of Anjou and is wholly sympathetic towards her. Margaret is a fascinating and complex woman who has often been demonised and I’m glad someone has finally given her a sympathetic portrayal. This is also a distinctly Lancastrian-flavoured novel about the Wars of the Roses which is refreshing amidst the sea of Ricardian novels.

But Higginbotham doesn’t return the favour by making it open season on the Yorkists. Although her depiction of Richard, Duke of York leads more towards ‘evil’, she allows the other prominent Yorkist figures, Edward IV and Cecily Neville, to be more nuanced and morally grey. She doesn’t skimp out on the atrocities committed by Edward IV but also lets us understand why he was so successful and liked as a king. There are elements of the disdainful, ‘proud Cis’ to be seen but we also get a sense of complexities lying beneath Cecily Neville. That said, neither get a lot of page-time.

Also exciting was the depiction of Edward of Westminster. Edward has been seen through some of the vilest lens possible – the murder-happy, almost sociopathic child and teenager who was the inspiration for Joffrey Baratheon as well as often depicted as a rapist – but here he’s much more believably rendered. I quite enjoyed how his relationship with Anne Neville was developed. I would genuinely like a novel built around Higginbotham’s Anne Neville too, to explore how she went from genuinely grieving Edward to married to the future Richard III and an integral part of the Yorkist and Ricardian regimes.

Additionally, Higginbotham has improved exponentially as a writer since The Traitor’s Wife. In my experience, this novel so much more engaging and clearly written – there was no trudging through the first one hundred pages or wondering if I would give it up here.

Finally, I found the final hundred or so pages of the novel to be the strongest. It might be because this is the climax of the story but I found myself genuinely caught up in what was happening, rooting for Margaret and feeling her devastation as she loses everything. As I said above, I cried at the end and I spent long time wondering if the ending made up for how much I struggled with the book. If only it was all like this!

So, let’s talk about the things that soured the book for me.

This is a better redemptive novel than the other “this historical figure has been cruelly maligned but here is their story!” novels I have read. Higginbotham’s Margaret isn’t sweeter than all the sugar, spice and all things nice in the world or the poor, innocent victim of outlandish conspiracies and unfairly targeted by some randomly chosen individual out to get her. Margaret is flawed and does make mistakes. But while I enjoyed that Higginbotham is wholly on her side, I wanted Margaret to have a bit of an edge still and to see some of that famous spirit, for her not to feel almost totally removed from that famous ‘she-wolf’ image. Instead, I felt like this was a Margaret of Anjou that had been defanged and declawed to make her a more palatable heroine.

Plus, I just kept wondering how you could make Margaret of Anjou so bland and boring. She had the personality of concrete.

I found the characterisation of Henry VI bizarre, too. I assume Higginbotham wanted to create a Henry that was sympathetic, intelligent, humanised and capable compared to the ‘holy fool’ Henry. That’s commendable! There are a lot of truly dreadful takes on Henry out there and Higginbotham’s Henry is probably one of the most sympathetic and human-like out there! But this Henry also felt entirely divorced from the historical Henry, to the point where his breakdown in 1453 felt as if it had come from nowhere. Previously, he had been a doting, sweet lover and husband to Margaret and a decisive, self-willed king. Then, boom. He suddenly inherited the family mental illness. I also found it weird that he’s depicted as not caring about the death of his last surviving paternal uncle or that he barely has an emotion when he finds out Margaret’s been cheating on him.

The one major diversion from history in this novel is that Margaret has an affair with Henry ‘Hal’ Beaufort, Earl of Dorset. It didn’t seem to add anything to the story beyond a bit of unnecessary drama and a lukewarm romance. I didn’t find it convincing, either. It didn’t make sense that Margaret, who had already been made violently angry by allegations of adultery (literally) and had been depicted as acutely aware of how damaging an affair would be to her image and the Lancastrian cause, would engage in a lengthy sexual and emotional affair with a man six years her junior who she (and everyone else) knows tried to seduce Mary of Guelders, Queen of Scotland. I didn’t find the idea that they “loved” each other really convincing either – Margaret read as sexually frustrated and Hal as a womaniser. Yes, they continually talked about how they loved each other but it didn’t seem like they felt anything particularly strongly about each other – I would’ve bought a bout of casual sex by lonely people in a difficult situation far more than the love affair this novel seems to insist on.

A large part of this was that none of the characters just didn’t feel real. I could see what Higginbotham wanted to be doing with them but she didn’t quite get there in terms of making them feel like complex, rounded individuals. It didn’t help that though the novel is largely told in Margaret’s first-person perspective, we also get separate pieces from various different men and the voices all sounded the same.

I didn’t quite like buy the treatment of Richard, Duke of York – to me, it read as if he was the “bad guy” of the novel who is behind everything little thing that inconveniences Margaret. The murder of her mentor, the Duke of Suffolk? Not disgruntled citizens but York. The Jack Cade rebellion? York. Rumours that Margaret was having adulterous affairs? York. Rumours that Henry VI wasn’t the father of Edward of Westminster? York. I don’t believe York was a great guy but I didn’t buy that he was this great mastermind out to undermine Margaret and Henry every single time, responsible for everything that went wrong for them. It also felt a bit of a cop out to avoid explaining why Margaret was so unpopular in England beyond being the victim of York’s smears and conspiracies. Higginbotham does suggest her nationality was also to blame but again, that’s still weak

The other serious issue with my enjoyment of The Queen of Last Hopes was that it seemed to be so heavy on exposition and telling us what happened that we rarely felt things. That the story was too busy rattling on about what was happening that it didn’t ever pause to let the characters react to events. There’s no real development of Margaret and Henry’s relationship, it just happens. There’s an early focus on the English surrendering Maine to the French as part of the marriage negotiations between Henry and Margaret – a move that made her deeply unpopular – but we don’t ever see the fall-out.

The other focus in the first chapters is the figure of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, the youngest brother of Henry V and Henry VI’s last surviving paternal uncle. Gloucester is a man that looms large over Henry VI’s minority and Margaret’s first years as queen. Higginbotham tells us he’s a threat to Margaret and Henry. Not only is he smearing Margaret (we have no evidence he did this though we know he didn’t think Margaret was a wise choice for England’s queen and for good reasons) but there’s a “is he or isn’t he plotting evilly against his own nephew?” plotline, complete with the idea he’s going to free his accused “evil” witch of a wife, Eleanor Cobham, and she’ll get revenge on Margaret. Who she’s never met and never had anything to do with. Because she was imprisoned four years before Margaret and Henry married. And why is she’s doing this? Because she’s a vindictive shrew, I suppose? And here I thought Higginbotham was interested in redeeming the women that history has smeared!

I’m going to spend a bit of time on this because I’m particularly interested in Gloucester and Eleanor but also because it illustrates of my issues with the depiction of Margaret, Henry and the Duke of Suffolk, and Higginbotham’s writing.

Gloucester was getting close to sixty when he died, he was not married (he had been forcibly divorced from Eleanor in 1441 and not remarried) and he had no legitimate children (Eleanor, around 47 years old in 1447, was likely infertile; his earlier marriage to Jacqueline of Hainault produced no known children). It makes no sense to assume that he was going to usurp and, presumably, murder his 27-year-old nephew, the only child of his beloved brother, Henry V, to claim the throne for himself. He can’t have expected to live much longer (he was reputedly already in poor health and as it was he died under the stress of being arrested) and he had no legitimate children to pass the throne onto or much prospect of having any. If he entertained any thoughts of making “trouble”, it was likely along the lines of asking Henry to pardon his wife or of making a final denunciation of Henry’s much-wanted, deeply unpopular peace with France. In other words, he was no real or credible threat and the idea he was makes no sense. His arrest and subsequent death proved very damaging to Henry VI, Margaret and Suffolk’s public image because he was incredibly popular with the common people and the move against him appeared to be the ill-considered and unjustified move of vindictive, self-interested and bullying individuals. Hence the legend of “Good Duke Humphrey” that persisted long after his death.

True, Higginbotham hedges her bets by having Suffolk being like, “I genuinely don’t know but I didn’t want to risk it” and deferring judgement to Henry VI (who is strangely unmoved but verging towards vindictive about the whole thing) but it just doesn’t make sense. It felt more like a move of an author who is afraid of making her protagonists look bad or made the wrong decision so she created a narrative where they’re just genuinely doing the right or sensible thing. Which is one of my issues with Margaret: Higginbotham doesn’t want her to be in the wrong for anything actually meaningful. Everything she does wrong is because there’s a conspiracy created by York against Margaret or she’s been given bad advice.

This is also where the problem with Higginbotham’s writing comes in. The third chapter, in Suffolk’s point-of-view, basically Suffolk explaining to the reader why Gloucester has to go and then Suffolk hearing about Gloucester’s arrest and death while he’s elsewhere. Gloucester does not appear once in the entire novel. He’s talked about! But the closest thing we get to ever seeing him is Margaret remembering that she met him on her arrival in England and thought he was pleasant (which undermines the whole “he’s plotting against Henry and smearing Margaret!” line) or Suffolk being told what Gloucester said when he was arrested. We don’t get a scene, just a two-line recollection and some reported dialogue. How can you sell us on a threat if you never show it?

I genuinely wondered why Higginbotham bothered including that subplot. Gloucester’s death was actually an important moment in Henry VI’s reign and marked the death of the “old guard” that had overseen Henry’s minority (Cardinal Henry Beaufort died a few months after Gloucester but had already retired from public life at this point) as well as being the moment when the opposition to Henry VI’s policies went from being a conflict within branches of the Lancastrian family to being a Lancaster vs York issue. But you don’t get this from Higginbotham’s novel. If you’re going to basically deal with it in the space of a chapter and with a pile of exposition, why bother including it at all?

Why not frame Margaret’s arrival in England as a prologue and then start the novel proper at some point after Gloucester’s death, perhaps even Suffolk’s murder where Margaret has to step up into a more independent role?

So, all in all, what I can say? I think Higginbotham has improved massively since her first novel, so much so that I’m going to read her novel about Katherine Woodville. I think her ending was powerful and I applaud her approaches not only towards Margaret of Anjou but also towards the writing of historical fiction – I really appreciated a list of sources and a detailed historical note explaining the choices she made in telling Margaret’s story. I just wished that this novel was a lot stronger than it was – honestly if Higginbotham had just slowed down and had fleshed out the story from beginning to end via scenes as opposed to information dumps and dialogue-as-exposition, I think this would have easily gotten 4 stars from me.

[Deyanira C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Better than I expected
I will start by saying that this is a book that I honestly did not plan to finish since I read "the stolen crown" and some other things by the same author that made me walk away from her work completely, even so this book had been bought before the many disappointments and I decided to read it just to do not waste my money and effort, in the end I must say that the book is better than I expected and I think fair to give it the credit it deserves so here are my 2 stars.

The book is a fictional story about the life of Margaret of Anjou, it is told in the first person, but surprisingly, it is not only Margaret who tells her story, but different historical characters narrate some events related to Margaret, the story begins with her life in France , her family and people relevant to her, her life in England in the midst of political conflicts is not so explicit but it explains well in a general way why Maragaret got involved in English politics so fiercely and why and how she made her alliances, in addition to that the book presents her marriage as one of respect and affection, also enters into the controversial but possible sentimental relationship that Margaret may have developed with one of her allies, the book is favorable to Margaret's character presenting her as a good woman who made mistakes but who had good intentions and in the end Maragret is willing to stand aside as it should have from the beginning and recognizes just some her faults although it is too late , I was surprised that the book even justified the betrayal of The kingmaker even explores his reasons and feelings, my favorite part was undoubtedly the chapters narrated by Edward of Lancaster, Margaret's son, this is a character about which there is hardly any information and who usually appears in fiction as a bloodthirsty brat or ridiculous hero, in this book Edwrad is dangerously close to being a ridiculous hero but fortunately he does not get to that point although almost, in the same way he is an interesting character who has to deal with a strong and overprotective mother, who despite everything can manage to make sound his word even causing his mother some tears, Edward is brave and good which makes his end tragic and sad, his relationship with Anne Neville is peculiarly refreshing, above all because the character of Anne is complex and well narrated, she is an exceptionally beautiful and well-educated girl but she is such a daughter of her father that she moves according to the events and her convenience, she wants to be Queen and bravely assumes the task of getting into her enemie's family, Edward has no experience with women and falls in love with her very quickly and very much but the relationship does not advance until Anne realizes that it is convenient and uses Edward's attraction to her advantage, it is to be expected that the physical relationship of the two is pure sparks and fire, she eventually falls in love with him although she never shows it and avoids behaving like a silly girl in love instead showing nuisance, sadness and annoyance from time to time like any normal person, despite that she is a good wife and daughter-in-law, an interesting part is that in this book Edward is who advises her to marry Gloucester "if something goes wrong" and see for her own well-being, it's not like Anne needs his advice in fact she is a woman who knows how to put intelligence before feelings, but even so it is an interesting touch and it makes it a surprise to no one that Anne ends up marrying Gloucester especially because he shows interest in her procuring her and caring her almost immediately after Edward's death, which to my great surprise and despite the author's clear contempt for this character was not caused by Richard, rather we have an intelligent and credible but sad version.
Margaret's ending is less sentimental than I would have expected but overall it's not a bad book, now my reasons to give it just 2 stars :

*Many years are lost in the book and in some moments it gives the impression that the book is a novel about the war of the two roses not about her.

* Important characters like Henry VI are not very memorable.

*The book never manages to balance Margaret and she ends up being a saint, the guilt of the bad is sent to Richard from York, which is not realistic, true or interesting, the same happens with Humprey his intentions have no logic Why would the man want to steal the crown?
1. He was in adulthood (he was much older than Henry VI)
2. He did not even have legitimate children to inherit.
So the novel is a desperate attempt to clean up Margaret's image and never explore her thinking, her mistakes and her strengths, which would certainly have been a better book.

*Another big slap for me was reading that Margaret complained so bitterly for being unjustly accused of adultery, I understood her annoyance perfectly but then Margaret goes and commits adultery, REALLY ??? and she does it with a womanizer who claims to love her but he never shows it.

Finally I will say that I agree with the author in her final note, I believe that Margaret like many others of her time was a victim of propaganda in her case, Yorkist, and it is very possible that although she was undoubtedly rude and politically aggressive, she was not a bad person as such especially if we put her in the context of her time, I myself admire her tenacity, her strength and her courage, the way she fought for her position and that of her son, she is in my top 3 of favorite people from this time, but she was definitely not the angel that the novel tries to sell because in many moments she even stops being intelligent to be too good and makes you wonder, are we talking about the woman who mocked someone like Edward IV? What was the Yorkists' headache? That created strategies that men respected and followed? It did not seem like it to me, and even if I think the propaganda impacted the way we see her today not everything is a lie about it, Margaret made huge mistakes in her attempt to stay in power and also ruthlessly and that is a fact that the book seeks to justify and that is what ruined the story for me, finally I will only say that I find interesting that the author seeks to defend this character soiled by propaganda, when she has mocked the Ricardians so many times for trying to do exactly the same, It's like: I like Margaret so everything bad that was said about her is false, but only in her case the rest that the propaganda said about anyone else must be true ... LOL. One would think that this is hypocrisy but rather I think it is to judge with double standards.

[Belinda Vlasbaard · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars - English Ebook


Quote: I became my Henry's queen long before I saw him: at Tours in 1444, to be precise. I was fourteen. My marriage was supposed to end a conflict between England and France that had been going on for decades before I was even born.

"You will be our lady of peace," my uncle by marriage, King Charles VII of France, informed me. I had come to Tours with my father, King René of Anjou, whose sister Marie was Charles's queen, and my mother, Isabelle. The English delegation had just inspected me, though "introduction" was the word everyone had used.

"They were satisfied, then?" I asked.
"My dear, how could they not be?"
"I have always said that I had a treasure at Angers," my father said.
Charles halfway raised his eyebrows before he caught himself. I suspected that he was thinking that I was my father's only treasure, for it was true that my father was not, for his position, an especially wealthy man.

Though he was known as King of Sicily and Jerusalem, Duke of Bar, Lorraine, and Anjou, and Count of Provence, his title to Jerusalem was flimsy, it had to be admitted, and he had given up his quest for Naples two years before. His lands of Maine were under English occupation. "What dowry shall I have?" I asked. It seemed only right that I as the bride should know.

"Majorca and Minorca," my uncle said, and I winced. If anything was as empty as my father's claim to Sicily and Jerusalem, it was his claim to Majorca and Minorca.
"And twenty thousand francs. Well, of course the English shall get a two-year truce; I suppose that counts also."
It was humiliating being sold so cheaply, even with the truce thrown in.
My distress must have shown on my face, for Charles said, "You see, my dear, they want this  marriage and peace as much as we do, and frankly, they need it more. The sixth Henry isn't the warrior his father was, by all reports. Not a warrior at all." -

A man other than my husband sits on England's throne today.

What would happen if this king suddenly went mad? What would his queen do? Would she make the same mistakes I did, or would she learn from mine?

Margaret of Anjou, queen of England, cannot give up on her husband—even when he slips into insanity. And as mother to the House of Lancaster's last hope, she cannot give up on her son—even when England turns against them. This gripping tale of a queen forced to stand strong in the face of overwhelming odds is at its heart a tender
tale of love.

This book absorbed my attention more than most books do, so I have to give it a plug and the author a thank you for so skilfully widening my knowledge of the dramatis personae involved in the 15th century's French-English conflict.

Without excellent historical stories like this, how could I ever work out Anne Neville and her husbands? And I suspect the author could have got away without explaining the Louis XI-Warwick-Lancaster axis in the context of the York-Burgundy alliance, but didn't, you are given clear answers to questions that might emerge, so you are not left frustrated. She writes dialogue very well, subtly teasing motive out, but does not waste time getting the story to you.

I knew absolutely nothing about Elizabeth Woodville until two months ago, with the opening episode of the excellent Philippa Gregory TV mini series, to which this book is a perfect single volume companion.

Award-winning author Susan Higginbotham will once again ask readers to question everything they know about right and wrong, compassion and hope, duty to one's country and the desire of one's own heart.

Love't it! My recommendation.

[Iset · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book by Susan Higginbotham that I had read, and I loved it!

Susan’s books are like literary tardises, I often think – they look like the size of a standard novel, they have the same number of pages – 320 or so here – and yet they must be bigger on the inside somehow, because whenever I read the last page and put the book down I feel like I’ve just read a full length epic. It feels like a much longer book. This is the skill with which The Queen of Last Hopes is written. It packs in so much story. Occasionally, several months are covered in one chapter, or events are summarised in a scene that perhaps I would have preferred to see played out, but Higginbotham uses what little space there is so darned well! The story doesn’t feel abbreviated, or choppy, or disjointed, as some shorter historical novels can. Instead, the choice of key scenes feels eminently judicious, succinctly conveying the information the reader needs – and without drumming us over the head with it or providing unnecessary info – and picking out key moments in the characters’ lives, which are written with such insight and realism, that I could easily imagine the historical human stories and personalities, and very quickly engaged with and empathised with the protagonists. This style of historical writing is one I favour.

Unlike historical fiction authors who rely on salacious rumour and scandalous gossip – the dregs of history, often with no basis in historical fact but often alive in the uninformed public consciousness – Higginbotham is attentive to historical detail and fact, seeking to produce a more genuine, accurate, gripping truth, and dispelling baseless myth. Fictitious elements where included are fully disclosed, plausible, and do not warp or directly contradict the actual history, and the research is impeccable. Personally, I really took to the love affair between Marguerite and Hal. Whilst the slander against Marguerite of Anjou has always been baseless and never something I believed, I could believe in this fictitious discreet dynamic between the pairing and even rooted for it – it was a match of real passion and human warmth amidst a wider story of genuine hardship and tragedy. I admit it, it really tugged on my heartstrings. The one part of that relationship that my suspension of disbelief did have problems with was when Margaret confesses her infidelity to King Henry. Really?! I know he was a strange, pious, almost childlike man who might just have actually forgiven such, but surely Margaret would have known better than to confess it, it would have been political suicide for her if it got out – not that it ever happened, historically, but I’m just talking about character sensibilities here.

Higginbotham has a real understanding of human character and how to convey that on the page. The best stories always seem to have the most human characters. These people are not “good” or “bad”, or defined by a handful of key traits repeated over and over again. They undertake poor and admirable decisions, act in ambiguous ways that outside observers view as laudable, deplorable, and everything in between. They are motivated by their own unique concerns and interests, lead everyday lives, live in the moment under circumstances both ordinary and extraordinary, and experience things both universal and unique. They are highly complex and subtle. In short, they are real human beings and it is easy to imagine them in real life, empathise with their plight, well up at their losses, and smile at their happiness. This is fundamental to engaging the reader and making them care and invest in the story. Less well developed characters just don’t do this because they just don’t act like real people.

This is definitely one I’m going to be reading again and again.

10 out of 10

[Marie Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wars of the Roses has been my favorite period to read about during the last two years. Following that would be the Tudor era, but the battles between the Lancastrians and the Yorkists are always full of passion and from so many points of view that I have not been bored yet after reading many books on the era. I will not recount the events of the novel as there are many characters and titles to decipher that is hard to keep up with. Using a few key players, such as the fatherly Suffolk, the must've-been-handsome Henry Beaufort or the seemingly murderous Yorkist factions, Higginbotham retraces Margaret's story with a passion and talent as Higginbotham gives Margaret's name a new found respect. Wars of the Roses fans know what is to happen by the end of Margaret's story, but will they be sympathetic of Margaret of Anjou or to the Yorkists that stole the crown from her husband?


I will say that I haven't had a desire to read for a day straight in months, yet I am honored that Higginbotham broke me from that sad fact with her story of Margaret of Anjou and the fruitless fight to put her son Edward on the throne of England. Once I had a chance to get 70 pages into the story, I could not put it down. Even knowing what historical tragedies would play out in the story, I was hooked and enamored with Margaret. In previous reads, Margaret is normally referred to as merely the Frenchwoman, the whore, the witch.. and finally we have a much more pleasant view of this consort of the saintly Henry VI. Their son Edward of Lancaster had always been in the background of my previous reads, as he had never gotten the chance to make his mark on England. Yet, the way Higginbotham tells it, readers of her newest Wars of the Roses novel will never forget Edward of Lancaster and the throne that should not have been stolen from him; and one cannot but wonder if only he had been successful in the Lancastrian cause...


If you had not chosen a side before, either Lancaster or York, be prepared to become Lancastrian. I had never felt Yorkist in nature, and this novel solidifies my Lancastrian leanings for me once again. Margaret of Anjou will undoubtedly gain much earned respect through this telling, as she was loyal to the country that she married and the man who was England's rightful king. She held fast in her resolve even when others would have given up, and I am not ashamed to admit that Higginbotham's novel of Margaret and her fight for the Lancastrian cause brought me to tears. Perhaps the story sheds too much of a positive light on Margaret, but to give the novel further credit, it is told with multiple points of view which helps round out and personify the events for the reader and for once, a multiple narration did not grate at my nerves as it is known to do.


Susan Higginbotham's writing has an easy conversational feel to it, while deftly imparting detailed historically significant events throughout which makes Higginbotham a favorite historical fiction author of mine. The three novels of hers that I have read have all been read quickly by me, just short of devouring them. I appreciate the fact that although she takes some liberties with the historical accounts, she stays well within the realms of accuracy, and when she strays she explains both herself and history in the author's note. I have nothing to say to criticize this novel, and am pleased to recommend this novel to any history fan interested in some of the struggles during the Wars of the Roses and how the Tudors came to their eventual throne. Readers will become immersed in the quest for the rightful owner of the crown of England, as history's mysteries also seep through to help add to the titillation of the reader.

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Higginbotham chose a different path in writing up this story about Margaret of Anjou by having the story mostly from her voice but including chapters by others, including her son and her husband. I'm always sad about stories where people are married in their mid teens and have to make decisions that can throw countries into civil war, as was the case here. Margaret of Anjou was sent to England at the age of 15 -- from a poor but titled family related to the King of France, who uses her as a pawn to somehow gain peace between the two countries. But soon, when England and France do not fine peace and England loses battles, civil strife occurs. And it doesn't help that Henry Vi is touched with a bit of madness as was his grandfather. But the worst is that he is woefully unprepared for rule and has no instinct for the intrigue that surrounds him. Margaret is the same, and worse, because it takes her eight years to bring forth the one child of their union. When he is born, she is slandered from all sides who believe that the child must be someone else's because of the madness of her husband. While they try to hold the tide against those who would take the throne from them, things go from bad to worse. This is a kingdom without a standing army and many shifting loyalties. For Queen Margaret, there is only the need to protect her husband and her son but she has become the liability for those she loves.

While I found it an interesting story, and Higginbotham undoubtedly did her homework on the story and the characters, I never got to the point of where I felt for Margaret. In many ways, I felt she and the other main players remained one-dimensional characters. I did not feel that I was invested in the book, the characters or got the reasons for the War of the Roses. It had to be more than it took a while for Margaret to get pregnant, that England lost some battles (the country never appeared to be on the verge of invasion by France), or that Henry spent a period being mad. Most of that would not have swung the general populace against them.

The clues may be farther buried into the War of the Roses, which was a battle between Britain's competing royal bloodlines: Henry's House of Lancaster and Richard, Duke of York, and his heir, Edward for the House of Plantagenet. The decisive battle came down to Henry Tudor (Lancastrian) and Richard III on the field of Bosworth Field. Henry VII then married Elizabeth of York, uniting the two sides. It is those competing bloodlines -- that aren't really talked about in Higginbotham's book -- and the weakness of Henry VI, that probably created the situation in which Margaret married. There was no winning for Margaret and never much of a chance. Without this context and the lack of a more three-dimensional character, the book became less engrossing for me. I wanted more.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was first introduced to this author earlier this year, and I’ve been working through her stuff throughout. She has a real gift for historical fiction that I’ve had pleasure in experiencing. This addition is no exception.

Again, she is able to give life to her historical figures like few others can. I was especially impressed with Henry. History likes to forget him as the mad, weak king. You’re left with an image of a muttering, sad wreck of a man staring off into space and not acknowledging anyone or anything. Yet, there was so much more to him. Yes, that happened for a time, but overall he was just a gentle soul who really wasn’t made for the harsh times he lived in. I liked seeing his depth of courage and his quietly solid convictions that Susan portrayed.

Then, of course, there’s Margaret. Young, inexperienced for the position she was thrust into, but brave and loyal to the end, she brings the reader into her struggle and life with an iron will in a velvet glove. If ever there was a woman in history who deserved the name of “she-wolf”, it was her (and I mean that as a compliment). Sucking me into her struggle and tumultuous life from page one, her characterization is to die for.

There’s the great setting and building up of the political situation of the turbulent Wars of the Roses as well. The reader gets a real sense for what’s happening where and how it affects all the different parties involved. I was able to keep everything straight which is a hard thing to do in this time period for me. The author brings to life the great battles and struggles along with the intimate life at court.

Another great winner from Higginbotham, I loved Margaret’s and Henry’s characters; they really breathed with life. The author also excels with the setting and historical details. I look forward to exploring this author’s other works and any future ones. I know that she has one coming out in 2016 that’s already on my most-anticipated list. Highly recommended for historical fiction lovers, especially for those who love the crazy world of the Wars of the Roses.

[Svea · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it comes to the Wars of the Roses, there are always a couple questions that come to mind: are you of a Yorkist or a Lancasterian opinion? Did Richard III kill the princes in the tower? Was Richard III a corrupt and merciless man? These questions are often the focus of many historical novels set during this time period, and it is not very often that a book is written with an emphasis of how it all began. The Queen of Last Hopes begins with Margaret of Anjou preparing to leave for England, where she will become the Queen of King Henry VI. Margaret is just 15 when she sets sail for England, and she is full of hope and determination to bring peace to the English and French people. Unfortunately, she quickly learns that the her striving to enter the political world, no matter how good her intentions might be, only leads to bitterness from the English people and slander against her name. Despite these unsavory results, Margaret is no less determined in defending her crown when the House of York tries to dethrone her husband and take away her sons birthright.

Being of a Yorkist opinion myself, I was quite surprised by how well Hgginbotham made me soften to the Lancasterian cause. Told from a first person perspective, Margaret becomes more than just a strong willed and "she-wolf" character, instead she becomes a woman desperate for peace, deeply in love, and above all, a protective mother. It was this method of writing that really made me feel a strong connection to those who fought for the House of Lancaster. Higginbotham also did a wonderful job of...
Read the full review on my blog: http://muse-in-the-fog.blogspot.com/2011/01/book-review-queen-of-last-hopes-by.html

[Amy Bruno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much of my readings on the War of the Roses have been from the Yorkist point of view, painting the matriarch of the Lancaster faction, Margaret of Anjou, as the devil incarnate, a she-wolf capable of devouring small (preferable Yorkist) children. So, when I saw that Susan Higginbotham was coming out with a novel on Margaret, I knew this would be my opportunity to read about the real woman behind the myth.

Born to Queen Rene and Queen Isabelle of Anjou, Margaret was betrothed to King Henry at age 14 as a way to bring peace to the conflict between England and France. Though it was a union bred by politics, Henry and Margaret would grow to love each other and when Henry’s intermittent fragile mental state threatens his crown, it’s Margaret who fights the hardest to keep it. She’s not one to sit idly back and watch the throne that belongs to her son Edward be snatched up by the Yorkists, she’ll fight like her mother and grandmother before her. And don’t we all know that any woman bold enough to stand up to the world of man is instantly labeled a bitch, or in the case of the 15th century – a she-wolf!

But Margaret was so much more and I really enjoyed getting to know her. Her strength and tenacity when affronted with adversity, and with an entire country against her, was inspiring and I will forever look at her in a different light.

In The Queen of Last Hopes Higginbotham successfully gives a voice to one of the most maligned women in history and in usual fashion, with spot-on historical accuracy and skillful writing, it’s one you won’t want to miss!

[Mariana · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book left me disappointed. It was my first one about the War of the Roses and it was a mistake to start with Susan Higginbotham (that last name good GOD). Her writing is dull and lifeless and I didn't feel anything for the characters when they died.

One example of her writing is that when Margaret de Anjou has to marry a proxy of Henry VI, it goes like this: "I was formally betrothed in the Church of St. Martin at Tours on May 24, 1444, with William de la Pole, then the Earl of Suffolk" like she's trying to be ~historically accurate~, giving herself a pat on the back for describing history facts. And that wasn't the only example, she does this a lot lot and it really irked me reading it because it's like she's holding her FICTION book above all the others when it is known this kind of books aren't that accurate. She even made up a romance, come on.

I believe her strength was writing from Margarets POV, it made me be interested in her and looking her up in wikipedia, but when the author decided to change POVS (she did this when a character was going to die to be ~dramatic), they weren't at all indistinguishable from the main one. I easily confused Margaret's with Prince Edward's and Hal Beaufort's.

Tbh, my main problem with this book and why I couldn't get into the story (I constantly had to look up who was who and what was happening) was the author herself, she made it quite difficult to me and I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking to read about Margaret de Anjou/War of the Roses.

[LibraryCin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

Margaret of Anjou was born in France and later married to King Henry VI of England; he is the King Henry who was “mad” and thought to be an ineffective ruler. The had only one son, Edward. As the Yorkists rose up to take the throne at the start of the Wars of the Roses, Margaret did what she could to help her husband win his throne back and to secure the throne for her son for later. This is a fictional account of Margaret's life.

I liked this. I will admit that the first 2/3 of the story didn't hold my attention as much and didn't make me want to keep reading, but that changed in the last 1/3. I've not read anything, until now, specifically about Margaret of Anjou, or even much about the Lancasters at this time. I have read more about the Yorkists, but even so, with all the same names being used so often, I did get confused at times trying to figure out who was who! The book did pick up for me in the last 1/3 of the book (but by then, I was also recognizing more of the people and events that were happening). I always enjoy historical fiction from a woman's point of view (though there were portions of the book told from other points of view than Margaret's, but the bulk of the story was hers).

As always, I appreciated the detailed author's note at the end of the book.

[Elysium · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margaret of Anjou is married to Henry VI with hopes of making peace between England and France. But Margaret won’t find her life easy in England; the peace doesn’t succeed, people won’t trust her because she’s French and her being unable to produce heir doesn’t help. When she finally gives birth to a boy after 8 years, rumours starts guessing who the father really is. Then there is Richard, Duke of York, who believes that he has stronger claim to the throne and when Henry goes mad, he believes he’s the right man for the job.

I have to say that I wasn’t fan of the multiple POV’s at first but I grew used to it. I loved Hal’s and Edward’s povs the best.. We see rather innocent and frightened Margaret to grow to a strong woman but she seemed little too goody at times. Some faults wouldn’t have hurted. But I loved how Edward was portrayed. He was quite adorable and not just blood-thirsty brat. And got some laughs over Anne and Edward, she was such a tactful woman!

Margaret and the mices was hilarious! And for the first time I could keep the dukes of Somerset in order! I always confuse those guys...

I really enjoyed the book and it was great to read from Lancastrian point of view for change.

[Susana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story elicited many conflicting emotions in me, because I have read other versions of the character that Margaret of Anjou showed in her time to those around her, friend or foe; and it didn't coincide with the Margaret depicted by Susan Higginbotham. But the authoress has made me accept this version because the motives behind the queen's actions are very well supported in this novel. She was only a girl of 14 and didn't feel loved by her people, trough her years of ruling queen, suffered a lot of injustices and loses in the hands of the communers so... this explains how her character hardened and obviously those that came back to her cause, having deserted it earlier didn't find her eager to accept them... Very hard to contemplate the choices put on a woman who wasn't trained to make tactical decisions. I believe she did well, and I concur she was very brave any other would have taken their children and ran to safety but she didn't. I can not love her, but can appreciate the hardness that many years of struggles can bring upon someone.
A quick read, enthralling like every other work by Susan Higginbotham. Highly recommendable.

[Rebecca Huston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating -- and very even handed -- retelling of the story of Margaret of Anjou, Queen of Henry VI of England. Most novels cast her as a villain, but this one gets it right, with a story and heroine that is very sympathetic and understandable.

To read the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_T...

[Sara Giacalone · Rating 4 out of 5]

My biggest issue with Susan's books is they end! I really enjoyed this one - it was very interesting to get a Lancastrian perspective on the Wars of the Roses, and to see a different view of Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou. It's true that Susan makes them very likable, yet manages to stick mostly to facts. Of course she does take some artistic liberties; I enjoyed her embilleshments about Margaret's relationship with Somerset and thought the story plausable. This is one I'm sure I'll want to read again.

[Amy Bridges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! I haven't read a book in a long time that made me cry at the end, but this one had the tears rolling. I feel as if I know a little bit more about the Wars of the Roses (which isn't saying much!) :-) I'd recommend this one in a heartbeat!

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, impeccably researched. As far as historical accuracy is concerned, I trust Susan Higginbotham much more than Philippa Gregory. Though her characterization of Queen Margaret was sorely lacking. Also the details and world building in her setting left much to be desired. However I really liked how this was much more pro Lancaster with a more positive portrayal of Edward of Lancaster than by Gregory. I don't believe he was as monstrous as the York camp claimed him to be especially with a saint for a father.

[Linda Bridges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a few weeks ago I read Queen by Right by Anne Easter Smith which detailed the life of Cecily Neville, or Proud Cis, as she was known. Then I read The Queen of Last Hopes by Susasn Higginbotham which tells of the life of Margaret of Anjou. Both books were about the same topic, the Wars of the Roses, but told from completely different perspectives. I plodded through Queen by Right because I just couldn't warm up to Cecily. The picture it paints of Margaret was of a weak, sniveling, conniving woman who was at best a coward and at worst a traitor. In Queen of Last Hopes, told from Margaret's point of view, I got the same impression of Cecily but a totally different version of Margaret herself. I find it fascinating that the same history can be so diverse depending on who tells the story. Although the facts were the same in both, the interpretation varied greatly. Isn't history fun?

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My main interest in this historical novel was that it was written about the Lancaster side of the War of the Roses. It seems that I have only read stories from the York point of view. I also wanted to check out Higginbotham's writing since I own several of her books but haven't gotten around to reading them yet. The story is told from the first-person viewpoint of a few different characters and they all seemed to be unreliable narrators, especially Margaret herself. Mostly, the characters were kind of dull and uninspiring. It did seem to be well researched and I would probably give another of her books a try in the future.

[Marie Z Johansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all I have to confess that Susan Higginbotham's books are among my favorites in historical fiction. I am not associated with either the author or the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark. I am just a happy reader!

This book follows the story of Margaret of Anjou - also known as the "mother" of the house of Lancaster- and her marriage to King Henry VI who, after 8 years of marriage descended into the oblivion of madness and religious obsession- leaving the rule of his country to Margaret . Margaret in turn protected the interests of her son, Edward of Lancaster and refused to accede to the claims of the Yorkist faction. Margaret's fight to win the rights of her son and the Lancaster line led to her becoming a vilified woman during her life and history has not been any kinder.

Susan Higginbotham's novel brings the life of this rare, female ruler, into focus and sheds a kinder light on the history of this strong woman. Although the outcome of her life still brings to mind a domineering, and inflexible woman, this book provides us with a sense of the back story to Margaret's fierce determination - even in the face of defeat. King Henry is portrayed as religious devotee and his mental frailty paints a portrait of a sensitive man not strong enough to be King. Edward is a pliable youth whose life is cut terribly short through his mother's staunch fight to preserve the House of Lancaster at all costs.

As with all of her books, Susan Higginbotham's research is impeccable. Her grasp of the the characters and their place in history is remarkable. British historical figures, with their many titles and names, can read like a quagmire at times. I have never been able to sort them all out but Ms. Higginbotham grasps all of the nuance, names and titles and makes them easy to follow though the narrative.

In this book, rather than the dominatrix of Britain, Margaret of Anjou is portrayed as good - almost too nice. Most likely the reality of her character probably lies somewhere between vilification and saint hood. I thoroughly enjoyed this book - as I have all of Susan Higginbotham's work. I couldn't put it down. It should have wide appeal to anyone who loves historical fiction - especially British historical fiction!