Books like Queen by right by Anne Easter Smith

"Queen by Right" follows the life of Cecily of York, mother of two English kings and a central figure in one of the period’s most dramatic love stories. The narrative opens with her meeting Richard, Duke of York, when they are childhood companions—Cecily nine, Richard thirteen—raised together in their father’s household. As the plot unfolds, Cecily navigates personal loss and the tensions of England’s tumultuous politics, culminating in a decisive moment when her son, the king’s son, stands on the Ludlow Market Cross facing an enemy army. The novel examines how Cecily embraces her destiny, supports her husband’s claim to the throne, and balances family duty with national stakes amid King Henry VI’s reign. The story is presented as an intimate portrait of a woman who becomes a symbol of resilience and political savvy during one of England’s most turbulent eras.

First publish date: 2011