Review: The Usurper King by Mercedes Rochelle
Today, I'm delighted to share my review of The Usurper King by acclaimed historical fiction author and prolific book blogger, Mercedes Rochelle.
The Usurper King – book #3 in the Plantagenet Legacy Series – features Henry Bolingbroke, on his way to claim the throne of England. Well worth checking out. Read on!
The Usurper King and The Accursed King are currently on blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club. Check out other fascinating posts HERE!
The Plantagenet Legacy Series:
Henry IV
The Usurper King
The Accursed King
Mercedes Rochelle
Review:
The Usurper King begins at the French court, where widowed Henry Bolingbroke resides following his enforced departure from England. Having been outlawed through a trick by the English King Richard II, ten years after having joined the cause of the Lords Appellant against the king's volatile rule, Henry is whiling away the days at the lavish court, together with his second and favourite son, Thomas.
Henry's first-born son, Hal (the future Henry V of Agincourt fame), meanwhile remains at Richard's court, as a surety of his father's good behaviour. But when Henry's own father, John of Gaunt, dies, things turn for the worse as Richard refuses Henry's appeal to the duchy of Lancaster, his by rights. Unable to attend his father's funeral, and with the dire prospect of no inheritance, Henry begins to hatch a plan with fellow exile, Thomas Arundel, the former archbishop of Canterbury, to reclaim the duchy – if needed, by force.
With Richard occupied in Ireland, Henry seizes his chance and returns to England. Soon, his followers grow as more and more lords have grown unhappy with Richard's dictatorial regime. If the king can inherit one of the most established noble families, none of them are safe. Most surprisingly, the support of the Percy family – previously the wardens of the northern borders – convinces others to follow suit.
As they travel to the west, keen to catch Richard on his return, Henry repeatedly swears that he has no intentions on taking the throne. All he wants is his inheritance. But with growing support on his side, and a king deserted by almost all of his supporters, Henry's ambitions grow. He is descended from King Edward III through two lines, after all. So why not aim for the throne itself?
The Usurper King is a gripping tale of one man's journey from heir to one of the greatest duchies to the throne of England. Early on, we see him with little appetite for the 'big job'. But as he progresses across England, he witnesses the discontent not only of the nobles, but also of the burghers and ordinary citizens. Richard's volatile reign harms the kingdom, and no one feels safe from his wrath.
I've not paid much attention to Henry IV, as his reign sits between the early Middle Ages and the Wars of the Roses – my favourite historical eras. So I was intrigued to see that this novel fills some of the gaps.
As I expected from Ms Rochelle, the research is impeccable. She knows the era inside out, and it clearly shows in setting, locations, actions, down to everyday things such as clothing, armour, and food. We are transported into the late 14th century, with all its societal upheavals and political intrigues, of which there are plenty.
Henry is shown as a multi-faceted character. From heir to one of the greatest duchies, to his ascent as King of England, he is undergoing a major shift in ambition, character, and outlook. As he seizes his chance, he becomes more ruthless, not only towards poor Richard, but also towards his fellow nobles, especially the ambitious Percies.
His troubled relationship with his eldest son, Hal, makes for gripping reading. The author highlights their differences brilliantly, with Hal on Richard's side, against his father's wishes. Both are stubborn to the extreme, as they drift apart even further as Hal's resentment grows.
And soon after usurping the throne, the usurper is in deep trouble. But while he doesn't give in to political machinations and blackmail, his reign is off to a shaky start. Henry soon is suspicious of everyone, not surprisingly, given the assassination attempts against him. In The Usurper King, we see a man at times out of his depth, but with a steely will to succeed. Yet the peace he so fervently sought for the kingdom never arrives...
The Usurper King is a thrilling tale of personal ambition and ruthlessness, circumstance and opportunity, and, perhaps, fate. The narrative is engaging, full of historical detail, yet never boring. And the political intrigues of the nobles are cleverly portrayed.
A highly recommended read.
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Blurbs:
The Usurper King
From Outlaw to Usurper, Henry Bolingbroke fought one rebellion after another. First, he led his own uprising. Then he captured a forsaken king. Henry had no intention of taking the crown for himself; it was given to him by popular acclaim. Alas, it didn't take long to realize that that having the kingship was much less rewarding than striving for it. Only three months after his coronation, Henry IV had to face a rebellion led by Richard's disgruntled favorites. Repressive measures led to more discontent. His own supporters turned against him, demanding more than he could give. The haughty Percies precipitated the Battle of Shrewsbury which nearly cost him the throne—and his life.
To make matters worse, even after Richard II's funeral, the deposed monarch was rumored to be in Scotland, planning his return. The king just wouldn't stay down and malcontents wanted him back.
The Accursed King
What happens when a king loses his prowess? The day Henry IV could finally declare he had vanquished his enemies, he threw it all away with an infamous deed. No English king had executed an archbishop before. And divine judgment was quick to follow. Many thought he was struck with leprosy—God's greatest punishment for sinners. From that point on, Henry's health was cursed and he fought doggedly on as his body continued to betray him—reducing this once great warrior to an invalid.
Fortunately for England, his heir was ready and eager to take over. But Henry wasn't willing to relinquish what he had worked so hard to preserve. No one was going to take away his royal prerogative—not even Prince Hal. But Henry didn't count on Hal's dauntless nature, which threatened to tear the royal family apart.
Buy Links:
The Usurper King
The Accursed King
The Plantagenet Legacy Series
All titles in the series are available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
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About the Author:
Mercedes Rochelle
Mercedes Rochelle is an ardent lover of medieval history, and has channeled this interest into fiction writing. She believes that good Historical Fiction, or Faction as it's coming to be known, is an excellent way to introduce the subject to curious readers.
Her first four books cover eleventh-century Britain and events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Her new project is called “The Plantagenet Legacy” taking us through the reigns of the last true Plantagenet King, Richard II and his successors, Henry IV, Henry V and Henry VI.
She also writes a blog: HistoricalBritainBlog.com to explore the history behind the story. Born in St. Louis, MO, she received by BA in Literature at the University of Missouri St.Louis in 1979 then moved to New York in 1982 while in her mid-20s to "see the world". The search hasn't ended!
Today she lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.
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