Today, I'm delighted to welcome Wendy Johnson to Ruins & Reading. I'm sharing my review of her novel, The Traitor's Son – the first in an exciting new series about King Richard III and the Wars of the Roses.
The Traitor's Son is currently on blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club. Find fascinating historical articles, enticing excerpts, and more, HERE!
The Traitor’s Son
Wendy Johnson
Review:
It has been over twenty years, since Sharon Penman's wonderful novel, The Sunne in Splendour, made me look closer at the Wars of the Roses, and the main players involved. Since then, I've enjoyed reading novels about the era – and the political shenanigans and personal ambitions that drove this long conflict.
So when I first heard about The Traitor's Son, written by a stalwart of the Richard III Society with access to in-depth research material, of course, I had to add it to my TBR list. And I was not to be disappointed.
The Traitor's Son begins with references to the death of the 'traitor' in question – Richard, Duke of York, and father of Yorkists, Edward, Edmund, George, and Richard. Alas, Edmund dies at the same time as his father, and the dangers arising from their deaths are enough for the duke's two youngest sons, George and Richard, to be sent to the Low Countries for their own safety.
Meanwhile, Edward, the eldest, maintains a presence in England, continuing their father's quest for the crown of England, which he gains in early 1461. But it is still unsafe for the youngest York offspring in the volatile kingdom split into opposing factions. Safe across the channel, Richard never forgets his father, and his stubbornness and loyalty is typical for an 8-year-old. Having to transfer his allegiance to Edward is understandable, but something young Richard struggles with early on. His father made a promise, didn't he?
Richard becomes close to his cousin, Richard Neville, earl of Warwick, when he joins his household later. Again, the subject of loyalty continues, as he regards the impressive earl as a father figure.
The Traitor's Son covers the decade between 1461 and 1471, and Richard's late childhood and adolescence. We see him develop from a stubborn child, not adverse to break imposed rules, to a young knight. And whilst the time period portrays the challenges of Edward IV's first reign, we also see the instability, intrigues, and dangers through young Richard's eyes.
The narrative stays close to him, as he grows up in a kingdom split into two, with his brother forced to defend his accession. Of course, Richard supports Edward, even when he makes decisions that go against Richard's beliefs. But Richard's reaction later shows how much he has grown up, and how the reality of the era affects every action.
But when Warwick, his mentor and friend, changes to the Lancastrian side, Richard must choose. In the end, loyalty to family overrides all else. Loyaulté me lie...
Ms Johnson's early Richard is an impetuous boy, close to his father. He takes the news of the duke's death badly, refusing to believe it. We can see right into the boy's mind, which gives us a close glimpse at his strong sense of loyalty. Richard grows up without Edward's sense of superiority or George's cocky attitude. Instead, here, we find a serious boy-turned-man, aware of his surroundings, and of his role as a son of the house of York
The Traitor's Son is incredibly well-researched, and the author's deep knowledge of the era and its protagonists and antagonists shines through on every page. Ms Johnson is a long-standing member of the Richard III Society, and supported Philippa Langley in her quest to locate the remains of the missing king.
The novel contains many historical details of the era, and readers can immerse themselves in the plot and the setting. If you enjoy historical fiction with a strong focus on the main character, and his immediate environment, then you should check out this novel. I'm curious to see where Ms Johnson takes Richard next.
A highly recommended read.
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Blurb:
Caught between a king and a kingmaker, young Richard Plantagenet knows he’ll have to choose...
1461: Richard Duke of York, King by Right, has been branded a traitor and slain by his Lancastrian foes. For his eight-year-old son—Richard Plantagenet—England has become a dangerous place.
As the boy grapples with grief and uncertainty, his elder brother, Edward, defeats the enemy and claims the throne. Dazzled by his glorious sibling, young Richard soon discovers that imperfections lurk beneath his brother's majestic façade. Enter Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick—cousin, tutor, luminary—whose life has given him everything but that which he truly craves: a son. A filial bond forms between man and boy as they fill the void in each other’s lives. Yet, when treachery tears their world asunder, Richard faces an agonizing dilemma: pledge allegiance to Edward—his blood brother and anointed king—or to Warwick, the father figure who has shaped his life and affections.
Painfully trapped between duty and devotion, Richard faces a grim reality: whatever he decides will mean a fight to the death.
In "The Traitor’s Son", Wendy Johnson weaves a tapestry of loyalty, love, and sacrifice against the backdrop of England's turbulent history. Through the eyes of a young Richard III, readers are transported into a world where every choice is fraught with peril, and the bonds of kinship are tested to their limits.
Perfect for fans of Hilary Mantel, Annie Garthwaite and Sharon K. Penman.
Praise for The Traitor's Son:
"Exquisitely written. An evocative and thoughtful retelling of the early life of Richard III."
~ Philippa Langley, MBE
"Wonderfully woven story of a young Richard III. Woven with a sure knowledge of the history and a realistic telling of a story about a young boy finding his way through tragedy and triumph, uncertainty and a legacy he cannot escape.Brilliant debut which promises more and more."
~ Cris, Amazon 5* Review
"Sometimes the perfect use of the written word takes my breath away. Not very often but this book is it. A wonderful story written so beautifully that I shall not forget it for a long time. Everything to my mind is perfect. The language, the story, the pacing. Just wonderful."
~ Amazon Reviewer, 5* Review
Buy Link: Universal Buy Link
This title is available to read with #KindleUnlimited.
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About the Author:
Wendy Johnson has a lifelong passion for medieval history, its people, and for bringing their incredible stories to life. Her specific areas of interest are the fifteenth century, the Wars of the Roses, and Richard III in particular. She enjoys narratives which immerse the reader in the past, and tries faithfully to recreate the later Middle Ages within in her own writing. She has contributed to a number of historical anthologies and was a runner up in the Woman and Home Short Story Competition 2008.
Wendy is also a founder member of Philippa Langley’s Looking for Richard Project, which located the king’s lost grave in 2012. She co-authored Finding Richard III: the Official Account of Research by the Retrieval and Reburial Project in 2014, and in 2019 received the Richard III Society’s Robert Hamblin Award.
THE TRAITOR’S SON, volume one in a Richard III trilogy, is Wendy’s debut novel and she is currently working on the sequel.
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