Thanks in no small part to William Shakespeare, history recognizes Richard III, the last king in the Plantagenet dynasty and last ruler of the House of York. But less well remembered is his mother, Cecily of York. An intelligent, dynamic woman unafraid of speaking her mind, she and her husband, also Richard, were a rare love match in a time of marriage as social and political contract. With her signature attention to detail, Smith fully fleshes out the life of this English lady and, through her eyes, skillfully dramatizes the thick of the Wars of the Roses. A master of historical accuracy and complex political intrigues, the author suffers one surprising downfall here; at times flat and at times awkward, the romance between Cecily and Richard works best when the lovers are apart. VERDICT Though this latest is not quite as effortlessly engaging as Smith's previous novels (e.g., The King's Grace), her fans will enjoy it.—Leigh Wright, Bridgewater, NJ

All the makings of a proper medieval tale—familial betrayal, political scandal, savage wars, decapitations, and licentious affairs—are threaded throughout Smith's competent fourth historical novel (after The King's Grace), this one revolving around Cecily Neville and her husband, Richard of York, whose love—and lovemaking—offers a consistency that contrasts the perpetual turmoil and political upheaval that plagued the royal houses of England. The corruption within the court of Henry VI becomes more and more evident as members of his close circle, most notably the earls of Suffolk and Somerset, rise higher in rank; Richard, meanwhile, begins to suspect that he is being kept at a distance out of fear that he might assert his right to the throne. After the tedious beginning chapters, which cover Cecily's childhood and the early days of her relationship with Richard, the story quickly picks up momentum as Cecily and Richard become entangled in court politics, giving Smith many opportunities to showcase her knowledge of the era, though period details sometimes come across as being shoehorned in. Fans of medieval historical fiction will undoubtedly appreciate this intimate portrayal of some of the era's key players. (May)