The King's Grace

December 8, 2008
Smith's newest historical fiction (after Daughter of York
) is a complex exploration of a turbulent period of English history, taking on one of its biggest mysteries: the fate of princes Edward and Richard, locked up in the Tower by Richard III. Protagonist Grace Plantagenet is the illegitimate daughter of Edward IV and had been confidant to his family—including her imprisoned half-brothers Edward and Richard. After Richard III is killed and the princes disappear, a man named Perkin Warbeck appears to challenge Henry VII, claiming to be the presumed dead Prince Richard. Determined to discover the truth of Warbeck's claim, Grace throws herself into the politics of the court, knowing that if Warbeck is Prince Richard, it could be drastic for Grace's family—especially for her half-sister Elizabeth of York, now Henry's queen. Examined through the eyes of a minor historical figure, Smith introduces readers to 15th-century political intrigue with thought, courage and honesty. Though her major historical figures (especially Henry VII) get the broad-brush treatment, Smith is careful to make Grace and her world detailed and engaging.

March 1, 2009
What really happened to the Princes in the Tower? Were they murdered by Richard III? One of England'sand history'sgreatest mysteries is the focus of Smith's ("Daughter of York") latest historical novel. Grace Plantagenet, one of Edward IV's bastard daughters and half-sister to the boys, serves as our eyes and ears for the reign of Henry VII, the first Tudor king, leading us through the thrilling climax of the Wars of the Roses, a period ensconced in mystery, lies, romance, and danger. Smith's style of extensive research and meticulous attention to detail lends itself perfectly to this era, one that truly proves that "truth is stranger than fiction." Indeed, in choosing Grace as narrator, a figure about whom so little is known to history, Smith gives herself a unique opportunity to explore the many intrigues that surrounded the English monarchy at this time, while also giving readers an original and endearing character with her own engrossing tale to savor. Highly recommended for all historical fiction collections.Leigh Wright, Bridgewater, NJ

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2009
One of the most satisfying trends in historical fiction has been the liberation of seemingly minor historical figures from footnote status. When these formerly obscure characters take to the main stage, history is rewritten from an entirely fresh perspective. In this fictional biography of Grace Plantagenet, Smith, author of A Rose for the Crown (2006) and Daughter of York (2008), continues the fifteenth-century resurrection process with aplomb. The illegitimate daughter of Edward IV, Grace is summarily plunged into court rivalries and intrigue when a young man claiming to be the rightful heir to the throne surfaces. Is he who he claims he is, or is he Margaret of Yorks pawn in an elaborate game of political chess? In this meticulously researched and elaborately plotted narrative, Smith continues to put a human face on a bitter feud between branches of a royal house that stretched over decades, spawning a seemingly endless amount of potential protagonists and material for historical fiction.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)