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The Royal Game

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The Royal Game

By: Anne O'Brien
Narrated by: Jilly Bond
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About this listen

The spellbinding new historical novel from the Sunday Times bestseller Anne O’Brien.

England, 1444. Three women challenge the course of history…

King Henry VI’s grip on the crown hangs by a thread as the Wars of the Roses starts to tear England apart. And from the ashes of war, the House of Paston begins its rise to power.

Led by three visionary women, the Pastons are a family from humble peasant beginnings who rely upon cunning, raw ambition, and good fortune in order to survive.

Their ability to plot and scheme sees them overcome imprisonment, violence and betrayal, to eventually secure for their family a castle and a place at the heart of the Yorkist Court. But success breeds jealousy and brings them dangerous enemies…

An inspirational story of courage and resilience, The Royal Game, charts the rise of three remarkable women from obscurity to the very heart of Court politics and intrigue.

©2021 Anne O'Brien (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Medieval Romance Royalty England King War

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Critic reviews

"A wonderfully immersive and intriguing read, meticulously researched. I was completely captivated." (Barbara Erskine)

"An engrossing story of one family’s attempts to gain land and power in 15th-century England...an eye-opening insight into how wealth was gained and lost in late medieval England as well as a pleasure to read." (Mick Finlay)

"Fast paced, immersive historical fiction that breathes life into the figures that populated our medieval past - I thoroughly enjoyed it!" (Anita Frank)
All stars
Most relevant
Bit boring - repetitive - not her best novel. Ends abruptly with so many loose ends. Love her novels normally. Best is The Kings Sister

The Royal Game

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I live historical novels, this one is really good. More for women readers as centred on families and homes rather than battlefields.

loved it

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Shame as obviously based on paston family, but my god it was a slog. What’s saved it was that performance was nice to listen to. Can’t recommend.

Performance is great, story awful

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Having had an intetest in the Paston family for a long time, I was delighted to find this book. I've enjoyed being given their story in such good detail, and it flowed well, as expected from this author.
I enjoyed listening to it, the narrator did a good job, her voice being easy to listen to.
That's the main positives of the book, I could go on, wont.
With only one negative, it is rather a big one. The story ended abruptly at what can only be described, as almost, mid sentence. What a poor show, it really needs an ending.
But I did enjoy it non the less.

Well written, well read, good story.

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really am enjoying audible books and this historical based story is a good as any I've read. can't wait to start the next

enjoyable historical book

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I found myself zoning out several times during this book. A good story, true story, but told in a not so good way

Not so engaging

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I did not want this book to end!
I love a story that makes me feel like I am there, superb!
the narrator was excellent.

superb!

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drawn in to this tale of a family . not the usual travails of Royalty but a truly delightful picture of 'ordinary ' folk.

Fascinating

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Unlike other historical novels this is full of gloom repeats itself over and over and ends abruptly . Not worth listening to I kept waiting for it to get better but alas !!!

Don’t bother

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