THE KING'S GRACE

Grace Plantagenet, illegitimate daughter of King Edward IV, leads a quiet life until a mysterious stranger arrives, claiming to be the rightful heir to the English crown. If that's true, he would also be Grace's long-lost half-brother, Richard, who has been presumed dead. Thus, a convoluted storyline of politics and intrigue ensues. Narrator Rosalyn Landor's dispassionate performance is as uninspired as this novel. Without a clear plot or much distinction between character voices, the story fails to come to life, and the listener cannot engage with the narration. However, diehard fans of Tudor historical fiction may find a pre-Henry VIII story refreshing. Further, those with knowledge of the period, characters, and relationship dynamics may also find Landor's narration more than adequate. A.R.H. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2009]