Review of The Lost Princes

[Rajnee Varma]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Lost Princes" by Trevor Daffyd.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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The Lost Princes by Trevor Daffyd is the collection of two historical novels in a series. King Edward IV had married Elizabeth, a commoner and a widow with two sons. When he died of illness, his son and heir to the throne, Edward V, was only 12 years old. The king’s brother, Richard of Gloucester, imprisoned the prince and his younger brother, Richard of York, in a secluded tower and occupied the throne. The queen, Elizabeth, took refuge in a monastery with her remaining children and the royal treasure. Two years later, the king was defeated and killed in war by Henry VII, who now claimed the throne of England. The boys remained captive and forgotten by people, but their mother, the former Queen Elizabeth, continued to plot and manipulate to gain back her lost glory and the throne of England for her son Edward V.

The novels are amazingly well-written retellings of history. The author has described the events in great detail, complete with dates and places in compliance with the historical facts. The first book, The Lost Heirs, begins in Grafton Regis, Northamptonshire, in May 1464 with the marriage of King Edward IV and covers the events till the year 1492. The second book, The Lost Spare, continues the story that unfolds in countries foreign to England and features a plethora of characters in France, Ireland, Scotland, Rome, Holland, and England. It narrates the story of a boy who grew into a man identified as Perkin Warbeck, or Richard, the heir to the throne of England in the absence of Edward V. It reveals the true identity and character of Perkin—whether he was truly Richard or was an imposter greedy of the throne. The story ends in the year 1499.

The historical events cannot be altered, but the author has developed the characters very well according to their roles in shaping history. Queen Elizabeth is a key character showing ambition from the beginning and leaving no stone unturned to fulfill her ambition, often failing in the task but emerging resilient every time. Bishop Morton is another prominent character who has no hesitation in designing immoral plots and switching sides to support the most powerful and promising candidate. Duchess of Burgundy, Margaret, and Brampton are positive characters, while the rulers of various countries have their priorities set—secure borders, profitable trade, and strategic alliances—before deciding to support Perkin. King Richard’s hesitation to execute his nephews is justified, but King Henry emerges as a ruthless, treacherous, and cunning man. A remarkable character in the story is Wil Slaughter, the guard who looked after the captive princes.

The writing style of the author is impressive, switching intermittently between the first-person perspectives of the prominent characters and the third-person perspective. The author has skillfully illustrated the characters’ thoughts and how each character reflects on the events, reminisces about the past, and speculates about the future. There is nothing negative regarding the content or the storyline, but the editing needs improvement. There are several typos, difficult to ignore, that caused the deduction of one star from the rating. I rate the book 4 out of 5 stars.

The book delves deep into history and allows the reader to experience it along with the characters. It covers the political turmoil, the intricate web of alliances and politics, and the struggle for power and wealth in the name of stability, integrity, and welfare of the people of England. I would recommend this compelling book to people who love historical novels that give insight into the events and characters and a better understanding of history.

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The Lost Princes
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[Kutloano Makhuvhela]

Wow! I am very much interested in the history of England. I know it is expansive and rich in detailed, just like how this book strove to be, according to your revealing review. I will pick it when I see it on the shelves because of you. You did a fantastic job here. Keep up the amazing work.

[Yasmine Zaki Muhieddine]

What an interesting story. People are ready to do terrible things because of their love for power! Including sacrificing the wellness and freedom of those two kids. The story is captivating. It looks like a book well-written, despite the grammatical errors.