The King's Mistress

Title: The King's Mistress by Emma Campion
Genre: Fiction, Historical, Romance
Rating: 3/5

History remembers Alice Perrers as a greedy and conniving harlot who took advantage of an aging king. But is that who Alice truly was? Or was she a woman who was taught always to obey and who cared for her family so greatly that she was easily manipulated by those in power?

The King's Mistress is a really good book. It's well-written, contains some beautiful imagery and Campion's obviously done her research, even if she doesn't necessarily agree with the popular beliefs on Alice Perrers. Unfortunately, the book just didn't grip me. It's not to say that I didn't want to read the complete book, just that I didn't mind putting it down for a day or two to read something else for work, which meant it took me a while to finish it.

I liked the stylistic symmetry of including lines of Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde as epigraphs to the chapters. It's a tragic love story set against the background of the Trojan war where the female protagonist's decisions are influenced by society and her family. It complements Alice's story and the way her own choices are influenced by her love for her family. However, my minimal knowledge of middle English meant reading the epigraphs took a little deciphering.

I really enjoyed Campion's characterizations of Alice, King Edward and the other historical figures. It's interesting to see Alice as a young girl with no say in what happens to her, who falls in love against her better judgment and grows to become a woman willing to do whatever it takes to protect her family. I found the manipulative and secretive nature of the royal family completely believable, particularly Edward's temperamental nature. And his spiral into dementia was heartbreaking. I also really liked the friendship that Campion imagined between Alice and Chaucer. Considering Chaucer's connections to two of Edward's sons, it is entirely believable that he and Alice may have known each other, and in the book he proves to be one of the few confidantes she can trust.

In the end, I'd recommend The King's Mistress to history lovers, particularly those interested in the British monarchy, and those that enjoy family fictions. It's definitely worth the read and I look forward to reading Emma Campion's future books.

Thanks to Crown Publishers for the Advanced Reading Copy of The King's Mistress. A positive review was not a requirement and the views expressed above are my own. For more information on The King's Mistress, check out the Random House website.