A Tapestry of Treason by Anne O'Brien

September 19, 2021

A Tapestry of Treason by Anne O'Brien

Constance of York, Lady Despencer (sometimes spelled Dispencer) is part of a magnificently dysfunction family, the Plantagenets, aka the House of York. She is a willing tool of her husband and her two brothers in their quest for power. When King Richard II (Constance's cousin) is overthrown in 1399, Henry Bolingbroke, son of John of Gaunt and another one of Constance's cousins, seizes the throne to become King Henry IV. No sooner is Henry on the throne than Constance and her male relatives begin plotting to restore Richard to the throne. Their plot fails but Constance is able to talk her way back into Henry's good graces. So what does she do? She immediately becomes involved in ANOTHER traitorous plot to overthrow Henry. This one fails as well, but there are more serious consequences for the plotters.

Constance is a little-known historical figure, remembered only for being at the center of two treasonous plots, and the author has spun an interesting historical novel around her. Lady Constance is maddening at times, allowing her family's ambition to override her good sense. There are lots of secret meetings, plots, and many unlikeable characters. Constance's character is deeply flawed and at times she is TSTL (romance novel term for "too stupid to live"). Still, this was a very good read and I recommend it for fans of historical fiction set in the medieval period.

Constance of York, Lady Despencer