29 Jan Book Review The Usurper King Mercedes Rochelle #HenryIV #Plantagenet #Lancaster #Medieval #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @authorrochelle @cathiedunn

FEATURED AUTHOR: MERCEDES ROCHELLE

I’m delighted to welcome Mercedes Rochelle again as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour, being held between January 9th – 30th, 2024.  Mercedes Rochelle is the author of the following two Historical Fiction / Medieval Historical Fiction books in the The Plantagenet Legacy Series: The Usurper King (305 pages) and The Accursed King . The Usurper King and The Accursed King  were published by Sergeant Press on April 5, 2021 and April 18, 2022 respectively.

Below are highlights of both books, Mercedes Rochelle’s author bio, and my 5-star review of The Usurper King.

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/12/blog-tour-henry-iv-usurper-king.html

HIGHLIGHTS: THE USURPER KING

THE USURPER KING
(Book 4 of The Plantagenet Legacy)
by Mercedes Rochelle

Blurb:

From Outlaw to Usurper, Henry Bolingbroke fought one rebellion after another.

First, he led his own uprising. Then he captured a forsaken king. Henry had no intention of taking the crown for himself; it was given to him by popular acclaim. Alas, it didn’t take long to realize that that having the kingship was much less rewarding than striving for it. Only three months after his coronation, Henry IV had to face a rebellion led by Richard’s disgruntled favorites. Repressive measures led to more discontent. His own supporters turned against him, demanding more than he could give. The haughty Percies precipitated the Battle of Shrewsbury which nearly cost him the throne—and his life.

To make matters worse, even after Richard II’s funeral, the deposed monarch was rumored to be in Scotland, planning his return. The king just wouldn’t stay down and malcontents wanted him back.

Universal Buy Links:

The Usurper King: https://books2read.com/u/3nkRJ9

HIGHLIGHTS: THE ACCURSED KING

THE ACCURSED KING
(Book 5 of The Plantagenet Legacy)
by Mercedes Rochelle

Blurb:

What happens when a king loses his prowess?

The day Henry IV could finally declare he had vanquished his enemies, he threw it all away with an infamous deed. No English king had executed an archbishop before. And divine judgment was quick to follow. Many thought he was struck with leprosy—God’s greatest punishment for sinners. From that point on, Henry’s health was cursed and he fought doggedly on as his body continued to betray him—reducing this once great warrior to an invalid.

Fortunately for England, his heir was ready and eager to take over. But Henry wasn’t willing to relinquish what he had worked so hard to preserve. No one was going to take away his royal prerogative—not even Prince Hal. But Henry didn’t count on Hal’s dauntless nature, which threatened to tear the royal family apart.

Universal Buy Links:

The Accursed King: https://books2read.com/u/b5KpnG

The Plantagenet Legacy Series Links:

Amazon US Series Link
Amazon UK Series Link

All titles in the series are available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

AUTHOR BIO: MERCEDES ROCHELLE

Mercedes Rochelle is an ardent lover of medieval history, and has channeled this interest into fiction writing. She believes that good Historical Fiction, or Faction as it’s coming to be known, is an excellent way to introduce the subject to curious readers.

Her first four books cover eleventh-century Britain and events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Her new project is called “The Plantagenet Legacy” taking us through the reigns of the last true Plantagenet King, Richard II and his successors, Henry IV, Henry V and Henry VI. She also writes a blog: HistoricalBritainBlog.com to explore the history behind the story.

Born in St. Louis, MO, she received by BA in Literature at the University of Missouri St.Louis in 1979 then moved to New York in 1982 while in her mid-20s to “see the world”. The search hasn’t ended!

Today she lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.

Author Links:

Website: https://mercedesrochelle.com/ 

Twitter: https://x.com/authorrochelle

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mercedesrochelle.net

Book Bub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mercedes-rochelle

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mercedes-Rochelle/author/B001KMG5P6

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1696491.Mercedes_Rochelle

BOOK REVIEW: THE USURPER KING

The gallant knight Henry Bolingbroke is welcomed by the French Court even though he has been declared an outlaw and banished by his cousin, King Richard II of England. Henry’s decision to risk returning to England in 1399 AD to claim his inheritance after his father’s death sets the stage for political unrest in the Medieval Historical Fiction, The Usurper King (Book 4 of The Plantagenet Legacy).

At the urging of Archbishop Arundel, Henry gathers an army and forcibly takes his estates while Richard II is on military campaign in Ireland. Winning the support of other English nobles, Henry confiscates land from those who oppose him and orders his soldiers to destroy much of Cheshire. He quickly gains enough power and support to declare himself as King Henry IV and imprisons Richard II. However, loyalty between Henry IV and his fellow noblemen and son, Prince Hal, is tested. Henry’s fortunes quickly reverse after he announces that Richard II has died of starvation in prison. Thereafter, he faces uprisings from powerful nobles. The novel ends in 1403 at the Battle of Shrewsbury waged between Henry’s army and rebel forces led by “Harry Hotspur” Percy, a former supporter. The story continues in Book 5, The Accursed King, in the series.

The Usurper King is a plot-driven story about political machinations amongst various noble families fighting for power. The meticulous research by Mercedes Rochelle is on display with her vivid Medieval descriptions of landscapes, festivals, battles and alternative history based on rumors that Richard II had escaped. Various points of view weave in and out of the narrative, at times changing in the same scene. The multiple perspectives give insight on the revolving door of loyalty and betrayal among the various factions.

Scenes told from the perspective of Henry and his evolution from an unjustly banished knight to an usurper of the throne is engaging. As Henry grasps for power, his blossoming romance with Joan of Navarre and growing friction with his oldest son, Prince Hal, add a deeper layer to the complex historical figure. One of the most fascinating scene is how an arrow is surgically removed from Prince Hal’s face after the Battle of Shrewsbury, based on actual accounts. A cast of characters, a map, and author’s note are additional bonuses.

I highly recommend The Usurper King for its blend of gripping political intrigue of nobles pitted against kings, cinematic battle scenes, sweet romance, and historical detail of Medieval England.