3.5 stars
For 11 years, her twin sister Caitlin’s disappearance has haunted Serena Warren. The discovery of Caitlin’s bones in an untouched 18th-century church vault thrusts Serena into a tangled web of family secrets, historical mysteries, and a relic with otherworldly power. Add in the Wars of the Roses, the Princes in the Tower, and a dash of paranormal intrigue, and you’ve got Nicola Cornick’s The Last Daughter of York.
This dual-timeline novel spans centuries, weaving the stories of Serena in the present and Anne Lovell in the 15th century. Francis and Anne’s tale of loyalty and loss during the fall of Richard III is rich with drama, but Serena’s modern-day quest to uncover the truth behind Caitlin’s death feels less convincing. I mean, how does someone casually guess their friend has psychometry? I rolled my eyes.
The historical elements shine, and the supernatural bits are mild enough not to overshadow the plot. That said, Anne as a five-year-old sounded suspiciously like an adult woman, and the historical narrative was bogged down by too many characters.
Still, I appreciated Cornick’s skillful blend of historical fact and fiction. I even found myself Googling the Wars of the Roses and the Princes in the Tower mid-read. Yes, some parts stretched believability, but if you’re looking for escapist historical fiction with heart and a touch of magic, this is worth the read. I’d call it 3.5 stars.
** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary review copy. The opinions are my own.