Book Review: The King's Daughter by Christie Dickason

Welcome to the next stop on the TLC Book Tour for The King's Daughter!

The daughter of James I, the Princess Elizabeth would not be merely her father’s pawn in the royal marriage market.

The court of James I is a dangerous place, with factions led by warring cousins Robert Cecil and Francis Bacon. While Europe seethes with conflict between Protestants and Catholics, James sees himself as a grand peacemaker—and wants to make his mark by trading his children for political treaties.

Henry, Prince of Wales, and his sister, Elizabeth, find themselves far more popular than their distrusted father, a perilous position for a child of a jealous king. When Elizabeth is introduced to one suitor, Frederick, the Elector Palatine, she feels the unexpected possibility of happiness. But her fate is not her own to choose—and when her parents brutally withdraw their support for the union, Elizabeth must take command of her own future, with the help of an unexpected ally, the slave girl Tallie, who seeks her own, very different freedom.

About Author Christie Dickason

Christie Dickason, Harvard-educated, is a former theater director and choreographer with the Royal Shakespeare Company. She is the author of The Firemaster’s Mistress and lives in London with her family.

Find out more about Christie and her other books at her website.

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In Christie Dickason's The King's Daughter, princess Elizabeth is caught in a world of power and politics, like most royal children.  Born in 1596, she is frequently seen as a game piece in a figurative royal chess match. To those in charge, her feelings are unimportant-- she will be married off to someone of her father's choosing, and she is not permitted ambitions of her own.  In fact, any hint of ambition is seen as a serious threat to her father.  But Elizabeth ultimately doesn't accept this reality.  She yearns for love, both romantic and familial.  Over the years she learns her royal position and is taught to never seek true happiness. With her friend and servant Thalia, she fights for what she desires as well.

The King's Daughter is a well written piece, clearly well researched for accurate details of British history. Christie Dickason's style is very poetical, using many metaphors and word pictures to craft her story.  She occasionally breaks away for brief chapters where a singular character gives voice to their thoughts and cares, almost like a journal entry or therapeutic confessional.  It brings an interesting perspective to the story, which is predominantly told in the first person, from Elizabeth's view.

Like much historical fiction, Daughter recounts documented moments in time as well as the real people who lived in that era. It could have easily been presented in a dry, textbook fashion, or it could have been overloaded with details that were nonessential to the plot.  This was certainly not the case here.  Dickason has done a wonderful job in combining fact, a little bit of fiction and artistic talent in her recounting of Elizabeth's experience.  Readers will be transported to that time, but they will also enjoy a rich story with an almost dream-like quality.  This is historical fiction worth reading.

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