This short work tells the next chapter for John Swale and Elizabeth Clinton after their return to England. The friction between the two pulls the book together with its rawness and reality.

David Pilling's tone remains gripping as ever. There are some time jumps in Royal Favour that could be better defined, particularly in such a short work.

Nevertheless, the historical context is beautiful, the gritty atmosphere engaging and the protagonists' perspectives well delivered in this tale of the vagaries of leaders and luck.