Henry

James Young’s narration is the standout here, grounding what could’ve been a dry historical recitation in palpable tension. His Henry is no one-dimensional tyrant; Young gives him a weary, almost haunted cadence, especially in quiet moments where the weight of his choices settles in. The audiobook’s pacing is its greatest strength—scenes of battle roar to life with visceral immediacy, while the slower political maneuverings unfurl with the deliberation of a chess game where every move could mean beheading. That said, listeners seeking a traditional hero’s journey will find Henry a prickly protagonist. He’s calculating, often ruthless, and Riches doesn’t shy away from showing the man’s flaws: his paranoia, his occasional brutality, his reluctance to trust even those who’ve bled for him. The story’s strength is also its potential drawback—the sheer number of names and shifting alliances might overwhelm casual listeners, though Young’s clear differentiation between characters (e.g., the honeyed menace of Perkin Warbeck vs. the oily charm of Elizabeth Woodville) helps immeasurably. My biggest critique? A few transitions feel abrupt, as if entire plot threads were carved out to meet runtime constraints. Still, the emotional gut-punch of the final act—when Henry’s legacy is revealed through the eyes of his children—makes it unforgettable. If you crave historical fiction that refuses to sugarcoat the past, this audiobook delivers.