To celebrate the publication of
’s wonderful new book ‘The Oxenbridge King’, I had the pleasure of sitting down with her for a chat about her novel, her research, and her thoughts in general on Richard III.In The Oxenbridge King, Richard III is trapped in the afterlife, guided by an acerbic and impatient Raven as his guide, as they seek out the angel tasked with taking his soul to heaven. In 2023, meanwhile, a young woman named Molly is grappling with heartbreak from a recent relationship and grief from the death of her beloved father. She returns from London to her hometown of Oxenbridge, where after hearing strange noises in the basement of her empty house, worlds collide with dramatic, thoughtful and heart-wrenching consequences.
I have read the entirety of the book and, speaking as someone who doesn’t usually dip into fiction, I found it endearing, sympathetic, humorous, moving, and truly enchanting, interweaving as it does different timelines whilst exploring myriad themes like truth (which is a lonely thing, Paice opens the book with), grief, and redemption. It is a book that needs to be explored to do it justice.
These are the most important things in the world, everyday gestures of love and belonging, because without them, nothing else makes sense. Out of anyone in the world you have chosen this person to stay with, to put up with all their irritating ways. Love is an arm around the shoulder and endless cups of tea. Love is a button sewn back on a cardigan, a meal at the end of a day, a phone call to say hello for no reason. Love is the strongest thread of all, even if you don't recognise it, or become exasperated by it, or a litany of endless desires gets in the way - Christine Paice in The Oxenbridge King
The Oxenbridge King is ON SALE NOW so watch the video and make sure to pick up a copy!
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