Cousins' War Quartet Collection - The Lady of the Rivers, The White Queen, The Red Queen, The Kingmaker's Daughter

by Oliver Bowden

The White Queen Internationally bestselling author Philippa Gregory brings the tumult and intrigue of The Wars of the Roses to vivid life through the women of the House of Lancaster and the House of York, beginning with the story of Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen. A woman who won the love of a king and ascended to royalty by virtue of her beauty, Elizabeth fought tenaciously for the success of her family -- her daughter who would one day unite the warring dynasties, and her two sons whose eventual fate has confounded historians for centuries: the Princes in the Tower. The Kingmaker's Daughter Anne Neville and her sister Isabel are daughters of the most powerful magnate in 15th century England. Ever ruthless, always plotting, in the absence of a son and heir, Warwick sets about using his daughters as pawns in his political games. Anne grows from a delightful child brought up at the court of Edward IV and his queen, Elizabeth Woodville, intimacy and friendship with the family of Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Her life is overturned when her father turns on his former allies, escapes England and invades with an enemy army. Widowed at 14, fatherless, with her mother locked in sanctuary, and her sister a vengeful enemy, Anne faces the world alone. The Lady of the Rivers Jacquetta, daughter of the Count of Luxembourg and kinswoman to half the royalty of Europe, was married to the great Englishman John, Duke of Bedford, uncle to Henry VI. The Red Queen The second book in Philippa's stunning new trilogy, The Cousins War, brings to life the story of Margaret Beaufort, a shadowy and mysterious character in the first book of the series - The White Queen - but who now takes centre stage in the bitter struggle of The War of the Roses. The White Princess The haunting story of the mother of the Tudors, Elizabeth of York, wife to Henry VII. Beautiful eldest daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville.

Genres: Historical Fiction

Paperback

First published August 14, 2014

About the author

Anton Gill (aka Oliver Bowden) has been a full-time professional writer since 1984, and in the course of the last 27 years he has published 35 books. Gill was born in Ilford, Essex, the son of a German father and an English mother, and grew up in London. He is an acclaimed novelist and Renaissance historian currently living in Paris, France. Bowden has written novelizations of several of the Assassin's Creed console games.

Oliver Bowden is a pen-name (a pseudonym adopted by the author) in order to hide his true identity. However, his profession and location are accurate.

According to Bowden's interview with UbiWorkshop, he is an avid gamer and gains much of his inspiration for character development throughout the writing process from playing the Assassin's Creed series.

Gill ceased being Oliver Bowden some years back and the author Andrew Holmes (Sleb, 64 Clarke) has published the last six titles of the Assassin's Creed series (The Secret Crusade, Forsaken, Black Flag, Unity, Underworld, and Desert Oath) using this pen-name.

Reviews

[Madalena Metelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Envolvente, devora-se.

[Georgia Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

After having watched the ‘White Queen’ TV series, I wanted to read more about the characters. I was particularly taken with Jacquetta because of her links to witchcraft, her strong and resilient character and her part in the unlikely marriage between Elizabeth Woodville and King Edward IV.

The book took a while to get going and if I’m honest, her life didn’t become overly interesting until her daughter met King Edward - this book covers the lead up to this event and so it’s largely based on the many battles that took place between the Yorks and the Lancastrians.

However, it gives an interesting read and sets the scene for the later ongoing War of the Roses novels. I’m moving onto the ‘White Queen’ next and hoping this will be a more exciting read.

I am a huge fan of Philippa Gregory and have read all of her Tudor novels - this was my least favourite but it serves as a good background for later happenings...

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Around 1484, the Battle of Bosworth Field in England was fought and ended The Wars of the Roses. The Lancasters against the Yorks was a civil war that the Lancasters won. King Richard III was fatally wounded, and Henry Tudor was crowned Henry VII. Margaret Beaufort, Henry's mother, rode the Royal Barge down the Thames which had been her goal ever since her difficult delivery of Henry when she only 14 years old. Her husband, Edmond Tudor, died before the child was born. I read this partial history of Margaret out of order in Ms. Gregory's trilogy, and I regret it.

Margaret was royalty but did not live most of her life at Court. She was not a sympathetic character in this book or in books I had previously read about her.
Maybe I felt some sympathy for her during her delivery of Henry. The same could be said when her husbands used her for their benefit. On the other hand, she did her share of 'using' the husbands and ladies of the Court to get her son crowned King. The princes in the tower went missing, and she may have had a hand in that all for God's will and her ambition. She was described as plain, never smiling or laughing. Compared to the two Elizabeths, she was rather dowdy and dull.

There was something that left me hanging in the end. Where did Jasper Tudor go when he left Henry shortly before the Bosworth battle? He had been with Henry and protected Henry for all of Henry's life. He schemed with Margaret to get Henry on the throne. So what happened to him? I even researched his life on Wikipedia, and still found no answer! Lol. Jasper told Henry he was going to find an escape route for them in case the battle did not go their way. Even Henry gave that explanation a second thought. There was another incident that I questioned, but I forgot what it was. Should I recall it, I will update this inane and close to stupid review!

Thank you, Ms. Gregory, for a good read.

[Sana Merchant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I simply loved it.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this author. She brings history to life. Have now read about half of her books and still enjoying them. My favourite is The Other Boleyn Girl. I loved Virgin Earth too.