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The Rose of York Trilogy #1
The Rose of York: Love & War
Set in Malory's England during the Wars of the Roses when the passions of a few determined the fate of a nation, this acclaimed winner of a remarkable eight awards tells the true story of two star-crossed lovers -- Richard of Gloucester and Lady Anne Neville -- before they become King and Queen. A stirring tale of romance and intrigue.
340 pages, Paperback
First published November 3, 2003
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About the author
Sandra Worth
9 books152 followersSandra Worth is the author of six historical novels chronicling the demise of the Plantagenet dynasty in England and the rise of the Tudors. She is the winner of numerous awards and prizes, including three Reviewers Choice Awards. For more info, visit sandraworth.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
September 13, 2016
If you want Wars of the Roses cliches, this book is full of 'em.
Saint Richard and Saint Anne falling in lurve? Check.
Nasty Warwick is nasty (and speaks pirate!)? Check.
Evil queen Marguerite is evil who gets pregnant by Somerset because her mad husband is mad? Check.
I can't reconcile with the author turning Lord Hastings into a rapist to excuse his later execution. That's absurd (and disgusting, imo).
I have given the book an extra star because it made me laugh. Whether it was supposed to....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2010
I dont usually like to give negative comments. i know every book will appeal to someone but being a long term supporter of Richard iii i couldnt help myself.
richard iii has suffered centuries of bad press, most of which has now been proved false but Ms Worth paints him with such glowing colours that he becomes a saint. Richard the third was a man of his time, violent, an unparalled military leader and a competent knight and king. He was not a saint. I would have prefered some gritty realism. would not recommend.
richard iii has suffered centuries of bad press, most of which has now been proved false but Ms Worth paints him with such glowing colours that he becomes a saint. Richard the third was a man of his time, violent, an unparalled military leader and a competent knight and king. He was not a saint. I would have prefered some gritty realism. would not recommend.
June 16, 2020
Since I really like to read about Richard III and the war of roses I enjoyed this book and the love story it contains. That been said I only have to add that you must not read this if you dont like that king.
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January 24, 2016I made it to page 76 where Will Hastings is turned from one of my favorites into a disgusting evil pig, I could read no further. I wasn't loving it up until that point anyway, too many shifts from the present too the past, I was getting motion sickness...
August 31, 2013
I just can't do it. This is dire. Sorry. I don't give up easily but I can't continue with this, life is too short and there's too many good books out there.
February 12, 2012
This book, and two more in the trilogy "Crown of Destiny" and "Fall From Grace" comprise a trilogy about the story of Richard the 3rd of England (you know the one, Shakespeare made him a villain with a hunchback in his play, and he says the famous words "my kingdom for a horse!". The truth of Richard's life is very different from what Shakespeare and others would have us believed, and this book is one that tells the story of his life, his lifelong love of, and eventual marriage to Anne Neville, and the politics of the day. As a highly ethical and moral man Richard often struggled with the mores of the day, including the behavior of his licentious brother, Edward the King. The story takes place during the latter part of the War of the Roses.
I have read other books sympathetic to Richard the 3rd; this one is very well researched. I've also read Crown of Destiny, and plan to read the final one. The story is a good one, and definitely worth reading.
I have read other books sympathetic to Richard the 3rd; this one is very well researched. I've also read Crown of Destiny, and plan to read the final one. The story is a good one, and definitely worth reading.
February 27, 2009
This book is the first of a series by Sandra Worth, published in 2003 about the Wars of the Roses. For those who do not know, The Wars of the Roses was a period in England of civil wars from about 1450-1485. Its origins began before 1450 with much civil unrest. The term 'Roses' signify the white rose of the Yorks, the red rose of the Lancastrians. Both of these houses were direct descendants of Edward the III and began to fight for the crown. The Lancastrian King Henry VI had become unpopular along with the company he chose. This caused much civil unrest, along with the fact that King Henry was displaying periods of mental illness. There were many people involved, which becomes confusing to the average reader; therefore, if this is an introduction to this period I would suggest reading this novel first before delving into the many confusing facts of the non-fiction counterparts. About halfway through it starts to get muddled with the names/titles; the switching sides on the factions for Lancastrians versus the Yorkists occurs often. You definitely need to have your thinking cap on for that aspect which is why I suggest starting with this novel before tackling an informative non-fiction encyclopedia style book.
Upon reading this novel, I was immediately engrossed in the story of the small boy Richard who is forced to deal with life and death at a young age. This small boy Richard from the House of York is actually who we know as Richard, Duke of Gloucester, brother to King Edward, who later becomes known as Richard III. He feared the "Bitch of Anjou", Queen Marguerite (Margaret) who his family was fighting against. She is the one who was pulling the strings of her husband, Henry IV who was mentally unstable. The book opens where Edward has defeated King Henry, and thus Edward becomes King Edward IV, of the frightened boy's aspect of recently losing a well-loved father (Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York) in 1460 at the battle of Wakefield, and a brother and Neville cousins. I've had this book for awhile and although enjoying the Wars of the Roses period very much, I did not think I was going to be sympathetic to the man who has been accused of murdering the famed Princes in the Tower (his nephews, heir to the throne). After reading a few of Alison Weir's books on the subject, and a book on Elizabeth Woodville by David Baldwin, my brain was inundated with names and titles and dates and multiple facts and theses. Therefore I was not in a rush to pick it up. Again, I was mistaken. I was so enthralled with this young Richard, I could not wait for my lunchtimes and bedtimes to continue his story and learn what was happening in the world around him.
This is specifically the story of Richard growing from a young boy to a knight, and a sensitive young man in love with Anne Neville, Warwick's daughter. Richard Neville, aka Warwick the Kingmaker, helped Edward reach his throne, yet the new King did not honor many of the wishes of Warwick and treated him disrespectfully. This novel gives you a sense of the instability, the emotional tension between fighting for inner beliefs and family pride vs. loyalty to the royal crown. This story defines the true meaning to the phrase "Love and War".
The action picks up when Richard's brother, Edward IV, secretly marries Elizabeth Woodville, who was a widow from the gentry class with two boys of her own. This marriage angered Warwick and the nobles greatly. The Woodvilles were a huge family whom upon this marriage had received many honors, titles and arranged marriages for the clan, which made them even more hated by Edward's Yorkists. Some even believed Elizabeth and her mother Jacquetta were witches for the way that Edward readily responded to their requests. It is interesting to note that the first child of Edward and Elizabeth is none other than Elizabeth of York, who was married to the Lancastrian Henry VII, and from this marriage produced our beloved Henry VIII.
When Warwick and his family of Neville's decide to rebel, Richard's chances with Anne Neville decrease. Richard is loyal to his brother the King, although makes him choose against Warwick, who was a pseudo-father to him. The book deals with the anger and resentment between the multiple clashing families and although informative it is not complete drivel. As noted, it tends to get heavy with the the names and the titles and loses some of the flow halfway through but the story is compelling enough to make you concentrate as you go on. I feel the book climaxed with the Battle of Barnet in 1471 which was so compelling it twisted my heart. I do not want to give away the plot to those who do not know the whole story, so I'll end it here.
I found the writing to be eloquent, and I found the imagery of Richard's surroundings to be well described without feeling too poetic or contrived. It really had a great flow from one chapter to the next, each beginning with its own little ominous and overshadowing quote. I very much liked this depiction of Richard III, and look forward to the rest of the series as well. The author's note is informative also and I may add some of the books she mentions to my TBR pile as well.
I highly recommend this book!
Edit:
HMMM I wonder if I should re-read this, since it's 3 years later now and I have a bit more knowledge of the era now. But, for those readers who do not have a care for complete historical accuracy, I stand by my recommendation as this would be good for the beginner to the era to get a sense of the unrest. =) Historical romance, perhaps?
Upon reading this novel, I was immediately engrossed in the story of the small boy Richard who is forced to deal with life and death at a young age. This small boy Richard from the House of York is actually who we know as Richard, Duke of Gloucester, brother to King Edward, who later becomes known as Richard III. He feared the "Bitch of Anjou", Queen Marguerite (Margaret) who his family was fighting against. She is the one who was pulling the strings of her husband, Henry IV who was mentally unstable. The book opens where Edward has defeated King Henry, and thus Edward becomes King Edward IV, of the frightened boy's aspect of recently losing a well-loved father (Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York) in 1460 at the battle of Wakefield, and a brother and Neville cousins. I've had this book for awhile and although enjoying the Wars of the Roses period very much, I did not think I was going to be sympathetic to the man who has been accused of murdering the famed Princes in the Tower (his nephews, heir to the throne). After reading a few of Alison Weir's books on the subject, and a book on Elizabeth Woodville by David Baldwin, my brain was inundated with names and titles and dates and multiple facts and theses. Therefore I was not in a rush to pick it up. Again, I was mistaken. I was so enthralled with this young Richard, I could not wait for my lunchtimes and bedtimes to continue his story and learn what was happening in the world around him.
This is specifically the story of Richard growing from a young boy to a knight, and a sensitive young man in love with Anne Neville, Warwick's daughter. Richard Neville, aka Warwick the Kingmaker, helped Edward reach his throne, yet the new King did not honor many of the wishes of Warwick and treated him disrespectfully. This novel gives you a sense of the instability, the emotional tension between fighting for inner beliefs and family pride vs. loyalty to the royal crown. This story defines the true meaning to the phrase "Love and War".
The action picks up when Richard's brother, Edward IV, secretly marries Elizabeth Woodville, who was a widow from the gentry class with two boys of her own. This marriage angered Warwick and the nobles greatly. The Woodvilles were a huge family whom upon this marriage had received many honors, titles and arranged marriages for the clan, which made them even more hated by Edward's Yorkists. Some even believed Elizabeth and her mother Jacquetta were witches for the way that Edward readily responded to their requests. It is interesting to note that the first child of Edward and Elizabeth is none other than Elizabeth of York, who was married to the Lancastrian Henry VII, and from this marriage produced our beloved Henry VIII.
When Warwick and his family of Neville's decide to rebel, Richard's chances with Anne Neville decrease. Richard is loyal to his brother the King, although makes him choose against Warwick, who was a pseudo-father to him. The book deals with the anger and resentment between the multiple clashing families and although informative it is not complete drivel. As noted, it tends to get heavy with the the names and the titles and loses some of the flow halfway through but the story is compelling enough to make you concentrate as you go on. I feel the book climaxed with the Battle of Barnet in 1471 which was so compelling it twisted my heart. I do not want to give away the plot to those who do not know the whole story, so I'll end it here.
I found the writing to be eloquent, and I found the imagery of Richard's surroundings to be well described without feeling too poetic or contrived. It really had a great flow from one chapter to the next, each beginning with its own little ominous and overshadowing quote. I very much liked this depiction of Richard III, and look forward to the rest of the series as well. The author's note is informative also and I may add some of the books she mentions to my TBR pile as well.
I highly recommend this book!
Edit:
HMMM I wonder if I should re-read this, since it's 3 years later now and I have a bit more knowledge of the era now. But, for those readers who do not have a care for complete historical accuracy, I stand by my recommendation as this would be good for the beginner to the era to get a sense of the unrest. =) Historical romance, perhaps?
December 17, 2008
I found this novel and its two successors to be a wee tad flowery for my tastes. It seems to partake more of the romanticism of the nineteenth century than the practicality of the fifteenth. The three books made my teeth hurt.
October 6, 2019
I liked this book because of the different points of view it was told. Mainly, it was from Richards, but it had several other perspectives, which made it easier for you to like or dislike the characters, and get to know them and their personalities better. The writing has been done well, and it was easy to pick up from where I left off reading, and the visualization was good as well. I am one who does not believe he was a hunchback as Shakespeare portrays him. The Tudors wanted to destroy any good feelings for the Yorks after they became rulers.
May 15, 2011
Yet another attempt to tell the story of Richard III and Anne Neville, first book of a trilogy (no, I didn't read the other two). I found this one to be very dull to get through, and a thorough waste of my time. Only two stars. Skip this one and find Sharon Kay Penman's excellent The Sun in Splendour.
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/_20054...
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/_20054...
December 18, 2021
3. 5 estrellas.
El ocaso de los Lancaster (las dos rosas #1)
Una novela ficción historia sobre la guerra de las dos rosas.Está es una novela sobre la guerra que desangró Inglaterra en el siglo XV (la guerra de las dos rosas) está primera parte arranca a mediados de la década 1460, momento crítico en que la casa Lancaster es sacada del trono de Inglaterra y se posiciona la casa York con Eduardo IV como Rey de Inglaterra, este libro retrata a las figuras principales del conflicto enfocándose en Ricardo III, en esta parte la novela cuenta su infancia y parte de la adolescencia como un huérfano de padre, duque real, pero sobre todo un hombre dividido entre la lealtad a su hermano y los errores que este comete, si conoces la obra de William Shakespeare Richard III, o si has visto la Reina Blanca, entonces sabes de qué va la historia general, dos casas que se disputan la corona matándose unos a otros, el hijo menor de los York es Ricardo duque de Gloucester (Ricardo III ) quien siendo un niño, es enviado a casa de su primo Richard Neville "el hacedor de reyes", en ese lugar Ricardo debe aprender a ser un caballero medieval y su modelo a seguir será Jhon Neville su otro primo, pero de paso se enamora de la hija del hacedor de reyes, Ana Neville, ella es una niña 4 años menor que el así que su romance no es más que juegos infantiles, pero todo se complica cuando Eduardo IV se casa con la casi plebeya Elizabeth Woodville, lo que desata la molestia de Richard Neville quien justo estaba negociando el matrimonio de Eduardo con una princesa Francesa, a esto sumemos que Elizabeth tiene una tribu por familia todos pobres y ambiciosos, así que todos compiten por dinero y poder, Ricardo III deja la casa de su primo y se muda a la corte, luego de muchos giros Richard Neville huye a Francia con su familia y se une a Lancaster, Ricardo III que previamente rechazo unirse a el lamenta que su adorada Ana se case con el príncipe de Gales Lancaster Edward, contra todo pronóstico Richard Neville vence momentáneamente a Eduardo IV y este y Ricardo terminan huyendo a Borgoña, pero no pasa mucho antes de que vuelvan y recuperen la corona, todo cambia por qué la mayoría de los Lancaster terminan muertos y Ana viuda, pero antes de que la historia de amor tenga un final feliz, nuestro Ricardo ya se involucró con una amante y tuvo dos hijos de los que Ana no se enterará por ahora , y Ana? bueno ella pasa un tiempo como sirvienta, pero al fin se casan aunque Ana, ahora tiene pasado por lo que les cuesta volver a conectar, inclusive posponen la consumación del matrimonio, pero consiguen unirse de nuevo y este libro termina con los dos viviendo felices en el norte de Inglaterra.
Eh leído decenas de novelas similares, y conozco perfectamente bien los hechos históricos, lo cual definitivamente influye en mi percepción, pero debo confesar que no me gustó el libro de hecho me costó terminarlo, la razón es muy simple la autora como pasa usualmente cuando se trata de esta guerra elige un bando ( York) y hace que todos los York sean buenos y todos los Lancaster sean malos, más específicamente Ricardo III es casi un santo, en serio es exagerado el tratamiento positivo que la autora elige darle, y otros personajes como Elizabeth Woodville son malos ya sabes villanos horribles, no ahí mucha creatividad y eso hace que la historia me resultará aburrida y predecible, aquí aclararé que TODOS los autores de novelas, incluso la mayoría de los historiadores, siempre hacen de Ricardo III un monstruo o un santo, así que no es una sorpresa lo que tenemos aquí, a mi me gusta leer novelas sobre el, precisamente por qué puedes odiarlo u amarlo, pero en este caso ni uno ni lo otro, no culpo a la autora el problema es que Ricardo es un personaje tan complejo que no cualquiera logra una buena representación de el en su novela y cualquier autor que lo intente requiere mucho talento, sobre todo considerando que se han hecho miles de novelas sobre el, aquí tenemos el típico tratamiento pro Ricardo que para mí no funciona, las situaciones en que se muestran sus buenos valores me resultaron imposibles de creer pero sobre todo demasiado ridículas, ni hablar del nivel de romanticismo que se le da a la relación Ana/Ricardo en una palabra EMPALAGOSOS, es verdad que históricamente ese fue un matrimonio atípico, no conozco muchos reyes medievales que conociera y convivieran con su futura esposa desde la infancia, ni muchos que lucharon en tribunales por casarse con ella , asi que entra en mi concepto de matrimonio por amor, pero la novela los vuelve demasiado melosos casi ridículos.
Sin embargo debo reconocer que la autora no infringe ningún hecho histórico y le concedo eso, sigue la línea de tiempo de forma correcta y evita abusar de personajes ficticios, de hecho este es un periodo tan complejo que todo se presta a múltiples interpretaciones y es lo que hace la autora nos da su interpretación de los hechos aunque de forma descaradamente sesgada, pero aún no es históricamente incorrecto, improbable ? DESDE LUEGO QUE SI, pero está es una novela así que no me pondré ridículamente quisquillosa, soy de la idea de que una novela se debe disfrutar o leer una biografía.Dicho esto, agregaré que me sorprende lo increíblemente popular que está saga es en América latina, considerando que ahí dos mejores en español que son relativamente poco conocidas ( el séptimo hijo y el sol en esplendor) pero puedo ver por qué está novela gusta tanto y sobre todo reconozco tres cosas que me hicieron darle 3.5 estrellas .
*La novela está increíblemente bien escrita, es descriptiva, dinámica y sobre todo no se enfoca en un solo punto de vista, va a tercera persona y te permite conocer las otras relaciones de la trama y los hechos que suceden de forma redonda.
*Si bien me desagrado la escena de William Hastings ( si ya leíste la novela sabes a qué me refiero), la novela logra trasladarte a la Inglaterra medieval aun si es con detalles un poco pasados de grotescos como las manias de los nobles ricos en los burdeles, así que para mí es un logro que consiga trasladarte a esa época y que cuente cosas reales normalmente omitidas.
*Personalmente admiro tres personas de este periodo histórico: Margarita de Anjou, Richard Neville, y Ricardo III, odie la caracterización de los tres, sobre todo de los dos primeros y la forma en que su historia se planteó, pero como siempre digo; que tú personaje favorito no sea retratado como a ti te gusta o que la trama no siga la versión de los hechos que tú apoyas no quiere decir que la novela es mala, si eres objetivo reconoces eso, y yo reconozco que la trama tiene toques lindos, giros interesantes, suspenso y emoción.
Por último diré que me tomo desprevenida saber que amistades mías que no tienen interés ni conocimiento en la guerra de las dos rosas, han leído el este libro y lo han encontrado fabuloso, así que yo recomendaría tomar este libro como una lectura romántica sobre la Inglaterra medieval y ciertamente de esa forma el libro resulta más que destacado , tiene mucho de romance, guerras, caballeros de armadura dorada, damiselas en peligro y elementos que si eres el público correcto te harán suspirar y tener un buen rato, creo que rumbo al final luego de abandonar el libro dos o tres veces pude tomarlo así y me pareció entretenido, un romance infantil que termina siendo al estilo Romeo y Julieta diría yo.
El ocaso de los Lancaster (las dos rosas #1)
Una novela ficción historia sobre la guerra de las dos rosas.Está es una novela sobre la guerra que desangró Inglaterra en el siglo XV (la guerra de las dos rosas) está primera parte arranca a mediados de la década 1460, momento crítico en que la casa Lancaster es sacada del trono de Inglaterra y se posiciona la casa York con Eduardo IV como Rey de Inglaterra, este libro retrata a las figuras principales del conflicto enfocándose en Ricardo III, en esta parte la novela cuenta su infancia y parte de la adolescencia como un huérfano de padre, duque real, pero sobre todo un hombre dividido entre la lealtad a su hermano y los errores que este comete, si conoces la obra de William Shakespeare Richard III, o si has visto la Reina Blanca, entonces sabes de qué va la historia general, dos casas que se disputan la corona matándose unos a otros, el hijo menor de los York es Ricardo duque de Gloucester (Ricardo III ) quien siendo un niño, es enviado a casa de su primo Richard Neville "el hacedor de reyes", en ese lugar Ricardo debe aprender a ser un caballero medieval y su modelo a seguir será Jhon Neville su otro primo, pero de paso se enamora de la hija del hacedor de reyes, Ana Neville, ella es una niña 4 años menor que el así que su romance no es más que juegos infantiles, pero todo se complica cuando Eduardo IV se casa con la casi plebeya Elizabeth Woodville, lo que desata la molestia de Richard Neville quien justo estaba negociando el matrimonio de Eduardo con una princesa Francesa, a esto sumemos que Elizabeth tiene una tribu por familia todos pobres y ambiciosos, así que todos compiten por dinero y poder, Ricardo III deja la casa de su primo y se muda a la corte, luego de muchos giros Richard Neville huye a Francia con su familia y se une a Lancaster, Ricardo III que previamente rechazo unirse a el lamenta que su adorada Ana se case con el príncipe de Gales Lancaster Edward, contra todo pronóstico Richard Neville vence momentáneamente a Eduardo IV y este y Ricardo terminan huyendo a Borgoña, pero no pasa mucho antes de que vuelvan y recuperen la corona, todo cambia por qué la mayoría de los Lancaster terminan muertos y Ana viuda, pero antes de que la historia de amor tenga un final feliz, nuestro Ricardo ya se involucró con una amante y tuvo dos hijos de los que Ana no se enterará por ahora , y Ana? bueno ella pasa un tiempo como sirvienta, pero al fin se casan aunque Ana, ahora tiene pasado por lo que les cuesta volver a conectar, inclusive posponen la consumación del matrimonio, pero consiguen unirse de nuevo y este libro termina con los dos viviendo felices en el norte de Inglaterra.
Eh leído decenas de novelas similares, y conozco perfectamente bien los hechos históricos, lo cual definitivamente influye en mi percepción, pero debo confesar que no me gustó el libro de hecho me costó terminarlo, la razón es muy simple la autora como pasa usualmente cuando se trata de esta guerra elige un bando ( York) y hace que todos los York sean buenos y todos los Lancaster sean malos, más específicamente Ricardo III es casi un santo, en serio es exagerado el tratamiento positivo que la autora elige darle, y otros personajes como Elizabeth Woodville son malos ya sabes villanos horribles, no ahí mucha creatividad y eso hace que la historia me resultará aburrida y predecible, aquí aclararé que TODOS los autores de novelas, incluso la mayoría de los historiadores, siempre hacen de Ricardo III un monstruo o un santo, así que no es una sorpresa lo que tenemos aquí, a mi me gusta leer novelas sobre el, precisamente por qué puedes odiarlo u amarlo, pero en este caso ni uno ni lo otro, no culpo a la autora el problema es que Ricardo es un personaje tan complejo que no cualquiera logra una buena representación de el en su novela y cualquier autor que lo intente requiere mucho talento, sobre todo considerando que se han hecho miles de novelas sobre el, aquí tenemos el típico tratamiento pro Ricardo que para mí no funciona, las situaciones en que se muestran sus buenos valores me resultaron imposibles de creer pero sobre todo demasiado ridículas, ni hablar del nivel de romanticismo que se le da a la relación Ana/Ricardo en una palabra EMPALAGOSOS, es verdad que históricamente ese fue un matrimonio atípico, no conozco muchos reyes medievales que conociera y convivieran con su futura esposa desde la infancia, ni muchos que lucharon en tribunales por casarse con ella , asi que entra en mi concepto de matrimonio por amor, pero la novela los vuelve demasiado melosos casi ridículos.
Sin embargo debo reconocer que la autora no infringe ningún hecho histórico y le concedo eso, sigue la línea de tiempo de forma correcta y evita abusar de personajes ficticios, de hecho este es un periodo tan complejo que todo se presta a múltiples interpretaciones y es lo que hace la autora nos da su interpretación de los hechos aunque de forma descaradamente sesgada, pero aún no es históricamente incorrecto, improbable ? DESDE LUEGO QUE SI, pero está es una novela así que no me pondré ridículamente quisquillosa, soy de la idea de que una novela se debe disfrutar o leer una biografía.Dicho esto, agregaré que me sorprende lo increíblemente popular que está saga es en América latina, considerando que ahí dos mejores en español que son relativamente poco conocidas ( el séptimo hijo y el sol en esplendor) pero puedo ver por qué está novela gusta tanto y sobre todo reconozco tres cosas que me hicieron darle 3.5 estrellas .
*La novela está increíblemente bien escrita, es descriptiva, dinámica y sobre todo no se enfoca en un solo punto de vista, va a tercera persona y te permite conocer las otras relaciones de la trama y los hechos que suceden de forma redonda.
*Si bien me desagrado la escena de William Hastings ( si ya leíste la novela sabes a qué me refiero), la novela logra trasladarte a la Inglaterra medieval aun si es con detalles un poco pasados de grotescos como las manias de los nobles ricos en los burdeles, así que para mí es un logro que consiga trasladarte a esa época y que cuente cosas reales normalmente omitidas.
*Personalmente admiro tres personas de este periodo histórico: Margarita de Anjou, Richard Neville, y Ricardo III, odie la caracterización de los tres, sobre todo de los dos primeros y la forma en que su historia se planteó, pero como siempre digo; que tú personaje favorito no sea retratado como a ti te gusta o que la trama no siga la versión de los hechos que tú apoyas no quiere decir que la novela es mala, si eres objetivo reconoces eso, y yo reconozco que la trama tiene toques lindos, giros interesantes, suspenso y emoción.
Por último diré que me tomo desprevenida saber que amistades mías que no tienen interés ni conocimiento en la guerra de las dos rosas, han leído el este libro y lo han encontrado fabuloso, así que yo recomendaría tomar este libro como una lectura romántica sobre la Inglaterra medieval y ciertamente de esa forma el libro resulta más que destacado , tiene mucho de romance, guerras, caballeros de armadura dorada, damiselas en peligro y elementos que si eres el público correcto te harán suspirar y tener un buen rato, creo que rumbo al final luego de abandonar el libro dos o tres veces pude tomarlo así y me pareció entretenido, un romance infantil que termina siendo al estilo Romeo y Julieta diría yo.
February 25, 2013
HISTORY BROUGHT TO LIFE
When I was asked by the author to review this book, I was very happy to do so. Although based on actual characters from history, it's not a book listing facts and dates, as text book might. No this is a dramatised tale. Of course the author has used artistic licence, giving her interpretation of the characters motivation and actions.
Richard III depending on your viewpoint was much maligned, or a monster responsible for the death of the two princes in the tower. As to the truth of that, who knows it might have been him or Henry Tudor, or neither. Why this particular event in history has become so notorious is puzzling to me. Many other atrocities committed by kings and queens past are probably far worse.
This book covers Richards early life, his first meeting with Ann Neville, the daughter of the Earl of Warwick, also known as "The Kingmaker". Richard is captivated by Ann and they become fast friends, as they get older Richard hopes to marry Ann but his brother the king, Edward IV does not give permission. Eventually when Warwick changes sides after falling out with Edward, Warwick marries Ann to HenryVI son and heir, Edward of Westmister.
The story takes the reader through all the turbulent events of the time, making history come alive on the page. I have no opinion as to whether Richard was bad or good. He was a man born in medieval England, things that we today think of as barbaric were considered commonplace then. It was a violent period in history, with the crown of England as the prize. Men do things they might not otherwise do for a crown.
The author is obviously in the Richard is good camp, that's easy to tell from her portrayal of his character. There are an awful lot of characters in this and at times it's hard to keep track of who's who, even more so for those like me who are not historians.
But I really enjoyed reading this, it's extremely well written.
ARC provided by the author
When I was asked by the author to review this book, I was very happy to do so. Although based on actual characters from history, it's not a book listing facts and dates, as text book might. No this is a dramatised tale. Of course the author has used artistic licence, giving her interpretation of the characters motivation and actions.
Richard III depending on your viewpoint was much maligned, or a monster responsible for the death of the two princes in the tower. As to the truth of that, who knows it might have been him or Henry Tudor, or neither. Why this particular event in history has become so notorious is puzzling to me. Many other atrocities committed by kings and queens past are probably far worse.
This book covers Richards early life, his first meeting with Ann Neville, the daughter of the Earl of Warwick, also known as "The Kingmaker". Richard is captivated by Ann and they become fast friends, as they get older Richard hopes to marry Ann but his brother the king, Edward IV does not give permission. Eventually when Warwick changes sides after falling out with Edward, Warwick marries Ann to HenryVI son and heir, Edward of Westmister.
The story takes the reader through all the turbulent events of the time, making history come alive on the page. I have no opinion as to whether Richard was bad or good. He was a man born in medieval England, things that we today think of as barbaric were considered commonplace then. It was a violent period in history, with the crown of England as the prize. Men do things they might not otherwise do for a crown.
The author is obviously in the Richard is good camp, that's easy to tell from her portrayal of his character. There are an awful lot of characters in this and at times it's hard to keep track of who's who, even more so for those like me who are not historians.
But I really enjoyed reading this, it's extremely well written.
ARC provided by the author
March 24, 2022
I seem to be going through a phase of re-reading some of my favorite Ricardian novels. The Sunne in Splendour and Some of Touch of Pity are as good as I remembered them. This one didn’t hold up as well. It is an unabashedly romantic telling of Richard and Anne’s relationship—and I don’t have a problem with that, but at times it becomes somewhat mawkish. Some nitpicking: Warwick comes to Cecily Neville to tell her of the death of her husband and son at Wakefield and announces himself as the “Kingmaker.” Well, that was before he made any kings so even with his overweening pride and self-confidence, I doubt he would have used that term at that time. An eight-year-old Richard thinks of John Howard, whose emblem is a silver lion, as the Friendly Lion. Throughout the remainder of the book, Howard is always referred to as the Friendly Lion. This would be appropriate for a children’s book perhaps, but certainly not here.
The author emphasizes the relationship that develops between Richard and John Neville’s and the latter’s angst with his divided loyalties between brother and King. (John and his wife Isabel are the focus of the author’s Lady of the Roses In which she repeats some of the passages.). The author does cover some events not dealt with in Penman’s Sunne, such as the
circumstances surrounding the Earl of Desmond’s execution and Jacquetta Woodvile’s theft of Thomas Cook’s arras, and she does a fairly good job in the telling. Having just re-read Sunne, it became obvious to me that this author’s storytelling pales in comparison to Penman’s. 3.5⭐️
The author emphasizes the relationship that develops between Richard and John Neville’s and the latter’s angst with his divided loyalties between brother and King. (John and his wife Isabel are the focus of the author’s Lady of the Roses In which she repeats some of the passages.). The author does cover some events not dealt with in Penman’s Sunne, such as the
circumstances surrounding the Earl of Desmond’s execution and Jacquetta Woodvile’s theft of Thomas Cook’s arras, and she does a fairly good job in the telling. Having just re-read Sunne, it became obvious to me that this author’s storytelling pales in comparison to Penman’s. 3.5⭐️
January 5, 2009
Loyalty Binds Me
Sandra Worth’s book “The Rose of York: Love and War” is a tale of faith driven by loyalty. The story is about Richard III along with his best friend and confident Anne. The reader experiences their growth from childhood to adulthood, and grows along with them, in their understanding of life before democracy and their appreciation for Richard’s faith in fairness for all. This story is similar to a timeline of Richard’s and Anne’s interactions. For their lives cross over into each other’s constantly and with each separation their love for each other grows. Within this timeline the reader gets to know Richard’s brothers, their wives, their associates and their enemies, each showing their true colors, through out many hardship’s and celebrations.
I was fascinated with this book and the wealth of information I learned astounds me. This book reads as a love story, yet I feel as though I have just finished a History class. Sandra has an amazing talent of weaving historical facts with fiction, resulting into a book I did not want to put down. I would recommend this book, to anyone who would like to learn more about Richard III and what his life was like before he became King. The insanity that was dealt with during this timeframe resulted in unequal terms for all, battles, jealousy, love and loyalty. A great read!
Sandra Worth’s book “The Rose of York: Love and War” is a tale of faith driven by loyalty. The story is about Richard III along with his best friend and confident Anne. The reader experiences their growth from childhood to adulthood, and grows along with them, in their understanding of life before democracy and their appreciation for Richard’s faith in fairness for all. This story is similar to a timeline of Richard’s and Anne’s interactions. For their lives cross over into each other’s constantly and with each separation their love for each other grows. Within this timeline the reader gets to know Richard’s brothers, their wives, their associates and their enemies, each showing their true colors, through out many hardship’s and celebrations.
I was fascinated with this book and the wealth of information I learned astounds me. This book reads as a love story, yet I feel as though I have just finished a History class. Sandra has an amazing talent of weaving historical facts with fiction, resulting into a book I did not want to put down. I would recommend this book, to anyone who would like to learn more about Richard III and what his life was like before he became King. The insanity that was dealt with during this timeframe resulted in unequal terms for all, battles, jealousy, love and loyalty. A great read!
July 12, 2017
Practically every medieval history buff has an opinion about Richard III. There are those firmly in Shakespeare's camp - the wicked hunchback who murdered his own nephews and stole the crown. There are also those in the Josephine Tey/Richard III Society who believe that Shakespeare was writing to appease the 'upstart' Tudors and that Richard was the victim of historical slander.
Well, Sandra Worth is obviously in the latter camp, which is fine. However, it also makes for a certain suspension of disbelief while reading The Rose of York. Here, Richard is so incredibly noble that it beggars belief. Remember, this was the Wars of the Roses and few men escape with their loyalties intact or unscathed. And though I've always harbored doubts that Richard was as bad as he's been depicted, I also don't buy Worth's paragon of virtue. Unlike many, I actually like my historical figures complicated. It humanizes them.
Still, for historical fiction, this is an engaging read. Though Elizabeth Chadwick is the benchmark which I judge all other historical fiction authors, Worth definitely knows how to bring this turbulent and bloody era to life. With that said, the depiction of Anne Neville leaves a lot to be desired. I've read a lot - both fact and fiction - about the lives of medieval women, and they were a lot less fragile and frail despite how circumscribed their lives could be. I also think Margaret of Anjou is treated as some evil She-Wolf, rather than a woman struggling to save her weak husband the King, and her son. The Woodvilles also come off as one-dimensional, greedy and grasping and vengeful.
History is complicated. Richard III should be also.
Well, Sandra Worth is obviously in the latter camp, which is fine. However, it also makes for a certain suspension of disbelief while reading The Rose of York. Here, Richard is so incredibly noble that it beggars belief. Remember, this was the Wars of the Roses and few men escape with their loyalties intact or unscathed. And though I've always harbored doubts that Richard was as bad as he's been depicted, I also don't buy Worth's paragon of virtue. Unlike many, I actually like my historical figures complicated. It humanizes them.
Still, for historical fiction, this is an engaging read. Though Elizabeth Chadwick is the benchmark which I judge all other historical fiction authors, Worth definitely knows how to bring this turbulent and bloody era to life. With that said, the depiction of Anne Neville leaves a lot to be desired. I've read a lot - both fact and fiction - about the lives of medieval women, and they were a lot less fragile and frail despite how circumscribed their lives could be. I also think Margaret of Anjou is treated as some evil She-Wolf, rather than a woman struggling to save her weak husband the King, and her son. The Woodvilles also come off as one-dimensional, greedy and grasping and vengeful.
History is complicated. Richard III should be also.
August 20, 2015
Apologist History at its Finest and Worst
First, I must say that the story IS well-written and the characters are compelling. What makes this particular work inferior, in my opinion, is the strident clinging to the duality that defines History's view of Richard: that he is either villain or hero, saint or sinner. Me. Worth clearly claims sainthood. Having read other pro-Ricardian novels, as well as Alison Weir's book regarding the Princes in the tower-which does not actively vilify Richard, but rather states the author's personal belief is that Richard ordered the death of the Princes, but does not categorically deny the possibility of another culprit-I was less than sold on Me. World's characterization. Justice may well have been a familiar term to people of the time, but fair (in the sense of right and wrong) would not have been. Events, both good and bad, happened as a result of Divine punishment or blessing and railing against the established will of God or the King was severely frowned upon. In making "it's not fair" into Richard's perpetual inner cry, Worth does a disservice to the complex man who was both warrior and statesman. Nor does there seem, by the end of this first book, to be a possibility that time and political jadedness and experience of corruption and eventually the draw of ultimate power could persuade Richard into doing the expedient thing, rather than the right thing. It has been said that good men do not often make good rulers and that absolute power corrupts absolutely; but in Worth's paradigm, there seems to be no such truism in the elaborate fantasy of Ricardiana.
And yet, we are also treated to a few startling instances of cruelty and callousness toward the very downtrodden he should protect, and an implacable hatred for his enemies. In terms of his enemies, they are easy to hate. Margaret oh Anjou, Sir William Hastings, Elizabeth Woodville, and the entire Woodville clan all come across as stock villain characters. No attempt is made to humanize them, but rather their foibles and sins are magnified. Even Edward IV is stuck in his role as swiving drunkard, and rarely do we see glimpses of the perhaps frightened (and maybe knowingly inadequate) man beneath the crown. What qualities that may be seen as admirable are twisted and perverted in Richard's mind. We also see the man himself brow beat the young lad who comes to tell him of Anne's whereabouts, watch on furiously as Clarence's elderly retainers are physically compelled to reveal her location, and in general throw things in a tantrum in private when he is thwarted. Indeed, it is only the privacy of his unleashing of his temper that truly separates Richard from Edward and George. He can be just as petulant when denied a prize-and I was certainly disturbed at his speech to Anne, emotionally manipulating her into marriage instead of allowing her to become a nun. But it was the blatant disregard for historical accuracy regarding Richard and the other Yorkists' treatment of the Countess of Warick that ultimate killed the book for me. Richard and George, with Edward IV's collusion, had her declared legally dead so that they could inherit her lands through their wives. She was not allowed out of sanctuary at Beaulieau until many years later and there is no evidence for a happy welcoming home for her. Quite the contrary, in point of fact. Edward IV and Richard were also careful to ensure that as part of the marriage contract, Anne's property would remain legally Richard's, even in the event of a divorce or annulment.
In short, Ms. Worth puts a little too much shine on Richard's halo, and sets up the reader for either a martyred hero or the most unexpected descent into villainy ever.
First, I must say that the story IS well-written and the characters are compelling. What makes this particular work inferior, in my opinion, is the strident clinging to the duality that defines History's view of Richard: that he is either villain or hero, saint or sinner. Me. Worth clearly claims sainthood. Having read other pro-Ricardian novels, as well as Alison Weir's book regarding the Princes in the tower-which does not actively vilify Richard, but rather states the author's personal belief is that Richard ordered the death of the Princes, but does not categorically deny the possibility of another culprit-I was less than sold on Me. World's characterization. Justice may well have been a familiar term to people of the time, but fair (in the sense of right and wrong) would not have been. Events, both good and bad, happened as a result of Divine punishment or blessing and railing against the established will of God or the King was severely frowned upon. In making "it's not fair" into Richard's perpetual inner cry, Worth does a disservice to the complex man who was both warrior and statesman. Nor does there seem, by the end of this first book, to be a possibility that time and political jadedness and experience of corruption and eventually the draw of ultimate power could persuade Richard into doing the expedient thing, rather than the right thing. It has been said that good men do not often make good rulers and that absolute power corrupts absolutely; but in Worth's paradigm, there seems to be no such truism in the elaborate fantasy of Ricardiana.
And yet, we are also treated to a few startling instances of cruelty and callousness toward the very downtrodden he should protect, and an implacable hatred for his enemies. In terms of his enemies, they are easy to hate. Margaret oh Anjou, Sir William Hastings, Elizabeth Woodville, and the entire Woodville clan all come across as stock villain characters. No attempt is made to humanize them, but rather their foibles and sins are magnified. Even Edward IV is stuck in his role as swiving drunkard, and rarely do we see glimpses of the perhaps frightened (and maybe knowingly inadequate) man beneath the crown. What qualities that may be seen as admirable are twisted and perverted in Richard's mind. We also see the man himself brow beat the young lad who comes to tell him of Anne's whereabouts, watch on furiously as Clarence's elderly retainers are physically compelled to reveal her location, and in general throw things in a tantrum in private when he is thwarted. Indeed, it is only the privacy of his unleashing of his temper that truly separates Richard from Edward and George. He can be just as petulant when denied a prize-and I was certainly disturbed at his speech to Anne, emotionally manipulating her into marriage instead of allowing her to become a nun. But it was the blatant disregard for historical accuracy regarding Richard and the other Yorkists' treatment of the Countess of Warick that ultimate killed the book for me. Richard and George, with Edward IV's collusion, had her declared legally dead so that they could inherit her lands through their wives. She was not allowed out of sanctuary at Beaulieau until many years later and there is no evidence for a happy welcoming home for her. Quite the contrary, in point of fact. Edward IV and Richard were also careful to ensure that as part of the marriage contract, Anne's property would remain legally Richard's, even in the event of a divorce or annulment.
In short, Ms. Worth puts a little too much shine on Richard's halo, and sets up the reader for either a martyred hero or the most unexpected descent into villainy ever.
January 21, 2010
The more I read about the early monarchs, the more I'm convinced - a lot of them were loony birds. They were paranoid (probably because most of their extended families wanted them dead), often delusional, unable to form stable relationships after being raised by multiple people in multiple places usually amongst a war for dominance, forcing them to grow up too fast. I wonder, can they be blamed for their erratic behavior after such odd and bizarre upbringings?
Richard the III is no different from these. I've seen how he's depicted in Shakespeare's plays. His hump, his paranoid and murdering behaviors are legendary. Author Sandra Worth's depiction here argues that may not be true about him. Was Shakespeare's view skewed by the reigning, rival Tudors? He may have been handsome. A shy product of his violent environment. In love with a beautiful woman as depicted on the cover of her book, Love and War.
I'm a big fan of John Waterhouse paintings. A lot of authors use them for covers. In fact when I notice a Waterhouse on the front, I have a hard time resisting a book's contents, regardless of how good it may or may not be (the one below was on Mistress Shakespeare.)
His paintings of mainly women are so lovely and filled with emotion. He had a way with catching just the right expression, the slope of a shoulder, how their hands lay atop each other. And I've always wondered who the woman was he painted the most. Her face and red hair. Her absolutely flawless pink skin. Talk about giving me a complex!
While I thought the cover of this one beautiful, I had a hard time stomaching it as Richard III sitting there with his lovely Anne Warwick, the woman it took him nearly a decade to marry amidst the war between the Roses. I thought more of this knightly clad hero as his earlier ancestor, a younger John of Gaunt and his mistress and eventually third wife, the beautiful Katrine - who also had red hair. Worth's take on Richard and Anne is obviously modeled after their lives, and from a favorite book of mine by Anya Seton entitled Katherine, about their courtship and later marriage.
In truth, Love and War, is much more about the history of the epic battle between York and Lancaster than it is about Richard and Anne. And I liked that because I'm a big English history buff. But the love stories themselves seemed more like filler than anything, definitely running second to the battles and treason that took place during the time period. Maybe that story line evolves more in the second and third books in the series.
So don't be fooled by the cover! If you want a fantastic love story amidst war and strife, read Katherine. If you want to learn about the history of the War of the Roses, read this one, the first in The Rose of York trilogy.
And most importantly, wear sun screen so you'll have beautiful skin like the ladies in these pictures!
We can dream anyway...
Richard the III is no different from these. I've seen how he's depicted in Shakespeare's plays. His hump, his paranoid and murdering behaviors are legendary. Author Sandra Worth's depiction here argues that may not be true about him. Was Shakespeare's view skewed by the reigning, rival Tudors? He may have been handsome. A shy product of his violent environment. In love with a beautiful woman as depicted on the cover of her book, Love and War.
I'm a big fan of John Waterhouse paintings. A lot of authors use them for covers. In fact when I notice a Waterhouse on the front, I have a hard time resisting a book's contents, regardless of how good it may or may not be (the one below was on Mistress Shakespeare.)
His paintings of mainly women are so lovely and filled with emotion. He had a way with catching just the right expression, the slope of a shoulder, how their hands lay atop each other. And I've always wondered who the woman was he painted the most. Her face and red hair. Her absolutely flawless pink skin. Talk about giving me a complex!
While I thought the cover of this one beautiful, I had a hard time stomaching it as Richard III sitting there with his lovely Anne Warwick, the woman it took him nearly a decade to marry amidst the war between the Roses. I thought more of this knightly clad hero as his earlier ancestor, a younger John of Gaunt and his mistress and eventually third wife, the beautiful Katrine - who also had red hair. Worth's take on Richard and Anne is obviously modeled after their lives, and from a favorite book of mine by Anya Seton entitled Katherine, about their courtship and later marriage.
In truth, Love and War, is much more about the history of the epic battle between York and Lancaster than it is about Richard and Anne. And I liked that because I'm a big English history buff. But the love stories themselves seemed more like filler than anything, definitely running second to the battles and treason that took place during the time period. Maybe that story line evolves more in the second and third books in the series.
So don't be fooled by the cover! If you want a fantastic love story amidst war and strife, read Katherine. If you want to learn about the history of the War of the Roses, read this one, the first in The Rose of York trilogy.
And most importantly, wear sun screen so you'll have beautiful skin like the ladies in these pictures!
We can dream anyway...
October 3, 2012
A Great Love Story Wrapped in Excellent Historical Fiction
In this award-winning story set against the time of the Wars of the Roses, when the houses of York and Lancaster battled for the throne of England, Worth brings to life the story of two real life lovers Lady Anne Neville and Richard of Gloucester (the last Plantagenet king). It’s the first in a trilogy based on ten years of thorough research of the life of Richard III of England (1452-1485).
LOVE AND WAR tells of Richard and Anne’s early life, before he became king, when they were first childhood friends and then bonded sweethearts, though still in their teens.
As a young boy, Richard of Gloucester (“Dickon”) is forced to flee England with his cousin, the Earl of Warwick (“the Kingmaker”), to save his life and that of his brother, George, while his older brother Edward stays to fight the Lancasters. When Richard returns at the age of 9, he meets 7-year-old Anne Neville, Warwick’s daughter, and the two children instantly recognize each other as kindred spirits.
Though Anne eventually is forced to marry the Lancaster heir, Edouard, son of Marguerite d’Anjou, he is slain in battle, and she and Richard finally hope to marry. Instead, because of treachery by Richard’s brother George, the couple encounters another devastating obstacle that threatens to part them forever.
You will be amazed at how these young people, as young teens, accomplished so much and carried such a great weight of responsibility. If it weren’t history you would criticize the author for making the young characters seem too adult. But it really happened the way she presents it.
Worth writes well, captures the feel of the late medieval period, and weaves history into an absorbing tale like a rich tapestry. But in telling that history, there is much sadness, too, so be prepared. While the trilogy tells of the love between Richard and Anne (and that of other couples as well), it is not romance in the classic sense. Yes there is a happy ending (at least for this first book), but it is more historical biography or historical fiction that features as a central theme the love story of the main character.
Parts of it are truly depressing, not because of Worth’s storytelling, but because of the tumultuous time in England’s history and an English court the author describes as “rotten with intrigue,” where treachery abounded, good men were betrayed for a king’s whim and slain for the threat they presented, the dreadful Elizabeth Woodville (commoner Queen of England) plotted to end her rivals, and honorable mean were slain.
If you like a lot of history with your love stories and find the wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster fascinating, this is the series for you. All three of the books are related since they are the continuing saga of Richard’s life.
The Rose of York trilogy:
LOVE AND WAR
THE CROWN OF DESTINY
FALL FROM GRACE
In this award-winning story set against the time of the Wars of the Roses, when the houses of York and Lancaster battled for the throne of England, Worth brings to life the story of two real life lovers Lady Anne Neville and Richard of Gloucester (the last Plantagenet king). It’s the first in a trilogy based on ten years of thorough research of the life of Richard III of England (1452-1485).
LOVE AND WAR tells of Richard and Anne’s early life, before he became king, when they were first childhood friends and then bonded sweethearts, though still in their teens.
As a young boy, Richard of Gloucester (“Dickon”) is forced to flee England with his cousin, the Earl of Warwick (“the Kingmaker”), to save his life and that of his brother, George, while his older brother Edward stays to fight the Lancasters. When Richard returns at the age of 9, he meets 7-year-old Anne Neville, Warwick’s daughter, and the two children instantly recognize each other as kindred spirits.
Though Anne eventually is forced to marry the Lancaster heir, Edouard, son of Marguerite d’Anjou, he is slain in battle, and she and Richard finally hope to marry. Instead, because of treachery by Richard’s brother George, the couple encounters another devastating obstacle that threatens to part them forever.
You will be amazed at how these young people, as young teens, accomplished so much and carried such a great weight of responsibility. If it weren’t history you would criticize the author for making the young characters seem too adult. But it really happened the way she presents it.
Worth writes well, captures the feel of the late medieval period, and weaves history into an absorbing tale like a rich tapestry. But in telling that history, there is much sadness, too, so be prepared. While the trilogy tells of the love between Richard and Anne (and that of other couples as well), it is not romance in the classic sense. Yes there is a happy ending (at least for this first book), but it is more historical biography or historical fiction that features as a central theme the love story of the main character.
Parts of it are truly depressing, not because of Worth’s storytelling, but because of the tumultuous time in England’s history and an English court the author describes as “rotten with intrigue,” where treachery abounded, good men were betrayed for a king’s whim and slain for the threat they presented, the dreadful Elizabeth Woodville (commoner Queen of England) plotted to end her rivals, and honorable mean were slain.
If you like a lot of history with your love stories and find the wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster fascinating, this is the series for you. All three of the books are related since they are the continuing saga of Richard’s life.
The Rose of York trilogy:
LOVE AND WAR
THE CROWN OF DESTINY
FALL FROM GRACE
August 30, 2012
Set amidst the bloodiest conflicts of the War of Roses and recounting the story of Richard of Gloucester, later Richard III of England, Sandra Worth’s novel, the first of a series, treads a well worn but still very much loved path for many historical fiction writers and readers.
Worth’s view of the child and teenage Richard is sympathetic and engaging; robbed of his childhood by his kin’s savage tug of war for England’s crown, torn by conflicting loyalties, this novel follows Richard’s journey from an uncertain, often frightened boy, struggling to overcome his own deep insecurities, to a young man with the mantle of leader firmly cast upon his slender but also very capable shoulders. Desiring only to be faithful to all he loves but bound first to his brother, the King, by loyalty and love, he is unable to prevent the relentless course that sweeps him, and others of his close family, to where battle and death seems the only answer.
Interwoven in ‘Love and War’ is a sweet and touching love-story. Richard gives his heart early in his life to his cousin Anne Neville, his ‘Flower-eyes,’ the daughter of the ‘Kingmaker,’ and remains steadfast to her throughout this novel. His desire to make her his bride is like the bright beacon of his early years. She in turn loves Richard – but Anne and Richard have much to overcome, especially the betrayal of Richard’s brother by Anne’s ambition-driven father, before they can finally wed.
From minor to major, even from animal to human, Sandra Worth’s multi-cast of characters are skilfully drawn in an extremely well executed story. Whether it is a ship shuddering in a sudden sea squall, the flame of a torch on a night’s journey, or flashes of candle-lit jewels at the court of Edward IV, not forgetting the vivid, carefully crafted battle scenes permeating with the horror of hand to hand combat, Worth paints her medieval world in all its colour, as well as all its unyielding dark harshness.
“We’re naught but shadows and phantoms in a world gone mad,” says Worth’s noble-hearted John Neville; showing one of the great strengths of historical fiction, he seemingly speaks about our times as much as his own. In this beautifully written novel, etched by a masterful storyteller, Worth’s prose often achingly strums our emotions as if notes upon Richard’s lute.
Review by Wendy J. Dunn, author of Dear Heart, How Like You This?,
Worth’s view of the child and teenage Richard is sympathetic and engaging; robbed of his childhood by his kin’s savage tug of war for England’s crown, torn by conflicting loyalties, this novel follows Richard’s journey from an uncertain, often frightened boy, struggling to overcome his own deep insecurities, to a young man with the mantle of leader firmly cast upon his slender but also very capable shoulders. Desiring only to be faithful to all he loves but bound first to his brother, the King, by loyalty and love, he is unable to prevent the relentless course that sweeps him, and others of his close family, to where battle and death seems the only answer.
Interwoven in ‘Love and War’ is a sweet and touching love-story. Richard gives his heart early in his life to his cousin Anne Neville, his ‘Flower-eyes,’ the daughter of the ‘Kingmaker,’ and remains steadfast to her throughout this novel. His desire to make her his bride is like the bright beacon of his early years. She in turn loves Richard – but Anne and Richard have much to overcome, especially the betrayal of Richard’s brother by Anne’s ambition-driven father, before they can finally wed.
From minor to major, even from animal to human, Sandra Worth’s multi-cast of characters are skilfully drawn in an extremely well executed story. Whether it is a ship shuddering in a sudden sea squall, the flame of a torch on a night’s journey, or flashes of candle-lit jewels at the court of Edward IV, not forgetting the vivid, carefully crafted battle scenes permeating with the horror of hand to hand combat, Worth paints her medieval world in all its colour, as well as all its unyielding dark harshness.
“We’re naught but shadows and phantoms in a world gone mad,” says Worth’s noble-hearted John Neville; showing one of the great strengths of historical fiction, he seemingly speaks about our times as much as his own. In this beautifully written novel, etched by a masterful storyteller, Worth’s prose often achingly strums our emotions as if notes upon Richard’s lute.
Review by Wendy J. Dunn, author of Dear Heart, How Like You This?,
February 27, 2008
I read this book for the European Royalty book club here at Goodreads.com. I normally would not have purchased this book because I was not that interested in Richard III. I have read several books about English kings and queens and I was not eager to add another book about this king which is so notorious in history. How wrong I was. One of the best things is how surprised I was with the story. I was addicted to it by page 40, even though the main characters were children still.
The story takes place during the War of the Roses - something I did not remember too much about since learning about it in high school. I knew England was in civil war during that time, but I really appreciate how Sandra Worth brought all of these people to life through her dialog. Most of the story takes place from the perspective of Richard III and in fact he is the hero of the story. But you also get into the heads of many others involved in his life at the time.
This is a love story - as on can judge by looking at the cover - but it is not typical. There is so much more in this book: war, treachery, loyalty, murder, revenge, sympathy, kindness . . . this book has it all.
In fact, this book is the first part in a three-part series by Sandra Worth. This series has won a whole bunch of awards. I have already ordered the next two books and can not wait to read the continuing story of Richard III and the others in his life.
The story takes place during the War of the Roses - something I did not remember too much about since learning about it in high school. I knew England was in civil war during that time, but I really appreciate how Sandra Worth brought all of these people to life through her dialog. Most of the story takes place from the perspective of Richard III and in fact he is the hero of the story. But you also get into the heads of many others involved in his life at the time.
This is a love story - as on can judge by looking at the cover - but it is not typical. There is so much more in this book: war, treachery, loyalty, murder, revenge, sympathy, kindness . . . this book has it all.
In fact, this book is the first part in a three-part series by Sandra Worth. This series has won a whole bunch of awards. I have already ordered the next two books and can not wait to read the continuing story of Richard III and the others in his life.
August 24, 2013
An absurdly romanticized view on Richard III, unashamedly painting him as a saintly, cherubic figure. Instead of this being endearing at all, he comes off entirely one-dimensional and oftentimes weak in character.
If you are looking for any plausibility, please skip this book. The writing was positively purple and at times so unbelievable I had to skip over entire sections of terrible dialogue to get through it, specifically a few speeches by some of the men which were intended to be romantic and swoon-worthy that ended up having me roll my eyes.
Every single woman in the book was portrayed in an even worse way. Elizabeth was positively evil in the most uninteresting way. Anne was flat. None of the other females were even notable in my opinion. This is a shame because these are some incredibly interesting historical figures.
The romance between Anne and Richard had absolutely no chemistry, and both were so one dimensional that you felt nothing toward them.
That all being said, I did enjoy the book a bit once I got past those aspects. The Arthurian allusions and parallels drawn were a nice touch, and while the writing is incredibly flowery, the author does manage to paint a good picture of scenery and settings. The characterization, dialogue, and romance of the novel fall short, and it just so happens that for me these are the things that make or break a book.
If you are looking for any plausibility, please skip this book. The writing was positively purple and at times so unbelievable I had to skip over entire sections of terrible dialogue to get through it, specifically a few speeches by some of the men which were intended to be romantic and swoon-worthy that ended up having me roll my eyes.
Every single woman in the book was portrayed in an even worse way. Elizabeth was positively evil in the most uninteresting way. Anne was flat. None of the other females were even notable in my opinion. This is a shame because these are some incredibly interesting historical figures.
The romance between Anne and Richard had absolutely no chemistry, and both were so one dimensional that you felt nothing toward them.
That all being said, I did enjoy the book a bit once I got past those aspects. The Arthurian allusions and parallels drawn were a nice touch, and while the writing is incredibly flowery, the author does manage to paint a good picture of scenery and settings. The characterization, dialogue, and romance of the novel fall short, and it just so happens that for me these are the things that make or break a book.
October 9, 2012
Whenever I get depressed about the state of the world, I turn to medieval England and then I feel so much better. After all, no matter how badly I have it or how lousy our country is doing, it is absolutely better than taking a mace between the eyebrows or being married off for my lands.
So I delved into my guilty pleasure of Plantagenet based fiction and it was pretty dreary. Not really recommending this author to anyone. She's sympathetic to Richard III, which doesn't bother me, but I just felt like her characterizations were bland and the story of Richard and Anne Neville's relationship was a total snoozer. Which is just crazy, because the author has all sorts of rich history and intrigue to draw on. It was totally fine for a read on my commute and it was free for my Kindle with my Amazon Prime deal but if you're looking for a great page turner, this just isn't it.
So I delved into my guilty pleasure of Plantagenet based fiction and it was pretty dreary. Not really recommending this author to anyone. She's sympathetic to Richard III, which doesn't bother me, but I just felt like her characterizations were bland and the story of Richard and Anne Neville's relationship was a total snoozer. Which is just crazy, because the author has all sorts of rich history and intrigue to draw on. It was totally fine for a read on my commute and it was free for my Kindle with my Amazon Prime deal but if you're looking for a great page turner, this just isn't it.
April 18, 2018
If you are a fan of Richard III, which I have always been, and enjoy historical fiction, you will like this book. If you don't think much of Richard, or if you're a fan of the House of Lancaster or the Woodville tribe, I would recommend you avoid it since it will thoroughly annoy you. It's a romanticized account of the love of Richard and Anne Neville, she who became his Queen but mercifully did not live to see the end of his reign. The story begins when they are children and first meet and follows mainly Richard as he loses family and friends and struggles to remain loyal to his brother Edward in the course of the civil war between York and Lancaster. With the support of Warwick the Kingmaker, Edward becomes Edward IV, then tries his best to destroy his power by marrying Elizabeth Woodville rather than a French princess. Thus begins the struggle with the Nevilles, leading to further civil war, betrayal, suffering and death. Almost makes you appreciate the relatively more stable governments we have today.....well, almost.
It's an enjoyable, well written though highly romanticized account of the times, a good basic timeline and score card to help keep track of the frequent side-changes and betrayals so common during the Wars of the Roses. There are also some different and rather interesting portrayals of some of the historical figures which do not necessarily fit with what is their usual representation. As I said, interesting.
It's an enjoyable, well written though highly romanticized account of the times, a good basic timeline and score card to help keep track of the frequent side-changes and betrayals so common during the Wars of the Roses. There are also some different and rather interesting portrayals of some of the historical figures which do not necessarily fit with what is their usual representation. As I said, interesting.
October 12, 2012
Love & War is the first in the Rose of York Trilogy. The setting is during the War of the Roses in England. This first book centers around the life of Richard III. He is sometimes portrayed in history as one of cruelest kings (mostly from Shakespeare's work,) but has recently been studied and found to be a just king. He is actually responsible for many modern day rights given by the judicial system.
Richard's story begins during his boyhood being an awkward, sickly child. He has always loved and grew up with Lady Anne Neville, Warwick's daughter. The story takes you through the many trials and tribulations of his life as he tries for years to marry Anne. His brother is king and his other brother is jealous, constantly thwarting his attempts to marry Anne.
The novel is well researched and has won many awards. I would have liked to have seen more conversations between Richard and Anne and less emphasis and descriptions of battles and the politics of the time. If you enjoy this era, I would recommend that you read Philippa Gregory's The Kingmaker's Daughter. This is the same era, only told through the eyes of Anne, rather than Richard. I liked Gregory's writing style better.
Richard's story begins during his boyhood being an awkward, sickly child. He has always loved and grew up with Lady Anne Neville, Warwick's daughter. The story takes you through the many trials and tribulations of his life as he tries for years to marry Anne. His brother is king and his other brother is jealous, constantly thwarting his attempts to marry Anne.
The novel is well researched and has won many awards. I would have liked to have seen more conversations between Richard and Anne and less emphasis and descriptions of battles and the politics of the time. If you enjoy this era, I would recommend that you read Philippa Gregory's The Kingmaker's Daughter. This is the same era, only told through the eyes of Anne, rather than Richard. I liked Gregory's writing style better.
September 29, 2013
I have never found the view of Richard III as being a monstrous, hunch-backed ogre to be believable in the least. He was known as a fine warrior and had admirably overseen Northern England for many years before he became king.
Unfortunately this book portrays Richard as an angelic and unbelievably wise individual who is constantly martyred by outside evil forces. All the characters in the book are written in a very one dimensional way. Richard is wise and good, Ann is sweet, Elizabeth Woodeville is evil, King Edward IV is an idiotic lecher. As we all know, real life is not so simple. Those who may do bad things can simultaneously have motives that are not nearly so nefarious.
I would have liked to read a novel that gave me an idea what may have been Richard's thoughts at momentous times in history and even told the story from Richard's point of view and not that of the Tudors who undoubtedly wished to believe the worst of him. Unfortunately the author portrayed Richard so unrealistically, and thus the story felt more like a blatant attempt to improve Richard's PR than any valuable insight into his life.
Unfortunately this book portrays Richard as an angelic and unbelievably wise individual who is constantly martyred by outside evil forces. All the characters in the book are written in a very one dimensional way. Richard is wise and good, Ann is sweet, Elizabeth Woodeville is evil, King Edward IV is an idiotic lecher. As we all know, real life is not so simple. Those who may do bad things can simultaneously have motives that are not nearly so nefarious.
I would have liked to read a novel that gave me an idea what may have been Richard's thoughts at momentous times in history and even told the story from Richard's point of view and not that of the Tudors who undoubtedly wished to believe the worst of him. Unfortunately the author portrayed Richard so unrealistically, and thus the story felt more like a blatant attempt to improve Richard's PR than any valuable insight into his life.
March 1, 2008
This book is the first of three that tells the story of Richard III. I don't know much about Richard (I haven't even read the Shakespeare play); however, it is my understanding that history has not been kind to him. Then, a few decades ago, both scholars and writers started to reexamine Richard's accomplishments. There is now a more balanced approach to Richard, and this book provides such a perspective. In fact, it is downright favorable to Richard.
The book opens with Richard as a young boy and then ends when he is a young adult. What I loved about the book is that it is filled with many rich characters and that it gives tremendous insight into the mulitiple changes of loyalty and the choices that men and women had to make based upon these loyalties. The book represents the difficult choices that rulers had to make and what rulers at that time represented to the people. The story is about love, war, family, betrayal, loyalty and sacrifice. It's a very good read that I would recomment to those readers who have an affinity for historical fiction.
The book opens with Richard as a young boy and then ends when he is a young adult. What I loved about the book is that it is filled with many rich characters and that it gives tremendous insight into the mulitiple changes of loyalty and the choices that men and women had to make based upon these loyalties. The book represents the difficult choices that rulers had to make and what rulers at that time represented to the people. The story is about love, war, family, betrayal, loyalty and sacrifice. It's a very good read that I would recomment to those readers who have an affinity for historical fiction.
October 13, 2015
I did find the characterizations of Anne and Richard to be slightly over-romanticized. Of course, it is always hard to match up to the wonder that is The Sunne in Splendour, and all things considered, I think Worth has presented a well-researched, although sometimes literally weak, book. It was still an enjoyable book and I am happy to reach for the next installment in the series. I much prefer that Richard's life was given the appropriate stretch over three books rather than trying to cram a lifetime into one novel (here's looking at you, Philippa Gergory a la The Kingmaker's Daughter). I have been fascinated with the "real" Richard III of late, especially his relationship to Anne Neville. All in all, the novel was enjoyable and factually sound - although Worth acknowledges certain assumptions she had to make due to shoddy documentation of Anne's history.
February 14, 2014
I am a fan of anything Richard III, and this first book did not disappoint me. In the story, we are introduced to the young Richard, and his gentle nature, well groomed by Warwick, The Kingmaker, and John Neville, father of Anne, Richard's sweetheart, and later, wife. Richard here is painted as loyal to his brother, King Edward, and struggles when he has to choose between his beloved John Neville and Edward. He chooses Edward and feels deep regret when both Warwick and John are killed in battle against Edward's forces. George, the middle brother, is painted as the corruptible one. Always seeking something from Edward, and hating Richard for his loyalty. The book follows the line of research that shows a Richard was a just king, and served those who didn't have a voice. He is the opposite of the Shakespearean interpretation which was fuelled by the pro-Tudors.
June 24, 2013
I could not bear the saintly Richard III and Anne Neville. I usually enjoy Ricardian works - with sound historical research - but this novel was entirely implausible. I struggled to finish, muddling through the saccharine prose, and I'm not sure why I finished the novel at all. I hardly think that it is worth the effort to review.
Characterisations were weak, weak, weak.
I would write a longer review, but I just don't want to waste more time even thinking about this drivel.
If you want to read a Yorkist novel, try Sharon Kay Penman's "Sunne in Splendour."
Characterisations were weak, weak, weak.
I would write a longer review, but I just don't want to waste more time even thinking about this drivel.
If you want to read a Yorkist novel, try Sharon Kay Penman's "Sunne in Splendour."
November 5, 2011
I couldn't finish this book. I kept trying to return to it because I hate not finishing a book, but the juice wasn't worth the squeeze in this case. I enjoy historically-based fiction about the Wars of the Roses, but I just couldn't get into this version of the tale. It felt bland and expected to me, but perhaps I'm just overly familiar with the story.
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