Reviews

A Rose for the Crown by Anne Easter Smith

alicia19096's review against another edition

5.0

This is one of the most romantic books i've read in a very long time. I continue to re-read it. For those of you who have 'that' love in your life or know that it exists and are looking for it, read this book. and trust in that feeling. This book is incredibly insightful also, into the time of the War of the Roses. You will get to know Richard III in a very different way.

bibielle's review

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious relaxing sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

lauriestein's review against another edition

2.0

I read this because I wanted to learn more about the Plantagenets. However that was kind of a fail as a goal considering the protagonist witnessed pretty much nothing; all was exposited to her in the mouths of the male characters. And the protagonist herself became much flatter and duller after she met Richard and was exposited to.

emjay24's review against another edition

4.0

672 PAGES!! SOO LONG!! Before I get to what's IN the book...carrying this thing around with me on the bus, subway, to work, gym, back... it's a workout in itself. I went on vacation in the middle of reading it and had to leave it behind for smaller books, or nothing else would fit in my suitcase!! LOL. Anyway, this is the story of King Richard's mistress, who he had three children by. Through her, it's the story of the kingdom, him being the king's brother and then king and then being overthrown by Henry. It was interesting because recently before this, I read Smith's King's Grace, which had Grace, one generation younger, more in the thick of things but seeing everyone from a different view. In these books, all the political stuff, and the fact that everyone reuses the same names over and over..naming children after themselves, etc, so there's five Katherines, ten Elizabeth's, 20 Johns, very unoriginal back then, well that makes things so hard to read. But after reading a bunch of these books close together i think i'm finally getting the handle on this. This book does not focus on life at court. They are almost never there. it focuses on the life of a woman who rises from a peasant up to bearing the king's children. I'm sure a lot is made up, but it's still an interesting glimpse at someone not many probably thought about at the time. Very good book, just wish it could have shrunk in size for carrying!

kstep1805's review against another edition

2.0

So dull, it started out interesting but then just dragged on forever. There was more chemistry between Kate and George than Kate and Richard. And you would think that the turbulent times she was living in would have more of a toll on her but she seemed untouched, despite being in a relationship with someone in the center of it all.

coletters's review against another edition

4.0

A little slow at times, but otherwise enjoyable. Took a little while to get used to the style of language the characters speak (i.e., 'Tis, well met, 'Certs).

eriickamay's review against another edition

5.0

"Loyaulté me lie."

gardngoyle's review against another edition

4.0

This was a very good book. The history is well researched - the author's note at the end is very enlightening - and the language is historically correct. This means lots of archaic words which I love but other people may not - happily, the glossary is comprehensive.
I loved the characters and particularly the depiction of Richard III. As much as I love Shakespeare, I have to agree that his handling of Richard and the 'Princes in the Tower' was Fake News at it's finest.
The only thing that I had trouble with was that the book was a little long. Oddly, it seemed to me that some editing could have been done in the first 200 pages or so. After that it didn't drag at all.
If you have any interest in Richard III whatsoever, give this one a try.

aglitterofseas's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

bookshy's review against another edition

2.0

Ugh.