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stinajohanns's review against another edition
4.0
This was quite an interesting read. My husband loves everything to do with the British and French kings and queens and so I kind of did it for him to read this book but I ended up actually enjoying it. So now I know what he's talking about when he talks about Henry VI being weak and I know who Margaret of Anjoy is and how the Brits lost most of what they had in France. Historical novels can be quite nice when they really work as you learn a bit about the learn at the same time as you enjoy a story.
andrew61's review against another edition
5.0
I think that the joy of really good historical fiction is that it educates as well as entertains and so in this book I was immersed in the world of 15th century intrigue as Henry VI marries Margaret of Anjou in return for a truce with France and the loss of much of England's land in France. So the book moves across the preliminary stages of the war of the Roses as the king's cousin Richard Duke of York (father of Richard III) intrigues to take the throne against a backdrop of English landowners (including an ex Archer who has settled post Agincourt on a farm battling the french king and causing the french to break the truce)fighting the invading french troops with longbow and sword .It brought the characters alive from the sickly Henry who lives in the shadow of his father Henry V, the feisty Margaret and the manipulative Richard, and covers historical events and brings them to life including the Kentish revolt under Jack Cade and the bizarre two weddings of margaret and Henry. The action was riveting and as with Bernard Cornwell's 'Azincourt' the stories of Longbowmen are fascinating with fight scenes, battles, and war vividly drawn in brilliant detail , you do feel like you have found a peephole into history. Great research including methods of torture, legal processes and medicine , so that you can smell the streets and squirm as fingers are broken and leeches applied. Overall a cracking read and I can't wait for volume 2. The middle ages are a fascinating period and having just this weekend finished Dan Jones's 'The Plantagenet's' my view is that good historical fiction complements good factual writing.
ghostmuppet's review against another edition
4.0
A non accurate telling of the beginning of the War of the Roses. Well, it has to be non accurate otherwise it would be a very dull story - more like a dull history lesson. Events have been condensed and reworked a little - but non of which should take away from the enjoyable plot and characters.
Being historical means you are constrained with what has happened - but as history writing was imperfect, authors can be liberal with some of the changes they make. In this, we are introduced to Derry Brewer - the Spy Master. A sort of James Bond for his day - fast mind, common born and looking out for the greater good.
I have Trinity, the second book, but I wont be starting that for while. While this wont give me accurate historical notes (I certainly wont win any quizzes) it has given me an overview of the period of history that I lacked before - which is why I like Historical Fiction.
Being historical means you are constrained with what has happened - but as history writing was imperfect, authors can be liberal with some of the changes they make. In this, we are introduced to Derry Brewer - the Spy Master. A sort of James Bond for his day - fast mind, common born and looking out for the greater good.
I have Trinity, the second book, but I wont be starting that for while. While this wont give me accurate historical notes (I certainly wont win any quizzes) it has given me an overview of the period of history that I lacked before - which is why I like Historical Fiction.
sophiewilliams's review against another edition
2.0
Not my favourite by him. Have no interest in reading the rest of the series. Derry Brewer and Margaret were v strong characters.
annataeko's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderfully written. I liked most of the characters appearing here. They all have a reason why they do what they do and act as they do. One can easily get the notion of what may have happened during those times of civil war in England (and France, really).
This is only the first volume out of 4 now. I currrently own 3 of them, as the fourth one has been recently launched. And I'm very eager to discover how this story develops (specially now that it's getting more and more intensive, more amusing and way exciting!)
This first book has been incredible as it guides the reader towards the England of then, not forgetting the laws, the lines and heritages and all related to those hard times full of willing of power and honour.
PS. The cover is stunning, as well as the maps and the English Royal family trees within.
Very recommended!
This is only the first volume out of 4 now. I currrently own 3 of them, as the fourth one has been recently launched. And I'm very eager to discover how this story develops (specially now that it's getting more and more intensive, more amusing and way exciting!)
This first book has been incredible as it guides the reader towards the England of then, not forgetting the laws, the lines and heritages and all related to those hard times full of willing of power and honour.
PS. The cover is stunning, as well as the maps and the English Royal family trees within.
Very recommended!
mrsbc's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
fcbgiulia's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 🌟
Non mi aspettavo che questo libro potesse convincermi così tanto ;). Ho apprezzato molto come l'autore abbia inserito alla fine del romanzo le sue ricerche storiche, ma ancora di più come abbia cercato di spiegare al lettore alcune sue scelte non propriamente storiche per fare in modo che la storia andasse nella direzione che voleva. Ovviamente leggendo un romanzo storico non ti aspetti un affidabilità storica precisa, ma nemmeno che vengano scritte castronerie e vedere la cura che è stata posta in questo libro mi ha fatto molto piacere :'). Lo si nota soprattutto nelle piccole cose, che sono state quelle che ho apprezzato di più, come le battaglie che vengono narrate in maniera dettagliata e dando anche una retrospettiva di storia militare che non fa mai male ;).
Non avevo mai letto nulla sulla guerra delle due rose, quindi sono andata avanti nella lettura senza troppe aspettative e devo dire che è stata la cosa migliore. Anche se, lo ammetto, a volte andavo a sbirciare i fatti storici XD. Non posso farci niente, è la fissata di storia che c'è in me che riemerge ogni volta che letto un romanzo storico XDXD.
I personaggi più importanti sono tutti descritti e narrati molto bene! A parte alcune difficoltà dovute alla traduzione (a tratti sembrava l'avesse fatta un bambino!), non ho mai avuto problemi a seguire il filo di tutti i vari punti di vista che ci vengono presentati. Anzi, il fatto che ce ne fossero così tanti credo abbia dato qualcosa in più alla storia ;).
Sono molto curiosa di continuare questa serie e di leggere altri libri di Iggulden in futuro ;D.
Non mi aspettavo che questo libro potesse convincermi così tanto ;). Ho apprezzato molto come l'autore abbia inserito alla fine del romanzo le sue ricerche storiche, ma ancora di più come abbia cercato di spiegare al lettore alcune sue scelte non propriamente storiche per fare in modo che la storia andasse nella direzione che voleva. Ovviamente leggendo un romanzo storico non ti aspetti un affidabilità storica precisa, ma nemmeno che vengano scritte castronerie e vedere la cura che è stata posta in questo libro mi ha fatto molto piacere :'). Lo si nota soprattutto nelle piccole cose, che sono state quelle che ho apprezzato di più, come le battaglie che vengono narrate in maniera dettagliata e dando anche una retrospettiva di storia militare che non fa mai male ;).
Non avevo mai letto nulla sulla guerra delle due rose, quindi sono andata avanti nella lettura senza troppe aspettative e devo dire che è stata la cosa migliore. Anche se, lo ammetto, a volte andavo a sbirciare i fatti storici XD. Non posso farci niente, è la fissata di storia che c'è in me che riemerge ogni volta che letto un romanzo storico XDXD.
I personaggi più importanti sono tutti descritti e narrati molto bene! A parte alcune difficoltà dovute alla traduzione (a tratti sembrava l'avesse fatta un bambino!), non ho mai avuto problemi a seguire il filo di tutti i vari punti di vista che ci vengono presentati. Anzi, il fatto che ce ne fossero così tanti credo abbia dato qualcosa in più alla storia ;).
Sono molto curiosa di continuare questa serie e di leggere altri libri di Iggulden in futuro ;D.
flexdza's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
England was cold that month.’
In 1437, after 15 years of regency, Henry VI was declared of an age to reign. He proved to be a weak and malleable king, dangerously dependent on two men to run his kingdom. The two men are spymaster Derry Brewer and William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk. Henry VI has decided that peace with France would be a good thing, but with English territories in France under threat and rumours of revolt in England, not all of his nobles agree.
‘The whole country is waiting for young Henry to be half the man his dad was, to finish the glorious work that took half of France and made their precious Dauphin prince run like a little girl.’
A secret deal is struck by the Duke of Suffolk and Derry Brewer for Henry to marry Margaret of Anjou, a young French noblewoman. This deal involves returning English0held territories back to France. Richard, Duke of York (amongst others) is outraged. Unrest in England leads to the rebellion led by Jack Cade, and it isn’t at all clear whether Henry will prevail.
This is the first book of a trilogy Conn Iggulden has planned on the Wars of the Roses. The focus in this novel is on the politics and warfare, on the intrigue and infighting, on the treachery. It was a turbulent period, and while Conn Iggulden has taken some liberties with the history, he breathes life into the people and events. Most of the characters are based on real historical figures and those that are not – such as Derry Brewer - help to bring the various strands of the story together.
‘Historical fiction sometimes involves filling in the gaps and unexplained parts of history.’
I enjoyed the novel for its pace and found Conn Iggulden’s depiction of both Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou more sympathetic than in some other novels I’ve read. If historical accuracy is more important to you than a rollicking good read, then this may not be the novel for you.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
In 1437, after 15 years of regency, Henry VI was declared of an age to reign. He proved to be a weak and malleable king, dangerously dependent on two men to run his kingdom. The two men are spymaster Derry Brewer and William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk. Henry VI has decided that peace with France would be a good thing, but with English territories in France under threat and rumours of revolt in England, not all of his nobles agree.
‘The whole country is waiting for young Henry to be half the man his dad was, to finish the glorious work that took half of France and made their precious Dauphin prince run like a little girl.’
A secret deal is struck by the Duke of Suffolk and Derry Brewer for Henry to marry Margaret of Anjou, a young French noblewoman. This deal involves returning English0held territories back to France. Richard, Duke of York (amongst others) is outraged. Unrest in England leads to the rebellion led by Jack Cade, and it isn’t at all clear whether Henry will prevail.
This is the first book of a trilogy Conn Iggulden has planned on the Wars of the Roses. The focus in this novel is on the politics and warfare, on the intrigue and infighting, on the treachery. It was a turbulent period, and while Conn Iggulden has taken some liberties with the history, he breathes life into the people and events. Most of the characters are based on real historical figures and those that are not – such as Derry Brewer - help to bring the various strands of the story together.
‘Historical fiction sometimes involves filling in the gaps and unexplained parts of history.’
I enjoyed the novel for its pace and found Conn Iggulden’s depiction of both Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou more sympathetic than in some other novels I’ve read. If historical accuracy is more important to you than a rollicking good read, then this may not be the novel for you.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
sofiahogstedt's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0