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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
aliilman's review against another edition
5.0
Stormbird, the first volume of the Wars of the Roses series.
Bloody brilliant. Conn Iggulden’s writing made the book a page-turner. My most favourite character has to be Derihew Brewer. Cunning and a unique personality. A man of loyalty. He’s a fictional character, but such character might have existed back then as the king’s / queen’s spymaster.
How’s the story?
It’s 1437. 15 years have passed since the sudden death of one of England’s most renowned kings, Henry V. His prowess in war has garnered success for England during the Hundred Years’ War. His son, Henry VI, had succeeded to the throne at the age of 9 months old. A regency was created to rule the nation while Henry VI was growing up.
Now, Henry is fit to rule the nation. He is also the disputed king of France. Unlike his father, Henry is passive. A gentle bloke, perhaps. The nation grew restless over the manner in which he ruled the nation, especially with the safety of the English over in France in danger of yet another battle with the French.
In order to prevent yet another bloodbath with the French, the English set out a plan for a peace treaty by organising a marriage between Henry and a lady from a royal French family. A couple of years gone by and finally, a peace treaty of 20 years was achieved with the marriage of Henry and Margaret of Anjou, at the expense of Maine going into the hands of the French.
With the news of the treaty spreading throughout the nation, certain powerful figures from other royal English houses are eager to see a different man on the throne. Not helped by the revolts that have broken out, the nation are about to plunge into a civil war spanning a few decades.
Bloody brilliant. Conn Iggulden’s writing made the book a page-turner. My most favourite character has to be Derihew Brewer. Cunning and a unique personality. A man of loyalty. He’s a fictional character, but such character might have existed back then as the king’s / queen’s spymaster.
How’s the story?
It’s 1437. 15 years have passed since the sudden death of one of England’s most renowned kings, Henry V. His prowess in war has garnered success for England during the Hundred Years’ War. His son, Henry VI, had succeeded to the throne at the age of 9 months old. A regency was created to rule the nation while Henry VI was growing up.
Now, Henry is fit to rule the nation. He is also the disputed king of France. Unlike his father, Henry is passive. A gentle bloke, perhaps. The nation grew restless over the manner in which he ruled the nation, especially with the safety of the English over in France in danger of yet another battle with the French.
In order to prevent yet another bloodbath with the French, the English set out a plan for a peace treaty by organising a marriage between Henry and a lady from a royal French family. A couple of years gone by and finally, a peace treaty of 20 years was achieved with the marriage of Henry and Margaret of Anjou, at the expense of Maine going into the hands of the French.
With the news of the treaty spreading throughout the nation, certain powerful figures from other royal English houses are eager to see a different man on the throne. Not helped by the revolts that have broken out, the nation are about to plunge into a civil war spanning a few decades.
wanderlustsleeping's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not going to finish this. I just....don't care.
herbalmoon's review against another edition
1.0
Count me out of the people who like the battle/rebellion scenes. Between that and the myriad POV changes per chapter, this book sags when it could be a whole lot better.
I have hopes for the rest of the series, but not high ones.
=====
A few hours later, I got to chapter twenty-one, where it talks about
The same Henry that was reported to be William's friend.
The same Henry that was dead by 1441.
But the story has reached at least 1453, because the characters have been talking about losing everything in France except Calais.
I don't mind the introduction of fictional characters like Derry Brewer to move the plot along, but resurrecting a dozen-year-dead cleric and have him change sides just to have an extra villain? No thanks.
Congrats: you've gone from three stars down to one.
I have hopes for the rest of the series, but not high ones.
=====
A few hours later, I got to chapter twenty-one, where it talks about
Spoiler
Henry Cardinal Beaufort threatening William de la Pole (the Duke of Suffolk) with torture and charges of treason.The same Henry that was reported to be William's friend.
The same Henry that was dead by 1441.
But the story has reached at least 1453, because the characters have been talking about losing everything in France except Calais.
I don't mind the introduction of fictional characters like Derry Brewer to move the plot along, but resurrecting a dozen-year-dead cleric and have him change sides just to have an extra villain? No thanks.
Congrats: you've gone from three stars down to one.
wombatrose's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars - I really liked it.
This book is seriously one of the best historical fiction novels I have read in a long time. It was well-paced and interesting. What I liked most was the fact that Iggulden portrayed every point of view when it came to the politics and civil wars of the time period, giving a well-balanced, unbiased perspective, and letting the reader decide for themselves who they wanted to root for.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone interesting in reading about medieval European history.
This book is seriously one of the best historical fiction novels I have read in a long time. It was well-paced and interesting. What I liked most was the fact that Iggulden portrayed every point of view when it came to the politics and civil wars of the time period, giving a well-balanced, unbiased perspective, and letting the reader decide for themselves who they wanted to root for.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone interesting in reading about medieval European history.
cronicadelibros's review
3.0
Primer volumen de la tetralogia La Guerra de las Dos Rosas, donde se narran los hechos que sucedieron los 10 años anteriores a que se iniciara la guerra civil inglesa. Primero de todo para mi gusto el autor se toma demasiadas licencias historicas para crear su historia (está explicado al final del libro) y por otra parte el libro tiene partes muy rápidas y dinámcas y otras demasiado lentas e incluso algunas de las partes de ficción se alargan más allá de lo deseable. Seguramente lo peor del libro es la descripción de las batallas, muy alejadas de maestros en estas lides como Simon Scarrow o Bernard Cornwell.
saranya_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
m_j_webb's review against another edition
5.0
Brilliant. Just brilliant.
I loved everything about this book, and the bonus section on Henry V at Agincourt had the hairs on the back of my head standing rigidly to attention.
I already have the sequel and it's just jumped quite a few places in the queue to be read. Conn Iggulden I doth my cap to thee sir.
I loved everything about this book, and the bonus section on Henry V at Agincourt had the hairs on the back of my head standing rigidly to attention.
I already have the sequel and it's just jumped quite a few places in the queue to be read. Conn Iggulden I doth my cap to thee sir.
gemma7's review against another edition
I did not vibe with the writing.
Examples:
"The guard saluted smartly"
"She blushed prettily"
"His wife relaxed visibly"
And whatever kind of sentence structure this is:
"Suffolk envied York his trim frame as he caught sight of the man striding through the crowd..."
It is too painful to carry on. DNF 31%.
Examples:
"The guard saluted smartly"
"She blushed prettily"
"His wife relaxed visibly"
And whatever kind of sentence structure this is:
"Suffolk envied York his trim frame as he caught sight of the man striding through the crowd..."
It is too painful to carry on. DNF 31%.
wishanem's review against another edition
3.0
An exciting bit of historical fiction that covers the build up to the War of the Roses in a way that mixes politics, interpersonal drama, and action. I was a disappointed that the time period covered by this book wasn't longer. It focuses on a couple years while I was expecting at least a couple decades. Still worth the time to read it though, and I'll be picking up at least one sequel.
Words I learned in this book:
benison: blessing
cacography: bad handwriting
collier: coal miner or a ship that carries coal
gravid: pregnant
hogfur: Anglosaxon term meaning something is seaworthy that was used to mean "good"
Words I learned in this book:
benison: blessing
cacography: bad handwriting
collier: coal miner or a ship that carries coal
gravid: pregnant
hogfur: Anglosaxon term meaning something is seaworthy that was used to mean "good"