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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Sexual harassment, War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
The continuation of the excellent historical fiction series about The War of the Roses, bringing a convoluted story to life.
Very enjoyable book, now to wait for the next in the series.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Each one just gets better and better, can't wait to read the final installment.
Book 1: Stormbird review
Book 2: Trinity review
Book 4: Ravenspur: Rise of the Tudors review
Reread: May 2016
It's been less than a year since I first read this, but I decided to reread the entire series in preparation for the new book coming out this month. I have to say, I enjoyed this so much more reading it straight after books one and two. It flowed a lot better and I was left more satisfied at the end. Also, for some reason I thought this was a trilogy - I'm not entirely sure where I picked that up from - so this is going from 4.5 to 5 stars, since my only qualm was that the ending left me feeling like the story hadn't ended and was unresolved. Funnily enough, that was because it hadn't ended, so I can't really dock the half a star for that anymore.
Original Review:
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
I just love this series. Don't you? I would highly recommend this to anyone for several reasons. Bloodline is the latest installment in the Wars of the Roses series, although I wish there was more books in this series. In this novel, the war between York and Lancaster comes to a head, there are two kings of England, and the Woodvilles infiltrate the noble houses of England.
Conn Iggulden is easily one of the best historical fiction writers I've had the pleasure of reading. He really comes into his own when writing battle scenes. I said it when reviewing Trinity and I'll say it again now, battles are so hard to write. Fight scenes between two characters are challenging enough, to make it truly believable, and Iggulden writes of a fully blown war, bloody battles, men cutting their way through an army. And his writing doesn't faulter in the quieter moments of the novel, not that I could really describe those times as quiet, exactly. He paints the time period and the unrest of the English court and country in general so realistically that I felt like I was there.
Ultimately, I am a character-driven reader. Though the plot in this was fantastic and true to the actual happenings during the wars of the roses for the most part, the characters bloom in this series as a whole, never mind this novel. I felt like we had a much better insight into the Yorkist lords in this installment. So much happened in the 453 pages of this novel and the characters developed so much that I was in heaven, honestly. I was so up and down about both Margaret and Edward because they were so fully fleshed out that I was shown both the good and bad in them. For some reason Margaret was obsessed with getting a husband back that she no longer loved, although it could have been more that she wanted the throne for her son. I was really starting to love Edward when Elizabeth Woodville sank her claws into him. She was an unlikeable character from her first appearance, in my opinion. I've read other books about her, and I've never seen her painted as such a bitch. She's conniving and for some unknown reason holds a grudge against the Nevilles. Obsessed in her own way with getting rid of them, she manages to fill the court and noble houses with her own kin. I don't know if she blasted the Nevilles to do that or if she truly thought they weren't to be trusted but I'd put my money on the former being true.
Warwick was the most interesting character. His emotions and motives for his actions were by far the most interesting and had the biggest effects out of anyone's. Somerset, as well, was a similarly likeable character. Warwick was probably my favourite. I honestly think, from this retelling anyway, that he had his country at heart, always, and in the end he was looking out for his family and, in his own way, for the king, too.
Also, as always, shoutout to Derry Brewer for being badass and surviving so long. It pains me that he's fictional, but I'm clinging to the hope that someone of his like existed to help the monarchy.
The only reason this isn't a full five stars is the ending. I know how the wars ended. I know about the princes in the tower and Margaret and Warwick's alliance. But none of that is in there. The novel ends too early. I feel like we need another book or two to fully finish the story, and as far as I'm aware this has always been a trilogy. I felt like I was promised so much more from that epilogue, and then it just ended. Maybe a companion series to finish the story? Just an idea. It would satisfy me.
Overall I just love this series so much. I can't say there's anything I don't like about it. I have to stop myself from flipping forward because I'm so impatient to read about what happens next, and I have to stop myself and take it all in properly. The writing is insanely good, the characters are fleshed out and well written. Iggulden does justice to a complex and interesting time in English history.
Book 2: Trinity review
Book 4: Ravenspur: Rise of the Tudors review
Reread: May 2016
It's been less than a year since I first read this, but I decided to reread the entire series in preparation for the new book coming out this month. I have to say, I enjoyed this so much more reading it straight after books one and two. It flowed a lot better and I was left more satisfied at the end. Also, for some reason I thought this was a trilogy - I'm not entirely sure where I picked that up from - so this is going from 4.5 to 5 stars, since my only qualm was that the ending left me feeling like the story hadn't ended and was unresolved. Funnily enough, that was because it hadn't ended, so I can't really dock the half a star for that anymore.
Original Review:
I just love this series. Don't you? I would highly recommend this to anyone for several reasons. Bloodline is the latest installment in the Wars of the Roses series, although I wish there was more books in this series. In this novel, the war between York and Lancaster comes to a head, there are two kings of England, and the Woodvilles infiltrate the noble houses of England.
Conn Iggulden is easily one of the best historical fiction writers I've had the pleasure of reading. He really comes into his own when writing battle scenes. I said it when reviewing Trinity and I'll say it again now, battles are so hard to write. Fight scenes between two characters are challenging enough, to make it truly believable, and Iggulden writes of a fully blown war, bloody battles, men cutting their way through an army. And his writing doesn't faulter in the quieter moments of the novel, not that I could really describe those times as quiet, exactly. He paints the time period and the unrest of the English court and country in general so realistically that I felt like I was there.
Ultimately, I am a character-driven reader. Though the plot in this was fantastic and true to the actual happenings during the wars of the roses for the most part, the characters bloom in this series as a whole, never mind this novel. I felt like we had a much better insight into the Yorkist lords in this installment. So much happened in the 453 pages of this novel and the characters developed so much that I was in heaven, honestly. I was so up and down about both Margaret and Edward because they were so fully fleshed out that I was shown both the good and bad in them. For some reason Margaret was obsessed with getting a husband back that she no longer loved, although it could have been more that she wanted the throne for her son. I was really starting to love Edward when Elizabeth Woodville sank her claws into him. She was an unlikeable character from her first appearance, in my opinion. I've read other books about her, and I've never seen her painted as such a bitch. She's conniving and for some unknown reason holds a grudge against the Nevilles. Obsessed in her own way with getting rid of them, she manages to fill the court and noble houses with her own kin. I don't know if she blasted the Nevilles to do that or if she truly thought they weren't to be trusted but I'd put my money on the former being true.
Warwick was the most interesting character. His emotions and motives for his actions were by far the most interesting and had the biggest effects out of anyone's. Somerset, as well, was a similarly likeable character. Warwick was probably my favourite. I honestly think, from this retelling anyway, that he had his country at heart, always, and in the end he was looking out for his family and, in his own way, for the king, too.
Also, as always, shoutout to Derry Brewer for being badass and surviving so long. It pains me that he's fictional, but I'm clinging to the hope that someone of his like existed to help the monarchy.
The only reason this isn't a full five stars is the ending. I know how the wars ended. I know about the princes in the tower and Margaret and Warwick's alliance. But none of that is in there. The novel ends too early.
Spoiler
It ends as Warwick flees to Paris and promises more of a meeting with Margaret that will just rock the country, but that's it. It ends there.Overall I just love this series so much. I can't say there's anything I don't like about it. I have to stop myself from flipping forward because I'm so impatient to read about what happens next, and I have to stop myself and take it all in properly. The writing is insanely good, the characters are fleshed out and well written. Iggulden does justice to a complex and interesting time in English history.
I have read all the other books in this series and thought they were all great. It's very seldom the way that every book in the series is good, sometimes they go a bit flat in the middle but this is not one of those series'. This book is gory and realistic and the plot is interesting and fast paced. I enjoyed it and will definitely read the next in the series.