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A review by jmatkinson1
Stormbird by Conn Iggulden
4.0
England in 1437 - Henry V, the hero of Agincourt, long dead and his son, Henry VI, is reaching maturity. A weak and pious man, his council decide that a marriage to the French royal family will strengthen his reign and power. He marries Marguerite of Anjou, a cousin of the king, and a woman about to develop strength of her own. English foreign policy is to cede the lands won in battle back to France, thus displacing many settlers and causing public resentment. Henry's cousin, the Duke of York, feels that Henry is a weak king and wants the throne for himself.
The history behind these times is well-known and the Cousins' War is a popular period in history currently, therefore Iggulden is tapping into a demand already there. I have not read any of his previous books as I felt they were tailored to a different audience but I decided to try this one solely due to the period. To be honest I was pleasantly surprised - it's not high literature but it is a really enjoyable read. The narrative is pacy, it jumps between different characters (so real, some imagined), it's honest to historical fact and the battle scenes are well written. For a holiday blockbuster read, it's great!
The history behind these times is well-known and the Cousins' War is a popular period in history currently, therefore Iggulden is tapping into a demand already there. I have not read any of his previous books as I felt they were tailored to a different audience but I decided to try this one solely due to the period. To be honest I was pleasantly surprised - it's not high literature but it is a really enjoyable read. The narrative is pacy, it jumps between different characters (so real, some imagined), it's honest to historical fact and the battle scenes are well written. For a holiday blockbuster read, it's great!