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duchessofreadin's reviews
2462 reviews
Devil's Brood by Sharon Kay Penman
4.0
Once again, there was no disappointment in this read! I found myself drawn into the charismatic nature of Eleanor of Aquitaine, and felt as though I were moving through the pages with them. Henry could not have ever seen what his choices were doing to his sons. By refusing to give them as much freedom as he had enjoyed in his younger years, they started seething with anger, and that anger finally spilled over into rebellion. These rebellions were played out again and again, as each son sought to get what he considered rightfully his. Henry did nothing though to help their rebellious spirit, by making one empty promise after another. In the end it cost him all his sons, as they all deserted him, two in death, and the remaining two, Richard and John, once again in rebellion. Eleanor had at first approved and even helped with their rebellion, spending the last sixteen years of her marriage in confinement, as Henry had swore to her that he could never trust her again. Although their trust never reestablished, they came together to mourn their two sons, dead before their time, and also other passing family members. But they also came together to try and reunite their family, to put to bed once and for all the rebellions, but Henry was never happy if he was not in control, and his double dealing with his sons, cost him that lasting peace.
I was so drawn into this story that I could not put the book down! It was like being caught between living in the past and the present. I found myself wondering more and more what these forces must have been at the time it was being played out!
I was so drawn into this story that I could not put the book down! It was like being caught between living in the past and the present. I found myself wondering more and more what these forces must have been at the time it was being played out!
Virgin Widow by Anne O'Brien
4.0
She was a wealthy heiress, in love with the friend from her childhood. The love story between Anne Neville and Richard Plantagenet always makes the reader feel as though they are living through the story themselves, and trying to envision the places and people that weave through this story.
When her father, the Earl of Warwick, declared war on the King of England, everything changed overnight. They were forced to leave their home in England and try to find refuge elsewhere. Anne Neville mourned the loss of her love and the bright future that she had envisioned. Now she could only dream about what could have been.
As their journey continues and the Neville family seeks refuge among the French court, hoping for enough support to go back and finish the war in England. The Earl of Warwick, is determined to get what he wants at all costs, including his daughter's happiness. Anne finds herself betrothed to the Lancastrian Prince, Edward, on who all hopes are pinned as he is the heir of the former King of England. Thrust into a marriage she detests, Anne does what she can to keep her courage and strength as they wait for news of the war in England. When the news finally arrives it is not good. The Earl of Warwick was killed in battle, and the Duke of Clarence deserted the Earl back to his brother's side, leaving the Lancastrian force weakened. Throughout it all, Anne can only think of Richard and what he must be going through and whether or not he still loves her. After the final defeat of the Lancastrians and the death of Edward, Anne contemplates the future. Now a widow, she goes to live with her sister and the Duke of Clarence. After a forced servitude where Clarence was determined to keep her from Richard in order to keep the entire Neville inheritance, she is rescued, and once again finds herself back with her true love.
Their story is a true Cinderella experience. It has everything from love and war, to death and rebuilding. The strength of these characters lend a different take to the man that most have dubbed the most evil man in England. Anne and Richard deserved their happiness, however brief their happiness was. I loved this read, and think others will too.
When her father, the Earl of Warwick, declared war on the King of England, everything changed overnight. They were forced to leave their home in England and try to find refuge elsewhere. Anne Neville mourned the loss of her love and the bright future that she had envisioned. Now she could only dream about what could have been.
As their journey continues and the Neville family seeks refuge among the French court, hoping for enough support to go back and finish the war in England. The Earl of Warwick, is determined to get what he wants at all costs, including his daughter's happiness. Anne finds herself betrothed to the Lancastrian Prince, Edward, on who all hopes are pinned as he is the heir of the former King of England. Thrust into a marriage she detests, Anne does what she can to keep her courage and strength as they wait for news of the war in England. When the news finally arrives it is not good. The Earl of Warwick was killed in battle, and the Duke of Clarence deserted the Earl back to his brother's side, leaving the Lancastrian force weakened. Throughout it all, Anne can only think of Richard and what he must be going through and whether or not he still loves her. After the final defeat of the Lancastrians and the death of Edward, Anne contemplates the future. Now a widow, she goes to live with her sister and the Duke of Clarence. After a forced servitude where Clarence was determined to keep her from Richard in order to keep the entire Neville inheritance, she is rescued, and once again finds herself back with her true love.
Their story is a true Cinderella experience. It has everything from love and war, to death and rebuilding. The strength of these characters lend a different take to the man that most have dubbed the most evil man in England. Anne and Richard deserved their happiness, however brief their happiness was. I loved this read, and think others will too.
Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II by Paul Doherty
4.0
Paul Doherty goes deep within the medieval world, and comes up with a new theory of the death of Edaward II. Doherty digs into the royal family and dirty secrets that the monarchy would have rather kept hidden..
Isabella, the French princess that was supposed to bring peace, instead she was jealous and was determined to see anyone who vied with her position with her husband brought down. Edward II was a strange king. He preferred to not have to govern to much, delegating as much as he could to those around him, which earned him the disrespect of his barons and lords. They wanted a strong king, one that would expand their holding, instead they got a weak king, governed by his favorites to the detriment of everyone else around him.
Hugh de Spenser was by far the worst thing that could have happened to the King. He was greedy, looking to expand his power and prestige by any means necessary. De Spenser and Edward did more to poison the queen and most of the country against them than they might have realized at the time,although most kings operated under the assumption of divine right, therefore they could do no wrong.
Queen Isabella went to France looking for help in reclaiming her husband. Instead she found Roger Mortimer, and fell in love. She then brought her lover and an army to England, in order to regain control. She wanted it all. In many ways she wasnt any different than De Spenser, although she used the country against the King, at first having a reason to invade, then sweeping in and claiming all that she wanted. After Edward and De Spenser were captured, Edward III came to the throne, of course being ruled by his mother and Mortimer. They were hoping that they could control the king for as long as they wanted, but the underestimated the desire of the teen to be his own person, and rule his own kingdom as he saw fit. After several years of chaffing under his mothers thumb, he quietly gathered his support and captured both the queen and her lover. Mortimer was executed after a short imprisonment, while the queen was sent quietly from court for a while, then regained her place as the queen mother. Edward III held his mother in high regard, either refusing to believe or actually thinking that his other was completely ruled by Mortimer and had no thoughts of treason on her own.
The death of Edward II has long raised speculation, as it has been completely shrouded in mystery for hundreds of years. Doherty does a great job of fleshing out the mystery and adding his own theory to the mix. I enjoy a historian who is not afraid to look outside the box and not take the "accepted" view of history. As he looks into the death he finds several pieces of evidence that do support Edward II having escaped somehow from Berkeley Castle, and living out his life elsewhere, although we do not know what happened after he escaped. The accepted view is that Edward II was quietly murdered at Berkeley, and then quietly covered up so that many questions would not be asked, and allow the country to move on into a new rule. There are questions however as to how Edward could have escaped from his prison. One theory that Doherty does not bring up, and may not have considered is that, Edward's servant knowing he was about to be murdered, helped his master to escape, but how?? If Mortimer and the queen sent men to murder the king, they would have wanted as few people as possible to be in the area at the time. By putting the rumor about that men were trying to help the king to escape, it could have drawn out the majority of the men who were stationed at the castle, and giving more secrecy to the men that were sent to kill the king. Instead it would have given the King the perfect opportunity to escape unnoticed. But how did it happen? We will probably never really know how or what happened.
I loved this book! It was a great read, well documented and researched, with some interesting new theories thrown into the mix! Anyone who wants to think about the what if's of history, this is a good one to read!
Isabella, the French princess that was supposed to bring peace, instead she was jealous and was determined to see anyone who vied with her position with her husband brought down. Edward II was a strange king. He preferred to not have to govern to much, delegating as much as he could to those around him, which earned him the disrespect of his barons and lords. They wanted a strong king, one that would expand their holding, instead they got a weak king, governed by his favorites to the detriment of everyone else around him.
Hugh de Spenser was by far the worst thing that could have happened to the King. He was greedy, looking to expand his power and prestige by any means necessary. De Spenser and Edward did more to poison the queen and most of the country against them than they might have realized at the time,although most kings operated under the assumption of divine right, therefore they could do no wrong.
Queen Isabella went to France looking for help in reclaiming her husband. Instead she found Roger Mortimer, and fell in love. She then brought her lover and an army to England, in order to regain control. She wanted it all. In many ways she wasnt any different than De Spenser, although she used the country against the King, at first having a reason to invade, then sweeping in and claiming all that she wanted. After Edward and De Spenser were captured, Edward III came to the throne, of course being ruled by his mother and Mortimer. They were hoping that they could control the king for as long as they wanted, but the underestimated the desire of the teen to be his own person, and rule his own kingdom as he saw fit. After several years of chaffing under his mothers thumb, he quietly gathered his support and captured both the queen and her lover. Mortimer was executed after a short imprisonment, while the queen was sent quietly from court for a while, then regained her place as the queen mother. Edward III held his mother in high regard, either refusing to believe or actually thinking that his other was completely ruled by Mortimer and had no thoughts of treason on her own.
The death of Edward II has long raised speculation, as it has been completely shrouded in mystery for hundreds of years. Doherty does a great job of fleshing out the mystery and adding his own theory to the mix. I enjoy a historian who is not afraid to look outside the box and not take the "accepted" view of history. As he looks into the death he finds several pieces of evidence that do support Edward II having escaped somehow from Berkeley Castle, and living out his life elsewhere, although we do not know what happened after he escaped. The accepted view is that Edward II was quietly murdered at Berkeley, and then quietly covered up so that many questions would not be asked, and allow the country to move on into a new rule. There are questions however as to how Edward could have escaped from his prison. One theory that Doherty does not bring up, and may not have considered is that, Edward's servant knowing he was about to be murdered, helped his master to escape, but how?? If Mortimer and the queen sent men to murder the king, they would have wanted as few people as possible to be in the area at the time. By putting the rumor about that men were trying to help the king to escape, it could have drawn out the majority of the men who were stationed at the castle, and giving more secrecy to the men that were sent to kill the king. Instead it would have given the King the perfect opportunity to escape unnoticed. But how did it happen? We will probably never really know how or what happened.
I loved this book! It was a great read, well documented and researched, with some interesting new theories thrown into the mix! Anyone who wants to think about the what if's of history, this is a good one to read!
The White Princess by Philippa Gregory
4.0
Philippa Gregory grips you in a new historical thriller, this time with Elizabeth of York as the main character. Her life was one of fairy tales, until her father died, they claimed sanctuary, her brothers disappeared, and her Uncle Richard killed at the battle of Bosworth. Having promised to marry her if he wins, Henry Tudor comes to England to challenge Richard III to the crown of England. Because of a traitors choice, Richard is killed during the battle, and Henry Tudor becomes King Henry VII.
Throughout her married life to the Tudor King, Elizabeth is faced with the threats of new warfare, many of her mothers dealings with trying to get a York heir back on the throne. But everyone knows that both the princes of York disappeared from the Tower and are presumed dead... but are they both?
Elizabeth hides a secret from her husband, a secret so explosive that if she was to tell, he would never trust her again. Her brother Richard never went into the tower, it was a decoy boy, so that one of the York heirs might get away. As new claimants come forward, each one is dealt with, but there is one that everyone seems to embrace, and that seems to have a better claim than Henry Tudor. Is he Richard, her long lost brother, or another pretender so throughoughly seeped in their family history that he can fool every monarch in Christendom. As Elizabeth ponders these thoughts, she is surprised at how much she fears for her husband and at the same time for her brother. Is is possible to love both and hope for the best outcome??
Her life at the Tudor court is overshadowed by his overbearing mother, Margaret Stanley, who fancies herself one of the greatest ladies in the land. She and she alone is the confidant of her son, to the exclusion of his wife, and the one person who could really guide him through the life of being a King, and how to win the hearts of his people. Instead he becomes a king so overshadowed by fear that he trusts no one, and fears everyone. Poor Elizabeth is left in the shadows, to bear children and be the face of the last remaining York.
The story of Elizabeth is truly tragic. If Henry has utilized her as he should have, she would have made a fantastic queen. A queen that truly could unite the Lancaster and York houses together and let die the flames from the cousins war. Instead she is so shrouded in mystery that one has to wonder how she managed to last at the court as long as she did before she succumbed to fever after giving birth. Her life was one that should have been paved in gold before her, instead she was challenged every day by his mother who felt that she herself should have the first lady in the kingdom and come after no one. Lady Margaret was one who would do anything to advance her son, and let nobody or nothing stand in her way. She was a major force who commanded how everything at court should run, from the birthing of babies to the smallest ritual performed by servants. She wanted the best and felt she deserved it. Elizabeth was left to forge her own way and try and raise her children the best way she could in the face of such a domineering woman. If she had the power her mother had had, the world would have known an exceptionally amazing woman. I enjoyed this book, and felt as though she had some new life breathed back into her, and the tragic story of her family. One does have to wonder though.. what would have happened if Richard hadn't lost at the battle of Bosworth?? The turn in history would have been interesting indeed.
Throughout her married life to the Tudor King, Elizabeth is faced with the threats of new warfare, many of her mothers dealings with trying to get a York heir back on the throne. But everyone knows that both the princes of York disappeared from the Tower and are presumed dead... but are they both?
Elizabeth hides a secret from her husband, a secret so explosive that if she was to tell, he would never trust her again. Her brother Richard never went into the tower, it was a decoy boy, so that one of the York heirs might get away. As new claimants come forward, each one is dealt with, but there is one that everyone seems to embrace, and that seems to have a better claim than Henry Tudor. Is he Richard, her long lost brother, or another pretender so throughoughly seeped in their family history that he can fool every monarch in Christendom. As Elizabeth ponders these thoughts, she is surprised at how much she fears for her husband and at the same time for her brother. Is is possible to love both and hope for the best outcome??
Her life at the Tudor court is overshadowed by his overbearing mother, Margaret Stanley, who fancies herself one of the greatest ladies in the land. She and she alone is the confidant of her son, to the exclusion of his wife, and the one person who could really guide him through the life of being a King, and how to win the hearts of his people. Instead he becomes a king so overshadowed by fear that he trusts no one, and fears everyone. Poor Elizabeth is left in the shadows, to bear children and be the face of the last remaining York.
The story of Elizabeth is truly tragic. If Henry has utilized her as he should have, she would have made a fantastic queen. A queen that truly could unite the Lancaster and York houses together and let die the flames from the cousins war. Instead she is so shrouded in mystery that one has to wonder how she managed to last at the court as long as she did before she succumbed to fever after giving birth. Her life was one that should have been paved in gold before her, instead she was challenged every day by his mother who felt that she herself should have the first lady in the kingdom and come after no one. Lady Margaret was one who would do anything to advance her son, and let nobody or nothing stand in her way. She was a major force who commanded how everything at court should run, from the birthing of babies to the smallest ritual performed by servants. She wanted the best and felt she deserved it. Elizabeth was left to forge her own way and try and raise her children the best way she could in the face of such a domineering woman. If she had the power her mother had had, the world would have known an exceptionally amazing woman. I enjoyed this book, and felt as though she had some new life breathed back into her, and the tragic story of her family. One does have to wonder though.. what would have happened if Richard hadn't lost at the battle of Bosworth?? The turn in history would have been interesting indeed.
Anne Neville: Richard III's Tragic Queen by Amy Licence
3.0
I started this book with the hope that she might have been able to rekindle the investigation into the life of Anne Neville. I was sorely disappointed with this book, because it seemed to focus more on Richard III (of whom I am a fan, but was looking forward to reading about his wife for a change), and she has condemned him in her book. She implies his guilt more than once throughout the book, and while she does not come out and say it, she more than indicates that she believes he is guilty of numerous things. The information she gives on Anne Neville is nothing new, in fact it reads quite a bit like Sharon Kay Penman and Philippa Gregory's works. I read through the entire book, hoping that it would get better, and provide some fresh insight into her life. Chapter by Chapter I was disappointed. It took me longer to read this book than it did the last three books I read through. Instead of titling this work Anne Neville: Richard III's Tragic Queen, it should be called "The Trials of Richard III: Rhe Plantagenet's history from Richard of York to the death of his son Richard III."