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Red Rose, White Rose
The powerful story of Cecily Neville, torn between both sides in the War of the Roses. Perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory.
Richard, the thirteen-year-old Duke of York, England’s richest heir.
Told through the eyes of Cicely and her half-brother Cuthbert, Red Rose, White Rose is the story of one of the most powerful women in England during one of its most turbulent periods. Born of Lancaster and married to York, the willowy and wayward Cicely treads a hazardous path through love, loss and imprisonment and between the violent factions of Lancaster and York, as the Wars of the Roses tear England’s ruling families apart.
So nearly queen herself, Cicely Neville was the mother, grandmother and great-grandmother of kings – and her descendants still wear the crown.
Richard, the thirteen-year-old Duke of York, England’s richest heir.
Told through the eyes of Cicely and her half-brother Cuthbert, Red Rose, White Rose is the story of one of the most powerful women in England during one of its most turbulent periods. Born of Lancaster and married to York, the willowy and wayward Cicely treads a hazardous path through love, loss and imprisonment and between the violent factions of Lancaster and York, as the Wars of the Roses tear England’s ruling families apart.
So nearly queen herself, Cicely Neville was the mother, grandmother and great-grandmother of kings – and her descendants still wear the crown.
400 pages, Paperback
First published December 4, 2014
119 people are currently reading
2000 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Hickson
12 books317 followersJoanna Hickson became fascinated with history when she studied Shakespeare's history plays at school. However, having taken a degree in Politics and English she took up a career in broadcast journalism with the BBC, presenting and producing news, current affairs and arts programmes on both television and radio. Now she writes full time and has a contract with Harper Collins for three historical novels. The Agincourt Bride is the first. She lives in Scotland in a 200 year old farmhouse and is married with a large extended family and a wayward Irish terrier.
Joanna likes people to join her on Twitter (@joannahickson) or Facebook (Joanna Hickson)and says if you can't find her she'll be in the fifteenth century!
Joanna likes people to join her on Twitter (@joannahickson) or Facebook (Joanna Hickson)and says if you can't find her she'll be in the fifteenth century!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
July 6, 2019
I enjoyed the beginning but lost interest about halfway through the book. I guess the different viewpoints weren’t that different and I would lose track of who was narrating.
November 1, 2016
I hesitate to acknowledge this as biographical fiction, which it is meant to be, as it is largely fantasy and far-fetched fantasy at that. However, the period of Edward VI reign isn't so much covered in HF (until a recent crop of novels as yet to be read by moi) so it was worth a look. Ms Hickson is a good writer and tells a very readable story but it is not recognizable as the history except as to dates and sequence of action. I would not recommend this to anyone who reads HF as a history buff but it will be great if you like a HF romance.
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October 17, 2025Rating: 3 Stars
Red Rose, White Rose is a historical fiction story based on Cecily Neville, the wife of Richard Plantagenet of York and mother of Edward IV and Richard III. Plantagenet history is a topic that I'm hugely passionate about, and any books, movies or TV shows about this period I'm sure to love.
Some of my favourite books about the Plantagenets are written by Philippa Gregory - namely The Cousins War series. Where Gregory excels is in bringing the Plantagenet era to life - her writing is stunning, her characters believable and the history weaved into the fiction so naturally.
My problem with Red Rose, White Rose was in the fiction element. First, let me say that the historical details were brilliant - I felt like I learnt a lot from reading this, which is always a good feeling!
The narrative is split between two first person perspectives - Cecily and her half-brother, Cuthbert. I was, unfortunately, in two minds over whether this worked or not. A lot of the action (and historical events) happened in Cecily's chapters and there were times where I felt like Cuthbert's chapters weren't really necessary.
However, his chapters introduced us to some of the lesser-known figures during that time. I knew about Cecily Neville and Richard Neville (The Earl of Warwick, who features in Gregory's The Cousins War series a lot) but the rest of the Neville family were unknown to me. The copious amounts of detail surrounding the Neville family and the family split were often quite hard to process at times, and I often had to do a quick Google search into the Neville family tree - but once I 'got it', I felt like I enjoyed the novel a lot more.
What I couldn't quite get to grips with, unfortunately, was the characterisation and the writing. There were times where I often felt as if I wasn't immersed in the plot and this effected my motivation to finish it. However, I did love the fact that it introduced me to events and historical figures that I wasn't already aware of. An enjoyable historical read, but perhaps not one for those who aren't familiar already with the Plantagenet's history.
Thanks to HarperCollins for providing this eARC via NetGalley.
Red Rose, White Rose is a historical fiction story based on Cecily Neville, the wife of Richard Plantagenet of York and mother of Edward IV and Richard III. Plantagenet history is a topic that I'm hugely passionate about, and any books, movies or TV shows about this period I'm sure to love.
Some of my favourite books about the Plantagenets are written by Philippa Gregory - namely The Cousins War series. Where Gregory excels is in bringing the Plantagenet era to life - her writing is stunning, her characters believable and the history weaved into the fiction so naturally.
My problem with Red Rose, White Rose was in the fiction element. First, let me say that the historical details were brilliant - I felt like I learnt a lot from reading this, which is always a good feeling!
The narrative is split between two first person perspectives - Cecily and her half-brother, Cuthbert. I was, unfortunately, in two minds over whether this worked or not. A lot of the action (and historical events) happened in Cecily's chapters and there were times where I felt like Cuthbert's chapters weren't really necessary.
However, his chapters introduced us to some of the lesser-known figures during that time. I knew about Cecily Neville and Richard Neville (The Earl of Warwick, who features in Gregory's The Cousins War series a lot) but the rest of the Neville family were unknown to me. The copious amounts of detail surrounding the Neville family and the family split were often quite hard to process at times, and I often had to do a quick Google search into the Neville family tree - but once I 'got it', I felt like I enjoyed the novel a lot more.
What I couldn't quite get to grips with, unfortunately, was the characterisation and the writing. There were times where I often felt as if I wasn't immersed in the plot and this effected my motivation to finish it. However, I did love the fact that it introduced me to events and historical figures that I wasn't already aware of. An enjoyable historical read, but perhaps not one for those who aren't familiar already with the Plantagenet's history.
Thanks to HarperCollins for providing this eARC via NetGalley.
November 19, 2015
I was disappointed to find out this is a standalone novel, which I think says a lot how much the book engaged me, as I wanted to see Hickson continue on with her take on the life of Cecily Neville.
There’s a lot of info dump in the opening chapters as we get three centuries worth of family trees, which is a bit much… but I suddenly Got It as to why people cared so about family lines. As the man said, ‘It’s the economy, stupid.’
It wasn’t about bragging rights or having the prettiest prancing pony shield or any question of honor – it was about jobs. This was the system that allowed people to be employed. For most people, inheritance today is about which relative is stuck with Great Aunt Temperance’s bad tempered Pomeranian. But for people then, bloodlines, marriages, deaths and wills were all vital parts of a successful career.
I think if my next promotion depended on who my great-great grandfather was, I’d take them time to memorize my family tree too. (Side note: No idea other than the vaguest of parameters who those men where. One or two were Russian? Or maybe Latvian? Maybe?)
And she also shows how those same bloodlines made the top tiers very small and very awkwardly close. This became a war where a brother and sister ended up on opposite sides, your aunt could be your “hostess” while being held hostage in a castle, a nephew could be on the other side of the battlefield; this was much more a “brother against brother” war than what people go on about with the American Civil War.
Hickson takes Lady Cecily Neville, Proud Cis, Rose of Raby, Duchess of York, and strips back all the pride and airs to get at the human side of Cecily, to show what’s beneath the ice she’s usually portrayed to be carved out of. Here she breaks out of her colored glass portrait and becomes fully three dimensional, flawed, loving, hating, and real.
Bonus – the mitochondrial DNA used to identify the “body in the car park” gets a shout out as Cicely has a brief wish / vison of her daughter having a daughter having a daughter, etc.
November 30, 2014
3.5 stars. Another very good histfic read from Joanna Hickson. She has a very engaging and present writing style without making the subject matter anachronistic. This book felt a little long though, and I didn't enjoy it as much as I did The Agincourt Bride, but maybe that's because "Proud Cis'" character was, by nature, a bit cold. I did however really enjoy the other POV character, Cecily's illegitimate half-brother Cuthburt, and was surprised to read at the end that he was a complete fabrication.
Joanna Hickson is fast becoming an autobuy author for historical fiction (where I am notoriously hard to please); can't wait for her next.
Joanna Hickson is fast becoming an autobuy author for historical fiction (where I am notoriously hard to please); can't wait for her next.
May 11, 2015
Did not like this book. Too much whining, too boring to be even remotely interesting, prattling main character, just the last two pages had a whiff of emotional flair. "Oooh, I'm so faithful and so loyal and beautiful, but in secret I always think of the man who kidnapped me, and took my virginity as well, and I think my husband is a bore most of the time, while my kids die off as infants most of the time". *Yawn* This book became more a duty to read through, than a joy.
June 17, 2024
I really wanted to like this.. I was not keen on the portrayal of Duchess Cecily in this, I found her to be rather cold and reckless. Though there were bits I did enjoy, I liked the way Joanna described what was happening around them and the settings each of the characters were in. Other than that, the characters I felt were not well rounded. I found the addition of Cuthbert to be rather bland, I found he irritated me just a little bit.
November 18, 2014
A beautifully written historical novel about the War of the Roses. Joanna Hickson presents this novel crammed packed full of historical facts, from events, people and places. I always think that reading historical novels, written accurately is the most enjoyable way of learning. Maybe high schools should encourage pupils to read this way and then discuss what they have learnt in class?
The book is both interesting and entertaining, showing the strength and politic mannerisms of historical figures during that time. I often think about what it must have been like to live in the 15th Century with the tentative relationships between families stretching loyalties, and risking displeasure of others. Especially when loyalty to the King who was weak could be seen as disloyal to your own family and the risk of that could mean being killed as a traitor.
I loved the women characters, especially Cicely who matures from a child into an influential woman of her time. There is a great feel to the way each of the characters are portrayed in a way to give an authentic feel to what I was reading.
The bits that did not work for me:
I must admit I was unable to finish this book because for me personally, there was such a lot of information that I couldn’t manage to hold it all in my head. Not only does Hickson give copious amounts of accurate details she also includes minor information such as pet names for each person which totally confused me. Because I was struggling to remember it all I lost the excitement of story. Having said that I am sure that most people wouldn't have the same problem.
Would I recommend this book: Yes definitely, it is well worth the read.
Many thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review
The book is both interesting and entertaining, showing the strength and politic mannerisms of historical figures during that time. I often think about what it must have been like to live in the 15th Century with the tentative relationships between families stretching loyalties, and risking displeasure of others. Especially when loyalty to the King who was weak could be seen as disloyal to your own family and the risk of that could mean being killed as a traitor.
I loved the women characters, especially Cicely who matures from a child into an influential woman of her time. There is a great feel to the way each of the characters are portrayed in a way to give an authentic feel to what I was reading.
The bits that did not work for me:
I must admit I was unable to finish this book because for me personally, there was such a lot of information that I couldn’t manage to hold it all in my head. Not only does Hickson give copious amounts of accurate details she also includes minor information such as pet names for each person which totally confused me. Because I was struggling to remember it all I lost the excitement of story. Having said that I am sure that most people wouldn't have the same problem.
Would I recommend this book: Yes definitely, it is well worth the read.
Many thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review
July 8, 2021
The 15th century Wars of the Roses (or The Cousins' War as it was known at the time) is rich fodder for historical fiction. It can be quite confusing for the reader since the men are inevitably named Richard or Edward or John and the women are always Mary, Anne or Elizabeth. Nevilles, Beauchamps, and Beauforts abound and Dukes of Somerset and Suffolk are constantly replaced by sons when their fathers are killed in battle. Whew! Out of all this violence and chaos Cicily Neville, Duchess of York stands out as one of the most consequential females of the late Middle Ages. Married to Richard, Duke of York, an aspirant to the English Throne and mother to two English kings and grandmother to an English queen, she survived the birth of thirteen children and lived to the astonishing age (at the time) of eighty. While The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman will always remain my favorite historical fiction for this time period, Hickson's book deserves a place on my bulging shelf of English history books. The book is narrated in turns by Cicily and her fictional bastard half-brother Cuthbert , a brave knight dedicated to protecting his sister. Cuthbert is an appealing character included, according to the author, so she can portray battle scenes which Cicily would not be privy to. Hickson throws in some totally fictional, but romantic scenes between Cicily and one of the numerous John Nevilles. In truth, Cicily was a strong, proud member of the nobility and held her own in a brutal and violent age. Hickson tells her story well. I would also recommend Cecily Neville, Mother of Kings by Sarah Gristwood for a nonfiction counterpoint to Red Rose, White Rose.
November 18, 2025
"Red Rose, White Rose" is not an historical novel, it takes too many liberties to be an historical novel: why bother to pick up historical figures if you won't respect facts about them. It's enough to say that the first 100 pages of the novel were dedicated to a rather boring and fictional episode of kidnapping, when Cecily (purposely of the wrong age) is abducted and . I suppose the author confession that she did not (rightly) believe that Cecily would cheat on her husband with a common archer, left her bereft of a prurient scandal no one else felt the need to have. Besides I didn't understand the purpose of having a second narrator in Cuthberth Neville (made here illegitimate for no reason), who made not an interesting read, so much that I basically skipped all of his chapters. But, my fault, I should have foreseen all of this when, in the prequel, we are told that the red rose was a Lancastrian symbol and the white was York, and blah blah blah, in a rather fashioned manner. And on top of all this... Richard III as a crippled, sickly child. Not my cuppa.
May 2, 2025
Firstly, I super appreciate in Joanna Hickson in that she can write from both sides of the War or Roses unbiasedly. Historic fiction takes its liberties of course however she does not shy away from the wrong done on one side or the other no matter which side's POV she is writing from.
I enjoyed this book. After reading about Mary Queen of Scot's mother, it's nice to read about other mothers of monarchs who weren't born as monarchs. I hope there is a part 2. It ended with her son being crowned, I'd love to see a historic fiction about her life as Mother to the King. There was a lot of controversy with her son's choice in Queen so I'd love to see Joanna write that POV.
I enjoyed this book. After reading about Mary Queen of Scot's mother, it's nice to read about other mothers of monarchs who weren't born as monarchs. I hope there is a part 2. It ended with her son being crowned, I'd love to see a historic fiction about her life as Mother to the King. There was a lot of controversy with her son's choice in Queen so I'd love to see Joanna write that POV.
July 17, 2019
It was an interesting book one that was enjoyable however - it wasn't my favourite on the subject. It was interesting to learn more about Cecily as not much is known about her however - I was dismayed at the end to find out that 'Cuthbert' had died young - hilda was fake and that also her romance with John Neville was faked - even though it is a fictionous story I would rather it have a little more truth than not.
July 29, 2017
Oh did I struggle with this one. I finished it because there are few novels about Cecily/Cicely Neville, and I was eager to read one. But there were too many circumstances in this novel that I found improbable or irritating. Since it was an arranged match, I can see Cicely not being completely in love with Richard. But to have her pining away over a period of 20 years over her nephew (even if he is older) who kidnapped her and then wanted to use her for ransom does not seem like a likely reaction from "Proud Cis." I almost gave up the novel altogether when they committed adultery, but at least the whole "Edward IV was really a bastard" plotline isn't used here; it seems to be a new trend for historical fiction of this time period, and it's already becoming tired.
As for Cuthbert, I can see the reasoning to include a male character that would be present at battles. But Cuthbert of Middleham is just a little too good to be true- rather like William Marshall in Elizabeth Chadwick's novels. I was irritated by him because no one is really that perfect all the time. Cicely at times is cold and not likable, but it did fit with her personality so it was acceptable. And why did the spelling of "Edmund" switch back and forth so many times during the novel? In one paragraph it went from "Edmund" to "Edmond" four times, talking of the same person! I think a little more editing may have been in order.
I enjoyed the novels on Catherine de Valois, but I'd advise skipping this one. Maybe First of the Tudors will be better.
As for Cuthbert, I can see the reasoning to include a male character that would be present at battles. But Cuthbert of Middleham is just a little too good to be true- rather like William Marshall in Elizabeth Chadwick's novels. I was irritated by him because no one is really that perfect all the time. Cicely at times is cold and not likable, but it did fit with her personality so it was acceptable. And why did the spelling of "Edmund" switch back and forth so many times during the novel? In one paragraph it went from "Edmund" to "Edmond" four times, talking of the same person! I think a little more editing may have been in order.
I enjoyed the novels on Catherine de Valois, but I'd advise skipping this one. Maybe First of the Tudors will be better.
December 5, 2017
A very good read , with some interesting characters. I liked seeing how the young Margaret wanted to be queen & was the queen mother later in life to Henry VII and grandmother to Henry VIII. Such wonderful ambition.
August 17, 2018
I must admit, I enjoyed this read. I've always been interested in Cecily Neville and though this is fiction, it's nice to read a story where she's the main character. I also loved her half brother, Cuddy! What a man. This is a great book for those of us who can't get enough of Wars of the Roses material.
4.5
4.5
June 22, 2015
This was actually quite an interesting read. Due to the fact that I really find great enjoyment in history I enjoy it even more when it is mixed with a little fiction. What Ms. Hickson has done here is to bring to life a very powerful (and to me little known character) from the War of the Roses – Cecily Neville. Cecily was a young nine year old girl betrothed to her fathers ward, thirteen year old Richard. And even before the marriage took place, her waywardness got her into quite a fix, which as it turned out remained a secret between she and her champion Cuddy.
The story is told through the eyes of Cicely and her half-brother and loyal champion Cuthbert aka Cuddy. RED ROSE, WHITE ROSE tells the story of one of the more powerful women in England during a very turbulent time. Betrayals were rampant and for Cicely, born of a Lancaster and married to a York, her path was hazardous at best. Through births, miscarriages, loves, loss and even imprisonment it was Cicely led a very perilous life.
What struck me most was that Cicely seemed so strong. Before her marriage, she had been abducted by a different faction of the Neville family that despised Cicely’s mother who was portrayed as a greedy selfish termagant. The way is was told was that her mother had been granted property that by rights should have been kept in the Neville family, because of her mother’s manipulation of Cicely’s father. As a result, this rift caused a huge chasm between the family and undue unrest within the Neville heirs splitting loyalties from the houses of red and white roses.
Told from both Cecily and Cuddy’s POV, I found it interesting that they remained so close considering that he was illegitimate; however Cuddy’s devotion to Cecily was unrivaled, even when it went against his nature to side with the York faction over one thing or another. What must be noted though is that even at 550 plus pages, the action and the story was hard to put down, due to extraordinary writing and research on the part of author Joanna Hickson. And for lovers of historical moments, with a tad of poetic license thrown in - this just might be your cup of tea! Totally enjoyable read.
Marilyn Rondeau
The story is told through the eyes of Cicely and her half-brother and loyal champion Cuthbert aka Cuddy. RED ROSE, WHITE ROSE tells the story of one of the more powerful women in England during a very turbulent time. Betrayals were rampant and for Cicely, born of a Lancaster and married to a York, her path was hazardous at best. Through births, miscarriages, loves, loss and even imprisonment it was Cicely led a very perilous life.
What struck me most was that Cicely seemed so strong. Before her marriage, she had been abducted by a different faction of the Neville family that despised Cicely’s mother who was portrayed as a greedy selfish termagant. The way is was told was that her mother had been granted property that by rights should have been kept in the Neville family, because of her mother’s manipulation of Cicely’s father. As a result, this rift caused a huge chasm between the family and undue unrest within the Neville heirs splitting loyalties from the houses of red and white roses.
Told from both Cecily and Cuddy’s POV, I found it interesting that they remained so close considering that he was illegitimate; however Cuddy’s devotion to Cecily was unrivaled, even when it went against his nature to side with the York faction over one thing or another. What must be noted though is that even at 550 plus pages, the action and the story was hard to put down, due to extraordinary writing and research on the part of author Joanna Hickson. And for lovers of historical moments, with a tad of poetic license thrown in - this just might be your cup of tea! Totally enjoyable read.
Marilyn Rondeau
August 13, 2017
“The sound of the key turning evoked vivid memories of my detention in Brancepeth Castle and the grim realization that I had been imprisoned three times in my life and each time it had been at the hands of a member of my own family.”
And you thought your family was crazy.
Fortunately for us, Joanna Hickson’s novel is a reminder that things could be so much worse, especially if you are Duchess Cecily. “Red Rose, White Rose” focusses on what seems like the endless war between the Red Roses of Lancaster and the White Roses of York, aka the Wars of the Roses, through the eyes of Cecily, mother of whom would eventually become Edward IV.
The Neville family was both a big and complicated family – Cecily was the youngest of up to twenty-two children (and they were just the legitimate ones). The story is also narrated by her half-brother and focusses on her youth and the complicated friction in the Neville family. She even has a fling with one of her cousins (the author points out, however, that this never happened in real life).
One thing that becomes clear as the story goes on is that this war was a family feud that had got a bit out of hand and had eventually involved a whole country. In this great family, there were rivalries over properties and relations broke down between Cecily’s husband, the Duke of York and King Henry VI. Subsequently, a terrible cycle of revenge and violence persisted and sadly resulted in four deaths in Cecily’s direct family.
“Anne had turned against us at St. Albans and there was no telling how much she might hate us now; I was horribly conscious of the fact that the worst enemies were often relatives.”
This is definitely the message of the novel. War, particularly in a family, was not a glorious thing at all. It was bloody and senseless. The story is a reminder of the futility of war. Along with other events, it is yet another warning from history and this book was very good at conveying that serious message.
And you thought your family was crazy.
Fortunately for us, Joanna Hickson’s novel is a reminder that things could be so much worse, especially if you are Duchess Cecily. “Red Rose, White Rose” focusses on what seems like the endless war between the Red Roses of Lancaster and the White Roses of York, aka the Wars of the Roses, through the eyes of Cecily, mother of whom would eventually become Edward IV.
The Neville family was both a big and complicated family – Cecily was the youngest of up to twenty-two children (and they were just the legitimate ones). The story is also narrated by her half-brother and focusses on her youth and the complicated friction in the Neville family. She even has a fling with one of her cousins (the author points out, however, that this never happened in real life).
One thing that becomes clear as the story goes on is that this war was a family feud that had got a bit out of hand and had eventually involved a whole country. In this great family, there were rivalries over properties and relations broke down between Cecily’s husband, the Duke of York and King Henry VI. Subsequently, a terrible cycle of revenge and violence persisted and sadly resulted in four deaths in Cecily’s direct family.
“Anne had turned against us at St. Albans and there was no telling how much she might hate us now; I was horribly conscious of the fact that the worst enemies were often relatives.”
This is definitely the message of the novel. War, particularly in a family, was not a glorious thing at all. It was bloody and senseless. The story is a reminder of the futility of war. Along with other events, it is yet another warning from history and this book was very good at conveying that serious message.
October 6, 2016
While nice to see a different take on Cicely Neville than is normally seen, I didn't feel as if it did much beyond detail HOW the Yorks came to feeling they deserved the crown over all others.
There were several oddities in the timeline and references to children that could be explained by the spotty documentation of the time period and the unfortunate tradition that girl children were not as "mentionable" in record as boy children. I would have liked it to continue enough to see the "fictionalized" view of Cicely to what she is most known for... Her reaction to Elizabeth Woodville.
The book ends as Edward begins his official bid as king against Henry. Even a moment of epilogue on that would have made the book a 4 star for me.
Along with the previous mentioned wish, I would have liked to see her take the news of Clarence's death... Cecily outlived all of her children except Elizabeth (de la Pole) and Margaret (Burgundy). So she was alive to hear that her eldest drowned her next eldest and why. A good outing... But for me, lacking a few things that should have been pivotal points in understanding Cecily Neville.
There were several oddities in the timeline and references to children that could be explained by the spotty documentation of the time period and the unfortunate tradition that girl children were not as "mentionable" in record as boy children. I would have liked it to continue enough to see the "fictionalized" view of Cicely to what she is most known for... Her reaction to Elizabeth Woodville.
The book ends as Edward begins his official bid as king against Henry. Even a moment of epilogue on that would have made the book a 4 star for me.
Along with the previous mentioned wish, I would have liked to see her take the news of Clarence's death... Cecily outlived all of her children except Elizabeth (de la Pole) and Margaret (Burgundy). So she was alive to hear that her eldest drowned her next eldest and why. A good outing... But for me, lacking a few things that should have been pivotal points in understanding Cecily Neville.
July 14, 2016
Cecily Neville wordt als jong meisje 'de rode roos van Raby' genoemd. Ze wordt echter uitgehuwelijkt aan Richard, duke of York: de witte roos en volgens hem de enige echte erfgenaam van de Engelse troon. In het Engeland verscheurd door de Rozenoorlogen zal Cecily haar eigen rol gaan spelen....
"Fortune's wheel keeps on rising." De Rozenoorlogen is de ingewikkeldste periode uit de Engelse geschiedenis, waarin allianties voortdurend wisselen. Dit boek focust heel hard op het York en Neville gedeelte. Ik vond het heel verfrissend om wat meer over de Neville oorsprong te lezen.
Red Rose White Rose, is een goede mix van historische fictie en feiten. Er zijn ontzettend veel personages waardoor het soms wat droog kan lijken, maar mij stoorde het totaal niet. Ik hou van de diepgang die in dit boek zat. Ergens halverwege het boek had ik even mijn twijfels, maar enkele hoofdstukken later hadden Cecily en Cuthbert me toch weer in hun greep. Ik heb genoten.
Goed historisch boek over een periode waarin veel gebeurt. Zeer aangename schrijfstijl van Hickson.
"Fortune's wheel keeps on rising." De Rozenoorlogen is de ingewikkeldste periode uit de Engelse geschiedenis, waarin allianties voortdurend wisselen. Dit boek focust heel hard op het York en Neville gedeelte. Ik vond het heel verfrissend om wat meer over de Neville oorsprong te lezen.
Red Rose White Rose, is een goede mix van historische fictie en feiten. Er zijn ontzettend veel personages waardoor het soms wat droog kan lijken, maar mij stoorde het totaal niet. Ik hou van de diepgang die in dit boek zat. Ergens halverwege het boek had ik even mijn twijfels, maar enkele hoofdstukken later hadden Cecily en Cuthbert me toch weer in hun greep. Ik heb genoten.
Goed historisch boek over een periode waarin veel gebeurt. Zeer aangename schrijfstijl van Hickson.
May 15, 2017
I had to DNF at 70%, I just couldn't bring myself to finish this. I found the Cuthbert chapters hard work and Cicely a bit cold. While it was interesting to read from Ciecly of York's pov at first, a figure normally ignored in historical fiction, it started to lose my attention for pages at a time. There's a lot of info dumping and I lost track of who was who only a few pages in.
January 3, 2018
Entertaining retelling of the Wars of the Roses from the perspective of Cecily Neville, Duchess of York (mother of Edward IV), and her illegitimate brother, Sir Cuthbert. War, romance and politics (domestic and national) vie for dominance.
January 5, 2015
A workman like look at Cecily Neville, wife of the Duke of York and mother of Edward IV and Richard III. I can't really say much more because this was pretty much a two and a half star book.
January 5, 2015
Entertaining enough, but fairly sweeping and bloodless. I didn't really feel any sense of Cicely as a person.
October 4, 2019
An interesting look at the mother of two of England's kings and the webs of family and allegiances that wound around her and her family.
Joanna Hickson brings Cecily Neville (called Cicely in the novel), the mother of Edward IV and Richard III of England, to life in this novel covering the lady's married life up to her widowhood and her eldest son's rise to the throne. A relatively interesting interpretation of the scurrilous rumor about Cecily having an extramarital affair, though this version does not imply that Edward IV may have been a bastard, like it does in other historical fiction novels.
One thing that I found really intriguing about this story was the Neville-Neville feud, that is, the feud between the two families that Ralph Neville, the 1st Earl of Westmoreland, that he sired on his two wives. In much of the historical fiction that one reads about this period, one hears the name Neville and immediately thinks of them as the close allies of the House of York (until later on, of course), and that they were all united in the Yorkist cause. However, as it is shown, that was hardly the case. The Nevilles (both sides of the feud) were once arch-Lancastrians, and it was only under the misrule and mismanagement that happened under the reign of Henry VI that Cicely's branch of the Nevilles began to stand with her husband, Richard, Duke of York. But that still left the other branch of the family. Hickson does an admirable job weaving the Neville family feud into the story and how, over and over, it came back to haunt Cicely and those she loved.
So in the end, besides getting an interesting interpretation of the Neville-Neville feud, I found the story to be rather too stiff and boring, leaping from one time period of conflict to the next with little real emotional investment in any of it. Pretty much all of it was just going through the motions.
Joanna Hickson brings Cecily Neville (called Cicely in the novel), the mother of Edward IV and Richard III of England, to life in this novel covering the lady's married life up to her widowhood and her eldest son's rise to the throne. A relatively interesting interpretation of the scurrilous rumor about Cecily having an extramarital affair, though this version does not imply that Edward IV may have been a bastard, like it does in other historical fiction novels.
One thing that I found really intriguing about this story was the Neville-Neville feud, that is, the feud between the two families that Ralph Neville, the 1st Earl of Westmoreland, that he sired on his two wives. In much of the historical fiction that one reads about this period, one hears the name Neville and immediately thinks of them as the close allies of the House of York (until later on, of course), and that they were all united in the Yorkist cause. However, as it is shown, that was hardly the case. The Nevilles (both sides of the feud) were once arch-Lancastrians, and it was only under the misrule and mismanagement that happened under the reign of Henry VI that Cicely's branch of the Nevilles began to stand with her husband, Richard, Duke of York. But that still left the other branch of the family. Hickson does an admirable job weaving the Neville family feud into the story and how, over and over, it came back to haunt Cicely and those she loved.
So in the end, besides getting an interesting interpretation of the Neville-Neville feud, I found the story to be rather too stiff and boring, leaping from one time period of conflict to the next with little real emotional investment in any of it. Pretty much all of it was just going through the motions.
February 12, 2015
The Plot Of The Story:
This is story about Cicely Neville, mother of Edward IV who famously married the widowed Elizabeth Woodville. Cicely is figure that is often kind of glossed over in books about the Wars Of The Roses and gets treated like a secondary character more often than not so this book is brilliant in that it gives a glimpse into what her life could have been like and how her family started it's quest for England's throne, eventually won by her son Edward.
The book starts with Cicely's kidnapping by another branch of the Neville family, and enemy branch of her own family and follows her through her subsequent marriage to Edward, the Duke Of York, her battle to birth a son and heir for the York line and the fight to keep her family together as destiny begins to force them further and further apart.
I've not read about Cicely in such detail before but I am glad that someone took the time to bring a peripheral character from the War Of The Roses and brought her firmly to the forefront and straight to my fascinated attention. It's a wonderful tale, full of every kind of emotion imaginable and brings a character that I've been very curious about to life in the best way possible.
It's a book with strong family ties throughout and showing how within one family, the Nevilles, how family ties can differ and change with time, something we see strongly with Cicely and her sister Anne as they both find themselves fighting on different sides, one with the Red Rose of the King and the other with the White Rose of York, hence the title of this wonderful book and the choice between the two roses is the main theme throughout the book and throughout the War Of The Roses.
What Is There To Love?
Obviously the first thing to love is what I've already mentioned in bringing a character often left as a secondary character to the forefront and made her the sat of her own story. Cicely was an intriguing lady who lived a life that she didn't always seem to be in control of, a life of family duty and responsibility although in this tale we get to see a more wild side of her when it comes to John Neville and her feelings for the man who captured her as a girl ,held her to ransom and then made it hard for her not to fall for her captor. He introduces her to feeling see hasn't experienced before and shaped the way she saw men going into the future.
Ultimately this is the story about one the family dynasties of medieval England and what it meant to be part of a huge and influential family such as the Nevilles were at the time, they had insinuated themselves into almost every single big family in the country through a series of strategical marriages and were an almighty force to be reckoned with. In these kind of families it always seems to be the women who have to struggle and sit silent, to make piece with their lot no matter how hard it is, as we seen in the future with Cicely's future daughter in law Anne Neville. They are expected to play their part without complaint regardless of how they feel about the way their lives are played out and shows how lucky women today are with all the choice we have when it comes to love and marriage in the modern age, it's curious to think what a medieval woman would think of modern women and they way we are able to live our dreams in ways they could never have imagined possible.
In saying that this book is just as much about the politics of the time and why the War Of The Roses was such an important event in medieval English history, when an 'ordinary' family took the throne form those who were born into royalty and the power the throne holds. The king was weak of mind and body and other wanted to replace him for the good of the country, but ultimately because they want the power for themselves. Power, politics and blood, it's always about the blood, about the death.
Something else I really like was the inclusion of Cicely's half brother Cuthbert, someone who I wasn't familiar with at all before reading this but his story running simultaneously with his sisters give the book another viewpoint on events and another side to the whole story from a figure who's not as 'important' as Cicely for instance. It also works to balance out the story to do which is refreshing as you watch the two siblings fight their own very personal battles with what they believe in and what they want.
What Is There To Dislike?
There is very little to say about this book that is negative as I found it perfectly fabulous!
There is something to dislike about the book but it's not a fault of the book in the slightest, it's down the deft touch and clever writing of the author. I have to voice my utter abhorrence of the character of Harry Holland, who married Cicely's daughter, Anne. This character is one of the most vile people ever fleshed out in a book for me that wasn't a horrific serial killer or something equally nasty. Hickson has made Holland into someone that I would quite happily punch in the face for breathing if he lived today and acted in such abhorrent way anywhere near me. He is vile young man and Hickson has done a wonderful job of making him remember-able for just being a vile, vulgar and totally disagreeable young man to ever grace a page. If her really was that way then I can totally understand why young Anne was so very reviled by the thought of having to marry a man who so obviously ridiculed and loathed her, and why she freaked out the way she was when it was first told to her by her father, who seems to be completely oblivious to his daughter plight even if her mother isn't but what could Cicely do to save her daughter from a marriage that could so easily end in the worst way possible for poor Anne.
How's The Writing?
The language is simple and the writing is flawless, it flows seamlessly from the page into the mind and because you don't have to think to hard about what you are reading you are able to take in more of the rich detail, the lavish backdrops and scenery, the bloody battles and all the love and pain felt by all of the cast of vivid and realistic characters.
The story covers an awful love of ground from the time perspective, and I'm talking about decades not years so we get to watch the main characters growth throughout that time and see them change as the world around them constantly shifts and changes.
Hickson has done a wonderful job of fleshing out her characters and making them vibrant while keeping them true to their reality, this is history after all and you can't mess with it too much but Hickson has done a fabulous job in filling out some of the gaps in history that we don't know anything about and making these little known characters fit seemlessly into a story when it's not really known how they really fit.
The pacing and flow of the tale is superb for the most part, sometimes it gets a little flimsy and stretches things a little too far but those times are few and far between and in the grand scheme of things Hickson has produced and top notch entry into the story of such a significant and important war for the throne of England.
Final Thoughts:
If you're a fan of historical fiction and love the time period, everything about the War Of The Roses then this is a book you should read. It's my first Hickson novel despite the face that I've had her Tudor and Agincourt Bride books for a while without touching them but the way this book taught me a new aspect of that war and introduced me to people I hadn't encountered before I will certainly take me experience with this book and read more of her work as I think she a place among out historical great like Gregory, O'Brien, Chadwick and the like. It's definitely worth a read in my opinion and I would love to hear from anyone else who's read this wonderful piece of work!
This is story about Cicely Neville, mother of Edward IV who famously married the widowed Elizabeth Woodville. Cicely is figure that is often kind of glossed over in books about the Wars Of The Roses and gets treated like a secondary character more often than not so this book is brilliant in that it gives a glimpse into what her life could have been like and how her family started it's quest for England's throne, eventually won by her son Edward.
The book starts with Cicely's kidnapping by another branch of the Neville family, and enemy branch of her own family and follows her through her subsequent marriage to Edward, the Duke Of York, her battle to birth a son and heir for the York line and the fight to keep her family together as destiny begins to force them further and further apart.
I've not read about Cicely in such detail before but I am glad that someone took the time to bring a peripheral character from the War Of The Roses and brought her firmly to the forefront and straight to my fascinated attention. It's a wonderful tale, full of every kind of emotion imaginable and brings a character that I've been very curious about to life in the best way possible.
It's a book with strong family ties throughout and showing how within one family, the Nevilles, how family ties can differ and change with time, something we see strongly with Cicely and her sister Anne as they both find themselves fighting on different sides, one with the Red Rose of the King and the other with the White Rose of York, hence the title of this wonderful book and the choice between the two roses is the main theme throughout the book and throughout the War Of The Roses.
What Is There To Love?
Obviously the first thing to love is what I've already mentioned in bringing a character often left as a secondary character to the forefront and made her the sat of her own story. Cicely was an intriguing lady who lived a life that she didn't always seem to be in control of, a life of family duty and responsibility although in this tale we get to see a more wild side of her when it comes to John Neville and her feelings for the man who captured her as a girl ,held her to ransom and then made it hard for her not to fall for her captor. He introduces her to feeling see hasn't experienced before and shaped the way she saw men going into the future.
Ultimately this is the story about one the family dynasties of medieval England and what it meant to be part of a huge and influential family such as the Nevilles were at the time, they had insinuated themselves into almost every single big family in the country through a series of strategical marriages and were an almighty force to be reckoned with. In these kind of families it always seems to be the women who have to struggle and sit silent, to make piece with their lot no matter how hard it is, as we seen in the future with Cicely's future daughter in law Anne Neville. They are expected to play their part without complaint regardless of how they feel about the way their lives are played out and shows how lucky women today are with all the choice we have when it comes to love and marriage in the modern age, it's curious to think what a medieval woman would think of modern women and they way we are able to live our dreams in ways they could never have imagined possible.
In saying that this book is just as much about the politics of the time and why the War Of The Roses was such an important event in medieval English history, when an 'ordinary' family took the throne form those who were born into royalty and the power the throne holds. The king was weak of mind and body and other wanted to replace him for the good of the country, but ultimately because they want the power for themselves. Power, politics and blood, it's always about the blood, about the death.
Something else I really like was the inclusion of Cicely's half brother Cuthbert, someone who I wasn't familiar with at all before reading this but his story running simultaneously with his sisters give the book another viewpoint on events and another side to the whole story from a figure who's not as 'important' as Cicely for instance. It also works to balance out the story to do which is refreshing as you watch the two siblings fight their own very personal battles with what they believe in and what they want.
What Is There To Dislike?
There is very little to say about this book that is negative as I found it perfectly fabulous!
There is something to dislike about the book but it's not a fault of the book in the slightest, it's down the deft touch and clever writing of the author. I have to voice my utter abhorrence of the character of Harry Holland, who married Cicely's daughter, Anne. This character is one of the most vile people ever fleshed out in a book for me that wasn't a horrific serial killer or something equally nasty. Hickson has made Holland into someone that I would quite happily punch in the face for breathing if he lived today and acted in such abhorrent way anywhere near me. He is vile young man and Hickson has done a wonderful job of making him remember-able for just being a vile, vulgar and totally disagreeable young man to ever grace a page. If her really was that way then I can totally understand why young Anne was so very reviled by the thought of having to marry a man who so obviously ridiculed and loathed her, and why she freaked out the way she was when it was first told to her by her father, who seems to be completely oblivious to his daughter plight even if her mother isn't but what could Cicely do to save her daughter from a marriage that could so easily end in the worst way possible for poor Anne.
How's The Writing?
The language is simple and the writing is flawless, it flows seamlessly from the page into the mind and because you don't have to think to hard about what you are reading you are able to take in more of the rich detail, the lavish backdrops and scenery, the bloody battles and all the love and pain felt by all of the cast of vivid and realistic characters.
The story covers an awful love of ground from the time perspective, and I'm talking about decades not years so we get to watch the main characters growth throughout that time and see them change as the world around them constantly shifts and changes.
Hickson has done a wonderful job of fleshing out her characters and making them vibrant while keeping them true to their reality, this is history after all and you can't mess with it too much but Hickson has done a fabulous job in filling out some of the gaps in history that we don't know anything about and making these little known characters fit seemlessly into a story when it's not really known how they really fit.
The pacing and flow of the tale is superb for the most part, sometimes it gets a little flimsy and stretches things a little too far but those times are few and far between and in the grand scheme of things Hickson has produced and top notch entry into the story of such a significant and important war for the throne of England.
Final Thoughts:
If you're a fan of historical fiction and love the time period, everything about the War Of The Roses then this is a book you should read. It's my first Hickson novel despite the face that I've had her Tudor and Agincourt Bride books for a while without touching them but the way this book taught me a new aspect of that war and introduced me to people I hadn't encountered before I will certainly take me experience with this book and read more of her work as I think she a place among out historical great like Gregory, O'Brien, Chadwick and the like. It's definitely worth a read in my opinion and I would love to hear from anyone else who's read this wonderful piece of work!
July 12, 2022
One woman is torn between the loyalty to her birth family and the loyalty to her family by marriage. Now, this may sound like the story of Elizabeth of York, but alas, it is not. This story does take place in the fifteenth century, but it is the story of Elizabeth of York’s grandmother, “The Rose of Raby,” Cecily Neville. Born to the proud Neville family, who were proud Lancastrians, Cecily’s father, Ralph Neville, the Earl of Westmorland, arranged a marriage for his daughter to the young and ambitious Richard, Duke of York. She is now one of the most powerful women in England, but with power comes risks of ruin as Cecily has a secret that could be disastrous. War looms between the Red Roses of Lancaster and the White Roses of York, one that will transform English history forever, with Cecily caught in the middle. Her story is told in Joanna Hickson’s novel, “Red Rose, White Rose.”
Hickson begins her book by showing the interaction between Cecily and her half-brother, Cuthbert or Cuddy. Cecily is engaged to Richard Duke of York when she is kidnapped but is later rescued by John Neville, a distant cousin. In John Neville’s care, Cecily Neville’s life takes an unexpected turn, and a secret relationship is formed between the two. Although I know this was a fictitious relationship invented for this book, it still did not sit well with me. I have always thought Cecily was loyal and devoted to her husband and family (even though there were rumors of her and a knight having an affair), so this did not fit my view of Cecily Neville.
The bulk of this novel explores how Cecily and Richard were able to navigate the complex world of 15th-century English politics while their family grew. We also see Cuthbert fall in love and have his own family while he stays by Cecily’s side during such a tumultuous time.
This novel did not spend much time on the Wars of Roses. We get to see the origins of the major battles and how Edward became king, but we don’t see Cecily trying to hold her family together. I wanted to see her interactions with her sons Edward, George, and Richard during their feuding years. I wanted to see her reactions to Edward’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville and her interactions with her daughter-in-law. In short, I wanted a longer story that focused more on the Wars of the Roses and how Cecily Neville dealt with the changes in her family dynamic due to the throne's power.
Overall, this novel was enjoyable and well-written. Some elements were included that I disagreed with their concept. The story was engaging and gave Hickson’s audience a sneak-peek into Cecily Neville, Richard Duke of York, and their children. If you want a solid novel about Cecily Neville, I recommend reading “Red Rose, White Rose” by Joanna Hickson.
Hickson begins her book by showing the interaction between Cecily and her half-brother, Cuthbert or Cuddy. Cecily is engaged to Richard Duke of York when she is kidnapped but is later rescued by John Neville, a distant cousin. In John Neville’s care, Cecily Neville’s life takes an unexpected turn, and a secret relationship is formed between the two. Although I know this was a fictitious relationship invented for this book, it still did not sit well with me. I have always thought Cecily was loyal and devoted to her husband and family (even though there were rumors of her and a knight having an affair), so this did not fit my view of Cecily Neville.
The bulk of this novel explores how Cecily and Richard were able to navigate the complex world of 15th-century English politics while their family grew. We also see Cuthbert fall in love and have his own family while he stays by Cecily’s side during such a tumultuous time.
This novel did not spend much time on the Wars of Roses. We get to see the origins of the major battles and how Edward became king, but we don’t see Cecily trying to hold her family together. I wanted to see her interactions with her sons Edward, George, and Richard during their feuding years. I wanted to see her reactions to Edward’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville and her interactions with her daughter-in-law. In short, I wanted a longer story that focused more on the Wars of the Roses and how Cecily Neville dealt with the changes in her family dynamic due to the throne's power.
Overall, this novel was enjoyable and well-written. Some elements were included that I disagreed with their concept. The story was engaging and gave Hickson’s audience a sneak-peek into Cecily Neville, Richard Duke of York, and their children. If you want a solid novel about Cecily Neville, I recommend reading “Red Rose, White Rose” by Joanna Hickson.
November 22, 2017
FYI: this book was actually 531 pages for me, including the Epilogue and Author's Note.
This book was pretty middle of the road for me. First of all, I applaud Joanna Hickson for writing about someone as formidable and complicated as Cicely Neville. She's a woman that I've been fascinated with for some time, and I was glad of the opportunity to read about her.
Some pros were the interesting characters and plot. The historical detail added another dimension to the story and made it easier to imagine these people living their lives, as chaotic as those would've been.
The biggest con for me was the writing. There were quite a few, distracting typos, but that wasn't the biggest problem. Hickson is very expository in her writing. Part of that is because the history of the Wars of the Roses is very complex, but it felt like she tried to cram every English nobleman into her story. She would explain who so-and-so was when they only appeared for a paragraph, never to be seen again, and that was annoying. I lost track of everyone after awhile, and I completely forgot about the family trees in the front of the book. I'm sorry to say that if I hadn't read Philippa Gregory first, I would've been completely lost here.
The other annoying thing about Hickson's writing was that she over-explained every situation until the emotional punch was removed from the scene. This got a little better towards the end, but the end also suffered from a generalized overview of the events that I was bored and desperate to finish.
I'm torn on how Hickson employed a second POV in her story. Red Rose, White Rose is told from the perspective of Cicely Neville and her half-brother Cuthbert. On the one hand, I loved reading about battles while being in the thick of them and being privy to scenes where our heroine (and other women) would've been absent. That said, Cicely is a fascinating person, and she witnessed a lot of history in her life, a lot of humiliation and triumph. I would've enjoyed hearing more from her.
This is a longer book, so I wouldn't recommend it to casual fans of medieval history. You'll get lost before you even get started. If you're like me and you're fascinated by Cicely Neville, or you just want to learn more about the Wars of the Roses, then this book is for you. Just be prepared to be in it for the long haul.
This book was pretty middle of the road for me. First of all, I applaud Joanna Hickson for writing about someone as formidable and complicated as Cicely Neville. She's a woman that I've been fascinated with for some time, and I was glad of the opportunity to read about her.
Some pros were the interesting characters and plot. The historical detail added another dimension to the story and made it easier to imagine these people living their lives, as chaotic as those would've been.
The biggest con for me was the writing. There were quite a few, distracting typos, but that wasn't the biggest problem. Hickson is very expository in her writing. Part of that is because the history of the Wars of the Roses is very complex, but it felt like she tried to cram every English nobleman into her story. She would explain who so-and-so was when they only appeared for a paragraph, never to be seen again, and that was annoying. I lost track of everyone after awhile, and I completely forgot about the family trees in the front of the book. I'm sorry to say that if I hadn't read Philippa Gregory first, I would've been completely lost here.
The other annoying thing about Hickson's writing was that she over-explained every situation until the emotional punch was removed from the scene. This got a little better towards the end, but the end also suffered from a generalized overview of the events that I was bored and desperate to finish.
I'm torn on how Hickson employed a second POV in her story. Red Rose, White Rose is told from the perspective of Cicely Neville and her half-brother Cuthbert. On the one hand, I loved reading about battles while being in the thick of them and being privy to scenes where our heroine (and other women) would've been absent. That said, Cicely is a fascinating person, and she witnessed a lot of history in her life, a lot of humiliation and triumph. I would've enjoyed hearing more from her.
This is a longer book, so I wouldn't recommend it to casual fans of medieval history. You'll get lost before you even get started. If you're like me and you're fascinated by Cicely Neville, or you just want to learn more about the Wars of the Roses, then this book is for you. Just be prepared to be in it for the long haul.
June 26, 2018
I’m torn with my opinion on this book, I really am. For huge parts of the book the plot was fast paced and kept me engrossed, but then there were times when it felt like a huge slog to keep turning the pages, and in the end it took me over a month to finish reading because I just didn’t feel that ‘urge’ to pick the book up and keep reading.
I’ve not read much historical fiction like this, so I’m not sure if it’s the genre I don’t get on with or just this book, so don’t take my 3 star review too seriously as it might just not be the genre for me.
Personally, I found the main character Cicely a tad unrelatable, and for the other point of view, Cuthbert, I spent most of the book wondering why we needed his perspective. If the book needed a split perspective, I would have rather had a Cicely/Richard split, so we could have some more action included. Since most of the book centered around Cicely’s marriage, it would have been good to see her husband’s point of view too.
The other thing that really bothered me is that the book jumped huge amounts of time with hardly a mention, and I found it really hard to keep up with what year we were moving from and to, which was slightly disconcerting.
On the plus side, I did really enjoy reading a different type of book to my normal young adult/fantasy books. And although I know that it was fiction, I did like the fact that it was based in history and you could get a sense of life 500 years ago. I’ve never really known much about the war of the roses, so it was nice to learn a bit more (although I’m not sure how much to take as fact!).
I have a few Philippa Gregory books that have been sat on my shelf for ages, so I think I will have to read these soon to try and gauge my opinion on the historical fiction genre in general, maybe trying a few different authors will help!
Posted on: http://emmaloui.se/2018/06/25/joanna-...
I’ve not read much historical fiction like this, so I’m not sure if it’s the genre I don’t get on with or just this book, so don’t take my 3 star review too seriously as it might just not be the genre for me.
Personally, I found the main character Cicely a tad unrelatable, and for the other point of view, Cuthbert, I spent most of the book wondering why we needed his perspective. If the book needed a split perspective, I would have rather had a Cicely/Richard split, so we could have some more action included. Since most of the book centered around Cicely’s marriage, it would have been good to see her husband’s point of view too.
The other thing that really bothered me is that the book jumped huge amounts of time with hardly a mention, and I found it really hard to keep up with what year we were moving from and to, which was slightly disconcerting.
On the plus side, I did really enjoy reading a different type of book to my normal young adult/fantasy books. And although I know that it was fiction, I did like the fact that it was based in history and you could get a sense of life 500 years ago. I’ve never really known much about the war of the roses, so it was nice to learn a bit more (although I’m not sure how much to take as fact!).
I have a few Philippa Gregory books that have been sat on my shelf for ages, so I think I will have to read these soon to try and gauge my opinion on the historical fiction genre in general, maybe trying a few different authors will help!
Posted on: http://emmaloui.se/2018/06/25/joanna-...
August 11, 2024
This book was the perfect set up for me to read Shakespeare’s Henry VI part 1, 2 and 3. I’ve studied the first four of his historical plays in quite a lot of detail (I have a particularly strong love for the character of Hal/Henry V) but I really knew nothing of the reign of Henry VI. This book provided excellent historical detail and rich characters.
That being said I don’t know why Hickson decided to write the book about Cicely in the first place. She didn’t do anything. She bore a lot of children it’s true but so did everyone else back then. I found Cuthbert’s story far more interesting, Richard’s character far more compelling and Edward’s journey from boyhood to King of England far more harrowing. Those men did something that changed the course of history. Cicely did nothing.
And “torn between loyalty and love” is such a tease. I wanted SO MUCH MORE to happen between Cicely and Sir John. He was the most romantic, swooning Mr. Darcy character I’ve encountered in a long time and they spent all of 40 pages together! He felt so wasted. And then they seen each other twice in a lifetime but somehow have this love that transcends decades? As if. Give me something Hickson!!!!! Because Cicely is barely torn here. She’s pretty damn loyal to Richard all things considered and Sir John was barely in the story.
Finally, I’m kind of on Harry Holland’s team here. Do I hope he grew to love and Anne and didn’t continue to bully her through their marriage? Definitely. But everyone’s like “he’s been such an ass for not accepting his bride”. She’s 12. And he’s 21. No fucking shit he doesn’t want her!!!!
That being said I don’t know why Hickson decided to write the book about Cicely in the first place. She didn’t do anything. She bore a lot of children it’s true but so did everyone else back then. I found Cuthbert’s story far more interesting, Richard’s character far more compelling and Edward’s journey from boyhood to King of England far more harrowing. Those men did something that changed the course of history. Cicely did nothing.
And “torn between loyalty and love” is such a tease. I wanted SO MUCH MORE to happen between Cicely and Sir John. He was the most romantic, swooning Mr. Darcy character I’ve encountered in a long time and they spent all of 40 pages together! He felt so wasted. And then they seen each other twice in a lifetime but somehow have this love that transcends decades? As if. Give me something Hickson!!!!! Because Cicely is barely torn here. She’s pretty damn loyal to Richard all things considered and Sir John was barely in the story.
Finally, I’m kind of on Harry Holland’s team here. Do I hope he grew to love and Anne and didn’t continue to bully her through their marriage? Definitely. But everyone’s like “he’s been such an ass for not accepting his bride”. She’s 12. And he’s 21. No fucking shit he doesn’t want her!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2021
"Of course you do, my lady mother. You are a clever woman too. If you were Duke of York our house would not be on the cusp of war with Lancaster."
Honestly, I'm not sure what Joanna Hickson was trying to accomplish here. Red Rose, White Rose follows Cecily Neville (and her brother Cuthbert) through years of petty disputes between the divided Neville family and later between Lancaster and York, and despite having a totally bonkers incest romance, it is mindbogglingly dull. As much as I've complained about Philippa Gregory in the past, if she had written this, she would have made John Neville (Cecily's half-nephew, a fact which doesn't bother either of them nearly as much as it should) the father of Edward IV and this story would have had some actual drama. Instead, it's a 400 page slog alternating between two characters who have no personality between them and always tell you exactly how they're feeling, which, when delivered in first person, made this virtually unreadable for me. Hickson has noble intentions (the futility of war, the reality of marriage) but that can't change the fact that she is an extremely boring writer. At least the outfit descriptions were nice!
Honestly, I'm not sure what Joanna Hickson was trying to accomplish here. Red Rose, White Rose follows Cecily Neville (and her brother Cuthbert) through years of petty disputes between the divided Neville family and later between Lancaster and York, and despite having a totally bonkers incest romance, it is mindbogglingly dull. As much as I've complained about Philippa Gregory in the past, if she had written this, she would have made John Neville (Cecily's half-nephew, a fact which doesn't bother either of them nearly as much as it should) the father of Edward IV and this story would have had some actual drama. Instead, it's a 400 page slog alternating between two characters who have no personality between them and always tell you exactly how they're feeling, which, when delivered in first person, made this virtually unreadable for me. Hickson has noble intentions (the futility of war, the reality of marriage) but that can't change the fact that she is an extremely boring writer. At least the outfit descriptions were nice!
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