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Wars of the Roses #2
Margaret of Anjou
The brilliant retelling of the Wars of the Roses continues with Margaret of Anjou, the second gripping novel in the new series from historical fiction master Conn Iggulden.
As Traitors Advance...A Queen Defends
It is 1454 and for over a year King Henry VI has remained all but exiled in Windsor Castle, struck down by his illness, his eyes vacant, his mind a blank. His fiercely loyal wife and Queen, Margaret of Anjou, safeguards her husband’s interests, hoping that her son Edward will one day come to know his father.
With each month that Henry is all but absent as king, Richard, the Duke of York, Protector of the Realm, extends his influence throughout the kingdom. The Trinity—Richard and the earls of Salisbury and Warwick—are a formidable trio, and together they seek to break the support of those who would raise their colors and their armies in the name of Henry and his Queen.
But when the king unexpectedly recovers his senses and returns to London to reclaim his throne, the balance of power is once again plunged into turmoil. The clash of the Houses of Lancaster and York may be the beginning of a war that can tear England apart . . .
Following on from Stormbird, Margaret of Anjou is the second epic installment in master storyteller Conn Iggulden’s new Wars of the Roses series. Fans of Game of Thrones and The Tudors will be gripped from the word “go.”
As Traitors Advance...A Queen Defends
It is 1454 and for over a year King Henry VI has remained all but exiled in Windsor Castle, struck down by his illness, his eyes vacant, his mind a blank. His fiercely loyal wife and Queen, Margaret of Anjou, safeguards her husband’s interests, hoping that her son Edward will one day come to know his father.
With each month that Henry is all but absent as king, Richard, the Duke of York, Protector of the Realm, extends his influence throughout the kingdom. The Trinity—Richard and the earls of Salisbury and Warwick—are a formidable trio, and together they seek to break the support of those who would raise their colors and their armies in the name of Henry and his Queen.
But when the king unexpectedly recovers his senses and returns to London to reclaim his throne, the balance of power is once again plunged into turmoil. The clash of the Houses of Lancaster and York may be the beginning of a war that can tear England apart . . .
Following on from Stormbird, Margaret of Anjou is the second epic installment in master storyteller Conn Iggulden’s new Wars of the Roses series. Fans of Game of Thrones and The Tudors will be gripped from the word “go.”
414 pages, Hardcover
First published June 16, 2014
612 people are currently reading
7168 people want to read
About the author
Conn Iggulden
144 books6,019 followersAlso publishes under author name C.F. Iggulden.
I was born in the normal way in 1971, and vaguely remember half-pennies and sixpences. I have written for as long as I can remember: poetry, short stories and novels. It’s what I always wanted to do and read English at London University with writing in mind. I taught English for seven years and was Head of English at St. Gregory’s RC High School in London by the end of that period. I have enormous respect for those who still labour at the chalk-face. In truth, I can’t find it in me to miss the grind of paperwork and initiatives. I do miss the camaraderie of the smokers’ room, as well as the lessons where their faces lit up as they understood what I was wittering on about.
My mother is Irish and from an early age she told me history as an exciting series of stories – with dates. My great-grandfather was a Seannachie, so I suppose story-telling is in the genes somewhere. My father flew in Bomber Command in WWII, then taught maths and science. Perhaps crucially, he also loved poetry and cracking good tales. Though it seems a dated idea now, I began teaching when boys were told only girls were good at English, despite the great names that must spring to mind after that statement. My father loved working with wood and equations, but he also recited ‘Vitai Lampada’ with a gleam in his eye and that matters, frankly.
I’ve always loved historical fiction as a genre and cut my teeth on Hornblower and Tai-Pan, Flashman, Sharpe and Jack Aubrey. I still remember the sheer joy of reading my first Patrick O’Brian book and discovering there were nineteen more in the series. I love just about anything by David Gemmell, or Peter F. Hamilton or Wilbur Smith. I suppose the one thing that links all those is the love of a good tale.
That’s about it for the moment. If you’d like to get in touch with me leave a comment in the forum or you can tweet me @Conn_Iggulden. I’ll leave it there for the moment. If you’ve read my books, you know an awful lot about the way I think already. There’s no point overdoing it.
Conn Iggulden
I was born in the normal way in 1971, and vaguely remember half-pennies and sixpences. I have written for as long as I can remember: poetry, short stories and novels. It’s what I always wanted to do and read English at London University with writing in mind. I taught English for seven years and was Head of English at St. Gregory’s RC High School in London by the end of that period. I have enormous respect for those who still labour at the chalk-face. In truth, I can’t find it in me to miss the grind of paperwork and initiatives. I do miss the camaraderie of the smokers’ room, as well as the lessons where their faces lit up as they understood what I was wittering on about.
My mother is Irish and from an early age she told me history as an exciting series of stories – with dates. My great-grandfather was a Seannachie, so I suppose story-telling is in the genes somewhere. My father flew in Bomber Command in WWII, then taught maths and science. Perhaps crucially, he also loved poetry and cracking good tales. Though it seems a dated idea now, I began teaching when boys were told only girls were good at English, despite the great names that must spring to mind after that statement. My father loved working with wood and equations, but he also recited ‘Vitai Lampada’ with a gleam in his eye and that matters, frankly.
I’ve always loved historical fiction as a genre and cut my teeth on Hornblower and Tai-Pan, Flashman, Sharpe and Jack Aubrey. I still remember the sheer joy of reading my first Patrick O’Brian book and discovering there were nineteen more in the series. I love just about anything by David Gemmell, or Peter F. Hamilton or Wilbur Smith. I suppose the one thing that links all those is the love of a good tale.
That’s about it for the moment. If you’d like to get in touch with me leave a comment in the forum or you can tweet me @Conn_Iggulden. I’ll leave it there for the moment. If you’ve read my books, you know an awful lot about the way I think already. There’s no point overdoing it.
Conn Iggulden
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 597 reviews
June 13, 2016
This book contains one of, if not the best battle sequences I’ve ever read: it was just that good. The battle at St Albams was told from alternating point of views capturing the field superbly. The action is described simply yet vividly. For a moment, I was there; I was fighting beside the Kingmaker: The Earl of Warick; I was in his daring charge, across the alleyways as he rushed to capture King Henry VI.
The Kingmaker from The White Queen TV series as portrayed by James Frain
I could not recommend this book series more highly!
This novel carries on from where the first one left of; Henry is still in his stupor, Calais is the last English foothold in France and Richard Duke of York is lord protector. Both sides of the war, York and Lancaster, are portrayed creating a complete picture of the turbulent times.
Derry Brewer is many things; a spymaster for the house of Lancaster, Henry VI most loyal man, sworn enemy of Richard Duke of York and first and foremost a survivor. This is one of the few characters in the book that is actually fictional and also my personal favourite. The stuff this man goes through is almost funny; how he survives it is a miracle. He somehow scrapes through the French advance to arrive back in England and then to be persecuted by York’s men. My only major criticism for this novel is: give me more Derry Brewer!!
From a young age the Duke of Somerset had where he would die. He was told by a travelling seer or a gypsy (I cannot remember which). He was to die in “the castle”. The way in which the Conn Iggulden executes this is brilliant, bordering on genius: I loved it. Obviously this is based upon history but it was grand nonetheless.
Henry IV has my sympathies. He was a good man but didn’t have the strength of character or will to be able to rule effectively. That combined with his frequent bursts of illness left him as a completely useless king. He was controlled by whatever political faction had hold of him as they dominated him. I liked the way the author has portrayed him as capable for a time but then his decline came again as the stresses of his burden were felt. Without Derry Brewer and his loyal wife, he would have been usurped many years before he actually was.
Margeret of Anjou is portrayed as a fierce queen, a strong woman and being brutal towards her enemies, namely The Duke of York. Moreover, she is convinced her side of the war is justified. It’s unsurprising that the characters/figures never realised that this is a war with no right or wrong side and is just a simple struggle for power.
On the other side of the fence, Richard Duke of York is portrayed as honourable to a fault. I read the authors note at the back and his reasoning behind this is clear. I agree with the way he has been represented even though his decisions are frustrating. His son however, is more pragmatic as I’m sure we’ll see in later books. This book ended in just the right place as Edward saw the three suns which leaves open for the rest of the wars of the Roses.
I’m looking forward to seeing the relationship between Edward and the Kingmaker become strained. Also it will be interesting to see how the author portrays Elizabeth Woodville. I’m especially looking forward to Richard growing up and am hoping he is not cast in an all too negative light.
This book is one of the best I’ve read this year it’s marvellous, simply marvellous. Iggulden has captured the rivalry in the Wars of the Roses superbly. My favourite thing about this series is we have the full picture. It hasn’t begun half way through, like some other series (The White Queen), but has chronicled the whole thing. My hope is that the series ends as Henry Tudor slays Richard III at the fields of Bosworth, effectively ending the Wars of the Roses. I eagerly await the next instalment.
War of the Roses series:
1. Stormbird-An interesting four stars
2. Trinity- A bloody four stars
3. Bloodline- A strong four stars
The Kingmaker from The White Queen TV series as portrayed by James Frain
I could not recommend this book series more highly!
This novel carries on from where the first one left of; Henry is still in his stupor, Calais is the last English foothold in France and Richard Duke of York is lord protector. Both sides of the war, York and Lancaster, are portrayed creating a complete picture of the turbulent times.
Derry Brewer is many things; a spymaster for the house of Lancaster, Henry VI most loyal man, sworn enemy of Richard Duke of York and first and foremost a survivor. This is one of the few characters in the book that is actually fictional and also my personal favourite. The stuff this man goes through is almost funny; how he survives it is a miracle. He somehow scrapes through the French advance to arrive back in England and then to be persecuted by York’s men. My only major criticism for this novel is: give me more Derry Brewer!!
From a young age the Duke of Somerset had where he would die. He was told by a travelling seer or a gypsy (I cannot remember which). He was to die in “the castle”. The way in which the Conn Iggulden executes this is brilliant, bordering on genius: I loved it. Obviously this is based upon history but it was grand nonetheless.
Henry IV has my sympathies. He was a good man but didn’t have the strength of character or will to be able to rule effectively. That combined with his frequent bursts of illness left him as a completely useless king. He was controlled by whatever political faction had hold of him as they dominated him. I liked the way the author has portrayed him as capable for a time but then his decline came again as the stresses of his burden were felt. Without Derry Brewer and his loyal wife, he would have been usurped many years before he actually was.
Margeret of Anjou is portrayed as a fierce queen, a strong woman and being brutal towards her enemies, namely The Duke of York. Moreover, she is convinced her side of the war is justified. It’s unsurprising that the characters/figures never realised that this is a war with no right or wrong side and is just a simple struggle for power.
On the other side of the fence, Richard Duke of York is portrayed as honourable to a fault. I read the authors note at the back and his reasoning behind this is clear. I agree with the way he has been represented even though his decisions are frustrating. His son however, is more pragmatic as I’m sure we’ll see in later books. This book ended in just the right place as Edward saw the three suns which leaves open for the rest of the wars of the Roses.
I’m looking forward to seeing the relationship between Edward and the Kingmaker become strained. Also it will be interesting to see how the author portrays Elizabeth Woodville. I’m especially looking forward to Richard growing up and am hoping he is not cast in an all too negative light.
This book is one of the best I’ve read this year it’s marvellous, simply marvellous. Iggulden has captured the rivalry in the Wars of the Roses superbly. My favourite thing about this series is we have the full picture. It hasn’t begun half way through, like some other series (The White Queen), but has chronicled the whole thing. My hope is that the series ends as Henry Tudor slays Richard III at the fields of Bosworth, effectively ending the Wars of the Roses. I eagerly await the next instalment.
War of the Roses series:
1. Stormbird-An interesting four stars
2. Trinity- A bloody four stars
3. Bloodline- A strong four stars
August 19, 2019
Conn Iggulden is one of the young and talented authors that are standing proudly beside Ken Follett. Iggulden writes books that once you open them you live them.
November 14, 2014
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
Have to say I nearly didnt read this & only did so as forgot to cancel the Library hold on it.... glad i did in the end as have to say enjoyed it far more than the first in the series "War of the Roses"
Why? Well it sticks with the theme as advertised & gets to the nub of the conflict by introducing the minor earls or should that be the major conspirators as we find it's those pesky Earls scheming/jockeying for power that force the larger pieces to come to the board & take the game to the whole country. I found myself wanting to know more about the history which is always a good thing & have to say Mr Iggulden keeps mostly on track with jus a few minor changes in the story which he does explain in the historical notes at the back.
Most of us? take the main players to be the Duke of York & Queen Margaret, but it was the likes of Lord percy & the Neville family's rivalry that brought about conflict, eventually leading to the Battle of St Albans which is excellantly told by swapping from side-2-side throughout as the battle reaches its climax. Other battles are "covered", the timeframe being 1454-1461, ending with the battle of Wakefield, but only in varying degrees & although I would have liked more of the battles to have been featured perhaps its best this way as come the end of the Conqueror series thats all there was, no story no plot, jus endless battle upon battle.
To anyone who found the first in the series too choppy & bitty this is defo a smoother ride & as I said earlier sticks to the heart of the conflict & draws us further into the War of the Roses through historical characters & events. A series I will be sticking with.
Have to say I nearly didnt read this & only did so as forgot to cancel the Library hold on it.... glad i did in the end as have to say enjoyed it far more than the first in the series "War of the Roses"
Why? Well it sticks with the theme as advertised & gets to the nub of the conflict by introducing the minor earls or should that be the major conspirators as we find it's those pesky Earls scheming/jockeying for power that force the larger pieces to come to the board & take the game to the whole country. I found myself wanting to know more about the history which is always a good thing & have to say Mr Iggulden keeps mostly on track with jus a few minor changes in the story which he does explain in the historical notes at the back.
Most of us? take the main players to be the Duke of York & Queen Margaret, but it was the likes of Lord percy & the Neville family's rivalry that brought about conflict, eventually leading to the Battle of St Albans which is excellantly told by swapping from side-2-side throughout as the battle reaches its climax. Other battles are "covered", the timeframe being 1454-1461, ending with the battle of Wakefield, but only in varying degrees & although I would have liked more of the battles to have been featured perhaps its best this way as come the end of the Conqueror series thats all there was, no story no plot, jus endless battle upon battle.
To anyone who found the first in the series too choppy & bitty this is defo a smoother ride & as I said earlier sticks to the heart of the conflict & draws us further into the War of the Roses through historical characters & events. A series I will be sticking with.
March 5, 2015
This book is being published in America under the name War of the Roses: Margaret of Anjou.
I thought this book was historical fiction writing at its best. War of the Roses: Margaret of Anjou is the middle book of Conn Iggulden's trilogy and it is outstanding. It can be read as a stand alone and is really much better than the first one of the series. Iggulden's expertise is writing about battles and making them come alive as he did on his excellent Genghis Khan series. You won't find the romantic scenes of Phillipa Gregory's much inferior series on the same subject.
The book concerns Henry VI's reign and the Duke of York's rule during Henry's long illnesses. I still don't know what was wrong with Henry as he was comatose for 18 months and suddenly woke up on Christmas Day with no memory of the recent past and an apparently changed man. I read that some people think he was a schizophrenic but that doesn't seem right to me. During his illness Richard, the Duke of York, ruled in his stead, apparently quite successfully.
The strength of this book is making the characters fully formed. They have good and bad sides and it is really hard to call one side right or wrong. You can see both points of view. Richard seemed to be quite a good guy to me. He could have had Henry murdered any time and taken the crown for himself and yet he didn't. He became the arch enemy of Henry's wife, Margaret of Anjou, and the struggle in this book is between those two people. He did take Henry under his control several times which really irritated Henry's wife.
Margaret of Anjou was really an annoying person to me. If she had worked with Richard instead of fighting, so much bloodshed could have been avoided. It makes you wonder what could have been accomplished if they could have put their differences aside and worked together. On the other hand, Margaret came to England from France at 15 years old. She was living in a foreign land, had a husband who was comatose and was trying to protect her son. I thought it was amazing how much control she exercised at such a young age.
This book presented a well balanced view of the start of the War of the Roses. I learned quite a lot from it. The writing was great, the characters were quite human and it kept my attention from start to finish. I highly recommend this book.
I thought this book was historical fiction writing at its best. War of the Roses: Margaret of Anjou is the middle book of Conn Iggulden's trilogy and it is outstanding. It can be read as a stand alone and is really much better than the first one of the series. Iggulden's expertise is writing about battles and making them come alive as he did on his excellent Genghis Khan series. You won't find the romantic scenes of Phillipa Gregory's much inferior series on the same subject.
The book concerns Henry VI's reign and the Duke of York's rule during Henry's long illnesses. I still don't know what was wrong with Henry as he was comatose for 18 months and suddenly woke up on Christmas Day with no memory of the recent past and an apparently changed man. I read that some people think he was a schizophrenic but that doesn't seem right to me. During his illness Richard, the Duke of York, ruled in his stead, apparently quite successfully.
The strength of this book is making the characters fully formed. They have good and bad sides and it is really hard to call one side right or wrong. You can see both points of view. Richard seemed to be quite a good guy to me. He could have had Henry murdered any time and taken the crown for himself and yet he didn't. He became the arch enemy of Henry's wife, Margaret of Anjou, and the struggle in this book is between those two people. He did take Henry under his control several times which really irritated Henry's wife.
Margaret of Anjou was really an annoying person to me. If she had worked with Richard instead of fighting, so much bloodshed could have been avoided. It makes you wonder what could have been accomplished if they could have put their differences aside and worked together. On the other hand, Margaret came to England from France at 15 years old. She was living in a foreign land, had a husband who was comatose and was trying to protect her son. I thought it was amazing how much control she exercised at such a young age.
This book presented a well balanced view of the start of the War of the Roses. I learned quite a lot from it. The writing was great, the characters were quite human and it kept my attention from start to finish. I highly recommend this book.
July 7, 2024
Review for book 1: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review for book 4: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
(1.1) I don't know much shit about British history, so I will try to see how far I can go with this series.
(1.2) I also tried to look 'Wars of the Roses' up on Wiki, but it's already a struggle just trying to understand who is who, and who is fighting who, which family is involved. LOL
(1.3) Henry VI gets worse in this book, so I hope to see more of his wife, Marguerite d'Anjou to see how she would react in such a difficult situation.
(1.4) Now I remember I had watched The King on Netflix (because I like handsome guys as much as anyone else), the movie is about Henry V and he is Henry VI's dad exactly!!! LOL
(2) King Henry VI doesn't look like he will ever be fit to rule again, so how will the story go and how will the author manage to get us to root for him and his supporters!?
(3) I read up to p. 84 and it's still a bit of a struggle...
(4) I'm glad that I visited some of the towns that were mentioned in the story.
(5) I like how the author wrote warfare and the ending is excellent!
(6) Overall, I really do like Marguerite d'Anjou's character, a woman who is forced to act as a manipulator and bear the responsibility of her royal household and the safety of her husband and son, I like that!
Review for book 4: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
(1.1) I don't know much shit about British history, so I will try to see how far I can go with this series.
(1.2) I also tried to look 'Wars of the Roses' up on Wiki, but it's already a struggle just trying to understand who is who, and who is fighting who, which family is involved. LOL
(1.3) Henry VI gets worse in this book, so I hope to see more of his wife, Marguerite d'Anjou to see how she would react in such a difficult situation.
(1.4) Now I remember I had watched The King on Netflix (because I like handsome guys as much as anyone else), the movie is about Henry V and he is Henry VI's dad exactly!!! LOL
(2) King Henry VI doesn't look like he will ever be fit to rule again, so how will the story go and how will the author manage to get us to root for him and his supporters!?
(3) I read up to p. 84 and it's still a bit of a struggle...
(4) I'm glad that I visited some of the towns that were mentioned in the story.
(5) I like how the author wrote warfare and the ending is excellent!
(6) Overall, I really do like Marguerite d'Anjou's character, a woman who is forced to act as a manipulator and bear the responsibility of her royal household and the safety of her husband and son, I like that!
June 19, 2020
Segunda entrega de la Tetralogía de la Guerra de las dos rosas. La serie mejora en intensidad y acción, paralelamente a los hechos que se narran.
El rey Enrique VI es débil, y pasa por largos periodos de desconexión con el mundo, prácticamente en estado catatónico. La casa de York en la persona de Ricardo de York pugna por hacerse con el control del reino imponiéndose como Lord Protector. Los partidarios de los Lancaster apoyándose en su legitimidad, en la fortaleza de la Reina y en escasos periodos de lucidez del Rey intentan resistir. Las pequeñas guerras locales entre los nobles hacen que el país se polarice, inevitablemente abocado a la guerra civil.
Los episodios bélicos se repiten casi sin solución de continuidad: 1ª batalla de San Albano (gana York), Blore Heath (Gana York), Ludlow (gana York), Puente de Ludford (gana Lancaster). Asistimos al ascenso de un personaje que va a ser decisivo en los años siguientes, Richard Neville duque de Warwick, cuyo desembarco en Kent desde Calais junto a Eduardo de March, hijo de Ricardo de York y futuro Eduardo iV, volvió a cambiar el curso de la guerra. Marchan sobre Londres y aplastan a los Lancaster capturando al rey Enrique.
Los partidarios del Rey bajo la dirección de la reina Margarita huyen al norte y se hacen fuertes en el entorno de York (que curioso el feudo de sus rivales). Ricardo de York va al norte para intentar acabar con los últimos restos de los Lancaster, pero estos, con el apoyo de los escoceses, los aplastan en la batalla de Wakefiel (gana Lancaster). Las dos principales figuras del bando York: Ricardo y el duque de Salisbury son capturados y ejecutados por la reina, también el hijo mayor de Ricardo, Edmundo ¿Cometió un error la reina ejecutando a estos personajes? La ejecución de estos personajes elevó el enfrentamiento a una guerra sin cuartel, en la que los dos hijos restantes de Ricardo de York, Eduardo y Ricardo, ambos serían reyes, juraron no cejar en su empeño hasta cumplir su venganza.......
Hay otra cuestión de fondo que no tiene explicación. Durante estos años de mediados del siglo XV, Ricardo de York tuvo bajo su absoluto control al Rey Enrique VI, en calidad de Lord Protector. ¿Porqué no lo depuso y se hizo con la corona? ¿No habría ahorrado esto años de guerra y sufrimiento? ¿Era tan fuerte el poder y el ascendiente que la corona tenía sobre el pueblo que no se atrevió?
Apasionante y trepidante libro. Recomendable.
El rey Enrique VI es débil, y pasa por largos periodos de desconexión con el mundo, prácticamente en estado catatónico. La casa de York en la persona de Ricardo de York pugna por hacerse con el control del reino imponiéndose como Lord Protector. Los partidarios de los Lancaster apoyándose en su legitimidad, en la fortaleza de la Reina y en escasos periodos de lucidez del Rey intentan resistir. Las pequeñas guerras locales entre los nobles hacen que el país se polarice, inevitablemente abocado a la guerra civil.
Los episodios bélicos se repiten casi sin solución de continuidad: 1ª batalla de San Albano (gana York), Blore Heath (Gana York), Ludlow (gana York), Puente de Ludford (gana Lancaster). Asistimos al ascenso de un personaje que va a ser decisivo en los años siguientes, Richard Neville duque de Warwick, cuyo desembarco en Kent desde Calais junto a Eduardo de March, hijo de Ricardo de York y futuro Eduardo iV, volvió a cambiar el curso de la guerra. Marchan sobre Londres y aplastan a los Lancaster capturando al rey Enrique.
Los partidarios del Rey bajo la dirección de la reina Margarita huyen al norte y se hacen fuertes en el entorno de York (que curioso el feudo de sus rivales). Ricardo de York va al norte para intentar acabar con los últimos restos de los Lancaster, pero estos, con el apoyo de los escoceses, los aplastan en la batalla de Wakefiel (gana Lancaster). Las dos principales figuras del bando York: Ricardo y el duque de Salisbury son capturados y ejecutados por la reina, también el hijo mayor de Ricardo, Edmundo ¿Cometió un error la reina ejecutando a estos personajes? La ejecución de estos personajes elevó el enfrentamiento a una guerra sin cuartel, en la que los dos hijos restantes de Ricardo de York, Eduardo y Ricardo, ambos serían reyes, juraron no cejar en su empeño hasta cumplir su venganza.......
Hay otra cuestión de fondo que no tiene explicación. Durante estos años de mediados del siglo XV, Ricardo de York tuvo bajo su absoluto control al Rey Enrique VI, en calidad de Lord Protector. ¿Porqué no lo depuso y se hizo con la corona? ¿No habría ahorrado esto años de guerra y sufrimiento? ¿Era tan fuerte el poder y el ascendiente que la corona tenía sobre el pueblo que no se atrevió?
Apasionante y trepidante libro. Recomendable.
June 22, 2025
За съжаление, нивото на поредицата пада доста в тази книга - имам чувството, че съм прочел малко по-разчупен учебник или учебно помагало на тема "Войната на розите".
Липсват цвят и есе��ция, както у героите, така и на предадените събития - на моменти книгата е доста скучна, макар и достатъчно информативна и подробна.
Липсват цвят и есе��ция, както у героите, така и на предадените събития - на моменти книгата е доста скучна, макар и достатъчно информативна и подробна.
November 17, 2021
Read this book in 2014, and its the 2nd volume of the wonderful "Wars Of The Roses" series.
This book starts off in AD 1454, and King Henry VI, House of Lancaster, finds himself mostly within Windsor castle, struck down with an illness.
His wife, the fiercely Queen Margaret of Anjou is doing everything she can to ensure that her husband's interest are protected, and her son Edward will know the love of his father one day.
On the other side of the spectrum there's Duke Richard, House of York, and he's looking for compatriots in his endeavour to extend his influence within the Kingdom, and he will them in the Earls of Salisbury and Warwick.
Together they are trying to break the support of those of who will fight for their King and Queen.
But when King Henry VI recovers unexpectantly from his sickness, and returns to London and reclaim his throne, this action wil be the spark that will set into motion the War between the Houses of Lancaster and York.
What is to follow is an amazing and thrilling retelling of the last days of King Henry V's reign, and the subsequent War that will follow between the Houses of Lancaster and York, and all this epic tale is brought to us in a most fabulous fashion by the author.
Highly recommended, for this is a tremendous addition to this excellent series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Superb Wars Of The Roses Sequel"!
This book starts off in AD 1454, and King Henry VI, House of Lancaster, finds himself mostly within Windsor castle, struck down with an illness.
His wife, the fiercely Queen Margaret of Anjou is doing everything she can to ensure that her husband's interest are protected, and her son Edward will know the love of his father one day.
On the other side of the spectrum there's Duke Richard, House of York, and he's looking for compatriots in his endeavour to extend his influence within the Kingdom, and he will them in the Earls of Salisbury and Warwick.
Together they are trying to break the support of those of who will fight for their King and Queen.
But when King Henry VI recovers unexpectantly from his sickness, and returns to London and reclaim his throne, this action wil be the spark that will set into motion the War between the Houses of Lancaster and York.
What is to follow is an amazing and thrilling retelling of the last days of King Henry V's reign, and the subsequent War that will follow between the Houses of Lancaster and York, and all this epic tale is brought to us in a most fabulous fashion by the author.
Highly recommended, for this is a tremendous addition to this excellent series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Superb Wars Of The Roses Sequel"!
February 1, 2018
-Todo sigue pareciendo “artificial”.-
Género. Novela histórica.
Lo que nos cuenta. En el libro La Guerra de las Dos Rosas. Trinidad (publicación original: War of the Roses. Trinity, 2014), con el rey Enrique fuera de juego, es Ricardo de York, protector y defensor del reino, quien está al frente de Inglaterra y sus afinidades marcan recompensas y castigos entre la nobleza. Pero la repentina recuperación del rey cambia la situación de manera inesperada, por lo que se van dando las situaciones que llevan hacia la Primera Batalla de St. Albans y el comienzo de la Guerra de las Dos Rosas, la guerra civil, que traerá más combates y muertes. Segundo libro de la saga La Guerra de las Dos Rosas.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Novela histórica.
Lo que nos cuenta. En el libro La Guerra de las Dos Rosas. Trinidad (publicación original: War of the Roses. Trinity, 2014), con el rey Enrique fuera de juego, es Ricardo de York, protector y defensor del reino, quien está al frente de Inglaterra y sus afinidades marcan recompensas y castigos entre la nobleza. Pero la repentina recuperación del rey cambia la situación de manera inesperada, por lo que se van dando las situaciones que llevan hacia la Primera Batalla de St. Albans y el comienzo de la Guerra de las Dos Rosas, la guerra civil, que traerá más combates y muertes. Segundo libro de la saga La Guerra de las Dos Rosas.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
September 30, 2015
With this second volume of his Wars of the Roses series, Mr. Iggulden has once again done a very good job of telling the story of the rivalry between two branches of the English Royal House. In this volume the author tells the tale of the opening stages of the multigenerational feud that tore apart the House of Plantagenet.
The story begins in 1454 with the feud between the houses of Neville and Percy. One of the first scenes is Thomas Percy,the younger son of Earl of Northumberland, raiding the wedding of the sons of Neville’s with the express goal of killing the head of the House of Neville, the Earl of Salisbury. The novel ends with the Battle of Wakefield that was fought in December of 1460. Mr. Iggulden writes some good battle sequences, including the 1st battle of St. Albans and the Battle of Wakefield.
In telling the story, Mr. Iggulden divides the story into two parts. The first part telling the story of Henry VI’s recovery from his stupor and culminating in his removing Richard of York as Lord Protector of England. This takes place in 1454-5. The second part of the book takes place 5 yrs later and tells the story of York and Salisbury attempting to reverse the bill of attainder that has branded them as traitors. While temporarily successful, they eventually lose the Battle of Wakefield and as a result literally their heads.
I felt in this novel Richard of York is treated much more sympathetically than he was in the first novel. While he doesn’t treat Henry and Margret with deference, he doesn’t usurp the crown in spite of numerous opportunities to do so. Salisbury is presented as urging Richard to take the throne – all in the name of good governance of course. Richard is presented as more motivated by giving England good governance and later redeeming his honor and recovering his inheritance, not with malice towards Henry or the house of Lancaster
On the Lancaster side of the novel, his portrait of Henry VI is sympathetic. Henry’s awaking in the winter of ’54 is well done. He awakens after being completely unaware of his surrounding for several years and is even unaware he has a son. His determination to resume his duties is well presented. In the second half of the novel, his determination seems to be mainly inspired by his wife Margret. He is depicted as almost childlike. By the time the second part of the novel begins he has an almost pathological aversion to blood which frustrates the people around him who are trying to make him act as a king.
His queen, Margret is presented as very determined to preserve her and her husband’s position, even when his brings her into conflict with the Duke of York. Her attempts to make her husband act like a king are well done.
Finally, I felt the book flowed well, but is a little slow in spots. Mr. Iggulden does stay reasonably close to the actual history. What changes he has made are explained in his authors note. The changes mainly consist of telescoping some events, specifically Henry’s recovery and putting Margret at the scene of Wakefield. All in all I found this a solid 4 star read
The story begins in 1454 with the feud between the houses of Neville and Percy. One of the first scenes is Thomas Percy,the younger son of Earl of Northumberland, raiding the wedding of the sons of Neville’s with the express goal of killing the head of the House of Neville, the Earl of Salisbury. The novel ends with the Battle of Wakefield that was fought in December of 1460. Mr. Iggulden writes some good battle sequences, including the 1st battle of St. Albans and the Battle of Wakefield.
In telling the story, Mr. Iggulden divides the story into two parts. The first part telling the story of Henry VI’s recovery from his stupor and culminating in his removing Richard of York as Lord Protector of England. This takes place in 1454-5. The second part of the book takes place 5 yrs later and tells the story of York and Salisbury attempting to reverse the bill of attainder that has branded them as traitors. While temporarily successful, they eventually lose the Battle of Wakefield and as a result literally their heads.
I felt in this novel Richard of York is treated much more sympathetically than he was in the first novel. While he doesn’t treat Henry and Margret with deference, he doesn’t usurp the crown in spite of numerous opportunities to do so. Salisbury is presented as urging Richard to take the throne – all in the name of good governance of course. Richard is presented as more motivated by giving England good governance and later redeeming his honor and recovering his inheritance, not with malice towards Henry or the house of Lancaster
On the Lancaster side of the novel, his portrait of Henry VI is sympathetic. Henry’s awaking in the winter of ’54 is well done. He awakens after being completely unaware of his surrounding for several years and is even unaware he has a son. His determination to resume his duties is well presented. In the second half of the novel, his determination seems to be mainly inspired by his wife Margret. He is depicted as almost childlike. By the time the second part of the novel begins he has an almost pathological aversion to blood which frustrates the people around him who are trying to make him act as a king.
His queen, Margret is presented as very determined to preserve her and her husband’s position, even when his brings her into conflict with the Duke of York. Her attempts to make her husband act like a king are well done.
Finally, I felt the book flowed well, but is a little slow in spots. Mr. Iggulden does stay reasonably close to the actual history. What changes he has made are explained in his authors note. The changes mainly consist of telescoping some events, specifically Henry’s recovery and putting Margret at the scene of Wakefield. All in all I found this a solid 4 star read
June 4, 2015
Trinity is the second installment in Iggulden's unique Wars of the Roses trilogy, which began with Stormbird. For inexplicable reasons, it is being released as Margaret of Anjou in the US. Margaret is an important character, as she was in the first book, but she is not featured any more than several others.
This book started out slowly for me. Relating the feud between the Percys and the Nevilles and its impact on the beginning of the Wars of the Roses should have been interesting as the loss of France had been in Stormbird, but this storyline simply fell flat for me. If the first book hadn't been amazing, I might have given up on this one. I'm glad I didn't.
Once Iggulden got to the First Battle of St Albans, this started to read like the book I had been expecting. The battle scenes are unparalleled with various points of view giving a comprehensive view of the battle without becoming confusing or bogged down in detail.The author manages a large cast of characters and complicated maneuvering with great skill.
One disappointment that was never resolved was the characterization of Richard of York. In Stormbird, he seemed to be a quiet villain lying in wait. Seeing the failures in Henry's policies, Richard was ready to take up the reins. Then in Trinity he becomes more honorable, and Salisbury works as the driving force behind the rebellion. York doesn't want to fight against his king, but truly wants to see him under better advisement. More than once, he declines opportunities to grasp at the throne or rid the country of its inept king. I don't mind either of these characterizations, but the fact that it wasn't consistent bothered me.
Though I believe Iggulden is attempting to write a version of history that is complimentary to Margaret of Anjou, there just doesn't seem to be a way to portray her as anything other than a cold-blooded, cruel woman who makes decisions to send thousands to their deaths rather than let someone who is not mentally ill rule England. In Stormbird I could feel sorry for the young bride who did not understand the sacrifices being made for the sake of her marriage. By the time period covered in Trintiy she knows exactly what she is doing and does it anyway.
The last 200 pages of this were 5 star, just like the first book. Unfortunately, the first 300 were closer to 3. I expect that the final book of the trilogy, which will take up the story of Edward of York continuing his father's fight, will be quite the page turner.
This book started out slowly for me. Relating the feud between the Percys and the Nevilles and its impact on the beginning of the Wars of the Roses should have been interesting as the loss of France had been in Stormbird, but this storyline simply fell flat for me. If the first book hadn't been amazing, I might have given up on this one. I'm glad I didn't.
Once Iggulden got to the First Battle of St Albans, this started to read like the book I had been expecting. The battle scenes are unparalleled with various points of view giving a comprehensive view of the battle without becoming confusing or bogged down in detail.The author manages a large cast of characters and complicated maneuvering with great skill.
One disappointment that was never resolved was the characterization of Richard of York. In Stormbird, he seemed to be a quiet villain lying in wait. Seeing the failures in Henry's policies, Richard was ready to take up the reins. Then in Trinity he becomes more honorable, and Salisbury works as the driving force behind the rebellion. York doesn't want to fight against his king, but truly wants to see him under better advisement. More than once, he declines opportunities to grasp at the throne or rid the country of its inept king. I don't mind either of these characterizations, but the fact that it wasn't consistent bothered me.
Though I believe Iggulden is attempting to write a version of history that is complimentary to Margaret of Anjou, there just doesn't seem to be a way to portray her as anything other than a cold-blooded, cruel woman who makes decisions to send thousands to their deaths rather than let someone who is not mentally ill rule England. In Stormbird I could feel sorry for the young bride who did not understand the sacrifices being made for the sake of her marriage. By the time period covered in Trintiy she knows exactly what she is doing and does it anyway.
The last 200 pages of this were 5 star, just like the first book. Unfortunately, the first 300 were closer to 3. I expect that the final book of the trilogy, which will take up the story of Edward of York continuing his father's fight, will be quite the page turner.
August 13, 2016
This was only 3 stars for me....I was expecting it to be a little higher because it was Conn Iggulden. I thoroughly loved reading the first two books in his Conquerer series as well as the first one in his Emperor series. This one just didn't grab me as much as the others. I think it felt lopsided. To me that means that it was super heavy on the historical facts and light on the fiction side.
I liked Margaret of Anjou though. I appreciated her strength and conviction and I even found myself feeling a little miserable for her.
I liked Margaret of Anjou though. I appreciated her strength and conviction and I even found myself feeling a little miserable for her.
July 5, 2020
En éste libro se puede apreciar las luchas y desencuentros entre la reina Margarita y los partidarios del rey Enrique VI en contra del duque de York, que terminaron por enfrentar ambos bandos en una lucha encarnizada por la supervivencia y el poder ante la ineptitud e ineficacia de un soberano que no tenía el temple para gobernar.
March 26, 2022
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4 1/2 stars - Excellent. Starting next in series very soon.
September 11, 2021
Re-read. My initial review is lost. I expect I did not lose much!
This book was about the Wars of the Roses occurring in England immediately after the Hundred Years war between England and France. The writing was superb despite my inability to keep the characters straight in my head all of the time.
Thank you, Mr. Iggulden, for a good read.
This book was about the Wars of the Roses occurring in England immediately after the Hundred Years war between England and France. The writing was superb despite my inability to keep the characters straight in my head all of the time.
Thank you, Mr. Iggulden, for a good read.
September 18, 2020
DNF : 71%
Sorry not sorry; I have read this book since last month and I do not feel I can finish it, the progress is very slow and I find boring especially after King Henry returned to his illness and the discription of the fights make me skip the pages , so yeah I stopped reading it!
Sorry not sorry; I have read this book since last month and I do not feel I can finish it, the progress is very slow and I find boring especially after King Henry returned to his illness and the discription of the fights make me skip the pages , so yeah I stopped reading it!
July 8, 2022
Mucho más fluido que el anterior.
May 23, 2023
Историята започна с три звезди, но завърши с пет и смятам четирите звезди за една обективна оценка. Първата част на историята върви малко бавно, но това се дължи на големия състав от герои, които трябва да заемат своите места в ума на читателя. Втората половина има характерната за перото на Игълдън енергия и динамика, и ми пълни душата.
Авторът се придържа стриктно към историчеката действителност и само мога да си представям какви проучвания са залегнали в това.
Оценявам опита да представи Маргарет Анжуйска в една по-позитивна роля, а не като интригант и кръволок, каквото е общоприетото схващане за нея.
Разбира се, характерът на историята е такъв, че повествованието е изпълнено основно с подготовка и разгръщане на кървави и зловонни битки, но оставя в съзнанието на читателя поводи за размисъл около делата и личностите на Маргарет, благородниците Невил и Йорк.
Не ми допада идеята (общоприетото схващане), че френската принцеса и английска кралица няма право да защитава правото на своя син и престолонаследник, но лордовете Йорк, Солсбъри, Уорик - имат право да покриват полетата с трупове, за да предпазят краля от лошото влияние на други английски благородници и кралицата. Радвам се, че и авторът не е залитнал по тази идея и се е опитал безпристрастно да развие борбата за надмощие.
Сега си давам сметка, че работата на Игълдън по Цезар и Чингис хан е вдигнала летвата на такова ниво, че е много трудно да не си критичен към пресъздаването на благородническата война в Англия от XV в..
Авторът се придържа стриктно към историчеката действителност и само мога да си представям какви проучвания са залегнали в това.
Оценявам опита да представи Маргарет Анжуйска в една по-позитивна роля, а не като интригант и кръволок, каквото е общоприетото схващане за нея.
Разбира се, характерът на историята е такъв, че повествованието е изпълнено основно с подготовка и разгръщане на кървави и зловонни битки, но оставя в съзнанието на читателя поводи за размисъл около делата и личностите на Маргарет, благородниците Невил и Йорк.
Не ми допада идеята (общоприетото схващане), че френската принцеса и английска кралица няма право да защитава правото на своя син и престолонаследник, но лордовете Йорк, Солсбъри, Уорик - имат право да покриват полетата с трупове, за да предпазят краля от лошото влияние на други английски благородници и кралицата. Радвам се, че и авторът не е залитнал по тази идея и се е опитал безпристрастно да развие борбата за надмощие.
Сега си давам сметка, че работата на Игълдън по Цезар и Чингис хан е вдигнала летвата на такова ниво, че е много трудно да не си критичен към пресъздаването на благородническата война в Англия от XV в..
October 8, 2014
Sadly disappointed by this book.
There's none of the intrigue, treachery, subterfuge or evocative emotion of the first book, leaving what's left feeling remarkably hollow. Richard, Duke of York and one of the key protagonists, seems to have lost all trace of his backbone for no apparent reason. Derry Brewer, spymaster, is hardly used at all and everything just kind of plods along at it's own pedestrian pace rather than keeping your mind buzzing and ticking over.
Even the relevance of the name of the book, 'Trinity', isn't explained until the very end, after at least two of the main characters have meet sticky, or rather sharp, ends and feels more like an afterthought to tie it into the next book like selotape rather than something directly related to the story that unfolds in the book it is the title of.
Generally rather limp, trudging and mechanical, this book is virtually everything I hoped it wouldn't be. There's also a slightly strange moment when the author explicitly says that both Warwick and Caesar's goal was London... when London didn't even exist until almost a century AFTER Caesar's assassination.
Don't get me wrong, I'll probably still read the third instalment but this has seriously dented any likelihood of me actually buying a copy of book 3 and made me most likely to just get one from the library.
There's none of the intrigue, treachery, subterfuge or evocative emotion of the first book, leaving what's left feeling remarkably hollow. Richard, Duke of York and one of the key protagonists, seems to have lost all trace of his backbone for no apparent reason. Derry Brewer, spymaster, is hardly used at all and everything just kind of plods along at it's own pedestrian pace rather than keeping your mind buzzing and ticking over.
Even the relevance of the name of the book, 'Trinity', isn't explained until the very end, after at least two of the main characters have meet sticky, or rather sharp, ends and feels more like an afterthought to tie it into the next book like selotape rather than something directly related to the story that unfolds in the book it is the title of.
Generally rather limp, trudging and mechanical, this book is virtually everything I hoped it wouldn't be. There's also a slightly strange moment when the author explicitly says that both Warwick and Caesar's goal was London... when London didn't even exist until almost a century AFTER Caesar's assassination.
Don't get me wrong, I'll probably still read the third instalment but this has seriously dented any likelihood of me actually buying a copy of book 3 and made me most likely to just get one from the library.
December 18, 2017
Excellent historical book! For someone that has read several books about pre-Tudor and Tudor England this book fills in some blanks and lends perspective. Any historical inaccuracy is detailed in foot and post note.
For people who have read (or watched) the books by Phillippa Gregory on Elizabeth Woodville and Elizabeth of York this is your prequel.
I must also say that this presents Margaret of Anjou in a very sympathetic light. Again - a great perspective.
For people who have read (or watched) the books by Phillippa Gregory on Elizabeth Woodville and Elizabeth of York this is your prequel.
I must also say that this presents Margaret of Anjou in a very sympathetic light. Again - a great perspective.
November 25, 2016
Mucho más ágil de lectura que el anterior y plagada de actitudes sorprendentes de los personajes principales. Esperando impaciente el desenlace.
June 3, 2020
Probably the peak of this series so far, better than both the books before and after in the series
August 23, 2015
Trinity is the second book in Conn Iggulden's Wars of the Roses series and revolves around the deepening political and dynastic enmity between Margaret of Anjou, the formidable wife to King Henry VI of England, and the king's embittered cousin Richard Plantagenet duke of York as they fight over who will rule in England and who, in the end, will be the true king. There are bitter inter-family feuds, secret treaties, chaos and corruption in England, furious intrigues, swift and inglorious battles and at the heart of it all lies the inept and ineffective Henry VI; unable or unwilling to manage his own realm. Out of the ashes rises the trinity of Richard Plantagenet duke of York, Richard Neville earl of Salisbury and Richard Neville (his son) earl of Warwick, three men determined to save England from ruin and her feckless king.
It's safe to say that interest in medieval history and warfare has been in a state of fevered frenzy since the (in)famous TV show Game of Thrones hit the small screen in 2009. Thanks to the incredible popularity of the show and the bitterly resented wait for the series much anticipated book the Winds of Winter, people have been turning in droves to historical fiction, hoping to find similar books to whet their appetite for politics, murder, treachery, kings and wars without end. Naturally Conn Iggulden has taken notice of this trend and with his wars of the roses series now looks to garner the interest and enthusiasm of forlorn GoT fans.
(At times Iggulden's clear admiration for GoT crosses the line for subtlety and becomes painfully blatant. He actually writes the phase 'Game of Thrones' and upon seeing that I was highly tempted to call G. R. R. M to ask whether he thought imitation was the sincerest form of flattery.)
Guess which one Conn Iggulden is......
Now onto Trinity itself
Trinity focuses on the period of 1454-1461 and centres on England, the borders of Scotland and Wales and the garrison of Calais. At the start Henry VI lies in a catatonic state in Windsor, unable to govern his disorganised and increasingly lawless kingdom leaving the Richard Plantagenet duke of York to take up the mantles and trappings of power as Protector and Defender of the Realm. Understandably Henry VI's determined, energetic and shrewd Queen Margaret reacts with fury and outrage at seeing York invested with the powers of a king and is fearful of his possible motives towards the Crown. Despite the best intentions of York, tensions simmer and spill into conflict as York and Lancaster, the King and his Lords and England itself descend into civil war.
IMHO I think that Trinity is a noted improvement on the previous Stormbird. The characters are more clearly defined, their importance and roles emphasised in relation to history, the writing is tighter and more enticing and plot itself does not stray markedly from the historical sources. Derry Brewer, while still an essential character, has a more believable role in Trinity and does not leave the influence (and rarely the vicinity) of his patron Margaret of Anjou. Being fictional, Iggulden wisely restrains putting too much prominence on his actions. In essence Brewer has become a side character and benefits greatly from it.
Trinity strengths are definitely its' fast pace, sharp plotting and its evocative battle scenes. The first battle of St. Albans in 1455 was particularly well-written and joyfully gory. Iggulden's knowledge concerning the trials and hardships of knights, their daily routine in war times and the methods of medieval warfare and weaponry were among my favourite aspects to Trinity and certainly Iggulden deserves kudos in that regard.
However Trinity did have its downsides and for me that lay in the characterisation, writing and rather bizarre theories put forward throughout the novel.
For me, the characters in Trinity were somewhat lacklustre, inconsistent and passionless.
Margaret of Anjou was called by Shakespeare 'the She-Wolf' and it was a name she did much to earn. Margaret was a proud, ambitious, intelligent and tenacious woman. Devoted to her husband and son, Margaret never relinquished the struggle for their right to rule. Employing mercenaries, enlisting Scottish warriors in exchange for Berwick and accusing York and his allies of treason, Margaret was a truly remarkable woman. But in Trinity Margaret is muted, downplayed and at times rather annoying. There is no fire in her characterisation and the references to her beauty, her struggles not to cry, the emptiness of her 'womb' grate as the novel wears on. Her negotiations with the Scottish Queen Regent Marie of Guelders are ridiculous; they struck me as far too casual and warm.
Henry VI was a highly inconsistent character. One minute lying in a catatonic state,indifferent to the outside world and his own new-born son Edward, his rapid transformation from passive and benign to fierce and ruthless was difficult to believe or understand. One minute he lying listless in bed, the next he marches in armour to York demanding his kingdom back! His lapse back into indifference felt rushed and underdeveloped. We have no idea why it happened.
Richard duke of York got a mildly better deal in Trinity. In Stormbird I felt he was slightly demonised and am pleased that Iggulden decided to add some moral ambiguity and emotional complexity to his character. York is a proud and stern warrior firmly entrenched in his belief that Henry VI is surrounded by unworthy advisors. He is by far the novels most complicated and intriguing character; his struggle to reconcile his opposing tenets of loyalty to the king and the need for fair government give poignancy and credibility to his trials. At times he comes as rather easily unnerved or alarmed which struck me as another inconsistency.
Derry Brewer is a completely fictional character; he is the elusive and crafty spymaster for Margaret of Anjou and is determined to secure Henry VI's rule over England. Brewer is often shown to be the novels' most crafty character; a master of disguises, military ambushes, countywide espionage and the like. To me Brewer felt like semi superfluous character, not really needed yet often kept around for plot purposes. Despite this I enjoyed his jaunty and devoted character; his loyalty to Margaret and Henry is to be commended and he serves as one of the more morally good players in this novel.
The writing style of Trinity was perfectly serviceable and easy to read though the battle scenes were by far the best written. The novel's fast pace left little time for greater complexity and intrigue to be fleshed out. There was, however, a certain boisterous energy and enthusiasm that encouraged me to read quickly and kept me interested. It was an easy read with a very workmanlike approach.
One of the stranger aspects to the book was Iggulden's attitude to Richard III, York's youngest son. Thanks to the discovery of Richards bones in Leicester in 2012 we now know that he had scoliosis and his right shoulder was noticeably higher then the left. Richards scoliosis developed AFTER the age of ten and its cause was unknown (still is today). In Trinity, however, a two year Richard has a spine so bent and painful that York wishes that his son had been left to die out in the wilderness! I can not emphasise how historically inaccurate this is and how we have no evidence that York would say such a thing. The whole thing felt highly melodramatic.
All in all, I give 6/10 to Trinity. An enjoyable, fast-paced and well plotted novel although lacking in characterisation and writing nuance, Trinity will appeal to historical fans indeed.
September 6, 2017
1454. It has been seventeen years of Henry VI's rule. But all is not well with Henry Vi's mind. This is causing trouble as other powerful members, especially Richard of York, plot to take the throne. Caught up in the middle is Henry's wife- Queen Margaret of Anjou.
It was interesting to see the Queen's political games after Henry's capture. While the troika of Lords opposed to the Lancaster rule -York, Salisbury and Warwick- is indeed formidable it is never wise to underestimate the power of a Queen. I think Margaret did the best she could with the the situation, since her alternative would likely have been death.
The author also makes out Richard, Duke of York, to be a fairly decent person. He is uncomfortable with the way this conflict is turning out, but he see's himself with no choice since for him it means the loss of his house and titles.
A great and exciting story of a real life Game of Thrones. Unlike the tv show-to lose is indeed to die. In modern times the Nobility is looked down on-this is from a time where the Nobility earned their titles-or lost it all (and their heads). There is something to respect about that.
A great historical fiction of the Wars of the Roses. Superb work....
It was interesting to see the Queen's political games after Henry's capture. While the troika of Lords opposed to the Lancaster rule -York, Salisbury and Warwick- is indeed formidable it is never wise to underestimate the power of a Queen. I think Margaret did the best she could with the the situation, since her alternative would likely have been death.
The author also makes out Richard, Duke of York, to be a fairly decent person. He is uncomfortable with the way this conflict is turning out, but he see's himself with no choice since for him it means the loss of his house and titles.
A great and exciting story of a real life Game of Thrones. Unlike the tv show-to lose is indeed to die. In modern times the Nobility is looked down on-this is from a time where the Nobility earned their titles-or lost it all (and their heads). There is something to respect about that.
A great historical fiction of the Wars of the Roses. Superb work....
April 17, 2020
4 stars - I really liked it!
This book was certainly on par with its prequel Stormbird. So far, I have thoroughly enjoyed Iggulden's recounts of the War of the Roses, which I think he presents from a relatively balanced point of view.
The action scenes are nice. You really get to see a lot of character development of so many key players in the politics of the time. Also, you get to see a whole lot of badass women - Margaret is by far my favourite character, and she is 100% more strong-willed than any of the men she is dealing with. Literally none of them could ever reach her standard. She is god tier.
But anyway... If you enjoy medieval history, then you should definitely pick up this series! You won't regret it!
This book was certainly on par with its prequel Stormbird. So far, I have thoroughly enjoyed Iggulden's recounts of the War of the Roses, which I think he presents from a relatively balanced point of view.
The action scenes are nice. You really get to see a lot of character development of so many key players in the politics of the time. Also, you get to see a whole lot of badass women - Margaret is by far my favourite character, and she is 100% more strong-willed than any of the men she is dealing with. Literally none of them could ever reach her standard. She is god tier.
But anyway... If you enjoy medieval history, then you should definitely pick up this series! You won't regret it!
August 10, 2018
Recenzia completă se poate citi pe blog: http://andreeapandelea.blogspot.com/2...
Mult mai bun față de primul volum, „Pasărea Furtunii”! Iar finalul, oh, cât de mult m-a întristat! De ce trebuie ca personajele pe care le îndrăgesc atât de mult, să moară? De ce, de ce? Pentru ceea ce a făcut Margaret de Anjou, dacă în alte cărți și în serialul The White Queen nu am detestat-o, în „Treimea” am urât-o pentru decizia luată. Recenzia va apărea în curând.
Mult mai bun față de primul volum, „Pasărea Furtunii”! Iar finalul, oh, cât de mult m-a întristat! De ce trebuie ca personajele pe care le îndrăgesc atât de mult, să moară? De ce, de ce? Pentru ceea ce a făcut Margaret de Anjou, dacă în alte cărți și în serialul The White Queen nu am detestat-o, în „Treimea” am urât-o pentru decizia luată. Recenzia va apărea în curând.
July 23, 2022
I enjoyed this installment.
I am fascinated by the authors attempt to not take sides and be respectful to all parties.
I like the way he presents The Yorks. I'm interested to see how he handles Richard III's character.
I am fascinated by the authors attempt to not take sides and be respectful to all parties.
I like the way he presents The Yorks. I'm interested to see how he handles Richard III's character.
June 19, 2022
It has been a while since I read anything about this period, and then it was in a college textbook--dry as old parchment. This book brought poor and ailing Henry VI, his determined French bride, and the Duke of York alive. Most of all, it showed the futility of this feud between the houses of York and Lancaster. York wanted to support his king. The queen thought York a traitor. York, while wanting the crown, couldn't--for whatever reason--bring himself to do the one thing to guarantee it...kill King Henry.
The story stayed true to history, and the few deviations, the author set out in the end notes. I did find some of the extensive battle scenes tedious. There's just so much hacking off of limbs I can take, but if you want to write a good, gory medieval battle scene, this author has them down.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, and even knowing the outcome, I couldn't stop hoping it would be different this time.
The story stayed true to history, and the few deviations, the author set out in the end notes. I did find some of the extensive battle scenes tedious. There's just so much hacking off of limbs I can take, but if you want to write a good, gory medieval battle scene, this author has them down.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, and even knowing the outcome, I couldn't stop hoping it would be different this time.
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