R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed on 8/15/2015 + 1453 more book reviews

Enter the War of the Roses and read about changing royalty as the Lancasterians and the Yorkists duel over who should be king. Lots of tragedy and blood as supporters of the side out of power are imprisoned, killed in battle or executed in one way or another. The two characters I liked best were Harry and Kate who tell the story. We begin with King Henry who is deposed because of madness snd King Edward IV comes to the throne. Than he isn't king. Than he is. Than he isn't. Chaos keeps the nobles on their toes. Meanwhile, King Edward falls in love with Kate's sister Elizabeth (Bessie) and marries her in secret. When the marriage is announced, Kate goes to court where she becomes the wife of the Duke of Buckingham. Both are very young, understanding little of the political arena in which they will live. King Edward brings peace to the country at last but when he dies unexpectedly the chaos begins all over as Richard decides he wants the throne. Innocents die, lies are spread and King Edward's two sons are murdered. Kate hates the new king but her husband suppots him until the murder of the young princes. Much has been written about the princes in the tower and I have read other takes on what happened. This is Higginbotham's take which she explains at the end of the novel along with her reasoning and references. I rated it four stars.

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