About the book:One woman holds the key to England's most glorious empire in this intimate retelling of the launch of the Tudor dynasty A magnificent portrait of Elizabeth of York, set against the dramatic background of fifteenth century England. Elizabeth, the only living descendant of Edward IV, has the most valuable possession in all of England--a legitimate claim to the crown. Two princes battle to win Britain's most rightful heiress for a bride and her kingdom for his own. On one side is her uncle Richard, the last Plantagenet King, whom she fears is the murderer of her two brothers, the would-be kings. On the other side is Henry Tudor, the exiled knight. Can he save her from a horrifying marriage to a cut-throat soldier? Thrust into the intrigue and drama of the War of the Roses, Elizabeth has a country within her grasp-if she can find the strength to unite a kingdom torn apart by a thirst for power. A richly drawn tale of the woman who launched one of the most dramatic dynasties England has ever seen, The Tudor Rose is a vibrant, imaginative look at the power of a queen.
drey's thoughts:
The Tudor Rose is an interesting look at the life of Elizabeth of York. There is so much detail here, and so many people that I was confused at times as to who was whom. But that's not the fault of author Margaret Campbell Barnes, rather, it's due to my not-all-here brain not paying enough attention to what I was reading. *wry grin*
Took my slow brain a bit to realize that Uncle Richard was that Richard III, the same mad King in the play by Shakespeare. And that Elizabeth's favorite son Harry was that Henry. Once I did, all the little pieces fell into place and clicked.
I did think the prose was a little stiff at times. And yet, it didn't stop me from feeling a little sorry for Elizabeth. Sure, she was a princess, and a favorite of her father's. But that doesn't mean anything when your father's dead and your little brothers marched off to the Tower, does it? Nor when your own uncle proposes marriage, and the only other alternative is a dry, cold fish.
Fans of the period will want to check this book out. And if you, like me, didn't know what happened to the two princes, then the book trots out a mystery to unravel.
Giveaway!
Thanks to Sourcebooks, ONE lucky ducky will win a copy of The Tudor Rose!
Rules:
-- Contest is open to US and Canada residents, no PO Boxes please!
-- To enter, comment and share who your favorite Tudor is, if you have one.
-- Follow for 1 extra entry.
-- Share for 2 extra entries (let me know what & where, please).
-- Every 10 people entered gets another copy in the hat, so tell everyone! =)
-- Do it all before 6:00 pm CST October 19th. Good luck!
Challenges: 100+, Pub
Disclosure: My copy of The Tudor Rose was an ARC provided for the blog tour by Sourcebooks Casablanca.
