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Bettie's Books

A Stuga On the Cusp of the Orust Riviera, tucked away next to a hobbit hole in the woods.

Stormbird

Stormbird - Conn Iggulden

bookshelves: published-2013, medieval5c-16c, historical-fiction, fraudio, winter-20132014, series, plantagenet-1154-1485, epic-proportions, britain-england, war, france

13 hours and 45 minutes, read by Roy McMillan.

From the description: The thrilling first instalment in the Wars of the Roses series - set at the beginnings of this turbulent period of English history which saw the throne change hands six times in 30 years.

The Swan sees Henry VI crowned King of England and married to the young French noblewoman, Margaret of Anjou - and so begins the extraordinary story of how England became a divided nation, where brother took up arms against brother. This was the war which defined the England we know today.

The Wars of the Roses series will be a landmark piece of historical fiction writing, with all the intrigue, drama, and action one expects from one of the biggest names in the genre. This is Conn Iggulden at his finest.


The prologue is the death of Edward III in 1377. Chapter 1 opens out sixty-six years later, in 1443, and the monarch is Henry VI.



That Treaty of Tours caused a bit of a to-do, didn't it!? Iggulden has fleshed out every character beautifully; no coat-hanger personalities or 2D cardboard cut-outs here and I especially like his writing up of Margaret of Anjou.



Henry VI and Margaret were married at Titchfield Abbey in April 1443.

Thoroughly enjoyed the intricacies as the plot against the King gathers apace. Bring on the next!