WARS OF THE ROSES: BLOODLINE by Conn Iggulden

"There are two Kings of England and the war will not stop till there is only one."

Wars of the Roses: Bloodline

Posted: October 19, 2016

King Henry VI is being held prisoner and his wife Margaret of Anjour is riding south with an army determined to get him and the throne back. In the process Richard Duke of York is killed and now his son must take over. Edward of March now Duke of York is crowned king while Henry VI still lives. England has two Kings and the war between the Lancasters and the York's counties.

It is winter in 1461 and the battles rage over the countryside. The weather is causing men to parrish as are the battles. Men do not normally fight in the winter and they are finding out why the hard way. But neither Margaret or Edward will quit. They are both determined to win the crown of England at any cost. Both believing they are the chosen ones by God. Well for Margaret it's her husband Henry, but he has some serious mental issues and she is the true power. How many will die to decide the ruler of England.

Conn Iggulden is the master of historical fiction. I have read his other series on Genghis Kahn and Julius Caesar and enjoyed them both. WARS OF THE ROSES BLOODLINE also well done and meticulously researched. The way he tells his stories makes you feel like you are there hearing what they say and how they respond making you part of history. He also makes a point at the end of the book to tell you who he made up, what he added and more detailed historical facts for those lovers of history. Of course, this is historical fiction and I realize no one was recording details of what people said back then, but the storytelling is superb and you will enjoy each and every page.

Book Summary

The brilliant retelling of the Wars of the Roses continues with Bloodline, the gripping third novel in the new series from historical fiction master Conn Iggulden.

Winter 1461: Richard, duke of York, is dead—his ambitions in ruins, his head spiked on the walls of the city.

King Henry VI is still held prisoner. His Lancastrian queen, Margaret of Anjou, rides south with an army of victorious northerners, accompanied by painted warriors from the Scottish Highlands. With the death of York, Margaret and her army seem unstoppable.

Yet in killing the father, Margaret has unleashed the sons.

Edward of March, now duke of York, proclaims himself England’s rightful king. Factions form and tear apart as snow falls. Through blood and treason, through broken men and vengeful women, brother shall confront brother, king shall face king.

Two men can always claim a crown—but only one can keep it.

Following Margaret of Anjou, Bloodline is the third epic installment in master storyteller Conn Iggulden’s new Wars of the Roses series. Fans of the Game of Thrones and the Tudors series will be gripped from the word “go.”