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A review by jmatkinson1
Bloodline by Conn Iggulden
5.0
The aftermath of the battle at Sandal is the starting point of the escalation of war between the houses of Lancaster and York. Queen Margaret has overseen the slaughter of the Duke of York and his son plus the Earl of Salisbury and his son. This has made the remaining members of the York and Neville dynasties implacable enemies. Meeting in a climactic battle at Towton the Yorkist forces are victorious and this places King Edward on the throne. England now has two kings, Henry VI still lives in imprisonment and the Lancastrian dynasty is still alive. As Edward's favour shifts from the Neville family to the family of his wife, so he alienates Warwick, is closest friend and advisor.
This is the third book in Iggulden's series about the Wars of the Roses and again it is a triumph. Iggulden is strongest when writing about battle and his description of the battle of Towton is brilliant. Whilst there is a great deal of fictional licence in terms of his development of characters, his focus in this book tends to lie with Richard Neville (Warwick) and there is a clear understanding of Warwick's frustration and motivation as he contemplates changing sides. As an opposite to the more romanticised writing of Phillipa Gregory, but still displaying that level of research, this is a terrific read.
This is the third book in Iggulden's series about the Wars of the Roses and again it is a triumph. Iggulden is strongest when writing about battle and his description of the battle of Towton is brilliant. Whilst there is a great deal of fictional licence in terms of his development of characters, his focus in this book tends to lie with Richard Neville (Warwick) and there is a clear understanding of Warwick's frustration and motivation as he contemplates changing sides. As an opposite to the more romanticised writing of Phillipa Gregory, but still displaying that level of research, this is a terrific read.