Rebecca Hill
Spoiler Alert***
The fate of the Princes in the Tower has long been one that has drawn speculation and debate. Many historians have laid the blame at their Uncle's feet, claiming that he murdered them in order to claim the throne for himself, and thereby removing any claim that they would have. Bertram Fields goes through all claims, and documents that he could to look at all possibilities and theories that surround their mysterious disappearance. He takes each theory and fleshes them out.
While reading through reviews, I was almost put off from reading this book, but upon the recommendation of others I decided to give it a go. I am really glad I did. While to some, the intricate details can be a put off, to many, you cannot draw a conclusion one way or the other without all the details. No lawyer goes to trial without as many of the details as he can get, witnesses and so forth, in order to make his case. This book is no different. It takes on the case from each side, and draws as many inferences as it can, while also destroying many of the conclusions that those who have written before have drawn.
I also have to admit that I laughed each time he called out Alison Weir on her “conclusions.” As she claims to “know what was on Richard's mind” when she writes, she declared in her book, “The Princes In The Tower” that she has solved the mystery. Fields brings back the case and shows that it is still as open as it was before. Without any DNA testing and conclusive proof, we are never going to know. However, given that it is 500 years after the fact, we can never have the conclusive proof, without finding a diary that was written to where the author confesses to the deed. Bertram Fields does a wonderful job in bringing the case around and showing all sides, those involved, and who COULD have had a motive to commit the deed. In my opinion, the only person he did not accuse which would have had a motive, would be Lady Stanley. BUT, he draws the case out and fleshes it out in a way that historians can look at it, and begin anew the case of the missing princes. Since so much time has gone by we may never have a definite answer, but the case against Richard has grown considerably weaker, and new suspects emerge with their own possibilities.
I think this book was a great read, and highly recommend it to anyone wishing to learn more about this case and also as a great starting point to anyone who might want begin learning about this fascinating period in history.
I sped-read through this book. His bias on Richard III is evident from the beginning and his evidence is bare. He outright says he does not like Richard III, and yet chose to write this book anyway, so he does not portray him in a good light. I was disappointed with the book overall. Not really recommending this one to be read. IF there was a current Tudor propagandist, Seward would more than fill those shoes. Quite a disappointing read
This is one book, which shocking for me, is one to be started, never finished. In the first 65 pages, there were so many inaccurate assumptions or “facts” as he calls them. I was very unimpressed with the book, and found some of his “facts” suspicious.
Sadly, this is one book I recommend people to just pass over!
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review
Julia McKenzie is searching for herself in the far West. As she tries to mend the pieces of her heart, she finds a way that she can improve the lives of those around her.
The Chinese immigrants have long been seen as less than human and given jobs and wages lower than their white counterparts. Julia longs to help these people find a way to fit into the community and she befriends a young woman and her brother. Lee Mei and Lee Meng do not want to see anything happen to Julia, but when they need help, she is the one that they turn to.
Julia is blown away when someone from her pasts blows back into her life, will she able to forgive the past and move forward or will she keep her heart out of reach to the one person who understands her the most?
I really loved this read, and was actually able to read through it in about two hours. It was enjoyable, and kept the momentum going throughout the read. Very enjoyable and I look forward to reading more from this author!
more coming soon
Catherine de Medici has long been a pariah in the royal circles. It was she who was blamed for some of France's darkest moments. However, in this refreshing look at her life, through her own words, we see the lengths that she went to in order to save France, and to keep her sons on the throne. She overcame many difficult obstacles in her life, to become the leading lady of the French court.
Great read, I enjoyed it!
I Won this book as an Advanced Read Copy
Set in ancient Greece, one city is determined to survive no matter the costs. Nikias is the son of the leader of the Platean city where they dwell. After a brutal surprise attack left the city reeling and the threat of another attack on its way, Nikias makes his decision, against his grandfather's wishes, to travel to Athens to search for warriors to come and defend his city from the Spartan attack.
As the old addage goes, if you go in search of trouble, trouble will find you. Almost from the beginning of the journey, Nikias is beset by troubles, those who are looking to kill him or those looking to use him to further their own cause. Although there are a few friends along the way, he he must be wary everywhere he looks and steps to avoid as much trouble as possible.
Eventually he is ready to make his way home, but will he get there in time to save his city from the Spartan Army?
I really enjoyed reading through this book. The story line was wonderful and it draws the reader in. You feel as though you become a part of the story itself, and you find yourself unable to put the book down. Noble Smith knows how to weave a story, and draw each character in to where they are all part of the tapestry. The one downside to the book for me was the blatant homosexuality that played through the entire story. Although in Greece it was not uncommon for some men to practice it to a point, it was played up in this book, and that is the only reason I could not give it five stars. Even without it, the book would have stood on its own. I really enjoyed the story line and the story of Nikias.
I don't think the author played out this story as well as she could have. In searching for his family history, James is also searching for information on his hero, but his hero has a darker side that was kept hidden from public view. In telling the story the author never really fully explains some of the twists hat she use in the plot and leave the reader scratching their head in wonder. One has to wonder if the author ran out of time to add to her story, but it would have been a better plot and a more fulfilling ending had she taken time to play it out. Very poor ending and to many things left undone to be a good book
The skaa have been beaten into submission. They keep their heads down, work hard, and do their best to survive. Some dare to dream of something more in the Final Empire. Kelsier has begun to plan something larger than the Final Empire has seen in centuries - an uprising that will destroy the Lord Ruler and free the skaa from the meager existence that they are eking out.
While he begins to build his team, he has once again recruited several men that have worked with him before, but he is also looking to bring on another member - one that has hidden powers, that they do not fully understand themselves. As he brings Vin into the crew, her demeanor is one of distrusting and wariness. She does not trust these men, even though they appear to be a lot closer than most of the crews that she has dealt with in the past. Her last crew was one of pain, hunger and humiliation. Members would sell you out for the smallest offense. Vin learned early on to keep her head down and keep to herself as much as she could.
Kelsier has started a small rebellion, one that started with the killing of a nobleman on a plantation - while the skaa hid in their homes. He has built a name for himself. He is a survivor of the Pits. The pits of Hathsin are a desolate place, one where people are sent to die. The atium that the Lord Ruler hoards so closely is mined there, and it is worth a fortune. No one has ever returned from the pits before, so Kelsier has become a celebrity in the underground networks, a person who should not be alive but has defied all the odds so far. As talk of rebellion begins - Kelsier lays out a plan so daring, most think he has finally lost his mind and is wandering around insane. Death does not scare him, and yet he is willing to lead others into danger to accomplish the task that they have been asked to fulfill.
As Vin and Kelsier begin working on the powers that lay hidden within Vin, she learns that she can do so much more than soothe the people around her. While it is a good power to fall back on, there are so many other areas that she did not know she could access. She is a Mistborn, an allomancer. Allomancy is the mystical power held by the nobility, granted to them by the Lord Ruler some thousand years before as a reward for their loyalty. Skaa are not supposed to have these powers, and anyone who shows knowledge of them without being of noble birth is slated for execution. While there are some skaa who have these powers, they are few and far in between, and they have to be extremely careful, as they are hunted by the Obligators and the Inquisitors, who stifle any form of rebellion or security risk to the Lord Ruler quickly.
The plan? Draw the armies out of the city, put the major houses in a power struggle and war against each other, and then hopefully be able to defeat the Lord Ruler. The odds are definitely stacked against them, and the chance of actual success is slim. Vin is going to act the part of a noblewoman, and begin to infiltrate the noble houses, and begin to glean some information on the members within each household. Sazed, who is a keeper, begins to give her some pointers and tips on passing as a noblewoman from the countryside, the niece of a minor nobleman. As she debuts into society, she meets the heir of the highest house, but this young man is much different from much of the nobles in the city. He thinks differently, and prefers to spend his time with books instead of people. While she is not impressed with their first meeting, feelings quickly change and a small friendship begins to open between the two. But the tensions between the houses are rising, and nobleman are beginning to turn up dead. It is only a matter of time before the entire city erupts, and the plans that have been laid so carefully by Kelsier, Breeze, Clubs, Dockson, Ham, and Vin are about to be swept away like the ashes that rain down on the city....
Oh my! My friends over at Gamerati have been after me to read these books for a couple of years. I cannot believe I let these go as long as I did!!! THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING! If you have not read this book before, you need to do so! I was immediately transported into the book, and hours would slip by before I realized, I should probably be sleeping or working. In my head I kept singing “Radioactive” by the Imagine Dragons as I was adventuring through this book. Brandon Sanderson draws you completely into the pages of his novel, and does not release the hold he has over you at all. This is the first book in a series of three - so be prepared for an epic journey! Pack your favorite treats and drinks and settle back on your couch for a vacation that will leave you breathless.
This is one book that honestly will make you sit on the edge of your seat and wonder what is going to happen next - the twists, the turns, the secrets.... they are all there waiting for you to discover them!!
Grab your copy today - and remember - There is always another secret....
I finished this book last night, and needless to say I was a little disappointed in it. Instead of being a historical fiction where it expanded the characters, I felt as though she had to force things to happen, and for her writing, she wanted history to fit her needs, not necessarily relying on the facts. I was highly disappointed with not only how she portrayed Maud, but other women in the script. She seemed to have heavy male characters, but the female characters seemed flimsy. This should be classified under romance, not historical fiction.
I dont normally pick on the writing itself, but it seemed that this book, although I wouldnt let my high schooler read it, would be an easy read for anyone middle school and up. The content is not one that I would let a younger person read, but her dialog left much to be desired and her word usage was just off. I also found several typos within the book. One where she referred to Maud and her two sons, and then the next paragraph down, it referred to the three sons. It seems that someone who was proofing this book should have found some of the errors.
Good book, but sometimes the characters felt as though they were forced, as though she didn't really know how to develop them further. I enjoyed reading the book, but a lot of the back story that you need for something like this was missing, and with the characters feeling awkward some of the time, it was a hard book to adjust to.
Ariane Cheney is to match wits with one of the worlds most whispered about witches, Catherine de Medici. Ariane has no idea what is going on when a wounded man shows up out of the blue. She is trying to keep her family afloat after her father walked out and her mother died. She feels the brunt of responsibility as so many people are looking to her. Her suitor, Renard, does not make things easier for her, although without him, her family would have perished with hardly a ripple.
Will Ariane be able to match wits with a murderess or will she succumb to the Dark Queen?
First and foremost, let me start off by saying that when you are writing biographical works, you have to try and leave bias out of it, and this is something that the author struggled with consistently throughout the entire book! It was very hard to read this as a historical work because of the obvious leanings that the author shows. I will leave the detective work to those that choose to read this book and not spoil it for those that might want to delve in. I would have liked to have given it a higher star rating, but due to the obvious biases that the author puts into her work, I could not rate it higher. If we could do half stars, I would have gone with 2.5
That being said, bias aside, I think that this work could be worth something. There is some great starter information in there for those that are curious about these three women. There really was not much new information, or explosive revelations that you do not find in other books, but no one has taken the time to really compare these women together, with their lives and private works that they were involved in. Both Elizabeth of York and Margaret Beaufort seemed to give quite a bit to religious charities, while Elizabeth Woodville seemed to almost prefer the church for its sanctuary.
I would have liked to see more work on Elizabeth of York, but I felt that the author drew quite a few of maybes, could have beens, and probably's when it came to Elizabeth and her formidable mother in law, Margaret. This book is worth a look, but do not let the bias of the author throw you off! It is a good starting point for future research and deeper study.
What a great read!! Varina Wescott has been sworn to secrecy by Queen Elizabeth of York, having been commissioned to sculpt effigies of her dead children and her missing brothers in the tower. As Varina deals with her overbearing suitor, and her growing affection for Nicholas Sutton, she is trying to figure out many things about herself and her future.
When she is asked by Queen Elizabeth to go with Nicholas Sutton to Wales to attend to the body of the Prince, after his untimely death, and to find out if foul play was involved. Death seems to follow Varina. With her business mainly being funerary candles, it is not unlikely, but it also bring it to the forefront for her. She must confront one of her demons to get her son back alive, and she must also attempt to figure out who is trying to kill the King and Queen and their family and why.
Will she be successful for not??
I loved this book! It was quite interesting, but it also had some historical inaccuracies that as time has now shown are wrong. Being written when it was, some of the facts were not known, but there were also a few issues of guessing. Overall this book was wonderful! It was pretty clean, and the book itself was wonderful. This is one that I would read again!
I found this book to be hard to follow. It had some great information but it jumped around enough to get a little confusing to follow at times.
Ross Sinclair is thrust back in time to 1333 Scotland. He must try and remain alive long enough to figure out what he is doing there and why. He is desperate to return to 2013 and the woman he loves who is lying in a coma in the hospital.
Interesting read, decent research. I would have liked the book more if it flowed a bit more and the characters were not so forced.
I started this book with the hope that she might have been able to rekindle the investigation into the life of Anne Neville. I was sorely disappointed with this book, because it seemed to focus more on Richard III (of whom I am a fan, but was looking forward to reading about his wife for a change), and she has condemned him in her book. She implies his guilt more than once throughout the book, and while she does not come out and say it, she more than indicates that she believes he is guilty of numerous things. The information she gives on Anne Neville is nothing new, in fact it reads quite a bit like Sharon Kay Penman and Philippa Gregory's works. I read through the entire book, hoping that it would get better, and provide some fresh insight into her life. Chapter by Chapter I was disappointed. It took me longer to read this book than it did the last three books I read through. Instead of titling this work Anne Neville: Richard III's Tragic Queen, it should be called “The Trials of Richard III: Rhe Plantagenet's history from Richard of York to the death of his son Richard III.”
Richard II came to the throne when he was still a minor, and under the influence of his uncles. After years of chaffing under their rule, and wanting to strike out on his own, he gets the chance. But the flames of revenge burn bright in his mind. He has been slighted, belittled, and little thought of unless completely needed for a signature. When Richard married Anne of Bohemia, she falls completely in love with him, and he with her. After her death years later, he gave up on everything, the country started to slide, and he cared about nothing. After his cousin steals the throne from him and has him imprisoned, he realizes the importance of what he had, and what he lost, and he vows to get it back if it is at all possible. But the fates were not so kind, and Richard II was killed in his cell late one night by friends of his cousin.
This book was so well written, I got lost in the pages and could almost see the characters moving through my mind. She has woven a tapestry of history and so well incorporated those that were around King Richard II that you could feel your heart breaking when he lost his wife, or feel the anger rolling off of him as he confronted a new enemy and friction in his court.
I loved this book! I cant wait to read more of her works! This is the third or fourth book of hers that I have read and I have enjoyed all of them
I won a copy of this book from Douglas Boren from the Alexander Chronicles E-Zine that he writes.
Josh Alexander is looking for answers. He wants to know where his family came from, and what the background might be. While searching the attic, he finds a chest tucked away, and within that chest, the beginning of an adventure.
Rafe Alexander was raised in Gin Alley, the roughest slum in London. His mother, the victim of a vicious rape, was dismissed from the house where she was serving as lead servant when it became clear what her condition was. While she was angry about it, she was also matter of fact. She never hid any of the details from Rafe, who she thought had a right to know. After she is brutally murdered one night while on her way home from work, Rafe turns to the one man he looks to as father figure. After they are beggared by the government, they turn to pirating and eventually wind up joining the crew of the Black Widow.
The Black Widow has her own ax to grind with the man who fathered Rafe, and revenge is the only thing she is living for. It has consumed her from the day that her husband was murdered and she almost lost her own life. Slow hard work has built up an armada of ships she calls her own, and each of her captains are fiercely loyal to her. She only has to command for them to act. After years of bidding her time and waiting for the right moment, she decides to act against the one man that turned her into a pirate. Don Ramirez believes that he can beat the Black Widow, but underestimates her sheer determination to see him ruined, one that ruins the lives of many men in the process.
Rafe, for the sake of his mother has decided he has had enough. Monique, whom the Black Widow took as captive for ransom, has captured his heart, and it is for her alone that he decides to put his pirating days behind him. Can they escape the Black Widow and live out their lives, or will she refuse to let him leave?
I liked the book for the most part. I wasn't really sure what to expect from it. I thought that some of the rape scenes were a bit to descriptive, but that is just me. By the middle of the book, I was having a hard time putting it down, because I had to know what happened next. Mr. Boren paints the pirates in such a way that you find yourself wishing for their success, even to the detriment and deaths of others, because, had they not been wronged, they would not have turned to piracy in the first place.
What a read!! Matilda was an enigma in her time. She took the role of queen consort and shaped it to something that more suited her lifestyle. What we might have missed out on if she had not taken her education seriously! What a life she led! As the first queen of England to effectively rule as regent in her husbands absences she proved that some women were capable of more than just managing a household and bearing children. She ruled in her own right and her husband who adored her, relied on her for council as well as children. In the end her own ambition and motherly love got in the way of her relationship with her husband but he forgave her, although he never left her as regent after that.
Matilda was the role model for every queen that cme after her. Benevolent, kind, caring and terrorism to a fault. She was witty a d capable of handing down justice and effectively managing her many households and land holdings.
This book was a great read!! I highly recommend it to all history buffs out there!
The author states in his introduction, “there is really no new evidence here.” What a statement!! Mr. King goes through the entire case, from the grand beginnings in the Palaces of Russia and a family seeminly living in paradise, detours through imprisonment and the shattered lives ended in a basement, to the one person who seemed to walk away from it all with just a few visible scars.
Anna Anderson was the one person who brought the entire world almost to a stand still. Her claim to be the Grand Duchess Anastasia, the youngest daughter of the Tsar of Russia. She almost seemed bored with the entire proceeding, of having to proclaim over and over again that she was who she claimed to be. Many were taken aback by her apparent lack of care over proving her identity. The major question though is why did she not want to see certain people, how did she manage to pull the charade out for so long, and why were so many people willing to believe she was who she was claiming to be. The answer simply comes down to the fact that after the war, people were desperate. They wanted to reclaim a part of their glorious past, and perhaps if she really was who she claimed, there would be large rewards for them as well. Anderson had something of a natural charm that drew people to her. She could push them away as she was temperamental and suspected everyone of trying to take advantage of her.
In the end, DNA was able to prove what no one else could, that Anderson was NOT the Grand Duchess Anastatia. Anderson had lived with the lie for so long that she even convinced herself of the role. She built each layer so carefully, so precise, that by the end, if she has walked away, she could have opened herself to legal persecution. It was easier to live with the lie than it was to face the truth, the real person that she was. The lie was more engaging, and she was appreciated and wanted. The life Anderson led before was one of hardship, unwanted by her mother, and anonymity that would get her no where. She wanted more from life, and the executions and rumors that swarmed around the possibility that there might be a surviving daughter gave Anderson the light she needed to move forward to a new life.
I think this was a good read,full of information, BUT there were several instances where the reader will get bogged down with details so boring, with the information that seems to be on repeat... a lot. If you want to get a read comprehensive review of the entire case from pre to after without reading any other material, then this would be the book you would want to read.
Catherine de Medici is from one of the leading Italian families. She was brought up with the purpouse of governing her territory, and she was determined to do her best. When her father dies, she is a young woman, not old enough to rule on her own. She is sent to live with family, and then the trouble starts. She is taken prisoner by those who oppose her family. She lives the next several years in terror, not knowing whether or not she will survive long enough to rule her beloved Florence, and unsure of where things will go or if anyone will help her.
When her captivity ends, and she is free, she has come to the realization that she will do whatever it takes to survive, no matter what.
When she is married to the French prince Henri, she thinks her troubles are over and she can relax and enjoy life. Catherine is beloved by most of her new family, but her husband barely ever looks at her, or spends any time with her. When she finds that he is in love with Diane, she is crushed, but she holds on her love for him and her willingness to do whatever she has to to keep him. Cosimo Ruggieri, her astrologer consents to help her, but it will come at a price, and that price is someone elses life. Catherine goes ahead with it because she wants children, and a life, not knowing what evil will come from it. When her husband dies and her children accend the throne, the blood starts, and seems to never end. Catherine then realizes that only be destroying what she loves will the blood stop, and the country she has come to love as her own begin to recover from all the bloodshed.
This was a great read. I had a hard time putting it down! There were a few pages that I kind of scrolled over, but for the most part, I loved every part of it. I have never read much on Catherine de Medici, but this book has made me want to run out and see what else I can find about her! Her life was never easy, she had one hardship after another, but she chose to turn to astrology to find the answers to what she was looking for. She thought that she could change what she saw coming, but always bloodshed led to more bloodshed. She was definitly an enigma in her time.