Plantagenet Princess, Tudor Queen

Elizabeth of York is one of the shadow queens of the medieval world. We know more about her mother than we do about this queen. While Elizabeth Woodville was a power in her own right, Elizabeth of York was better known as the wife of Henry VII, the mother of Henry VIII, and the sister of the missing Princes in the Tower. As we move through her life from birth to death, we see a life overshadowed by grief, murder and mystery. Samantha Wilcoxson has written this novel, with the intent of fleshing out the queen that everyone loves, but so little is known.


Elizabeth of York is a enigma in and of herself. She was one of the more patient queens that England had, and one who bore with grace the social ineptness of her mother-in-law, who at every turn slighted her. She bore her husband several children, all the while managing to hold her head high, despite the political turmoil and constant upheaval within her walls. While she was at first slighted for marriage, through Lady Stanley's insistence, and the crown withheld from her until she bore her first child, she remembered the grace and mannerisms of which she was raised. She bore with unrelenting patience the grasping and suspicion that was radiating through the palace walls, while her husband tried to cement his hold on England. When she died after childbirth, England wept. They wept for the daughter of their beloved King Edward, and they wept for the queen who while she had no real power of her own, managed to spread cheer and goodwill wherever she went.


As I was reading through this book, I was struck by several thoughts. The first of which was, how in the world could this woman bear to be shoved aside so rudely, and how in the world did she bear the constant heartache that was handed to her?
I was drawn into the book, and found it almost impossible to put down. You know you have a great read when the author of the book can create so many conflicting emotions within you. I went from happy, to sad, to anger, back to happy and then back through the round of emotions all over again. I found the way her husband treated her to be less than what she deserved most of the time, and wished that he had banished his mother long before he married Elizabeth. I feel that had she been given a true chance of being queen, she would have made one of the most extraordinary queens England would have ever had. She had such a wonderful loving heart and wanted the best for anyone, servant or highborn alike.

While I was reading about the disappearances of princes from the tower and Elizabeth's determination to discover what had happened to them, I was struck by the fact that she had waited so long for answers, so long to allow time to pass before looking for them, as if almost to allow for those who were waiting for her to make a wrong move to ease on their suspicion of her. Her mother could never quit her scheming, even it was to be detrimental for her daughters. Talk about a dysfunctional family! But with the mysteries and deaths surrounding them, it was no wonder they were so determined to have answers at any cost! I wanted Henry to push his mother to the side and make her leave, but she was a powerhouse of her own, and determined to hold one of the highest places at court. How much different life would have been for everyone if Richard III had actually executed her for the treason she had been convicted of! Elizabeth could have shined as the queen she was meant to be.

This was a great read, and one that I would recommend out to anyone!! Now to buy an actual copy so that I can get it signed by the author!