Sandra Worth, The Rose of York: Love & War

The Rose of York: Love & War

Sandra Worth

End Table Books, 2003, $16.95

ISBN: 0975126407

In the fifteenth century, orphaned by the War of the Roses, Dickon places his older brother King Edward on a pedestal as the image of a hero. However, inside his gut, Dickon worries that he will be unfairly exposed as not having the pure blue blood of his sibling to rid him from his seat near the throne. Avarice rules the land led by the powerful queen.

Dickon has deep feelings towards Kingmaker Neville's daughter Anne and she reciprocates, but the lonely frightened lad wonders what will come of this in a world where treachery is the norm. He knows not to trust anyone else, but he still places his heart and soul in Anne's hands. Making matters even more difficult for the lovers is her father has been declared a traitor, which means anyone associated by blood including Anne and Neville's loyal to the throne brother who is also Dickon's tutor. There is much for the queen to whisper about Dickon.

Love and War is a tremendous look at the early days of Richard III. Instead of the Shakespearean depiction of a malevolent murderer, readers see a different side of the future monarch. He is terrified and in love. Sandra Worth points out that the times of his youth led to much of Richard's later actions including establishing legal principles that remain a major part of Anglo jurisprudence today. Thus fans of the era obtain strong insight into what shaped the man inside a fabulously written tale. This first entry in the Rose of York series is a victory for historical readers.

Harriet Klausner