Title: Elizabeth of York: The Last White Rose

Author: Alison Weir

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Headline

Publication Date: 12th May 2022

Rating: 4.5/5

Cover:

Summary:

AN ENGLISH PRINCESS, BORN INTO A WAR BETWEEN TWO FAMILIES.

Eldest daughter of the royal House of York, Elizabeth dreams of a crown to call her own. But when her beloved father, King Edward, dies suddenly, her destiny is rewritten.

Her family’s enemies close in. Two young princes are murdered in the Tower. Then her uncle seizes power – and vows to make Elizabeth his queen.

But another claimant seeks the throne, the upstart son of the rival royal House of Lancaster. Marriage to this Henry Tudor would unite the white rose of York and the red of Lancaster – and change everything.

A great new age awaits. Now Elizabeth must choose her allies – and husband – wisely, and fight for her right to rule.

Review:

The War of the Roses has to be one of the most fascinating periods of English history, so turbulent and vicious that it even inspired Game of Thrones. There are a whole host of intriguing people to focus on but I am thrilled that Alison Weir chose Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV and mother of arguably England’s most famous ruler Henry VIII. The Last White Rose covers Elizabeth’s whole life and her involvement in or witness to several notable historical moments such as the mysterious princes in the tower, the reign of Richard III and the beginning of the ruling Tudor dynasty.

This is a beautifully researched book and as a reader you feel in very safe hands with Weir. Her Elizabeth feels true to what we know of her through historical fact but also breathes life into her and makes her feel very much like a real person with feeling, ambition and intellect rather than a distant figure from history. Her story is incredibly compelling and I couldn’t tear myself away from the pages. Weir blends fact and fiction deftly and with great care and I absolutely recommend The Last White Rose to any fans of historical fiction.

✶✶✶✶.5

Thank you so much to Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours for inviting me on this tour and organising it. I kindly received a copy of the book from the publisher. My review is entirely my own honest opinion.

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