An utterly fantastic and compelling book set during King Richard III's reign. If you like Sharon Kay Penman and were searching for a read-alike, look no further. Wonderfully detailed, excellent writing, and compelling characters makes this story come alive. I didn't want to put it down!

It never did Christopher/ Christie any good to threaten, cajole, bribe or blackmail Christie’s sister Meg. Yet Meg was the only person who could disturb his own habitual self control. Meg said she might die of melancholy here, the boredom of sewing , cooking, having to obey Elizabeth, listening to her father ramble on about Scots and harvest, and his horses . and all the people he thinks has done him wrong. Sooner or later Meg would say something to Elizabeth. So Meg did want to marry Sir robert Drakelon. But Christie wanted his sister to marry someone other than Sir Robert. He felt that if Meg married Sir Robert she would be trading one prison for another. Robert had told meg they would travel some. Meg wants to see London, maybe dance at court, She wanted to be merry and laugh and have intelligent conversation with intelligent cultured people. Also she feels her dower isn’t the only reason Robert is interested in her for. Meg had always been Christa’s closest friend and then she asked Christie if he would play for her as he had a real gift. Christie would play for her. Christie did play the lute for her and they sang together then he told her that if she ever needed him no matter where either of them were . was he would come to her. A boy of sixteen was trying to rob Christie but he stopped the boy and Christie decided to teach the boy to be his servant much to the young man’s - Perkin Hobbs- gratitude. Christopher wants to be in the Duke of Gloucester’s Army. Christopher does end up with the Duke and his skills as a knight and becomes a service to the Duke. When Meg is pregnant and has fear for her and her child’s life, she calls Christie for help but he forgot his vow and did not go to help his sister. Christopher support the Duke and his wife Ann who becomes King Richard the Third. Then Christopher was offered a spoiled heiress- Jillian Bray.
I liked this story but not a lot. It dragged at times. It also felt the book didn’t come together for me. I loved how Christie and Meg were so close in the beginning but I was really disappointed when Christie didn’t keep his vow to Meg. I know he was advancing his career but Meg was fearful for her and her child’s life. Where did all that love for his sister go? How could Christopher forget his vow so easily? I didn’t like his character much after that. This was a very long story. I did like Perkins a lot with his street smarts and antics. I did like some of the characters and most of the ins and outs of this story.

When Christopher Heron’s favourite and much loved sister, Meg, marries Sir Robert Drakelon, against her family’s wishes, Christie makes a vow to be there for her whenever she needs him.
Meg’s dreams of an idyllic married life are shattered almost immediately. Innocent and naïve, she accepts the ways of her husband and soon falls pregnant. Sir Drakelon is overjoyed, and employs the help of his sister to take care of Meg in his absence. But this is bad news for Meg and it soon becomes apparent just how dangerous the situation is for both herself and her unborn child. Meg begs Christie for help but he’s caught up with furthering his career & thinks it’s Meg’s pregnancy that’s affecting her.
The Lodestar is a prequel of sorts to Belle's English Civil War series about the Heron family, set during the War of the Roses. Christie Heron is a minor gentleman who goes into the service of Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who is later, of course, King Richard III. Christie's story intertwines with Richard's until the climactic Battle of Bosworth.
Another well written novel by the author, the characters are well portrayed & the pace of the story overall is very good, it does slow at times but in a novel of nearly 600 pages that’s only to be expected. I’d recommend this book along with the other Heron novels especially if you love Plantagenet / Tudor / Stuart history. The theory about Richard, Henry & the young princes is different but plausible, will it ever be solved? But as Richard’s body has been found & now rests in Leicester (should have been York), then never say never. Although a novel it is interlaced with historical facts & it had me engrossed.