"Son of York" is a historical novel focused on how the Yorks took over the throne during the War of the Roses. Unfortunately, the story moved rather slow, the writing style didn't really do it for me, and none of the characters was all that developed.

Who doesn’t love a family drama that is not your own (raises hand) and after some historical fiction withdrawals I was jonesing for some fireworks from the family of les fleurs. Alas, the stilted storytelling and repetition (numerous references to Jasper Tudor’s angular face) made for a rather dry read. Dialogue is always tricky and I appreciate the authenticity, but the ebb and flow were too awkward and staccato to hold my attention. The character interaction also left me cold, it lacked emotion and urgency, making it hard to root for anyone in particular (even the “bad guy” was underwhelming). Obviously, the subject matter is rich and multilayered, but Son of York was sort of a yawn.

A clear look into the personalities of the York faction of the War(s) of the Roses. Would recommend for casual readers of English history.

Amy Licence brings her academic knowledge of this unique period of English history to life in this story of the young Edward, Earl of March before he became Edward IV. She intertwines fact with fiction and in doing so gives us an insight into the background to the Wars of the Roses in such a way that it is easy to read. I liked the fact that Edmund, Earl of Rutland figures quite heavily in the book, as he often seems to get forgotten about. It must be difficult to make the transition from academic books to fiction ones and if I have one criticism it is that she has tried too hard to make it readable and at times I felt the prose was a little stilted. It's still a good read though, and I'll look forward to the next in the series.

I had been reading too many mystery/thriller/murder books and needed a change of scene. This piece of history gave me all I needed and more. I will be keeping an eye out for this author definitely in the future.

King Henry VI is the monarch at the time. He is unwell and seems to be more suited to a spiritual life. Sad that kings cannot decide what they want to do. He seemed so unfit to be King of a country that was always in turmoil and needed his attention and care. His wife the French queen was not a popular choice and her backers were those who were looked at with suspicion. The Duke of York was a man who felt strongly over the King's role in the country and looked initially to be protector of the King against elements who were dangerous. Over time, with the continuation of the King's absence from Court and the wider influence of the Queen, he sought the position of King for himself.

The story of the Duke of York and his two sons and their rise in fame towards the position of King forms the basis of the story. Told in detail with a great deal of history accounted for, this book is a must for those who like English history.

I enjoyed the telling of it, both from the personal angle of the House of York as well as from the angle of the greater overall picture of the rise of the House of York.

Goodreads and Amazon reviews up on 3/6/2017. Review on my blog mid September 2017.

If you're a fan of Philippa Gregory's writing, then Son of York is definitely for you. Licence's prose is swift and cinematic - she paints clear pictures of scenes and characters that could very well lend themselves to the screen. Her writing is very present and has a good sense of flow, and I appreciated how Licence often imparts historical information via dialogue - having us learn the latest court intrigues and alliances that will shape the Yorkists' fate alongside the characters. In this very present and absorbing narration, we see how political winds shift at the slightest provocations, sending the Duke of York's family headlong into war against combatants supporting the ailing Henry VI and his powerful French queen, Margaret of Anjou. Eventually, the two families' battle over dynastic claims shifts from debate in council chambers to combat in the field, and the Duke's eldest son Edward finds himself growing into manhood against this hostile backdrop. We witness him go from a boy shunning his lessons, to a teenager entering into an affair with a young married woman (no doubt a precursor to his philandering ways later in life), to an exile in France, all the way to the head of his household back on English soil, leading armies to support his family's claim to the throne.

All the while, Licence's exploration of the relationship between Edward and his brother Edmund - younger by a year and growing up in Edward's shadow - really piqued my interest. Looming large in our cultural conscience are Edward's relationships with his other brothers - the ill-fated George, Duke of Clarence, and the infamous Richard III. Yet, Licence pays careful attention to another fraternal story, shading the contrasts between Edmund and Edward. She illustrates nicely how two young men of differing temperaments approach a politically precarious situation, and how varyingly they respond to questions of inheritance, leadership, and eventually armed conflict. Indeed, the novel very well could have been called Sons of York.

However, this is ultimately Edward's story, and as a study of a young man stepping into adulthood, and the royal role he was destined to play, Son of York is an enjoyable read that is tough to put down.

Princess Fuzzypants here:
Perhaps it is because I am a princess that I am fascinated by the last vestiges of the Plantagenets as the War of the Roses winds to an end. So much lately has been written about Richard III that disputes the popular misconceptions that were first told and retold by the victors, the Tudors. Knowing on which side his bread was buttered, Shakespeare did much to reinforce the defamations of character. But it never would have come to Richard had not his father and his brother risked so much to make sure that their claims to the Throne were not usurped.
This historical novel is based on the youth of Edward IV and his family. Like so many historically based stories, it is left to the reader to decide how much is true and how much is pure fiction. No doubt however, much of what is written is based on fact. King Henry, when he was not completely out of. It, was a joke of a monarch. He was completely manipulated by his queen and her minions. Whoever happened to have his body at the time was declared his successor. It was only when the queen decided to destroy the House of York that arms were raised against Henry and Edward ascended the Throne. Those of us who have read history know Henry does not meet a good end.
However that might be another book. This one only reaches Edward's rise to power. Despite knowing what was going to happen, the story is told in a suspenseful way that keeps the reader interested. I read a copy of the book that was not the final edit so my observation that I had to reread some sections to figure out what was being said might be unfair. It was the thing that makes me give this a less than stellar review.
However, all things considered, I still give it four purrs and one paw up.

Excellent!