The War of Roses goes on and does not wait for the people involved to sort out their lives.

Well-researched medieval story about the simple people trapped in the ongoing war of the powerful people.
The medieval times were often cruel (there is a reason why the infamous cruelty of The Game of Thrones is loosely based there). And one is just happy to survive in the games he/she does not understand so well in the first place. And finding the personal happiness might be just a dream in the survival game.

I enjoyed the medieval age portrait (even if I happen to believe that there is much more to these times than just the dark age), but I was not able to relate to the story. Saying it as if I was reviewing the film - the production and execution is smart, but story is too simple to be interesting. The villains are too diabolic and resourceful to be believable and the heroes are not my kind of heroes (this is a personal preference, but I like my men being smarter, Thomas is a bit dim).

But I have a soft spot in my heart for the childhood passions fulfilled and this series is obviously that one for the author. So even if I am not going to continue this series - more power to you, Mr Clements! And kudos for writing your dream!