Book Review: Lady of the Roses by Sandra Worth

Published by Berkley Books, New Yorkbut due to his mental failings, his Queen Marguerite
January 2008ruled the land with an iron fist taking money from the
ISNB 978-0-425-21914-0poor and sending her army out to do battle with her
Lady of the Roses is a heart-wrenching tale of loveenemies. Sir John Neville was known far and wide as
and war set in England in mid-1400. It recounts thea gallant knight - son of Richard, Duke of York - who
ongoing battle for supremacy between the houses ofalong with his brothers Thomas and Warwick had
York and Lancaster, the white rose and red rosemore than the lawless Percies to contend with. The
respectively. At the same time, two powerful families -House of York, itself, became divided between those
the Nevilles, who favored York and sought peace, andloyal to the mild mannered king and those who hated
the Percies, who followed no one but themselves -Queen Marguerite for her ruthlessness.
struggled for control of the land.Though the Lady of the Roses is solidly based
Young Isobel Ingoldesthorpe, daughter of Lancastrianhistorically, the primary focus of the book is on Isobel's
knight Sir Edmund was merely 15 when the reality ofjourney as the wife of the Yorkist, John and their
the ongoing War of the Roses threatened to keep hersubsequent children. Each time John set out for battle,
from marrying the man she loved. Yes, the customthere were many days and nights that Isobel feared
was to become betrothed at a young age at that timehe might never return home to her alive. It truly is a
and usually, the marriage was pre-arranged to thetouching tale that not only puts you at the center of
advantage of those involved. However, Isobel fell headthe action, but also endears you to Isobel - a sweet
over heels for Sir John Neville, who was faithful to theand good hearted woman who only wants her family
House of York.and the rest of England to live in peace.
At that time in history, King Henry IV sat on the throne