Another wonderful book from Alison Weir! A great start to the new series, I’m looking forward to seeing where this goes next.

I love historical books about real people and this didn't disappoint. I often wonder how much Elizabeth of York felt in control of her life. She seems to have been a pawn used by her father, uncle and husband. Was she every happy? I find her story very sad as she was young when she died. I also wonder whether Henry VIII would have become such a monster if she had been there in the early days of his reign.

I love reading historical novels where the main characters are real people from history, and I applaud Alison Weir because she is so knowledgeable about the people she writes about. Elizabeth of York is an intriguing character, it is obvious from the start of the book that she is aware that whatever happens to her, it will be for the good of the kingdom and the crown. I may not totally agree with all the fictionalised events in the book but they do make for good reading!

I love reading about this period, The War of the Roses and the Tudors. Alison Weir is one of my favourite authors/historians, so I was interested to read her new novel about Elizabeth of York: the wife of Henry VII and mother of Henry VIII. This book is not a biography but a novel, and although Weir uses many historical details, we need to remember that what we are reading is a novel, not a well-documented study. This aside, I found this a great read that allowed me to approach the world in which Elizabeth lived a bit more and get a better insight into what her life may have been. This book is the first in a series of novels, so I look forward to the rest.

Her father seized the throne from a weak and feeble king, married a commoner and tried to unite the country. Her uncle usurped her brothers and had them killed then asked Elizabeth to marry him. She was torn, promised to a rival heir but running out of time. When she finally got her marriage Elizabeth was still having to balance politics with family.
The often told tale of Elizabeth of York is given the Weir spin in this book and is all the better for it. Above most other historical fiction writers, Weir brings a historians eye first and foremost. This means her books are based on known fact and painstakingly researched before the gloss of romance is placed on them. To this end they really are superior historical fiction and very enjoyable for that.

When Alison Weir’s Six Tudor Queens series came to an end last year with Katharine Parr: the Sixth Wife, I discovered that she would be moving further back in time for her next novel, The Last White Rose, which would tell the story of Elizabeth of York. Elizabeth lived through – and played a role in – one of my favourite periods of history, the Wars of the Roses, so of course I wanted to read this one!

Born in 1466, Elizabeth of York is the eldest child of King Edward IV and his wife, Elizabeth Woodville. With plans for a marriage to the Dauphin of France, Elizabeth’s future looks bright – until her father’s sudden death in 1483 sends everything into turmoil. Her younger brother, now Edward V, succeeds him, but before he can be crowned he is deposed by their uncle, the Duke of Gloucester, who reigns in his place as Richard III. Along with Elizabeth’s other brother, Richard of York, Edward soon disappears from public view completely. With marriage to the Dauphin now out of the question, Elizabeth discovers that Richard III is thinking of marrying her himself – something she is prepared to consider, despite the possibility that he may have been responsible for the disappearance of her brothers.

Then comes the Battle of Bosworth and another change of monarch; Richard is dead and Henry Tudor – Henry VII – has taken the throne. Henry is keen to unite his house of Lancaster with Elizabeth’s house of York by taking her as his wife, which means Elizabeth becomes queen at last! The years that follow will continue to be eventful, however, as she and Henry face rebellion from the Yorkist noblemen, the threat of various pretenders to the throne – and the birth of another future king, their son Henry VIII.

I enjoyed this book, with a few reservations which I’ll mention below. It’s very similar, of course, to the non-fiction book Alison Weir wrote several years ago (Elizabeth of York: A Tudor Queen and Her World), which is not surprising as most of the source material will obviously be the same. If you’ve read one you may feel that you don’t need to read the other, but I’m happy to have read both as this is a period of history that particularly interests me. I do think that as factual information on Elizabeth is quite limited, her story perhaps works better in fictional form where it’s more acceptable (in my opinion) for the author to put forward personal theories, interpretations and assumptions.

My main problem with this book was the bias towards Henry VII and against Richard III – although I was expecting that, as Alison Weir hasn’t made any secret of her views on this subject in her previous books! Just to be clear, I’m happy to keep an open mind on the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower, in the absence of any real evidence, but I certainly can’t share Weir’s absolute conviction that Richard was definitely the culprit. And to be fair, I was impressed by the way Weir writes about Elizabeth’s feelings towards both Richard and Henry in this novel – her uncertainty over which of them, if either, has killed her brothers and how she reconciles that with the idea of first one, then the other, as a potential husband. I would have preferred the matter to have been left like that, but instead, developments towards the end of the book take away all the doubt and ambiguity.

I found Weir’s portrayal of the Woodville family interesting; Elizabeth clearly loves her mother and her Woodville aunts and uncles, but is not blind to their faults, questioning whether some of their actions, such as her mother’s decision to flee to sanctuary immediately that Richard took control of the young king, may have made things worse rather than better. This is such a long book, though! I read the ebook version but the print copy has over 600 pages. It gets off to a slow start with a lot of time spent on Elizabeth’s childhood, but by the middle of the book the pace picks up and it becomes much more compelling.

Elizabeth of York: The Last White Rose is the first in a planned trilogy. The second book will be about Henry VIII and the third about Mary I. I’m looking forward to the one on Henry, as it should provide a very different perspective on the stories told in the Six Tudor Queens series!

I just loved this book. I'm a fan of historical novels and particularly love the York/Tudor period so I suppose I was always predisposed to enjoy it but I also loved Alison Weir's style and characterisation. I appreciate the fact that she tells already familiar stories from the point of view of those whose voices are not normally heard, in this case the many female characters in the lives of Edward IV, Richard III and Henry VII.
My only word of warning is that the book is very long. Personally, I wouldn't have wanted anything to have been removed but it is a big investment in time and I know books that get above 400 pages have been vetoed by my own book groups previously because today's busy readers struggle to get through them between meets.

This was such a good book. I love historical fiction, especially when it is about eras/ situations that I previously knew nothing about and this was definitely one of those books. It was so well researched and so compelling in its narrative that not only did I love reading it but I felt that I learned too. A really enjoyable read and perfect for any fans of historical fiction. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

This author!!! I love her so much.
What a fantastic beginning to a new serious I have always loved the Tudor period but have never divulged into the period before, this is fascinating and I have recommended to everyone I know how can read! Well done on another great read

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Eminent historian Alison Weir exquisitely evokes the danger, treachery and opulence of the past in her sensational new novel, Elizabeth of York: The Last White Rose.

As the eldest daughter of the royal House of York, Elizabeth has always wanted a crown of her own. Having always believed that her destiny was set in stone, the English princess could never envisage the turmoil and upheaval the death of her father King Edward would bring forth. With everything that she had always been so certain of thrown into disarray, Elizabeth is now caught up in a maelstrom of greed, betrayal and vengeance.

With her family’s deadliest foes circling like vultures, there is jeopardy round every corner. Elizabeth cannot trust anyone nor does she have anybody she can turn to. With two young princes dead in the tower, her uncle seizes power with one objective in mind: to make Elizabeth queen. However, there is another claimant to the throne willing to do whatever it takes for the crown: the upstart son of the rival royal House of Lancaster.

Marriage to this Henry Tudor would unite the two adversaries – and change everything. Elizabeth must tread carefully and choose her allies – and her husband -wisely because one wrong move is all it takes for her to lose everything she holds dear to her heart.

Elizabeth of York: The Last White Rose is an exceptional historical novel that completely and utterly immerses the reader in the complex, beguiling and seductive world Alison Weir brings effortlessly to life. A richly woven tapestry that sweeps readers back in time, Elizabeth of York: The Last White Rose will shock, entertain, enthrall and delight readers of historical fiction and leave them desperately awaiting the next novel by Alison Weir.

This period is well covered both by factual books and fact based fiction novels, but it is always interesting to read them from a different perspective. Telling the story through the eyes of Elizabeth of York, Alison Weir does this very well, I could feel Elizabeth getting older and wiser as the years progressed.

A great read for any lover of history, especially the role women played when they are often second to the men.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read Elizabeth of York: The Last White Rose

To say Elizabeth of York's life was chaotic is no exaggeration. Without giving too much away, she lived through the Wars of the Roses and was integral to their end, she was sister to the Princes in the Tower, she was mother to Henry VIII, she was niece to Richard III. There was A LOT going on! But even though she's such a huge historical figure, I didn't know all that much about her, so this novel was really interesting to read.

Author Alison Weir writes both fiction and non-fiction, and I've read a few of both genres of her books. As she says herself, non-fiction is limited by evidence and sources whereas in fictional writing, a little bit more artistic license can be used. Saying that though, she does stick to the facts more than many other historical novelists. I love that the book can give a reader an access point to their own further historical investigations - it gives a figure from a far away past a human voice and a character for readers to relate to. No previous knowledge is needed to get stuck into this book, and it's the first of a trilogy so I can't wait for more!

I thoroughly enjoyed this comprehensive look at the life of Elizabeth of York and the characters she was surrounded by. There were some formidable women in her family and you sense from the start, the will to survive despite the politics of the time. It was a dangerous place for royal princes and princesses, especially when attempts were made to take the throne and Elizabeth had to be pragmatic and keep her wits about her.

There is plenty of period detail to soak up as you follow Elizabeth's tale and you know that the author is fully in control of her information. In writing historical fiction, you have to marry up what is known and what is more speculative. You also have to breathe life into the story and bring the characters to life. You certainly feel for Elizabeth when her position as rightful heir is ignored due to her sex and it is amazing that only one hundred or so years later, her female descendants were able to assert their right to be monarch. This novel, although lengthy, varies you through her story and I can highly recommend it to anyone who loves this period in history.

In short: Elizabeth of York: Mother Survivor Queen
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

Very well written fictional account of Elizabeth - daughter, niece, wife and mother of kings. She lived during a turbulent time in English history, and Alison Weir's book gives a very real sense of that time; and, how people's fortunes can change, often through not fault of their own. It takes the reader from her childhood, during the Wars of the Roses, when she had to claim sanctuary, to her death.

With thanks to Review and NetGalley for an ARC.

I just couldn't get into it at all. The voice of Elizabeth just didn't feel credible to me. I normally really enjoy Alison Weir's books but this one didn't work for me which is a shame because I'm really fascinated with Elizabeth of York. An 'it's not you, it's me' situation I think for this one.

Review not posted anywhere else.

The Last White Rose is Alison Weirs latest Tudor novel this time focusing on Elizabeth of York. She led an early life fraught with danger, tragedy, intrigue and betrayal leading to her becoming the Queen and mother to probably the most famous dynasty in history. The Tudors. So bearing that in mind I'm not sure why this book wasn't more gripping than it is. I won't go as far to say it was boring but it definitely is a bit dry compared to Weirs recent Six Wives series. The characters just don't jump off the page like they usually do. Sadly a bit disappointing but I'm still looking forward to the next installment.

I’ve long been a fan of historical fiction, particularly the Tudor period, so I was interested in reading about Henry VIII‘s parents. It was enlightening to read about Richard III and more detail on what might have happened to “the princes in the tower”. However somewhere along the line my interest waned and I did find it a slog to finish the book. Somehow I couldn’t believe the internal dialogue of Elizabeth, for example how she was excitedly going to marry her uncle, then just moved on to the next plan with little remorse/self-disgust, even when his true character became more apparent. I also struggled to understand what was going on between her and her eventual husband – she apparently loved him, but was often disappointed in him, but then only got angry occasionally, and then forgave him, and then it would cycle through again. Overall I think it’s an OK book but it was lacking the excitement or connection with a character that would keep me gripped. I’m sure fans of Alison Weir will disagree with me, and maybe I have just fallen out of love with this genre.
Sorry I couldn’t be more positive, but thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy in return for this review.

Alison Weir, one of the most respected historical fiction authors of the time, has once again written a book I adore.
I love Tudor history, and have read a great majority about that particular era, however only recently have I started to delve into The Wars of the Roses and the historical figures behind that period.

Reading a fictional account of these figures always excites me, as I love to see what an author does with their knowledge and the facts behind everything. Each author has their own interpretation and that is one of my favourite things about the genre.

The start of the book was a little slow paced, and I wish that we didn't have quite so much of Elizabeth's younger years, as although they are important, they are also a little repetitive. However, the latter part of the book really made up for it. She lived a life with so many highs and lows, and it amazes me that she managed to have so much happen within a relatively short lifespan.

Thank you to the publisher, and NetGalley, for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

This is another brilliant read from Alison Weir. The way she blends her knowledge of history to make the perfect read is exceptional. There are times when you are reading this that you have to remind yourself that this story is based on fact! Alison Weir’s writing just makes history that bit more exciting and accessible. I am already waiting for the next one.

As historical fiction and non-fiction goes, Alison Weir is one of the most respected authors in this field. I started reading her non-fiction books in my twenties, starting with her books on the six wives of Henry VIII. From then I have gone on to read most of her works so I was really excited to be asked by Headline Review and Anne Cater to be part of the blog tour for her new book, The Last White Rose. This book is the story of Elizabeth of York, eldset daughter of Edward IV, from her childhood to adulthood, a time of uncertainty where she is the only hope of ending the Wars of the Roses which lasted for over twenty years. Told from Elizabeth’s perspective, we see how she dealt with the uncertainty of this period in history, a time infamous with treachery, betrayal and two young princes who simply disappeared.

This is one of my favourite periods in history and I never get bored reading about it. I have previously read Alison Weir’s Elizabeth of York:The First Tudor Queen quite a few years ago and found it fascinating; the story of a young woman who should have been the monarch, but as a woman she couldn’t claim that title. In The Last White Rose Alison Weir breathes life into Elizabeth of York, we are party to her feelings, hopes and dreams as she finds herself in a games of chess where the players are vying for the throne and her hand in marriage. Elizabeth comes across as a kind and caring girl and woman, and considering what she had to deal with at such a young age, from having to claim sanctuary at Westminster Abbey when her family were threatened, to being declared a bastard by her uncle, and the disappearance of her two brothers, believed to have been killed. Throught all of this she took in her stride, and continued to conduct herself with confidence and a decorum fitting of her future roll as the Queen of England.

Alison Weir has such a wonderful knowldege of this period and her knowledge and insight shine through in this book. This is a period where so much was going on, with the different political factions, the constant battle of rule of England and the threat from abroad. Alison’s writing makes the detail easy to understand and I found that with the book being from Elizabeth’s point of view, there was an innoconce to it, especially at the beginning when she was a young child. This fictional account gives the chance for imagined conversations between the characters, bringing the characters to life more than in non-fiction. I found myself draw to Elizabeth and her mother, understanding more about them and their circumstances, which were frightening and shocking for all concerned.

With The Last White Rose Alison Weir seamlessly moves from fact to fiction. Elizabeth of York is such an important figure in English history, being the matriarch of the Tudor dynasty and whose children and grandchildren became monarchs of not just he English throne but aslo those of the Scotland and France. This is an amazing read as expected from Alison Weir, she breathes life into Elizabeth and those around her and makes this such a compelling and acomplishes read. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. A stunning read, and the perfect piece of historical fiction.