This book was a DNF I am afraid.

It was about 200 pages too long and needed seriously cutting down.

Also, with it being only from Elizabeth's POV and her being a young child who spent most of her youth in sanctuary, it became repetitive and boring. Which I do understand, as a Tudor and York/Lancaster history lover, is truthful to her life. We didn't need to spend nearly half the book in sanctuary, time jumps would have helped the flow in my opinion.

At halfway through she was only just arriving at Richards Court and I knew from research that she still had so much left to do in life and I couldn't face another 300 pages to get through it.

I have liked this authors work in the past and hope to like it in the future but this one was sadly not for me.

Elizabeth Of York: The Last White Rose is set during The Wars Of The Roses - a period in history I don't know much about. As a result, I found this novel very interesting. The book comes in at over 600 pages so lt is clear that the author is very knowledgeable about her subject and she uses her knowledge to create a compelling story from which I learnt a lot although at times the length felt a little overwhelming.

The novel is written from Elizabeth's perspective, beginning when she is a young child and continuing into her adulthood. Weir very cleverly adapts her portrayal of Elizabeth to suit her age so that we always see things through her eyes. She's not someone you read much about in traditional history books so I enjoyed seeing things from her viewpoint as it helped me to understand how the characters would have been feeling in response to the political developments of the time. There are also some emotional moments and I was really able to empathise with the characters. I loved being taken back to the period and the writing is so descriptive that I felt I was living it with her. There were also lots of supporting characters and although at times, it was difficult to keep up as they all had similar names (not the author's fault) I enjoyed the way the author depicted Elizabeth's relationship with them.

I listened to the audio version of the novel and I appreciated the way the narrator brought the daily routines of the court and the various battles to life.

This book follows the story of Elizabeth of York, the first Tudor Queen of England. She was born in the time of tumult where the war between the Houses of York and Lancaster was raging. She was adored by her father, King Edward IV – and the feeling was mutual. She was always so happy to see her father.

Her family endured many deaths, including her siblings in infancy, her beloved father in 1483 and her two brothers, the heirs to the throne. As a result, Elizabeth, her sisters and mothers fled to the sanctuary of the monks.

Throughout the dark times, Elizabeth (or Bessie as she was affectionately known) always hoped for a better and brighter future. She eventually married Henry, who would later become King Henry VII. Elizabeth was the rightful heir to the throne, but because she was a woman, she had to stay in the shadows. She was happy to do so, as she was raised to be a dutiful wife and mother. As I was reading the book, I wondered what her life would have been like had she been an equal to her husband.

I found her an inspirational woman, full of strength. She lost children of her own, she endured uneasy pregnancies – it was a precarious time to be a female.

I truly adored this book from the beginning all the way to the end. I am looking forward to the next book in the trilogy!

It was my first book by Alison Weir, but it won’t be my last – I am already eyeing up The Six Tudor Queens collection.

Before reading this book, I had never given much thought to this Yorkist Queen who united the houses of York and Lancaster. Considering her husband's temperament and her meek nature, I can see why historians didn't spare much time with her. The drama unfolded by her dear son is enough to fill the pages on Tudors, so a pious and charitable queen who always sees the good in others has been put backstage.
If the white rose of York represents purity, then Elizabeth embodies it. Not one to question the authority or the established traditions, she was taught to accept her destiny from childhood itself. Not much of a heroine figure, if you ask me. Her subservient nature and abhorrence of confrontations cost her the opportunity to share the power with her husband, Henry VII. On the other hand, her taking a step back in everything resulted in a peaceful marriage.
As you can see she is not a model woman for the present age. When you think back to the influential role her contemporary Queen Isabella played in Spain, she surely is a pitiable character. She never had much voice, not even when it comes to the lives of her own mother and sisters. Weir has captured quite vividly how the shifting power balance affects the lives of women. They are mere pawns in political transactions, denied even the freedom of a common woman to marry for love or continue in a marriage that they have come to love.
Elizabeth's life may not be legendary, but she survived one of the most turbulent times England had undergone. What this novel offers is a captivating and unique picture of the Tudor era that is laying its foundations.

I love novels of courtly intrigue, in fact at my previous home I had shelves placed in the alcoves either side of the fireplace and one whole side was devoted to books on the Tudors and the Wars of the Roses. So the story of Elizabeth of York is familiar to me, but I love Alison Weir’s books and I was interested to see her take on this incredibly important Queen. As Alison Weir states in her afterword, Elizabeth is at the juncture of several important events in England’s royal history. There’s the instability caused by the Wars of the Roses or Cousin’s War, with battles, changes of allegiance and her family’s fortunes rising and falling with every intrigue. There are parts of her life shrouded in mystery and with differing viewpoints from historical researchers and novelists. I have always wondered how her relationship with Richard III changed from niece and uncle, to prospective wife. I have read accounts that suggest an affair between the two, one that took place in front of Richard’s sick wife Anne Neville and was branded scandalous in the court. I wanted to read Alison Weir’s take on this strangely incestuous relationship, whether Elizabeth was complicit and desired the match or whether this was a political match - suggested by Richard who wished to legitimise his rule, above the claim to the crown held by Elizabeth’s brothers and sons of Edward IV. Did Elizabeth, and her mother Katherine Woodville, see this as the only way to secure their family’s safety under Richard’s rule? The other mystery is that of the missing princes in the tower, a subject Alison Weir has looked at closely before. Some accounts suggest a conspiracy drawn up by Henry VII’s mother Margaret Stanley, to advance her son’s claim to the throne and label Richard III forever as guilty of regicide and killing his own nephews. Others lay the blame squarely at Richard’s door, for arranging their murder then forever hiding their remains so they couldn’t even have a proper burial. I was interested in how Elizabeth coped with potential marriages to the very two men who had most to gain from her brother’s killing.

The novel begins at one of life’s terrible downturns for the family, as Edward IV’s wife Katherine is forced to flee to sanctuary with her children, Elizabeth being the eldest. This time shut off from the world and all the comforts they were used to had a huge impression on Elizabeth and could have been enough of a trauma to be an underlying cause of the choices she made in later life. The fear of having nothing, facing poverty and being barred from courtly life is ever present and the privilege of her royal blood, her claim to the crown and her importance to England is drummed into her from a young age. I often think that it was Mary Boleyn who had the right idea, a generation or so later, of leaving court and all it’s intrigues behind and becoming the wife of a farmer. If you are always told you are destined to be a Queen though, does that sort of thought ever enter your head? Court is really the only life that Elizabeth knows. The author really puts across the drama of courtly life, especially during Henry VII’s reign when any whiff of a usurper seems to have him running to her rooms in a panic. The stress seems constant and I did wonder how many of these people died purely from lifestyle.

The feasting was incredible, with weird mixes of courses confusing the eater’s tastebuds and stomach, taking them from brawn, fish in jelly, and custard then to peacock. These snippets of courtly life set the scene so well and almost dazzle the reader with such a sense of spectacle. I would find myself distracted from all the stress, and the grief, by Weir’s descriptions of week long revels and Christmas celebrations. Just a sequence showing the sumptuousness bof the costumes for a masque or the clothes of the time gave that sumptuous and luxurious feel to the court. I was rather reminded of another Queen Elizabeth and the lavish celebrations planned for the end of this month. Weir captures that element of disguise and distraction still apparent in my own behaviour towards the royal family today. I am largely disinterested in our current royals, but a wedding will dazzle me with it’s spectacle and I end up watching the whole thing. If told how much it’s cost I get incensed, but then I still get sucked in by the pretty dresses. In a time when supporting a royal household potentially meant getting caught up in a costly war I could see how the ceremony would have to be even more lavish. Men in the novel don’t have the luxury of choice, so if you were a tenant of the local landowner you were compelled to fight for their cause, no matter whether you agreed or not. Thank goodness that today, royal rivals only parade their discord round the chat shows and not on the battlefield.

Ultimately though, I felt some sympathy for this young woman who was borne of a King who won his crown on the battlefield then promised in marriage to whoever won their crown in the same way. Like most women of her time, her fate is decided for her, albeit it in a more dramatic way than most. Here she seems to love Henry and the older they get, they mellow and the closer they become. I did wonder whether other accounts were nearer the truth, that fed up with being constantly touted as the most eligible lady in England, her relationship with Richard was something she was complicit with, a type of rebellion where she is willing to ruin herself just to have some agency in her own life. That’s what I loved most about the book, it’s well written, meticulously researched and gives me a slightly different perspective to events. For example, Margaret Stanley the King’s mother, is described as kind and almost sweet in character for the small ways she tries to look after those around her. I thought that Elizabeth’s relationship with Lord Stanley was interesting and probably gives us the biggest clue to this young woman’s real character and motivations. Stanley is known for changing allegiances when he’s sure which way the battle is turning. At the Battle of Bosworth he rides out with Richard III, only to turn to his stepson’s cause and actually strike down the King, taking his crown and placing it on Henry VII’s head. He and Elizabeth are made of similar stuff, each one watches the way wind blows before committing in order to survive. We can see her as blown about by the prevailing wind or as a politically astute young woman who knows how to secure her children’s future.

An edited version of this will be appearing as part of the blog tour

This is one of the best historical novels about a most turbulent time in England's history. Although it is a well known story, Alison Weir's storytelling is superb as she depicts Elizabeth's emotions and the heartache associated with being closely related to the throne.

The book takes you on a journey through Elizabeth's incredible life, the highs, the lows and everything in between including King Richard III taking the crown, imprisoning and killing her brothers and of course her marriage to King Henry VIII which ended the War of the Roses.

This truly is a rollercoaster of the real game of thrones about Elizabeth the last white rose, daughter of King Edward IV, sister of the princes of York, wife of King Henry VII and the mother of King Henry VIII.

As a fan of Alison Weir's fiction and non-fiction books, I was really excited when I recieved an arc copy of Elizabeth of York. As one of the least discussed women in the Tudor dynasty, I found this an interesting read! Can't wait to see Alison on tour later on in the year!

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for the ARC of this wonderful book. I’ve been a big fan of everything Tudor for a long time and adored the Six Tudor Queens series, so I was excited for the idea of a novel that takes us back to where it all started: with the union of York and Lancaster.

Reading this, I couldn’t believe that Elizabeth of York only lived to the age of 37! I found the first part of the book to be a little slow, as Elizabeth was very young and didn’t fully understand what was going on around her. However, the pace soon picked up and the turbulent times she lived in throughout her entire life made for fascinating reading - four kings, numerous rebellions, and the secrets, betrayals and heartbreak that come with it. As soon as it seems like they’re safe, another obstacle arises…

I thought Elizabeth’s relationship with Henry was complex and well-written. Naturally, they’ve come from different sides with different loyalties, but they are both fully committed to the challenge of reconciling this into their new family. These two and many of the other characters had clear, well-rounded personalities, which added feeling to the history we all know and love.

I love the White Queen series by Philippa Gregory so had a lot of prior knowledge about this period - I read The White Princess recently, which covers pretty much the exact same period. However, not only did I still learn lots of new things, but it was a completely different perspective on Elizabeth and her motivations. I always love reading Alison Weir’s historical notes and discovering what is fact, what is fiction and what is reading between the lines. It was so interesting to compare the two interpretations of the history.

Overall, I highly recommend this along with Alison Weir’s other novels - brilliant characterisation and informative without being too dry.

Elizabeth of York: The Last White Rose is a new historical fiction from renowned historian Alison Weir. Having already written a non fiction book about the life of Elizabeth of York she was ideally placed to tell the story of the first Tudor Queen, a woman who lived in tumultuous times and whose claim to the crown in her own right often placed her in jeopardy and saw her being used as a political pawn. As the daughter of a King, Elizabeth grew up in luxury, but when her father dies suddenly the kingdom is thrown into turmoil as her uncle Richard seizes power following the disappearance of her two brothers from the Tower of London, only to see his rule challenged by Henry Tudor, the son of a rival Royal house who is determined to claim the throne for himself and marry Elizabeth to unite the two houses and cement the Tudor dynasty for centuries to come.
Elizabeth of course is the heart of her own story, and despite knowing the history involved I still found myself rooting for her , feeling sympathy for her and celebrating her triumphs, and being gripped by the tension the author manages to infuse into the story she is telling. As I would have expected, the attention to historical detail is excellent, so much detail about court life and custom is woven seamlessly into the narrative. This woman certainly lived a life, and her story was a fascinating one. If I had to find fault with the book it was that the pacing was a little slow at times, particularly in the first section of the book, but that really is a very minor gripe about a book I enjoyed very much.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own

I love Alison Weir's novels and own all the Six Tudor Queen series. For that reason, I jumped at the chance to review her latest novel which explores the life of Elizabeth of York; daughter of Edward of York, sister to the Princes in the Tower, wife of Henry VII and mother to the infamous Henry VIII.

As with all of Weir's novels, the historical detail is second to none but the writing ensures that the reader is entertained rather than lectured. I have no doubt that the politics of the Yorkist and Tudor courts would be dizzying if written by any other author.

Elizabeth's story encompasses a truly turbulent period in British history and Weir explores her changing role and status throughout. I really enjoyed how Elizabeth grew from an entitled Princess into a young woman concerned with the fate of her family and later into a strong woman who knew her own worth and her birthright. However, even Weir does not blind us from the bitter truth that is the sheer lack of power of women in the courts of men.

This novel is a tome in its own right at 500 pages but stick with it and experience the joy and tears of the Last White Rose.

After having read and really enjoyed all the previous books by Weir, especically the most recent Six Wives series, I just could not wait to dive into this.

the Last White Rose is a fictionalised novel about Elizabeth of York, that married Henry VII and became mother to Henry VIII.

Even though this book is based upon and around the life and times of this lady, there are parts that are not historically correct, but, hey, that does not bother me, I just really enjoy reading about the people that lived in this age and it gives me my 'Tudor Fix'

I was lucky enough to recieve a copy of this prior to publication, so when my hard copy plopped through the letterbox this morning, i was delighted that it looked so well presented and just a beautiful as the previous books.

I probably won't re read this, but will for sure listen to the audio version, so i can revisit the stories that unfold between the pages.

The writing style is familar Weir and really readable and i like that.

Being a big reader of the Tudor times, I know what happens to Elizabeth and how her life unfolds, but I still really enjoyed reading this and totally recommend it to anyone, who enjoyes a good Historical book.

I know, this, is the first one, but am now looking forwards to book two !

“..but it is against Nature for a woman to rule, so you cannot succeed your father as queen.”

Elizabeth of York: The Last White Rose is the first in a new series by historian and author Alison Weir which will span three generations of history’s most iconic family, The Tudors.

In this first instalment we meet a young Princess Elizabeth, who by marriage to Henry Tudor, brings to a close the infamous War of the Roses and unites the houses of York and Lancaster, becoming the first Tudor Queen.

I’ve always been interested in the family of Edward IV, his mysterious wife Elizabeth Woodville, his two young sons murdered in The Tower and of course his daughter Elizabeth, a young princess faced with a seemly impossible task of bringing peace to England.

The story spans much of Elizabeths life and it is obvious from the start that the author is masterful on her subject matter. It is brimming with historical accuracy and normally I find this type of detail in fiction exciting, however for me the storytelling and pacing suffered a little because of how tightly packed the story was with detail.

Character wise I did really enjoy the portrayal of Elizabeth, she was well developed and believable of the time, however the other characters felt a little flat and one dimensional and it was hard to see how they might have shaped the young princesses life.

Overall, I did like it, but didn’t love it. If you haven’t read much in the way of The Yorks, The Lancasters or The Tudors then I think this series will really appeal to you. If like me, you’ve already obsessed about everything War of the Roses, this might feel a little repetitive.

Thank you Headline and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a treat - a new Alison Weir to read! This time a historical novel about Elizabeth of York. the mother of Henry VIII

Sometimes I believe Ms Weir has part of her house set aside with Tudor clothes, furniture and decorations as she is able to bring so much detail about Tudor lives?

The book was a joy from start to finish with plenty of action from the usurpers to the crown, the battle at Bosworth and, of course, the tragedy surrounding Elizabeth's brothers - the princes in the Tower.

A historical novel which should attract 6 stars, but maybe I am biased having read (and enjoyed) all Alison Weir's previous works! Bring on the next please.

Thanks to Net Galley and Headline for the chance to read and review.

Daughter of Edward IV.
Sister of the Princes in the Tower.
Niece of Richard III.
Wife of Henry VII.
Mother of Henry VIII.

Elizabeth Of York is one of the most fascinating figures in British History. This book takes us through the story of her life, from childhood to death, adding thoughts and feelings to historical fact.

Impeccably researched. Eminently readable. Thoroughly recommended to fans of historical fiction and the Plantagenet and Tudor ages.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline Review publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An Engrossing Read.
This is a long book, but maybe it needs to be to do justice to the child and the woman that Elizabeth of York was. So often women in history have been overlooked and given no voice but in this story we hear her thoughts and emotions, her triumphs and her sorrows. It is sometimes easy to forget that Elizabeth had far more right to rule than her husband Henry Tudor whose claim to the throne was weak, a fact that he seemed well aware of and sought for her to be distanced from any real power. And yet, as author Alison Weir says, she was very important. She was the daughter, sister, niece, wife, mother and grandmother of monarchs, and the ancestress of every English monarch since 1509, every Scottish monarch since 1513, and every British monarch since 1603. Highly recommended.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Elizabeth of York, the last Plantagenet and York.Rose, is an incredible and overlooked character in the Wars of the Roses.and this novel is a well written story of her life. I like Alison Weirs historical fiction though learnt nothing new about the princess who would become wife, mother, grandmother to monarchs who changed English history. Thanks to netgalley and the.publisher for the arc.

This is one of those books that you will either love or loathe. I for one always enjoy a book by Alison Weir. It is like stepping back in time. To be a fly on the wall of one of the medieval palaces. She is able to inject life into what at times is a very dry subject.
This book is on Elizabeth of York. The daughter of a king. The sister of the Princes in the tower . Mother to Henry VIII. Immerse yourself in history and enjoy.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to see an Arc.

’Elizabeth of York’ by Alison Weir is the story of the last White Rose, as thereafter the houses of York and Lancaster joined to become the House of Tudor. Elizabeth has lived her entire life in fear of one political upheaval after another. Her young life is interrupted by the need to seek sanctuary as her father fights to hold onto his throne. On his death her future looks uncertain. Will she be forced into marriage with her uncle? Or will she finally meet and marry the Lancaster rival to the throne, Henry Tudor? The difficult choices she must make will not only affect her own life, but those of her family and the entire country.

Alison Weir fills in a lot of the backstory using conversations between the young Elizabeth and her mother. And this was certainly needed, as there are many players in this story and their relationships to each other are extremely important. There is a list of those involved and how they relate to each other at the beginning of the book and I found myself having to refer to that several times.

We are reminded that very young children are but pawns in royal households at this time. They are married off at very young ages and sent away from their families. Power seems to trump close and loving familial relationships, especially in the eyes of Elizabeth’s parents.

The author managed to make Elizabeth very real to me. I could imagine her fears as well as the joyful moments in her life. Alison Weir gets into the heads of her main characters, giving her readers a way into the past. Elizabeth had a lifetime of being a part of, and watching the machinations of, those intent on power at all costs. Her fortunes would rise and fall, depending on how the political situation changed.
I found her story fascinating. Weir pulled me into Elizabeth’s world, and transported me to a time and place vital to the future of the monarchy. Her knowledge on the subject is astounding and I learned so much about an amazing woman.

I was given this ARC to review.

I have always meant to pick up one of the many books written by Alison Weir as they deal with an interesting time in history. Having been given the opportunity to read the latest detailing the life of Elizabeth of York, who is someone I know very little about I just couldn’t say no. Whilst this book is a fiction in as much the story is told from the viewpoint of Elizabeth herself, it is also very much steeped in historical fact.
This was certainly a bloody time in history with the constant battles for the crown and the right to rule England and for Elizabeth the precarious and uncertain role she would play in all of this saw both her way of life and her family constantly in danger and often hung in the balance of power-hungry relatives even before her father died. On paper her life should have been one of luxury but in reality she spent a lot of her time seeking sanctuary with her mother and siblings until her eventual marriage to Henry Tudor.
Elizabeth is certainly an interesting character. She is constantly torn between family and duty and all that goes with it. As the eldest child she would have been eligible to rule but at that time women were not considered capable of such responsibility, and you could sense her frustrations about this. It must have also been hard watching family and friends either disappear or be killed in order to gain the upper hand and the right to rule.
At times I did find it hard to remember that this is historical fiction such was the depth of truth and facts that are woven throughout but as the author herself admits Elizabeth’s thoughts and interactions are of her imagination. Her interactions with her mother and siblings are quite easy to believe as they would turn to each other for comfort and guidance. She is portrayed as a highly intelligent woman who fights for what she believes in and what is right for the country, putting duty to the crown before herself on many occasions.
At approx 480 pages this is quite a lengthy book but with spanning 40 years without cutting out major events I don’t think that it could be any shorter and still do this period of history justice. This is definitely one for people with a fascination for history.

I have read many books about this fascinating period of history, and usually learn new facts and theories about Elizabeth of York, but this time I felt disappointed. The book really didn’t sing to me.
I have read the novels of Philippa Gregory, and Joanna Hickson, they both deal with this period of history, but they did seem to bring a new perspective to the familiar story. I was hoping for some new research upon the possible role of Dr Argentine, physician to the Princes in the Tower, as a possible murderer, a theory that is quite possible, but , Alison does deliver some great research throughout this novel, and it is extremely readable. It really tugs at the heart strings, when you read how many children died, and how many were just used as marriage pawns in this era. Elizabeth was a formidable character, and my only complaint about this period is, the sheer amount of repetition of the same Christian names!! Perhaps, I have read too many books on this historical age, and need a break.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Headline publishers, for my digital copy, in exchange for my honest, unsolicited review.
I will leave reviews to other outlets later.