Queen of Trial and Sorrow


Fiction - Historical - Personage
412 Pages
Reviewed on 03/04/2016
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Sarah Stuart for Readers' Favorite

This story is accurately and graphically set against the bitter and bloody battles that comprise the Wars of the Roses, and the tangled politics of a disputed throne. Queen of Trial and Sorrow begins with Susan Appleyard showing Elizabeth Woodville as the placidly contented wife of Sir John Grey. On his death from battle wounds, she returned to her parents, a penniless widow with two boys clinging to her skirts. Her family opposed the upstart King Edward IV but held their peace, awaiting the victorious return of King Henry and Queen Margaret. Elizabeth awoke to true womanhood when the king kissed her hand; the mother of the princes in the tower lived a life full of passion and demanding court ceremony with her beloved Edward until his tragic death, but her lone battles were still to come.

Susan Appleyard captured my attention from Elizabeth Woodville’s opening thoughts in Queen of Trial and Sorrow, and she held it from beginning to end. I have never seen a period, a divided and battling country, or a person, brought to life so skilfully. Elizabeth lives, breathes, thinks, acts, loves, and hates with a vividness that it would be difficult to surpass. For devotees of historical novels, this is a must-read, but what of those who enjoy a sizzling romance? Young, handsome King Edward was a womanizer and Elizabeth held out for three years when he offered only a wanton liaison. So, what then? “Give me a kiss, sweetheart, and I’ll give you a crown.”

N.H.

Queen of Trial and Sorrow by Susan Appleyard is a historical fiction set in one of the most fascinating periods of English history, the late Plantagenet Dynasty. Writers like Phillipa Gregory and Alison Weir have been mining this territory for a while. Ms. Appleyard is certainly qualified to be listed in the same company. In fact Queen of Trial and Sorrow is a better book than Gregory’s White Queen.

Carol 1107

The book is very well written & I enjoyed it immensely,

IndieBrag

We are proud to announce that QUEEN OF TRIAL AND SORROW by Susan Appleyard is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells a reader that this book is well worth their time and money!