Stormbird

The Wars of the Roses (Book 1)

By: Conn Iggulden

Narrated by: Roy McMillan

Brought to you by Penguin.

The epic first instalment in the thrilling War of the Roses series, perfect for fans of Game of Thrones, Bernard Cornwell and Wolf Hall.

King Henry V - the great Lion of England - is dead.

It's up to his son to take the throne, but frail in body and mind, he is dependent on his supporters to run his kingdom.

Richard, Duke of York, believes that without a strong king England will fall.

And as the threat from France grows, and rebellion on home soil spreads, his fears seem justified.

Who can save the throne?

Who will defend the kingdom?

© Conn Iggulden 2013 (P) Penguin Audio 2013

Critic reviews

Pacey and juicy, and packed with action

Energetic, competent stuff; Iggulden knows his material and his audience

A novel that seamlessly combines narrative, historical credence and great knowledge of the period

Iggulden is in a class of his own when it comes to epic, historical fiction

Superbly plotted and paced

Conn breathes new life into the darkest and most dramatic of times, with a flair for both the huge scale and human interest of it all

Exceptionally well-written and gripping

Compelling reading

A benchmark for historical fiction, showcasing Conn Iggulden at his finest

Full of period detail, the narrative weaves a glittering thread through the complex, political chaos of the time. It's been said that Game of Thrones is the Wars of the Roses written as fantasy: this is the real thing, more glorious, more passionate, far, far more gritty (Manda Scott, author and head of HWA)

Iggulden employs great skill...

This book abounds with the conniving duplicity that some people are willing & able to employ to attain ultimate power over others. Iggulden employs tremendous skill in weaving this epic tale of fact & fiction. It's ruthless, brutally authentic, tenderly poignant & intensely gripping, sometimes all at the same time. At times he even has the unique ability of getting you to emphasize with the villains... Bloody Brilliant! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

another great series from Iggulden

I have read his other series and therefore had to listen also to this one. It is not as good as the Genghis books, but for me this is a very high standard. I had difficulty deciding if I should give 4 or 5 stars, I would say four and a half. Its a complicated subject with many Edwards and Richards and battles back and forth. the series gets better book by book. I hope Conn makes another series.

A well executed set up.

Great writing, exceptional narration (one of the best, if not * the*best, I have come across) and beautifully developed characters.

Good listen

I enjoyed listening to this book and would recommend to anyone who likes historical fiction

this is a very good story

I really enjoyed this book. It was very well read, the narrator uses various voice and intonations to bring through book to life. I thought it was very well done.