The second instalment in the ‘Sprigs of Bloom’ series
by
Lesley J Nickell
History crosses the borders of fact and fiction within Sons of York as Nickell hints to things that ‘could have been’
during the epic War of Roses.
The second instalment to Nickell’s captivating ‘Sprigs of Bloom’ series, Sons of York is here, following the life of Janet Evershed, the Mayor of York’s daughter.
Life for Janet does not follow the usual pattern for a well brought-up girl in the fifteenth century. Due to a series of surprising events, she becomes a young widow running her own growing business in London, later to become the mistress of the charismatic king and an exile in the Low Countries with her life inextricably entwined with those of the Princes in the Tower.
Edward IV, Richard III and their brother George – with their children, make up the Sons of York, but Janet is not part of this elite court; she is merely a bystander, observing their lives from the shadows.
A budding attraction is made apparent almost immediately between Janet and the Earl of March, later to become Edward IV within Sons of York, and although Janet battles her attraction at first, Edward remains persistent and she soon succumbs to her desires.
Lesley Nickell’s imagination and passion for writing shines through in the second part of this series as characters from the first reappear. They are just as charismatic and just as well written as before. Unlike the main protagonist in The White Queen of Middleham, Nickell has created a fictional character in the eyes of Janet Evershed for the second novel in the series.
Even though Janet is a fictional character, she does not take away the historical facts or the atmosphere of the fifteenth century. In fact, her character increases the mystery of the unknown, creating an area of uncertainty beyond what is documented as fact throughout English history.
The subplots within the novel also keep the story flowing along at a steady peace, with close attention to the relationship between Edward IV and Janet, making it a romantic page turner at best. Each of the elite characters remain true to their historical stance and Janet is an added bonus, with highly believable qualities that do not demise the fifteenth century truths.
Sons of York is s a beautifully engaging tale about a fictional character that may or may not have existed once upon a time. The magic of this time period is revived once more with the immensely rich details and Nickell’s gift for retelling the lives of the elite court, as before, do not disappoint. A must read.
This novel has been re-printed in both paperback and e-book edition by Mereo Books, an imprint of Memoirs Publishing. It can be purchased through Amazon, here.
Note: This book review was written and intended for use by the Romaunce Books blog, a blog for the fictional imprint of Memoirs Publishing.
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