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73pctgeek's review against another edition
3.0
The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman was both interesting and well-written. I found it particularly interesting as it deals with a time frame I'm not very familiar with as most histories, biographies, and novels I've favoured previously have covered the Tudor period.
Obviously reading it for the first time in 2024 changes how I came to it as a reader. The de-villianisation of Richard III has been going strong for a few years now, but I can imagine this would have been a very different and interesting take when first published.
In conclusion, my short, very reductive review of this book is that I did not expect to finish it having the hots for Richard III, but here I am.
Obviously reading it for the first time in 2024 changes how I came to it as a reader. The de-villianisation of Richard III has been going strong for a few years now, but I can imagine this would have been a very different and interesting take when first published.
In conclusion, my short, very reductive review of this book is that I did not expect to finish it having the hots for Richard III, but here I am.
amna99's review against another edition
5.0
Spoilers for historical events
”He fell, regained his feet. Richard’s banner still fluttered, St George and the Whyte Boar, but as he stumbled toward them, they disappeared from sight, were dragged down into the surging red tide.”
I knew even within the first 100 pages that I had reached the peak of historical fiction on the Wars of the Roses. I even suspected it before I started the book, having read When Christ and his Saints Slept last year.
This book takes us from Richard of York’s life as a small child to his tragic death at the Battle of Bosworth. Penman is a master at characterisation. Apart from Richard, I was so invested in Francis Lovell, George Plantagenet, Elizabeth of Woodville, Warwick and, most surprisingly of all, Edward Plantagenet. Penman truly illustrates him as enigma, a ruler who likes to appear like a passionate and impulsive man but is actually one of the most rational and level-headed people in the entire book.
I can see why this book changed so many minds about the villainy of Richard III. The British Education system does tend to teach us the Tudor perspective of his reign but it makes me laugh that all modern fictional retelling I’ve come across prefer Richard Plantagenet to the less likeable Henry Tudor, and I agree with them. I was biased towards Richard III already going into this and that feeling has only intensified. I finally teared up, after the buildup of betrayal after betrayal, when the North of England reacted against their best interests, and in defiance of Henry Tudor, to mourn the last Plantagenet king.
What an epic this book is! If you’re looking for just one novel to read on the Wars of the Roses, I highly recommend this one.
”He fell, regained his feet. Richard’s banner still fluttered, St George and the Whyte Boar, but as he stumbled toward them, they disappeared from sight, were dragged down into the surging red tide.”
I knew even within the first 100 pages that I had reached the peak of historical fiction on the Wars of the Roses. I even suspected it before I started the book, having read When Christ and his Saints Slept last year.
This book takes us from Richard of York’s life as a small child to his tragic death at the Battle of Bosworth. Penman is a master at characterisation. Apart from Richard, I was so invested in Francis Lovell, George Plantagenet, Elizabeth of Woodville, Warwick and, most surprisingly of all, Edward Plantagenet. Penman truly illustrates him as enigma, a ruler who likes to appear like a passionate and impulsive man but is actually one of the most rational and level-headed people in the entire book.
I can see why this book changed so many minds about the villainy of Richard III. The British Education system does tend to teach us the Tudor perspective of his reign but it makes me laugh that all modern fictional retelling I’ve come across prefer Richard Plantagenet to the less likeable Henry Tudor, and I agree with them. I was biased towards Richard III already going into this and that feeling has only intensified. I finally teared up, after the buildup of betrayal after betrayal, when the North of England reacted against their best interests, and in defiance of Henry Tudor, to mourn the last Plantagenet king.
What an epic this book is! If you’re looking for just one novel to read on the Wars of the Roses, I highly recommend this one.
kirstenrose22's review against another edition
4.0
It took me the better part of a week (of total dedication to doing little else) to read this. It was good, and ultimately satisfying, but so long that it was hard not to get bogged down in the middle. (That said, I can't think of what should be cut. It's just a long story with a lot to fit in.) The first half in particular does an admirable job of setting the scene and explaining the War of the Roses, and handling the cast of thousands that goes along with it - and that is not easy to do. The last few hundred pages are so sad though, so full of doom and inevitability.
emilydehaven's review
challenging
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
gabby_reades's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The most beautiful book I have ever read!
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
5.0
Huge and immensely readable, "The Sunne in Splendour" is the second Sharon Kay Penman book I've enjoyed (I was very disappointed that the second book on Richard I is not yet published--ouch!)
"Sunne" is a terrific book to read on a Nook or Kindle because you can easily take Google tangents to explore more on various characters, battles, places, costumes, whatever. Penman covers these areas neatly, but your interest will be piqued and it's fun to have all that info at your fingertips.
A special pat on the back to the author for her handling of battles. Since rulers in the Middle Ages seemed to spend the majority of their time at war, the endless stream of one fight after another could cause a sort of reader's battle fatigue. SKP is able to make each description different enough that they do not all blend together, with enough tactical details to be interesting. This is a gift--how often do you skim over the battle segments in historical novels because they are cluttered with details or just dull? That won't happen here.
Highly recommended for that time when you really, really want to get into a book and stay there.
"Sunne" is a terrific book to read on a Nook or Kindle because you can easily take Google tangents to explore more on various characters, battles, places, costumes, whatever. Penman covers these areas neatly, but your interest will be piqued and it's fun to have all that info at your fingertips.
A special pat on the back to the author for her handling of battles. Since rulers in the Middle Ages seemed to spend the majority of their time at war, the endless stream of one fight after another could cause a sort of reader's battle fatigue. SKP is able to make each description different enough that they do not all blend together, with enough tactical details to be interesting. This is a gift--how often do you skim over the battle segments in historical novels because they are cluttered with details or just dull? That won't happen here.
Highly recommended for that time when you really, really want to get into a book and stay there.
catherinet99's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
bethsponz's review against another edition
4.0
This is a huge book that I again took breaks with other shorter books. The author shines a light on Richard III than others books I’ve read about him. This author is much more factual and intense than Phillippa Gregory’s Tudor novels. Penman is a denser read and really knows her history. This is the second book I have read of hers and I plan to read another before the year is out.