The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
on_amys_shelf_'s review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
rhosynmd's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, War, Death, Child death, Physical abuse, and Confinement
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Blood, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Grief
bibielle's review
informative
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
kaylamatz's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
westcoastchelle's review against another edition
2.0
This book started out so good. But the last half really felt like an historical info dump. Far less story/characters and more just "look at all the facts I know!"
Combine that with a massive cast so it was hard to keep everyone straight, and the book fell far short of my expectations.
Combine that with a massive cast so it was hard to keep everyone straight, and the book fell far short of my expectations.
tangerine7199's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the story of the Morland family but the author switched between fiction and non-fiction too quickly to give the reader background. I appreciate that but it was done rather abruptly. I hope, for future books, the author doesn't feel the need to prove she researched this.
ladyhighwayman's review against another edition
3.0
I've had the Morland series on my wish list for a while, so I jumped at the chance to start reading and reviewing the re-issues that Sourcebooks are putting out. I love books that chronicle many generations of a family, so to have an entire series with 30+ books dedicated to this concept is a dream for a geek like me!
Book one in the series, The Founding, isn't the start of the Morland family, but the start of its dynasty. Eleanor Courteney, ward of the Beaufort family, is set to marry Robert Morland, an arrangement that will supply the Morlands with the protection of the Beaufort name and the Beauforts with the Morland's money.
Eleanor is appalled to have to marry this sheep farmer, especially when she harbors a deep love for Richard, Duke of York. However, this union lays the groundwork for a great family dynasty. And the Morland family is thrown in to the midst of the War of the Roses. Eleanor's sons and grandsons find themselves in the middle of some of the most infamous battles.
I must admit, the medieval period is not something I'm greatly knowledgeable about, and the War of the Roses has always seemed too complex for me to ever fully understand, but The Founding has, believe it or not, helped me towards coming to understand this period in time. That's one of my favorite things about historical fiction: the good novels educate.
There are many characters to keep up with and, thankfully, there is a helpful family tree at the beginning of the book, which I used a lot. Since there were so many characters, I can't say I connected with a lot of them, really. Eleanor was the main character, the central figure, and I did like her, even though sometimes she wasn't all that endearing.
I can see myself becoming very enthralled with this series. There is no way I'm going to be able to not read the entire catalog. The Founding was extremely well written and is, so far, my favorite medieval set book.
Book one in the series, The Founding, isn't the start of the Morland family, but the start of its dynasty. Eleanor Courteney, ward of the Beaufort family, is set to marry Robert Morland, an arrangement that will supply the Morlands with the protection of the Beaufort name and the Beauforts with the Morland's money.
Eleanor is appalled to have to marry this sheep farmer, especially when she harbors a deep love for Richard, Duke of York. However, this union lays the groundwork for a great family dynasty. And the Morland family is thrown in to the midst of the War of the Roses. Eleanor's sons and grandsons find themselves in the middle of some of the most infamous battles.
I must admit, the medieval period is not something I'm greatly knowledgeable about, and the War of the Roses has always seemed too complex for me to ever fully understand, but The Founding has, believe it or not, helped me towards coming to understand this period in time. That's one of my favorite things about historical fiction: the good novels educate.
There are many characters to keep up with and, thankfully, there is a helpful family tree at the beginning of the book, which I used a lot. Since there were so many characters, I can't say I connected with a lot of them, really. Eleanor was the main character, the central figure, and I did like her, even though sometimes she wasn't all that endearing.
I can see myself becoming very enthralled with this series. There is no way I'm going to be able to not read the entire catalog. The Founding was extremely well written and is, so far, my favorite medieval set book.
vae's review
3.0
First in a LONG series following the fortunes of a family from the Wars of the Roses through to the twentieth century, and I'm very glad that they're now available in ebook format because that's a lot of content!
Eleanor, ward of Lord Edmund, is married to Edward Morland, the son of a prosperous sheep farmer, and that's the start of everything. The book follows Eleanor throughout her married life, from a new bride to a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, through politically turbulent times as her ambition drives the family from relative obscurity to the point where sons of the family are placed in the royal court and she is on familiar terms with the king (first Edward, then Richard - the family are staunch Yorkists). It's refreshing that Eleanor's determination and ambition are never treated as shameful or unwomanly, instead being honoured as the support of her family, although the narrative doesn't fail to acknowledge that she is far from perfect and maintains very firm control over her children's and grandchildren's marriages and lives.
I absolutely loved this series as a teenager - re-reading it now is highlighting how much my reading tastes have changed. The plot and history and politics rattle along at a fair old pace, with even more content than I'd expect for a decently long book, and all characters are definitely supporting cast to Eleanor. I'd prefer a little more time to get to know the characters as people, who they are individually, what drives them, what delights them, but with such a large cast and so much political turmoil to fit in, that's sidelined in favour of keeping history moving on.
Eleanor, ward of Lord Edmund, is married to Edward Morland, the son of a prosperous sheep farmer, and that's the start of everything. The book follows Eleanor throughout her married life, from a new bride to a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, through politically turbulent times as her ambition drives the family from relative obscurity to the point where sons of the family are placed in the royal court and she is on familiar terms with the king (first Edward, then Richard - the family are staunch Yorkists). It's refreshing that Eleanor's determination and ambition are never treated as shameful or unwomanly, instead being honoured as the support of her family, although the narrative doesn't fail to acknowledge that she is far from perfect and maintains very firm control over her children's and grandchildren's marriages and lives.
I absolutely loved this series as a teenager - re-reading it now is highlighting how much my reading tastes have changed. The plot and history and politics rattle along at a fair old pace, with even more content than I'd expect for a decently long book, and all characters are definitely supporting cast to Eleanor. I'd prefer a little more time to get to know the characters as people, who they are individually, what drives them, what delights them, but with such a large cast and so much political turmoil to fit in, that's sidelined in favour of keeping history moving on.