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A review by kalauandromeda
Stormbird by Conn Iggulden
4.0
Never knew historical fiction could be this good. Honestly, I started reading this book expecting it to be like a boring history lecture , but it pleasantly suprised me. The pacing was very good, which I learnt, afterwards, has been changed in the book as compared to real life. One of the main issues with this book are inspite of having a many number of characters, honestly I didn't get connected to many.
1. Margaret: She didn't get much time in this book, but she is one of a favourite of mine and her character indeed shows potential and hope that her character continues to entertain me in the next books.
2. William de la Pole, Lord Suffolk, is the other favourite character of mine. I don't know why, but his character felt sort of similar to Ned Stark from the Game of Thrones. Well of course this entire story is also a game for the throne. Honorable guy from the start to the end. Maybe too honorable for his own good. Been honest and worked hard for his king and his king alone. Even his death is kind of similar to that of Ned's. I always liked Ned stark in GoT even though he was not good in politics, that maybe a contributing factor for my liking of Lord Suffolk
3. King Henry VI: He is maybe the only good person we have seen in the book with an age over 20. He might not be a good king, bad even, but he is a man with a good heart and wanted no war. He might have made a good king in the times of peace, but not in the times of war.
4. Derry Brewer: Although there are no official records of a person like this being present, I'm sure there existed a person like this being the king's hand, with his out of box thinking. I believe there are no records because the Derry in real life was that good in keeping his name out of the official records. His plots were really good. They're not even like something which no one else in the world would think of. They're the ones, which any intellectual with good peace of mind would come up. I didn't know the conditions for the first marriage or betrothal of Margaret of Anjou that took place in France prior to this book. So while reading, with the given information, I thought that there would be a double in place of King Henry at his marriage who would be thoroughly prepared in case someone strikes a conversation, but Derry's plan was better and more practical. I think he had a bigger influence on Margaret than he might have thought of , which we have seen at the end of the book. One issue I have of the plan for truce is that someone like him should have thought that there would be revolts in Maine and Anjou especially as the place is filled with many war veterans and thus causing their truce to fall apart. I still can't comprehend that Derry didn't foresee that and prepare a counter plan.
5. Thomas Woodchurch : Another fictional character created by the author to represent the hardships of the working class people in Maine and Anjou. Honestly, I didn't like him very much. If you think about it, all the English territories in France were not lost because of King Henry or Lord Suffolk or Derry Brewer. They were lost because this fool couldn't think straight when he's getting another opportunity for war. I think he's that sort of person who likes wars and hurting people despite of what his character might have said in the book. Even after reaching England in a state near to death, he did not decide to go home and rest, instead when he heard of an incoming revolt, he made no second thoughts and fought against the Englishmen as there were no French here. Hated this character throughout the book for some reason.
6. Richard of York and Jack Cade: After seeing the aftermath of the battle at London, somewhere in the back of mind ,I have a strong feeling that it was York who provided the rebellion with resources and men secretly in an attempt to dethrone the current king. Don't have much to say about Jack Cade other than the fact that he felt to me like somebody with the mindset of a crybaby. Richard on the other hand felt like a cold calculated and an ambitious man. Given the circumstances, I think he would have been the best choice for being the king. He might not be a good man like Henry, but he would have made a hell of a king.
Honestly if this hasn't created an interest in the historical fiction genre for me, I wouldn't have given it a 4 stars. Probably a 3.5/5. Hope the next books continue to be this entertaining too.
1. Margaret: She didn't get much time in this book, but she is one of a favourite of mine and her character indeed shows potential and hope that her character continues to entertain me in the next books.
2. William de la Pole, Lord Suffolk, is the other favourite character of mine. I don't know why, but his character felt sort of similar to Ned Stark from the Game of Thrones. Well of course this entire story is also a game for the throne. Honorable guy from the start to the end. Maybe too honorable for his own good. Been honest and worked hard for his king and his king alone. Even his death is kind of similar to that of Ned's. I always liked Ned stark in GoT even though he was not good in politics, that maybe a contributing factor for my liking of Lord Suffolk
3. King Henry VI: He is maybe the only good person we have seen in the book with an age over 20. He might not be a good king, bad even, but he is a man with a good heart and wanted no war. He might have made a good king in the times of peace, but not in the times of war.
4. Derry Brewer: Although there are no official records of a person like this being present, I'm sure there existed a person like this being the king's hand, with his out of box thinking. I believe there are no records because the Derry in real life was that good in keeping his name out of the official records. His plots were really good. They're not even like something which no one else in the world would think of. They're the ones, which any intellectual with good peace of mind would come up. I didn't know the conditions for the first marriage or betrothal of Margaret of Anjou that took place in France prior to this book. So while reading, with the given information, I thought that there would be a double in place of King Henry at his marriage who would be thoroughly prepared in case someone strikes a conversation, but Derry's plan was better and more practical. I think he had a bigger influence on Margaret than he might have thought of , which we have seen at the end of the book. One issue I have of the plan for truce is that someone like him should have thought that there would be revolts in Maine and Anjou especially as the place is filled with many war veterans and thus causing their truce to fall apart. I still can't comprehend that Derry didn't foresee that and prepare a counter plan.
5. Thomas Woodchurch : Another fictional character created by the author to represent the hardships of the working class people in Maine and Anjou. Honestly, I didn't like him very much. If you think about it, all the English territories in France were not lost because of King Henry or Lord Suffolk or Derry Brewer. They were lost because this fool couldn't think straight when he's getting another opportunity for war. I think he's that sort of person who likes wars and hurting people despite of what his character might have said in the book. Even after reaching England in a state near to death, he did not decide to go home and rest, instead when he heard of an incoming revolt, he made no second thoughts and fought against the Englishmen as there were no French here. Hated this character throughout the book for some reason.
6. Richard of York and Jack Cade: After seeing the aftermath of the battle at London, somewhere in the back of mind ,I have a strong feeling that it was York who provided the rebellion with resources and men secretly in an attempt to dethrone the current king. Don't have much to say about Jack Cade other than the fact that he felt to me like somebody with the mindset of a crybaby. Richard on the other hand felt like a cold calculated and an ambitious man. Given the circumstances, I think he would have been the best choice for being the king. He might not be a good man like Henry, but he would have made a hell of a king.
Honestly if this hasn't created an interest in the historical fiction genre for me, I wouldn't have given it a 4 stars. Probably a 3.5/5. Hope the next books continue to be this entertaining too.