As the Wars of the Roses draw slowly to a close‚ England is a place of turmoil. Edward IV is on the throne but his position is unstable and he finds himself challenged by a man who would become Henry VII.
But one woman‚ a silkweaver to the court and mistress to Richard III‚ can cut through the turmoil with her clever ways and her pretty smile. Her sister is mistress to Edward IV. Could they hold the keys to power″
And London is turned constantly on its head‚ with business never sure where to turn‚ where the favours lie‚ who is in power from one moment to the next. Vanora Bennett brings to life a time of passions and politics‚ a time of turmoil and tension‚ a world in flux and a country up for grabs.
I have to say of all the war of the roses books this is going to be one of my favorites. While it does focus on the royals in some respects the main focus is the story of trying to get the silk weaving business brought to England. You learn all the ins and outs of the mercers guild and many others within England at the time. Isabel Lambert a fictional created sister to the infamous Jane Lambert, better known as Jane Shore Mistress to King Edward is the center piece in all of this silk world.
Isabel after meeting with a mysterious stranger (who I guessed right on the first meeting) goes on to marry the Son of the wealthiest independent silkwomen in London Alice Claver. After the death of her Husband not very long after they were married Isabel is stuck with a question of what to do. She ends up becoming the apprentice of her Mother in Law. We follow these industrious women for a very long road of over 10 years as they have ups and downs and work towards a dream of not having to import woven silk from the various ports of the world. I loved learning about the silk world and following them along the path. The back story with the royal family fit as well because the merchants could not act without the royals and the royals often wanted loans from the merchants. It certainly is an interesting fiction and would I very much recommend.
My Gemstone Rating:
