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The Rose of York: Fall from Grace

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The third in Worth's Rose of York trilogy, Fall from Grace addresses the kingship of Richard III, the most challenging and harrowing years of his tumultuous life. The young Richard, married to Anne Neville, takes the throne upon the death of his brother, King Edward, the pivotal figures of his earlier struggles dead by the time of his coronation. Historically, Richard III bears a heavy burden, the possible murder of the princes in the Tower (a threat to the throne), remembered as a devious and ambitious ruler. Worth takes exception to Richard's tattered reputation, portraying him as a thoughtful monarch whose concern for the rule of law lays the groundwork for our modern system of justice. Most notably, Richard heartily believes in the fair resolution of conflict and equality before the law, dealing with his subjects' legal issues with a prescient sophistication that benefits society as a whole.

Richard is not a craven man of self-serving impulses, more often than not forgiving those who challenge his rule. Perhaps the king is too lenient, but it is in his character: "My throne must rest on loyalty, not force." Always sensitive to rumor and innuendo, Richard is pained by the cruel gossip of his adversaries, the seditious questioning of his legitimacy and the constant scheming of Henry Tudor to usurp the crown. When the young princes, Richard's nephews, are taken from the tower and murdered, it is the king who is suspected of the infamous crime, although the truth of the matter has never been satisfactorily solved by historians, remaining a fascinating mystery. Tortured by these constant aspersions on his character, Richard prevails nonetheless, meeting Tudor in battle when unavoidable and tending to the business of state, buoyed by the support of his beloved wife.

The haunting memories of the past, the joys of earlier days, dominate Richard's thoughts, the king ever aware of the loss of those he has loved, especially his brother, Edward and Richard Neville, "the Kingmaker". These men relegated to eternal life, Richard has no choice but to survive, comforted by his wife and young heir, Ned. When life deals its cruelest blow, Richard staggers, barely able to recover: devastated, he rallies, defending his throne with honor and dignity to the end. Whether or not Worth changes the opinion of scholars, the author makes a strong case for a man who set the parameters of justice (innocent until proven guilty; equality before the law), a compassionate and tortured ruler, the last Plantagenet king, maligned by history as villain and murderer, made more human in this incarnation. Luan Gaines/2007.

The novel, (the third and last in The Rose of York trilogy) opens with Richard's coronation and immediately addresses the burden's of kingship and the instability of friendship and loyalty, a devotion that at times was sadly lacking in this man's life who is portrayed to have dedicated so much of his life to that very trait.

Worth tells Richard's story with an evocative prose that squarely crafts a compelling and believable ambiance. The build-up of tension, the rolling of emotions, and a couple of conceivable and well-thought out plot twists, make Fall from Grace a solid and absorbing conclusion to this series.

Worth covers the major markers of Richard's life, his relationships, the strides he made in the laws for the common man, his strong sense of fairness, and of course the princes in the tower and Worth bases much of this on historical text. (The Author's Notes are fantastic.)

The romantic in me, (and there is so little of the romantic in me) was surprisingly moved by the inspired way Worth handled the infamous rumored 'affair' between Richard and his niece, Elizabeth of York. There is so little in Ricardian fiction that catches me unawares, it was truly a terrific and orderly migration.

Altogether, a first rate read.

On a side note of little importance, indisputably, this is one of the most stunning covers, Amazon, doesn't do it justice. It's truly magnificent.

Written by political science and economics expert Sandra Worth, who lectures regularly on the subject of the War of the Roses, The Rose of York: Fall from Grace is the dynamic, award-winning conclusion to Worth's "Rose of York" series of historically accurate novels. Revolving around the tragic figure of King Richard III, The Rose of York: Fall from Grace explores his legacy past the conclusion of the protracted war and into the modern day of Western democracy. Pulsing with intrigue, passion, betrayal, murder, war, and fragile hope, The Rose of York: Fall from Grace is an immersive page-turner and highly recommended.

I would like to recommend Sandra Worth's novels for anyone remotely interested in historical fiction.

Prior to reading her novels, I felt very "well read" in 15th century history and the time period of Edward IV and Richard III. After I read the first in the series, "The Rose of York: Love and War" my interest just blossomed. Not listing book details in my review, as several previous reviews have already done so, I would just like the reader to know that no matter how you view this time period in history, or the person of Richard III and the other players, you will be impacted and changed by Ms.Worth's novels like no other book you have read before.

In "Fall from Grace", the reader lives the last two years of King Richard's life, from coronation to Bosworth battle field. You feel you are face to face with the characters as they magically come alive, the intelligent loyal Richard, sweet supportive Anne and sinister betrayers: Stanley, Morton, Buckingham, Northumberland, and Margaret Beaufort. Ms. Worth's writing is fresh, placing details where they are needed, so the reader is never lost in a lot of extra wording.

Equally important is Ms. Worth's historical attention to detail. She develops many different possibilities for known historical facts of the time, showing not only her faithfulness to the true verified events, but also her amazing gift of creativeness and basically "thinking outside of the box."

Don't let this one, or any of her novels, pass you by!!!

Lori Braunhardt, Albuquerque, NM

I am a World History teacher, and my main interest has always been European history with an emphasis on the Anglos. This book is excellent, as are the other two in the series. I read everything I can find about Richard III because I have long believed he was a wrongly maligned monarch - even before so many authors began to publish the truth. This series ranks with Sharon Kay Penman's efforts. The more accurate histories I read, the more comfortable I am with Richard III as a true hero of history!

The final chapter of Sandra Worth's excellent trilogy on Richard III, Fall From Grace, brings the tragic story to life and sheds light on the possible reasons for many of his actions. Worth has taken a much-told tale and given it new legs, and for that she deserves much praise.

The book opens just after Richard has assumed the throne of England from his displaced young nephew. Content to have lived his life in his beloved northern England, Richard feels compelled to take the throne for the good of the country, though he is reluctant to do so. He knows his actions will be questioned and yet he feels he must right the wrongs that have been done. We follow Richard through his efforts to bring a voice to the common man, an unheard-of idea for the 1400s, as well as his ideals of justice and service. As he marches forward, we also see his grief over the private losses he suffers, and his eventual decline into the fate he feels is his. Worth handles the story with gut wrenching emotion, and she does a credible job of giving us reasons for Richard doing some of the things he did, including how the "murder" of the princes was carried out.

My biggest complaint over this novel, as well as the last one, is the length. Both books could easily have been combined into one engaging novel that would have helped move the story along more seamlessly. Also, at times Worth belabors Richard's constant striving to overcome his past and his many enemies, though of course that is indeed part of the tale. Overall, this is a worthy sequel and a fine conclusion to a well-crafted story. Recommended, especially to those who believe Richard is not the hump-backed deviant often portrayed.

I enjoyed this, the last in a trilogy, about King Richard III. He was unfairly maligned by Shakespeare howver Richard III was a man of conscience, who believed in everyone having the same rights. He passed laws especially to protect the poor, who were considered then to basically have no voice in regards to justice.

Unfortunately, Richard's life was one tragedy after another. He loses many of the people he loves and as a result seriously begins to question his "right" to the throne. While his motives are pure those who plot against him for the crown are not.

This was a very fast paced read. Those interested in this English period will be well satisfied. However I'd strongly recommend reading the first two novels in this trilogy first to really get to know the main characters and this time in history.

Worth's attention to detail in this, the third novel in the Rose of York series, enables the reader to experience the mind of the 15th century in a unique way. Modern readers can sympathize with the grieving Richard III, who loses brother, wife and son within the space of a few months. But in addition, Worth portrays the king as tortured by the sense that God was punishing him for his sins, and explains his suicidal charge down Ambien Hill at the battle of Bosworth as an attempt to let God decide his fate. These are sentiments quite foreign to 20th century readers, but they become completely believable in the author's skilled hands. This is not a light-hearted romance novel, but rather a complex portrayal that allows the reader to look deeply into the mind of a medieval man.

"Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York."
Richard III, I.1.1-2

For all the disservice done to Richard III by Shakespeare, his opening lines of Richard III could do no more to accurately divine the shift in thought that Sandra Worth's trilogy seeks to influence about the last Plantagenet king of England. In "The Rose of York" trilogy (Love and War, Crown of Destiny and Fall from Grace), Worth joins the likes of Shakespeare, Sir Thomas More, Horace Walpole, Alison Weir, and Beth Marie Kosir in her contribution to the commentary about the most reviled king of the English monarchy. Unlike most of her colleagues from the Early Modern period, however, Worth is not writing to appease a crown; she has no sedition laws poised to censor her text; she isn't a mouthpiece of Tudor propaganda. Instead, Worth's historical fiction sets out to correct centuries of rumor, political attacks, and exaggerations that have molded the image of Richard III into a villainous, "bunch-backed toad."

In The Rose of York: Fall from Grace, Richard III is deeply in love with a woman, with the law, and with his quest to embody the ideals of King Arthur. Rather than displaying the Machiavellian suspicion that Shakespeare's villain thrives on, Worth's Richard III is too trusting and makes decisions based on the hope that the inherent good in his courtiers will outweigh their greed and opportunism. Unfortunately, the malicious scheming and plotting of individuals like Buckingham and Lady Beaufort consistently undermine the progress and general good that Richard III's new laws promote. Far from the traditional depiction of Richard III as a murderous opportunist, Worth's characterization of Richard highlights the villainy and cut throat tactics of those who would become the central core of the Tudor court.

In Rose of York: Fall from Grace, Richard is a handsome, athletic man who risks his own health to comfort his dying queen. He is a man touched by beauty and tragedy. He is a man who did not covet the title of King, but bore it with a raised awareness of responsibility and desire to change the world. Many historical fictions fall off the razor's edge and either inundate the reader with facts and dates, or dismiss historical accuracy altogether. Worth's Fall from Grace treads that ground carefully by giving Richard a voice that is idealistic and genuine--if not a little naive. Captivating description and real, recognizable dialogue act as a vehicle for not only historical accuracy, but a heartbreaking romance. Though readers will undoubtedly know the outcome of the story before they open the cover, Worth's skill as a storyteller heightens audience investment in the personal lives of these historical figures and makes their tragic ends more than just an historical laundry list of dates and names. The complex relationships of the medieval court of England become easily navigable through Worth's vibrant characterizations.

Attempting to overturn history is no small task. The complexities of court interactions and allegiances have always been convoluted, and the interpretations of those interactions have most often been told by those who had the most power. Thanks to Shakespeare, Richard III's legacy has been one of deformity, conniving, regicide, cruelty, megalomania, usurpation, and murder. When such a negative portrait has been painted (indeed, even physical portraits were altered to reflect propaganda spread by the Tudors to alter the legacy of Richard) and maintained for generations, persuading an audience to consider facts more closely can be a monumental undertaking. Luckily, Worth's intensive research brings together historical documentation and private correspondences to piece together the facts about Richard III's rise to power and his short reign. Most of these facts have been available to the public, but to get an audience with a set view to revisit those same facts for reconsideration is a decisive task. Not surprisingly, Worth tackles the public opinion and wrestles it into experiencing familiar facts from a new, creative point of view.

Through the parsing together of timelines, records, and documents that have survived over 500 years of threat and suppression, Worth manages to paint a picture of Richard III that stands in direct conflict with what most people are familiar. The text is far from a didactic gloss of historical dates, names and locations, but it manages to recreate the life of Richard III with such vivacity and personality that it will forever change the mental image of one of history's most hated monarchs.

...these books in the Rose of York series are very good. The life and struggles of Richard, Duke of York and eventually King Richard III, comes to life and you realize that this is not the monster that has for so long been depicted as such. Richard, a man who believes in justice and loyalty, takes the throne of England unwillingly, hoping to bring England out of Civil War and finally restore peace. I strongly believe that he had no hand in the murder of the young princes. The author brings this story to life, and even though it is fiction, I believe she has revealed some truth about the short reigning king, and my opinion has changed because of it. Pick up this series and enjoy.