The Rose of York series by Sandra Worth is a trilogy of Historical Fiction novels that take place during the latter days of the Wars of the Roses from the point of view of the future Richard III and his wife Anne Neville. It covers similar historic ground to the The Sunne in Splendour and The Kingmaker's Daughter but with a highly romanticized take on the events and a villainous Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville.
Book I: Love & War (2003) details Richard and Anne’s youth and his relationship with his brother the king as the young lovers are torn apart by Edward’s impulsive marriage and her father’s subsequent rebellion.
Book II: Crown of Destiny (2006) sees Richard and Anne finally marry and settle into their lives as the young Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and he sets about to be a fair law giver.
Book III: Fall from Grace (2007) has Richard decide to seize the throne, and with Anne’s support, become a good king. Unfortunately, events unfold darkly as their only son dies and Anne becomes ill and the walls close in on Richard.
Tropes Associated with this Work:
- Alpha Bitch: Elizabeth Woodville is absolutely the queen bee of the court. She's also a Hot Consort.
- Artistic License – History:
- Anne and Elizabeth of York do seem to have been close, but it is unknown/doubtful Anne encouraged Elizabeth and Richard to marry while she was dying. There is some evidence that Elizabeth had a crush on Richard and wanted to marry him. He was trying to arrange political marriages for himself and Elizabeth with Portugal and was not interested in her that way.
- It's possible that Elizabeth of York retained the affection she had for Richard, but it also seems like she had affection for Henry Tudor, unlike the book.
- Best Friend: Rob Percy and Francis Lovell are loyal friends to Richard.
- Big Brother Instinct: Edward IV truly loves and dotes on young Richard, so much so that Richard has a hard time seeing his brother's faults.
- Big Sister Instinct: Richard's sister Margaret of York is the last Yorkist standing and years later, Elizabeth of York thinks about her plots against the Tudors.
- Bright Lady And White Knight and Dark Lady And Black Knight: Richard and Anne and John and Isobel are the white and bright variety, while Edward and Elizabeth as well as George and Isabel are the darker variety.
- Clingy Jealous Girl: Normally sweet Anne does not react well to the news that Richard had two children with a mistress before they were married.
- Conflicting Loyalties: All over the place. Richard loves his brother and stays loyal, but he's got his doubts. John Neville dies fighting for Lancaster but with the York colors under his armor. Anne believes in the York cause and Richard but she starts to feels softly towards her first husband. Elizabeth of York is told she should hate Richard and support Tudor, but she comes to love both Anne and Richard.
- Dated History:
- Richard is not disabled at all in this story, which was written before the discovery of his remains that confirmed he had scoliosis.
- The epilogue states that Richard's body was thrown into a river, which was theorized at the time the book was published but was debunked when his remains were discovered.
- Decadent Court: Young Richard is appalled by the level of debauchery at Edward’s court, especially with respect to Will Hastings’s behavior.
- Evil All Along: Buckingham never really supported Richard. He always wanted the crown for himself.
- The Fate of the Princes in the Tower: Anne thinks the boys’ are in danger as long as they are in London so Richard arranges for them to be taken to Barnard Castle. Unfortunately, Edward V is sick and can’t go so he and his servant boy are murdered by Buckingham’s men. But the young Richard of York does go to Barnard Castle and is saved. He becomes Perkin Warbeck.
- Foregone Conclusion: Richard will become king, but he will die at Bosworth and his reputation will be ruined.
- Good Princess, Evil Queen: Applies to Elizabeth Woodville and her daughter Elizabeth of York, who is a good natured Princess Classic who learns to love both Richard and Anne.
- Greed: Richard sees this as Elizabeth Woodville's primary sin, and he calls her out on it.
- Intergenerational Friendship: Anne and Elizabeth of York become very close as she is dying. So much so, that Anne tries to be The Matchmaker between Elizabeth and Richard and Richard is not amused.
- King Incognito: Anne and Richard disguise themselves as humble pilgrims and are taken in by a family. Here, they learn how difficult it is for commoners to get legal redress and Richard decides to see if he can help.
- Parental Substitute: Warwick and John Neville are like fathers to Richard, so when they rebel against Edward it is difficult for Richard.
- Rescue Romance: Richard rescues Anne after her father and husband’s death and after George forces her to work in a kitchen.
- Together in Death: In an Afterlife Welcome, John's ghost comes to take Isobel to the afterlife, which foreshadows Anne coming to take Richard to the afterlife as he is dying at Bosworth, which counts as a Ghost Reunion Ending.
- Young Future Famous People: In the Flash Forward epilogue, the future Henry VIII appears as a Creepy Child that unnerves his mother.
