White Rose Blossoms by Phil Syphe

This alternate history of Richard III and Henry VII opens during the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Halfway through an all-out charge against Henry, Richard changes tactics and retreats. Wounded, Richard escapes with several loyal men and goes into hiding. These men protect Richard during his recovery whilst planning to raise an army to dethrone Henry.

Richard’s illegitimate children – Sir John of Gloucester and Lady Katherine, Countess of Huntingdon – disguise themselves as peasants to avoid Henry’s soldiers. They also face the more dangerous threat of Katherine’s husband who wants to sever all ties to the fallen king, which includes Katherine.

It’s not an awful book, but it’s not too much above that, either. The writing is sort of juvenile, with one character’s laugh written out as “hee, hee, hee.” The characterization was okay, thought more than once I wondered at some of their actions.

My biggest problem with the book is that Richard III is little more than a walk-on character. He shows up a few times, mostly as an invalid getting over his injuries, then disappears into the background. Henry VII has more lines, and is a more filled-out character. It’s as if the reader is supposed to know everything about Richard (which most probably do,) so the writer doesn’t have to create his story.

I love alternative history stories, and was expecting more from this one. Unfortunately, it didn’t deliver.




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