Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I only really know about the aftermath of the Wars of the Roses but I didn't really know about what led up to it. This book was a great reference to use in my creative writing. I love Tudor era and this book was a great jumping off point to learning about a new era in British history. I'd recommend this for anyone who loves royal history, British history or even Tudor history.

NetGalley, Whitney Foster

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This book will be of special interest to students who want more facts than a textbook will give them, writers and readers of historical fiction who would like to separate fact from invention, those who want to review their knowledge or catch up on recent ideas, and people like me who realize they know almost nothing about this period of history and are looking for a solid base to begin learning. The author's own words say it well: "All that I can hope to do is to provide a coherent overview that encourages the pursuit of further details elsewhere." (p. 42) In that he has succeeded; this book should provide a solid reference for interested beginners and a spring board for those who want to dig deeper into the time period.

NetGalley, Teri Kelsey

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This book is brilliant and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in learning about the War of the Roses in a most accessible and entertaining way. I have always had a fascination for all things Tudor but my fiction reading of late (I’m looking at you Annie Garthwaite) has led me to go further back to the time just before the Tudors and I am so glad I did! It can get confusing, however, this is the most plain speaking and comprehensive guide to this rich period in history.

“... studying the politics of fifteenth-century England is not for the faint-hearted. It is a world of riveting personalities, savage battles, sudden switches of allegiance, violent feuds, the murder of innocents - and not so innocents - and Lord knows what other mayhem. You could find yourself up to your elbows in blood and gore…”

As the author himself states, “our fascination with interesting people and what they did in difficult circumstances is timeless.” Two of the most enticing aspects of this book is, firstly, the author looking at events as they unfolded and shutting out hindsight where possible. Secondly, the wit and charm Derek brings to this book. His words are so accessible and oftentimes filled with humour and sarcasm. For example: “The object of the exercise was to persuade Clarence to shut up and toe the line. It backfired because Clarence was always slow to take a hint” .... or .... “The removal of Clarence meant that no one now threatened Edward’s throne. Well, that’s good to know…”

This is not a stuffy, boring history book - the furthest thing from it. His approach of focusing on the facts and presenting them in an engaging way makes for fascinating reading. So much of what we know from this time was through a Tudor lens - “the Tudor view of what happened, constructed after the events to explain the Tudor success story.” How refreshing to see events not only through a wider lens but also in an entertaining and informative way.

NetGalley, Helen Hancock

"Our fascination with interesting people and what they did in difficult circumstances is timeless."

This is a fantastic introduction to the Wars of the Roses. The writing was far from stuffy - Birks wrote in a way that was most engaging, at times even humorous, and accessible to everyone regardless of their prior knowledge of the topic.

Birks spends just enough time on each topic, making sure not to draw them out for too long and lose the reader or go over their heads. He also helps the reader look at events from all angles/viewpoints, not just through the eyes of the Tudors. He gives brilliant, well-backed defenses while making his own personal cases on certain topics, such as the idea that the Woodevilles did not actually have all the power and influenece most historicans want us to believe they did - and I will say I agree a lot with what he had to say.

Overall I recommend this to both people who have little knowledge of the Wars of the Roses, and those who are seasoned history buffs. It's a great guide to go back to if there's a person or event you need to brush up your memory on, and the perfect starting point for learning about the often chaotic and slightly confusing topic of the Wars of the Roses.

NetGalley, Danielle Holeman

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This accessible guide explains the origins, key events, and aftermath of the Wars of the Roses. It examines the rivalries and power struggles that led to the deposition of Henry VI and the rise and fall of the House of York, offering a clear perspective on this complex historical period.

This is the best book I’ve read on the Wars of the Roses. Though not particularly long, it’s thorough. It explains the battles without getting into the weeds. It focuses on facts rather than motivations, yet also explores the personalities of the key players in a logical way. I’ve been fascinate by the Wars of the Roses since I was a teenager, and I feel like I finally understand why they happened the way they did.

NetGalley, Andrea Romance

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This is a very a cool guide to all things York and Lancaster. Helps to sort out the characters in the Wars of the Roses, which is one of my favorite historical time periods to learn and read about.

NetGalley, Amanda Richardson

This is a nice introduction to the Wars of the Roses. Written in simple, easy to understand prose, it offers a very good overview of this dynastic struggles that rocked England so many centuries ago. For those who know little about the topic, it will be a fun and informative read.

NetGalley, Rebecca Huang

I found this to be very readable. The author adds in his own humorous asides. It is not a stuffy history but well done. I thought the author did a nice job of cutting through all the mythology and popular “ideas” about this period of English history and the participants. He drills down with the Jack Friday method - “just the facts ma’am”. It was fresh and enlightening.

NetGalley, Joan Hipp

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I've been trying to improve myself by reading the history's of different times and regions. I knew very little about this time period, and the "War of the Roses". The author should be given knighthood for the excellent job that he did here! He presented the history clearly, in an interesting manner, and with more than a bit of humor. I honestly could not put this book down, it kept me interested all the way through. I thought the treachery, selfishness, and politics of today was something new, but I know see it was just as bad, if not worse then. At least the politicians of today have not resorted to killing their children, or selling their daughters into a marriage just to gain an advantage (well, at least as far as I know). I'm looking forward to reading more of the history of England/France/Spain/Holland in this time period. I sincerely hope that the author will continue writing in this vein, he's excellent at it!

NetGalley, Randal White

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

In recent years I decided it was time to learn more about the Wars of the Roses, mostly because it was neglected during my youth. A year or two ago, I read a pretty basic overview on it and understood it better. Mostly it was about dates and the houses of Lancaster and York and who ruled when. Sure, there were some details, but it didn't really delve into in a way that I truly understood.

A Guide to the Wars of the Roses changes it all for me. I started reading a few weeks ago and it was almost like having a chat and learning bits and pieces along the way. The writer makes it very accessible and goes back well before the actual period to look at what happened to create the wars. In fact, I think it wasn't until nine chapters in that we reached the start of the Wars of the Roses. But it was so much richer for having all that background. There were far more issues creating the conflict than normally are discussed and it really felt like these were real people instead of the two-dimensional ones that seem to create much of history. It reminds me of two history teachers from school who really made history alive for me.

I really enjoyed reading this and highly recommend it for anyone wanting to take a deeper dive into this period. It's not at all dry and it brings to life a really chaotic period in English history. I

NetGalley, Lori Schokman

Anyone who wants a thorough understanding on The War of the Roses needs to read this book! Such an interesting way of presenting all the facts as far as they are known and then putting forth the authors carefully thought out opinions was intriguing. You may not always agree with the authors opinion but it will give you food for thought. Highly recommended.

NetGalley, Christine Cazeneuve

A Guide to the Wars of the Roses is a fantastic resource for readers who want to understand what happened without getting lost in the labyrinth of historical details. It’s perfect for beginners who need a straightforward entry point and equally valuable for seasoned history buffs who want to brush up on the basics. Birks doesn’t just retell history—he makes it understandable without dulling its complexity. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by this bloody chapter of English history, this guide is the perfect companion to help you navigate the battlefield of kings, dukes, and unrelenting ambition.

NetGalley, Chelsea Dugan

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

As someone who loves History, this book was a great read. Reading about the War of the Roses from a different perspective was insightful! There is so much information about this period of history and it was refreshing to read it all in a simplified way, without complicated historical jargon. Highly recommend!

NetGalley, Catherine O’Connor

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Birks does a very good job tackling the messy, convoluted Wars of the Roses and breaking them down into understandable parts, digging into both the facts of what happened, who did what, and what the possible motivations were. Birks outlines the factions and battles, making a point to underline the idea that the wars were not an inevitable outcome.

I love how he pushed back against the classist, oft-repeated idea of the Woodvilles being a powerful faction, showing just how individual and power-less the Woodvilles actually were. Birks also works to try and get away from all the bias over Richard III, righty pointing out how tainted most of what we think we know about him, and he works hard here to try and look at just the actions Richard took... it is an excellent guided tour of the thorny wars of the roses.

NetGalley, Kara Race-Moore