The Wars of the Roses are one of the most interesting time periods in history that it is crazy to think what could be added in a historical fiction novel on this time period to make it even more dramatic. Posie Graeme manages to add a cool and interesting twist in her novel "The Innocent". The secret illegitimate daughter of King Henry VI of England becoming the mistress of King Edward IV of England? It doesn't get more dramatic than that!
"The Innocent" follows the story of Anne, a young girl from the forest who ends up serving in the household of a London merchant. Her time there is full of danger, jealousy, lust, and even murder, but she does manage two things. She displays her special gift at healing which saves and impresses many and catches the eye of the handsome and lusty, King Edward IV. Anne saves the life of Queen Elizabeth Woodville in childbirth and becomes an attendant to Queen Elizabeth. King Edward grows more and more captivated by the pretty girl who saved his queen and longs to have her, but Anne holds on to her morals and convictions despite her passionate desires for the king. It is at court that Anne discovers a shocking truth. She is the secret illegitimate daughter of King Henry IV of England, King Edward's enemy and rival for the throne. Anne is in danger from both the Yorkist and Lancastrian parties and even King Edward himself, but their passion for one another cannot be tamed. This novel is the first in a trilogy and sets up what will be Anne's struggle with who she truly is in this dangerous world of the Wars of the Roses.
"The Innocent" is an interesting novel with a very interesting twist. Making Anne the illegitimate daughter of King Henry VI sounds eye-roll worthy at first because of how pious King Henry was, but having him in love with the kindness and sweetness of Anne's mother makes it believable. It also is believable that Margaret of Anjou would want the mother and child destroyed which is why Anne being in hiding living in the forest with a surrogate mother makes perfect sense.
The best part of the novel is that Graeme-Evans creates an attraction, desire, and eventual relationship between Anne, the bastard daughter of a king and King Edward, that king's rival. It makes for a complicated and intense relationship. Sadly, that is barely focused on as the novel is bogged down in the beginning by Anne's time at Blessing House and the drama of the people there. More time should have been focused on Anne's time at King Edward's court and knowing who she is in life.
Also, Anne is a tedious character. All men fall on their knees for her and her beauty and she seems like the quintessential "Mary Sue" character. She is not engaging or interesting as a heroine other than the fact of her birthright. Perhaps she will become stronger and more of a fierce heroine in the later books in the trilogy?
Graeme-Evans does bring an interesting twist to a novel on the Wars of the Roses, but a dull heroine and not enough time spent on the relationship between King Edward and Anne makes this novel not as exciting and powerful as it could have been.
To purchase "The Innocent": http://www.amazon.com/Innocent-Novel-Posie-Graeme-Evans/dp/0743272226
For more information on Poise Graeme-Evans: http://www.posiegraemeevans.com/
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