This is a hefty novel that will be a commitment to read. This book is nearly 600 pages, so it took me awhile to get through. I couldn't shake the feeling that it seems like it was written or at least started before the Six Tudor Queens series. In the afterword, Weir mentions that it was heavily influenced by her biography of Elizabeth (I highly recommend reading) which was written in 2013. Some of the characterizations feel off, for example Elizabeth Woodville comes across as a hysteric gossip until she retires from court. Some of the conversations veer wildly from Arthur being sick to someone offending King Henry and his needing to exact revenge. I live for the moments of introspection in this book. When Arthur dies and Elizabeth wonders if she loved him enough. When she's fed up with Henry and decides that she needs to do something for herself. When she defends and cares for her sisters as they lose their husbands and children to various circumstances. It's impossible to know what kind of person Elizabeth was, because the historical record leaves us so little, so it's one of the reasons I love when an author who knows the record so well makes their best guess.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity.

*I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review*
As always Alison Weir has created a world of fact infused with a tingle of creative license which gave us a look inside of Elizabeth's life and her feelings during one of the most turbulent periods in English History!

Elizabeth, the daughter of Edward IV of England, lives out the end of the War of the Roses and the start of the Tudor dynasty, but throughout she remains haunted by the unknown fate of her younger brothers.

This book covers the story of Elizabeth of York from her early memories of taking sanctuary in Westminster Abbey to the end of her life. Most of my understanding of this period of English history comes from the show The White Queen, so it was interesting to get a more serious look at these events and characters.

I enjoyed the clear way that Weir managed to distill complicated events into the narrative, though I think it helped to follow what was going on because I already knew a bit about the story. I also liked how Elizabeth was put at the fore of the story, and the ways in which she engages with and enforces her own agency in a world that was very limited for women.

However, I wished there was less distance between the characters and the reader. Though Elizabeth deals with a lot of problems - being on the run, the deaths and disappearances of family members, and the pursuit of her uncle - I never really felt her emotions. I also wished we better understood the other characters. Elizabeth is the narrator, and so we must go more off her impressions than the actual actions of the other characters to get to know them.

Beautiful writing and interesting history, but I couldn't get into the story enough to finish. I ended up DNF-ing about 30% in, though I might have to try again at some point.

Review will be posted on 9/15/22
If you are a fan of the Tudors of the show The White Queen, then you know that King Henry VIII's mother is Elizabeth of York. But not much focus is on her when studying the Tudors as Henry's life always takes center stage. In The Last White Rose, it's the opposite. Weir focuses on Elizabeth, her rise to power, and her marriage to Henry Tudor, who is supposed to be her enemy. It starts off with Elizabeth's father, King Edward IV's untimely death and her family in an uncertain place. They spend most of their time in sanctuary for safety purposes. Due to a power struggle over the crown, Richard III rises and Elizabeth's brothers go missing in the Tower of London. You may be familiar with them as the "Princes in the Tower." One can only assume that Richard had them killed, as sadly, they are never seen again. Richard needs a wife and is looking Elizabeth's way (could you imagine?!?!), as a marriage with the daughter of the former King would make his grasp on the throne more legitimate. Obviously this is upsetting to Elizabeth and her family as they know Richard is responsible for killing her brothers, who, I might add, were just children! Thankfully, there's the Battle of Bosworth Field where Henry Tudor, who also has a claim to the throne, challenges Richard and wins. After winning, he asks Elizabeth to be his wife and unite the two families. They live happily and have an heir to the throne in Arthur, and then another son who will become the notorious Henry VIII. If you enjoy stories about the Tudors, War of the Roses, and Royal life, you will appreciate Weir's take on Elizabeth of York in The Last White Rose.

I have always liked Elizabeth Woodville, Elizabeth of York's mother, so I was excited to learn more about this time period as well as her life. I loosely knew about Elizabeth of York, her marriage to Henry Tudor, and the unfortunate Princes in the Tower, but I was happy to do a deep dive into her life. It was truly a crazy one with her father's sudden death and then Richard's rise. I can't imagine the immense pressure she must have felt if Richard wanted to marry her, but what about her brothers who are still missing? It was almost unbelievable. Then just when all is lost, in comes Henry Tudor, and he pretty much saves the day by winning the Battle of Bosworth, becoming King, and making Elizabeth his Queen. I thought it was wise to unite the two fighting families once and for all and Elizabeth becomes the first Tudor Queen.

Their marriage was a happy one for the most part in The Last White Rose and I enjoyed the details surrounding their initial years of marriage. Their first born, Arthur, wasn't very strong, but got healthier as the years went by. Elizabeth never really could connect with him at first, and this made her feel guilty. When her second son came along, Henry, she fell for him immediately. She would dote on him and secretly wished he was their first born as he was stronger, more confident, and suited to the role. We all what happens, but it's the journey to get there that was very interesting and captivating.

Elizabeth's time as Queen wasn't always easy though in The Last White Rose. There were many people popping up with a claim to the throne causing major disturbances, such as people claiming to be the long lost Princes in the Tower. I can't imagine how that would make Elizabeth feel as she wouldn't want someone competing for her son's claim to the throne, but also could her brothers still be alive? She can't help, but hope. Elizabeth had many children, but not many of them lived to adulthood. It was very sad at times, especially since she died after the childbirth of her last child, who also didn't survive long.

The Last White Rose also features the future Henry VIII's childhood as this provided much insight into the kind of person he would become as well as the kind of King. His childhood was much different than Arthur's, as he was just second in line, so he wasn't trained or scrutinized as much as Arthur, but instead, doted on. He was a willful child and the details surrounding his childhood definitely made me understand exactly how this molded his into an adult.

Elisabeth of York is a fascinating woman who played an important role in British history. She was known to be a good mother, an excellent Queen, charitable, smart, and kind. I am glad Weir chose to focus on her in The Last White Rose as her life is often overlooked, but is very important. If you want to learn about the War of the Roses, check out Weir's The Last White Rose this fall, especially if the recent death of Queen Elizabeth II has prompted you to read more books about the Royals.

So, are you a fan of the War of the Roses time period? Do you like to read about the Tudors? Is The Last White Rose on your TBR list? Let me know in the comments below.

This didn't work for me at all - the child POV set an awkward note from the start, and annoyed me enough that by the time we made it on to more mature sections of Elizabeth's life the book had already lost me. It didn't help that the book was dominated by short sections of prose which came and went way too fast; it made an already overlong book feel disjointed and even longer.

Elizabeth, the daughter of King Edward IV, is content with her life in the castle. She loves her parents, her siblings, and her everyday way of life. That is, until she is old enough to understand the politics of the day. Invasions, arranged marriages to child brides, and rampant illnesses - everyday life during the Middle Ages in England.

As Alison Weir tells us the story of how Elizabeth became the Queen of England, she weaves history with fiction to make this tale come alive. Did I likely learn all about this back in high school, Western Civilizations or Global History or something like that? Probably. But do I remember a word? NOPE. That’s what is so excellent about Weir’s books. I will remember not only who Elizabeth was, but who she was married to (King Henry VIII), her children’s names, her horrible uncle and what happened to her brothers. So many pieces of history that I would have never been interested in previously.

Very well written. Enjoyable novel. I recommend checking out this - or any of Weir’s other works.


Thanks to Alison Weir, Random House and Netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.

Well written historical fiction. Great way to bring history to life, shows the complexity of the characters and of the time. This is a very enjoyable read. It's not a quick read, it has a lot of detail and suspense and political intrigue. This book caused me to look back and see what the real history of the times were. It's fascinating the murder, mystery and political intrigue that were common in those days. I'd always heard about the "War of the Roses" but now have a greater grasp of it. This is a well-written book that is intriguing and a good read.

Historical fiction perfection. It takes skill to allow a reader to lose themself in history and Weir once again manages to do precisely that. Characters you have feelings about, immersive atmosphere and narrative, well plotted, and dangerously addictive read.

Thank you NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review. This is great. Weir does a wonderful job telling the story from the view of Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV. She is first seen seeking sanctuary with her mother, then fending off the advances of her father’s brother, Richard III, and ultimately marrying Henry VII. This book is the first in a new series, I can’t wait for the second. Weir does a wonderful job of taking what could be a boring subject, and breathing life into these people of history. She does it in a way that is not too complicated, it doesn’t leave you feeling as if you’ve lost your way with who is related to whom. If you do get a bit muddled, there’s a handy family tree in the beginning. Happy reading!

When we meet Elizabeth she is woken by her mom and dressed in a hurry. They half to flee their home and they go to the monastery and ask for asylum. This isn’t her only woe her brothers will eventually go missing her uncle wants to marry her and oh yes this is all after her papa dies King Henry IV. This is a sweeping tale of royalty, the battle of the roses and a female finally becoming the monarch. Like every Royal story there was tragedy and happiness new children mean new Hope in for Elizabeth who is intelligent and brazen it all sits on her shoulders. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I did fine it was a bit longer than the authors usual tails, but that made more to love because I absolutely adore this book. It is A great book for lovers of historical fiction and history. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Alison Weir is my go to for British historical fiction. I loved her series on the Six Wives of Henry the Eight. Because she does her research gives us a story but still sticks as close to the historical facts as she can. Now she's back with The Last White Rose which is the story of Elizabeth of York wife of Henry the seventh and mother of Henry the eight. It was nice to see her as more than just a wife and mother. But also as a princess in her right and a queen.

I am a fan of Alison Weir and have read many of her books, enjoying them all. This one is another really well written and presented history, but I did not connect as well with this depiction of Elizabeth as I have with other Queens that this Author has written. This is still a great read, but I found myself annoyed for and with Elizabeth, and that might be why I didn't feel as connected. Her entire world was controlled by everyone but her and it was sad, frustrating and enlightening all at the same time. Tragic Queen, who could imagine that was such a life.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this in advance and I can't wait to read more from this Author and Publisher.

Weir has a way of writing such immersive and evocative historical fiction. This novel takes you into the world of Henry VIII's mother, Elizabeth. She begins the Tudor dynasty. Her factual information is a treasure in the novel.

First line: “Wake up, Bessy! Wake up!”

Summary: Elizabeth of York is the oldest child of King Edward IV of England. She has grown up during a time of battles between the houses of Lancaster and York. Her life has been spent in palaces but also in sanctuary. However, after the death of her father she is thrown into an even more treacherous world. Her uncle Richard takes the crown from her younger brother who should be King Edward V. With her brothers’ disappearance and her uncle as king she must live in limbo as the heir to the throne or a pawn that can be used. But has her savior come in the form of the Lancastrian claimant, Henry Tudor? Can she unite the two houses and bring peace to England?

My Thoughts: Elizabeth of York is an interesting woman. She lived through so much and made history but lived for such a short time. She was only 37 when she died. I had the privilege of visiting her grave this spring while at Westminster Abbey. It is a beautiful tomb next to her husband, Henry VII.

Weir does a wonderful job bringing the life and politics of the Wars of the Roses to life. The tension can be felt during the Elizabeth’s time in sanctuary or living through the years of her uncle Richard’s reign. Having to navigate the different factions, choose a side and make sure to stay alive throughout the regime changes must have been hard on everyone at the time.

I did learn a bit more about the lives of Elizabeth’s sisters during this story. They were used to make alliances with English nobles and suffered many losses in their lives. I would love to see more done about their lesser known stories.

The part I found most interesting was Elizabeth and her relationship with her son Arthur. I don’t know if there is any evidence behind Weir’s storyline but it makes me wonder. It becomes a struggle she has to deal with until her death. Did she love him enough? And why did she feel different towards him than Henry?

Even though I did enjoy this book I found that it was a little long. Some parts seemed to drag on in the middle. I felt like it was a slower version of Philippa Gregory’s novel, The White Princess.

FYI: This is the beginning of a trilogy by Alison Weir. The next book will follow Elizabeth’s son, Henry VIII.

Alison Weir never disappoints and THE LAST WHITE ROSE is no exception! I always recommend Alison Weir to people, especially if they read Phillipa Gregory as I feel Alison's attention to historical detail is far superior. She breathes so much life into these characters and always details where she has taken creative liberty.

Review: Elizabeth of York was the daughter, sister, niece, wife, and mother of English kings. In this historical novel, Alison Weir dramatizes Elizabeth of York’s life. Elizabeth of York was a York princess during the War of the Roses. Elizabeth’s marriage to Henry Tudor ended the civil war, and she became the first Tudor queen. Because she was the eldest surviving child of Edward IV, she should have been a sovereign, but since England did not recognize a woman as a sovereign, she was seen merely as a consort. This novel tells the story of a queen who worked to preserve her new dynasty at all costs.

Elizabeth of York led a very fascinating and turbulent life. However, I did not really see Elizabeth as a complex character. She is mostly passive, reluctant, and hesitant. She seemed more like a cardboard cutout than a fully fleshed out character as the story progresses. This is most likely because the novel suffered from telling and not showing. I did not feel any emotions when Elizabeth of York experienced many difficulties. It felt as if I was rereading Mrs. Weir’s nonfiction biography Elizabeth of York with a bit of dialogue thrown in. Thus, Elizabeth of York was not a compelling character that drew me into her story.

Overall, this novel is about grief, duty, and survival. The characters were very flat, stilted, and had little depth. The story is as dry as a textbook, had many repetitive sections, and was very drawn out. The Last White Rose sticks very closely to Mrs. Weir’s nonfiction book, Elizabeth of York. Because she very seldom deviates from her previous book, it feels like this historical novel is unnecessary. I have to admit that I enjoyed her non-fiction biography of this queen more than this fictional novel. Mrs. Weir had the opportunity to make Elizabeth and other fascinating characters such as Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret Beaufort, Cecily Neville, Richard III, and Henry Tudor into rich characters and tell an enthralling dramatic story, but sadly she could not pull it off. It was mostly a summary of major events. The positives is that because it was based off of her nonfiction work, it was mostly accurate and stuck to known facts. It was also very meticulously researched. Mrs. Weir has a talent for vivid imagery, and she did an excellent job in making the Tudor court come alive. While I prefer Mrs. Weir’s nonfiction biography of Elizabeth of York, I have to say that The White Princess by Philippa Gregory and The King’s Daughter by Sandra Worth are more superior fictionalized versions of Elizabeth of York’s story. Still, The Last White Rose is still an enjoyable read for fans of the Tudors because it tells of the story of the dynasty’s early beginnings. I recommend this for fans of Anne Easter Smith, Anne O’Brien, and Joanna Hickson!

I tried to read this book. I got about 100 pages in and I felt the pacing was way too slow.

I have read and loved other books surrounding the life of Elizabeth of York and she quickly became one of my favorite historical ladies.

I was very excited when I saw that there was a new novel coming out focusing on her!

I really should have known I wasn’t going to love this one.. I did read Katherine of Argon by this author and also found it to be quite boring.

I am hoping to one day make my way back and finish this book, I do love Elizabeth of York so much it’s a shame I couldn’t get into this one..

3 ⭐️ Because I cannot honestly give it any lower without reading more.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and Alison Weir for the opportunity to read this book.

This is one of the finest pieces of literature Alison Weir has ever written I am ashamed to admit it but actually read it 6 times, I just could not get enough. Elizabeth or Bessy as she is called throughout the book to not confuse her with her mother Queen Elizabeth wife of King Edward IV is a beautiful,lively, happy child at Court before she and her mother and sisters Cecily, Mary, Anne were awaken before dawn and told to hurry and get dressed so that they must leave Court and go to Sanctuary. It was then explained that there was a rebellion to unseat King Edward by Clarence, his brother and Warwick. King Edward had to flee London and King Henry Vi was taken out of the Tower at Queeen Margaret's of Burgundy's insistence. Edward flew to France to make a peace treaty with King Louie betrothing Bessy to his son with a high pension. Queen Elizabeth had Arthur and Edward returned a jubilant man. But enough of the historical details, it is Bessy who I truly love as a Queen to King Henry of Richmond much later on but her humanity toward those less fortunate than her and her religious piety. I adore her so much that I coudn't stop crying at her deathbead. She had been through the murder of her heirs, the death of her father and brothers, the loss of her babes, She was a brave and magnificent woman as well as Queen of England. And I shall never forget her. Thanhs so much Net Galley and the great publishing company Headline and Ballantine for commissioning this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Last White Rose.

We all know the man, Henry VIII, but who was the mother behind the future king, best known for his tumultuous affairs and marriages?

The author's copious research has crafted a lengthy tale of Elizabeth of York, a sweet, good natured child who grows up to be the mother of the most famous king in the world.

The book is long and you can feel it since the author begins with the chaos that ensued when her uncle, Richard III, seized power after her father, Edward IV, died.

The narrative is slow until Elizabeth marries the man who overthrows her uncle, Henry Tudor.

Naturally, there are the usual political machinations to deal with; usurpers, threats to the throne, and after awhile, this began to read as repetitive.

I also had a hard time keeping track of who was who since, like most royal families, names are used over and over and bestowed upon children and heirs; Elizabeth, Charles, Edward, etc.

Whenever I read a historical novel, I'm reminded once again how few to little freedoms women had, especially when married into a royal family.

Their lives, livelihood and families were at the whims of whoever was in power, what political party was in favor and if the country was at peace.

I didn't know how these women did it but I guess in some ways they had to endure it because that was their life.

I did enjoy the insight behind Elizabeth's relationships with her children, including Henry VIII, since we know how he will eventually turn out.

This was a well-written, well researched account of the woman, daughter, wife and mother often overlooked in history.

This is a good book for an Anglophile or a fan of royal history.