I have no interest in reading about rape. Again, I'd like to advocate for content warnings to be available prior to requesting.

the writing is good but the pacing was a bit slow for me and i didn’t feel as engaged to the book as i do with others. i guess im not a historical reader, maybe? it wasn’t in my interest after all. unfortunately the book was a let down to me. the story did not go out the way i was expecting, which was to build up to a big war and thomas fighting for isobel’s freedom.

I enjoyed this and it was very entertaining and enjoyable. I like the writing style and the story line. It kept me wanting to read and not leave the book for too long. This was a good read and I enjoyed it.
I just reviewed Wheel of Fortune by C.F. Dunn. #WheelofFortune #NetGalley
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I love historical fiction novels and have read many War of the Roses novels do I was pleased to be granted an advanced copy of this first in a series.
Sadly I found the novel was not as I expected, there was little of the Royal wars and conflict and more of the conflict between Earl Langton and Isobel Fenton.
Although I liked the authors style of writing sadly the story lacked for me.

Fabulous start to what promises to be an interesting series set towards the end of the Wars of the Roses.
Wheel of Fortune traces the life of Isobel Fenton during the tumultuous events of 1469, when King Edward IV is embroiled in a power struggle with Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick. Isobel herself has her life turned upside down by the death of her father, when she is forced to leave her manor and live under the protection of the local earl, at Tickhill Castle.
As a South Yorkshire lass, it took me a while to get used the book being set around an area I know so well, with a fictional earl in residence at Tickhill Castle. But once the book draws you in, you stop thinking about what you know and start caring about those lives within the walls of the famous landmark.
The story is intriguing and has many twists and turns. Most of the characters are fictional, dropped into the existing history, though Richard, Duke of Gloucester puts in an appearance once in a while.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and the ending promises even more intrigue to come.

I'm a big fan of all things Tudor era and while I usually stick to nonfiction, this was a great branch out for me. Thoughtfully written.

This book simply wasn't for me because there wasn't a strong enough hook. I wanted to love it - it's set during Edward IV's reign, which means Wars of the Roses, so a period I love. However, the story seemed to be more "will she get to marry this guy?" which isn't something I'm particularly interested in. The tensions in the country, at least 15% in (when I stopped reading) were such a minor secondary part that it felt like the story could have happened at any point in history, which is something I really don't like. I want the period to feel intimately tied in.

The Wheel of Fortune by CF Dunn is the first of a new series called The Tarnished Crown. The Wheel of Fortune is set in the 15th century during the War of the Roses, it follows the story of Isabel Fenton.

Everything that I liked about this book happened in the first 15 chapters. Once I got to the 15th chapter I almost did not finish, but since I promised to read and review this book I skimmed through the rest. While this book does well as a Historical Fictional adaptation of the War of the Roses, the reason I picked it up is because it was described as a romance/love story. There is little aspect of love in this book, at most a budding crush that is completely out of the question due to Isobel's unfortunate position.

This is not a love story. This is the story of a woman who was abducted, raped, and held prisoner. It's confusing and shocking to me that this book did not have any triggers, warnings, or a better description that this entire story hinges upon a woman forced to become a sex slave.
The fact that this book has been labeled a story of love/romance is disgusting, unethical, and the antithesis of all mentalities of equality, human rights, and feminism. The idea that the author thought readers should or could mistake this for love/romance is disturbing.


Instead, this book is about betrayal and treachery.

(SPOILERS)

The Earl is a man who constantly takes advantage, while it is unfortunately historically accurate that The Earl has no repercussions for his actions, it does not make them any less vile and displeasing to read. The Earl promised Sir Geoffrey he would take care of Isobel, and instead rapes her and holds her captive with no potential of letting her go.

To add salt to the wound, your heart breaks for Isobel since you can see something is happening between her and Robert, but as I said before because of The Earl's position, neither Isobel nor Robert can defend, protect, or voice their worries/fears/anger and concern, or demand justice. Robert is then forced to become an accomplice to his brother's crimes.

Strong-willed and determined, Isobel Fenton is resolved that nothing will separate her from her beloved manor of Beaumancote - even if it means marrying Thomas Lacey. But Isobel is unaware of the importance she and her land represent, nor of the agenda of the formidable Earl in whose care she finds herself.

This was really interesting. I have never read any War of the Roses historical fiction before, but I really enjoyed this one. Well done!

Wheel of Fortune by C.F. Dunn

When I read the outline I the plot to this book I was really looking forward to it as anything set in this era is right up my street .
In this book , which is going to be part of a series we are introduced to Isobel Fenton and life in medieval times.

I did not like this book.

It was one long, depressing, and sometimes melodramatic, story about rape and general toxicity in a toxic, turbulent time. When I read the brief mention of sexual assault in the summary, I didn't realize that Isobel would have to spend the rest of the book trapped underneath this guy (pun sort of intended). I know this is part of a series, but that ending just made me the opposite of curious about the rest of Isobel's story.

At least Richard III is presented well.

A detailed and complex historical story. A well crafted, tale about people caught up in politics and war. I was reeled into this dark time of English history.. It is extremely well researched and very readable too.

This was a great start to the Tarnished Crown series, it had a strong historical feel to it and I loved the mystery of this novel. All of the characters felt like they belonged in this time-period and left me wanting more. C.F. Dunn has a great writing style and can’t wait for more from the author.

An incredibly engaging and fascinating read- I was hooked! Highly recommended for lovers of historical fiction and Medieval history (aka me!),to discover their story of Isobel Fenton. The first in a new series and I am extremely keen for the rest.

This book is set during a time period I really enjoy and follows historical figures that I also really enjoy and know a lot about. I was not disappointed!!

Thank you Netgalley and Resolute books for access to this arc.

Yes, the book is beautifully researched and I certainly felt I was seeing a world far, far different from what we have today. These are not twenty first century characters dressed in kirtles or houppelandes. They act as one would expect them to. I just don’t want to read any more about them. I also thought it was bizarre that so many people seem to be obsessed with Isobel. I mean really fixated on this woman who, it has been made clear, is not that important in the overall scheme of a country in the middle of the War of the Roses. She’s not quite a Mary Sue but she’s not far from it. At this point, I was 2/3 of the way through the book. It was also at this point that I realized that I either didn’t like or didn’t care what happened to anyone in the book and that I am not interested in continuing the series. So, I’m calling it quits on this one. DNF

Right from the start the characters are drawn in fine detail and the houses, castles and surroundings are also vividly portrayed.. This book about the War of Roses was not just historical fiction, but allowed the reader to learn about the history of that era. As this is the first book in the series, I look forward to reading more! My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dunn captures the feeling of living during the War of the Roses. The book started slow for me, though, and I struggled to stay with it. However, in the end, I did not regret the time spent and will probably continue the series. Perhaps because of its history and the depth of characters, this book is not an easy read but is a worthwhile read. Thank you, NetGalley for the read!

This book was really thoughtfully written and I enjoyed the world that was created by the author. You can really get the feel of the time period because the author is so well versed in this time period. Having said that I really wanted to love this book, but it just didn't quite hit the mark for me. I felt that it was disjointed and I never really got to learn the full story. There are things that th Earl kept alluding to that didn't get explored. If this is a first book of a series it definitely ends with you wanting to know more. It is definitely more if a history niche book tailored to an audience that already knows the War of the Roses.

Thanks to netgalley for providing this advanced copy for the purpose of review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and found it both engrossing and thrilling. It's such an interesting period in history and this story bought it to life. I'm looking forward to reading more from the author.