The Wars of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors - Dan Jones

Dan Jones, the brilliant mind behind The Plantagenets, continues his vivid chronicle of the cousins competing to rule Britain. As the families tore themselves apart and the Tudors rose to power, the history becomes more cut-throat and intriguing than any fantasy series. The Wars of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors (Viking, $36) evokes the era of Joan of Arc, of power-hungry queens, and roving men-at-arms. This is history as compelling as a modern political thriller, but though the pages turn quickly, Jones imparts a great deal of period information, as well as telling stories that have clear ramifications for the struggles and revolutions of our own world.