The Welsh Dragon by K M Butler – book review

Disclosure.  This post is a review of an ebook I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.

I have received a free e-copy of the book The Welsh Dragon by K M Butler to review. You may find out more about the author on his website.

Here is the book blurb.

England, AD 1471. Henry Tudor’s drop of royal blood had never mattered, considering the scores of noblemen with stronger claims to the throne. But when Edward IV becomes king during the Wars of the Roses, that drop threatens Henry’s life and forces him into exile.

Though his mother labors to restore his position, Henry would rather spend his days with his beloved Jehane, a quick-witted Breton widow, than reclaim a title that promises only further hardship. Content with humble pleasures far from the dangers of court, Henry enjoys a simple life of anonymity.

Yet, his enemies continue to conspire against him. Survival may require embracing the very birthright that drove him into exile, though it threatens his happiness with Jehane. The path to safety is littered with tangled conspiracies, narrow escapes, and a Welsh dragon banner fluttering over an English battlefield.

Bosworth earned Henry Tudor a crown, but the trials of a forgotten fourteen-year exile transformed a penniless fugitive into the man who ended the Wars of the Roses.

Years ago before I started my blog, I used to read a fair amount of historical fiction from both the 12th and 16th centuries before drifting onto other genres, so I was looking forward to reading this book set in-between during the late 15th century, about Henry Tudor, the future King Henry VII.

The story begins in 1471 when 14 year old Henry and his uncle Jasper and the Earl of Oxford flee after the news that Edward IV has defeated and captured Henry VI and executed the prince. Henry’s life is in danger due to a tiny drop of Royal blood. They head to France via Wales where Henry sees his mother Margaret Beaufort. However she refuses to come too, saying she can be more useful to their Lancastrian cause by remaining at court. But bad weather at sea means Henry and Jasper have to berth in Brittany, where Duke Francis detains them as his “guests”, under his protection.

We then follow the story in several parts over many years exiled, whilst Henry develops a relationship with Jehane, a widowed tailor. But enemies follow him even in exile.

Plenty of the chapters are also from Margaret’s viewpoint and it is interesting how they communicate, when their letters are probably intercepted.

The tale  concludes at the battle of Bosworth. But the epilogue a few years later adds another quirk to the tale.

All the major events of the time are covered including the death of the princes in the Tower of London, with a different fictional twist. I knew the broad details of this era  but after I finished reading the book I had a look online and it was fascinating to see which parts of the story had been based on actual history. Henry in the book seemed quite a different character to what I imagined before I started reading this.

The Welsh Dragon, newly published today is available on Amazon in kindle format. A brilliant historical read.

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