Terrific book about the reign of Henry IV and his conquering son - Henry V. Read it in two days as the book was so fast paced and full of love, lust, betrayal and intrigue I just couldn't put it down. Jean Plaidy has such a way in capturing the reader and you just surrender to it. This book starts the dawn of the Lancaster period and starts the reader on to the road of the Battle of the Roses. A must read! ( )

The first half of the novel is by far superior to the second half. I feel the author should’ve ended this one with Henry IV’s demise, and wrote a separate book from when Henry V took the throne.

I didn’t previously know much about Mary de Bohun, who takes centre stage during the opening chapters. Don’t know what the real Mary was like, but I loved Jean Plaidy’s portral of her.

As with the previous books in the Plantagenet series, the author tries to cover the lives of nearly everyone involved during the period covered. Because of her need to pack everything in, events are rushed over, which leads to lots of "telling" and a lack of "showing".

This is especially so in regards of the Battle of Agincourt. I didn’t have high expectations here, aware that Plaidy was never one for describing battles to any great length, but I did hope for more than a brief summing up of one of the greatest conflicts in history.

As noted, the first half of “The Star of Lancaster” proved very engaging, but part two drifts off in too many directions. The reader is suddenly transported from England to France, introduced to lots of new characters, and – in my case, at least – is left wondering why.

Another annoyance is Jean Plaidy’s trait of repeating info to a ridiculous extent, including references to events in previous books in the Plantagenet series.

Perhaps the main repetitive theme in this book is the widowed queen going on and on about Richard II. No one could replace Richard, never will she love anyone else, never will she forget him, etc., is really forced down the reader’s throat.

On the whole, I found this to be on of the better books of the Plantagenet saga, though like all the others, it has the potential of being much better. ( )

I enjoyed reading Plaidy's account of the early life and childhood of the boy who would become King Henry V, especially the female POV of his mother, an all too often ignored figure, in the early chapters. I barely knew that Henry had 2 sisters as well as his 3 more famous brothers.

The first part covering the reign of Henry IV was definitely stronger than the second part on Henry V which seemed rushed, covering some 7 years in about 50 pages. This could have been a lot larger and far more detailed, as there were as many significant events after the Battle of Agincourt (two years into Henry's reign) as there were before.

One common aspect of this author's work that I find irksome was prominent in this novel. This is her tendency to devote much attention and space to accounts of the lives, actions and actions of relatively minor historical figures who play little or no role in the major events of the period. As much sympathy as I felt for Isabella of France, Richard II's second wife, was a fairly lengthy chapter on her life after Richard was deposed at she was returned to France really necessary? I did not think the entire 'back story' for Joanna, Henry V's French stepmother really added much the story either.

A good read, but a little disappointing if you are looking for a Historical novel about Henry V as King.
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