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  • Stormbird

  • The Wars of the Roses, Book 1
  • By: Conn Iggulden
  • Narrated by: Roy McMillan
  • Length: 13 hrs and 45 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,633 ratings)

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Stormbird

By: Conn Iggulden
Narrated by: Roy McMillan
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

The epic first instalment in the thrilling War of the Roses series, perfect for fans of Game of Thrones, Bernard Cornwell and Wolf Hall.

King Henry V - the great Lion of England - is dead.

It's up to his son to take the throne, but frail in body and mind, he is dependent on his supporters to run his kingdom.

Richard, Duke of York, believes that without a strong king England will fall.

And as the threat from France grows, and rebellion on home soil spreads, his fears seem justified.

Who can save the throne?

Who will defend the kingdom?

©2013 Conn Iggulden (P)2013 Penguin Audio
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What listeners say about Stormbird

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Overall
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Very enjoyable

Really enjoyed this! I found it very well written and engaging and the narration is excellent. I'm looking forward to the next one now.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

War of the roses

Would you listen to Wars of the Roses: Stormbird again? Why?

No

What does Roy McMillan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Oh I think he makes the story so much more exciting, I would not have read this in book form.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Don't know

Any additional comments?

This is my first book I have listened to by Conn Iggulden, and I loved it ,even though there was a lot of fighting,blood and gore. The historical content was so interesting . Will look for more by Conn.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant historical fiction

Conn Iggulden brings the characters alive in a way that is so gripping, I couldn't help but be drawn in completely from the first chapter. While adding characters that are clearly fiction and changing some of the timelines, he stays close enough to what is actually known to make it a true story.

Roy McMillan's reading of the book is brilliant. I can't wait to download the 2nd book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant, interesting and reasonably fast paced.

This author is my husbands favourite and i would say, at the risk of bending to gender stereotypes, much more of a mans author but as this is my favourite period in history i simply couldn't resist trying the first book in this series. If you want to know more about this period of history or see it from very different and interesting view points then look no further. I did find some of the battle scenes a little dull and the two tortures a little too graphic but I just skipped a minute or two here and there which not only worked fine. And I have now brought the next book and am itching to get listening.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A cracking story

Roy McMillan brings the characters to life in a beautifully crafted way. His storytelling is superb and allows Conn Igguldens players to burst from the pages and into your conscious. Excellent and thoroughly recommended.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful performance by the narrator

Not my usual genre of reading material I thoroughly enjoyed this historical epic! Can’t wait to hear the next book in the trilogy!

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Amazing

I've listened to this book twice now. and found I'd missed bits first time round. busy house, lol. But i truly enjoyed it as much as i did the first time round. Roy McMillan is superb during the reading of these books. almost you can imagine hourself there. great history, and in the blanks, characters were brought in for a version of history that could be truer than we know. highly recommended this and others in the series.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

excellent read, conn igulden is consistent as ever

I saw mixed reviews of this book but since I've loved everything else he's done I gave it a go. I wasn't disappointed.
the story is fascinating and visceral as is Igulden's style. it is a bit confusing for the first half hour as many different characters are introduced but you soon begin to remember who's who.
my advice is that if you like his previous work you'll like this.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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An engaging account

What did you like most about Wars of the Roses: Stormbird?

a novel based on historical events is always a winner with me

What did you like best about this story?

Its factual elements. Derry Brewers charcter and the strenght and loyalty of Margaret. I liked how the stories of different people intertwined

What does Roy McMillan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Roy was able to create different voices to differenciate the characters and was consistant in this. I didntfind his voice annoying in the slightest and enjoyed listening to him. I hope to listen to more stories narrated by Roy McMillan in the future

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

i was keen to keep listening at every opportunemoment

Any additional comments?

I will ahve to red the next two books. Can you please release the third book audible- i cannot find it -thanks

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Historical page turner presented by fine reader

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Conn Iggulden presents the background and the build-up to the Wars of the Roses with the young Henry VI, beset by illness facing opposition from France and England - but having the fortune to marry Margaret of Anjou. Iggulden makes the political machinations, the social unrest and the smell of 15th century England and France live - and he is brilliantly served by Roy McMillan, one of the UK's finest readers. I couldn't put Stormbird down. Without over-characterisation, McMillan differentiates clearly between all the principal players - nobles such as William de la Pole or his rival Richard of York, archers and solders and rebels, such as Jack Cade, and, crucially importantly, Margaret of Anjou. But that is to be expected from his big recordings for Naxos. His unabridged Don Quixote is one of the great recordings of the classics, his Bulldog Drummond is good fun - and he is clearly equally at home, here, in historical fiction, as here. And if you want something really off the wall read by McMillan, there is A Dog's Heart by Bulgakov. And that is not to mention his readings of pure history, including Jan Morris's unmatched history of the British Empire, Pax Britannica.

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