A Bloody Field by Shrewsbury

I did enjoy this novel about the relationship between three Henrys: Henry Bolingbroke (Henry IV of England), his son Prince Hal, and Harry Percy (Hotspur). It's a complex psychological portrait of these three historical characters. Bolingbroke and Hotspur are old friends, drawn into a political drama that has leapt out of their control and has broken the trust in their friendship. Bolingbroke and Hal are father and son who have never had an intimate knowledge of each other, so they have no trust. Hotspur and Hal have a kind of foster-relationship which both struggle to protect and of which Bolingbroke is jealous.

In common with the other Edith Pargeter novel I've read, The Heaven Tree, the hero Hotspur is too honest for his own good. The significant female character, Julian, is in love with the hero, but fearless and independent–a female counterpart to the hero. However, I rate this book only three stars because there is no real role for Julian to fill in the story. Despite the fact that she is one of only two female characters in the story, and she is supposed to be so independent and fearless, her function in the story could be filled without loss by someone else. She seems only to be there to serve as an affirmation of Hotspur's honesty and integrity. That annoyed me, especially in a story so deep in other ways.