Hey FSC, did you begin to despise Richard more as the series progressed? I think book 6 is where things became unreadable. There is only so much I can’t take of evil chickens, killing innocent protesters and kicking in the jaws of 8-year old girls.
Edward IV didn’t know that he was illegitimate; this is evidence that Richard kept to himself and has only been uncovered in the last decade. As for his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, although I agree that it was recognised by common law, it was also recognisd through power and influence. Edward had ended decades of Civil War and had amassed a lot of wealth in doing so. There were serious objectors to his marriage such as Warwick the Kingmaker and Edward’s brother, George, Duke of Clarence; as they went to war with him about it. In the end, he won though and the matter was generally settled. But when Edward IV died, this shell of power that by extension recognised his son as heir-apparent, withered, and there were many others that could make stronger claims to the throne; pretty much anyone of Lancastrian heritage, i.e. Buckingham. Although we can only speculate on Richard’s motivations, he did what he thought was necessary to prevent another Civil War in England.
Unfortunately I can’t help but want to know the end of a story…no matter how terrible it is and how much I despise the characters; call me a sadist. So I read the last three books and that’s precious time in my life that I will never get back. The rants get longer, Richard becomes more unbearable, and the ending has to be the biggest deus ex machina I’ve read in any book.
For the people who haven’t heard of Terry Goodkind (aka the Yearded One), here is an interview that he did…