Sophy Boyle first became fascinated with the medieval era, and the Wars of the Roses in particular, while still at school. Her interest in this explosive period grew while studying History at Oxford University. In 2013, she decided to step back from her legal career to devote her time to what would become Wyvern and Star, the first book in a series of novels charting the stories of Robert Clifford and Alice de Vere - an ill-starred pair, drawn together by a shared allegiance, then divided by war.