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spark_of_madness's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The White Princess was very well written. I have little knowledge of English history, so I have no clue about the portrayals of the characters. I absolutely loathe Margaret Beaufort (Stanley?). I will probably have to read another version of Elizabeth York's story (I would not trust Henry's pov), one that has Henry less of a complete a**, just so I don't inwardly snarl at any mention of him in the future. Plus one review I saw was angry at his portrayal because apparently he brought England peace? I have no clue, but will probably read another version, because honestly Elizabeth deserves a kinder husband, even if I don't want to think better of Henry VII.
There should be a trigger warning on this book, because there is fairly graphic SA. I hated Henry VII, he was paranoid, his attitude toward Elizabeth changed with every chapter and he expected her to love him regardless of how he treated her so terribly. He and his mother accused her of treason every time some new rumour of a pretender arose, he insulted her whenever he was angry, and he threatened to take her children every turn. I just... I just can't handle him.
The worst part is I am sure it was all his mother (and possibly Jasper Tudor's) fault. Just like in the Red Queen she was a wicked, nasty, pious woman with a complex about herself being 'my lady the king's mother' or whatever it is she wanted to be called. I tried so hard to understand and sympathise with her in her book, because so much happened to her and being a woman in these games is the worst, but this book, I didn't. She literally convinced her son that it was best for his throne to SA his future wife to 'make sure she is fertile'. Excuse you? I am sorry you only got one child from all your terrible marriages, but how dare you. You shame Elizabeth for falling in love before marriage and then convince your son to dishonour her publicly and her sister if Elizabeth never conceived. I HAAAAATE her. Then she would wait up for her son to kiss him on the head before bed... after he... that is creepy. Then she had the audacity to try to force her traumatic child birth on other women? Ruling that childbirth should be painful as possible, the sacrifice of the mother. Wow. Margaret is a festering wound on a possibly great man's future, convincing him to be horrible and how unstable their position is. I know this story was about Elizabeth of York, but it felt like a continuation of the awfulness of the Red Queen. I was so happy when Catherine turned his head and took some control from her.
I felt really terrible for Elizabeth the whole book. She was always being pushed around and blamed and accused. She tried so hard to be a good wife to Henry and he still thought her a leach on his crown. She was the centre of the story where we got to hear all these other women's scheming. It felt really good when she told Margaret her sons' inability to be loved by the kingdom was her fault.
"You could not make a beloved king, for your boy was not a beloved child [...] you have tried, but you have failed him. He was never loved as a child and he has grown into a man who cannot inspire love or give love."
There should be a trigger warning on this book, because there is fairly graphic SA. I hated Henry VII, he was paranoid, his attitude toward Elizabeth changed with every chapter and he expected her to love him regardless of how he treated her so terribly. He and his mother accused her of treason every time some new rumour of a pretender arose, he insulted her whenever he was angry, and he threatened to take her children every turn. I just... I just can't handle him.
The worst part is I am sure it was all his mother (and possibly Jasper Tudor's) fault. Just like in the Red Queen she was a wicked, nasty, pious woman with a complex about herself being 'my lady the king's mother' or whatever it is she wanted to be called. I tried so hard to understand and sympathise with her in her book, because so much happened to her and being a woman in these games is the worst, but this book, I didn't. She literally convinced her son that it was best for his throne to SA his future wife to 'make sure she is fertile'. Excuse you? I am sorry you only got one child from all your terrible marriages, but how dare you. You shame Elizabeth for falling in love before marriage and then convince your son to dishonour her publicly and her sister if Elizabeth never conceived. I HAAAAATE her. Then she would wait up for her son to kiss him on the head before bed... after he... that is creepy. Then she had the audacity to try to force her traumatic child birth on other women? Ruling that childbirth should be painful as possible, the sacrifice of the mother. Wow. Margaret is a festering wound on a possibly great man's future, convincing him to be horrible and how unstable their position is. I know this story was about Elizabeth of York, but it felt like a continuation of the awfulness of the Red Queen. I was so happy when Catherine turned his head and took some control from her.
I felt really terrible for Elizabeth the whole book. She was always being pushed around and blamed and accused. She tried so hard to be a good wife to Henry and he still thought her a leach on his crown. She was the centre of the story where we got to hear all these other women's scheming. It felt really good when she told Margaret her sons' inability to be loved by the kingdom was her fault.
"You could not make a beloved king, for your boy was not a beloved child [...] you have tried, but you have failed him. He was never loved as a child and he has grown into a man who cannot inspire love or give love."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
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