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mbenzz's review against another edition
4.0
I've been putting off reading this book for a long time, mainly because of all the negative reviews it had received. I'm so glad I finally just gave it a go. I was absolutely expecting to hate this book, but I ended up really enjoying it! Is it her best work? No, I don't think so, but I also don't think it's as horrible as some people have made it out to be. To enjoy this book, you DO have to be interested in this time period...if you're not, then yes, the story will be quite a bore.
Elizabeth Woodville is quite a figure in English history. I knew a little about her and Edward IV, but not much. My favorite part of history begins with her daughter Elizabeth Tudor (mother of Henry VIII). I thought much of the story seemed pretty accurate, though I don't put too much stock in the whole 'magic' thing. And while the 'Melusina Water Goddess' story was interesting in the beginning, by the end it did start to wear on me. I really like her take on the Princes in the Tower though. I realize there is no proof to back up her suggestion for what happened, but there's no proof to back up ANYONE'S suggestion. Even today, no one knows what happened to them...it's all speculation. I thought Ms. Gregory's theory made just as much sense as anyone else's.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book if you're interested in this time in history. Yes, it probably could have been about 70 pages shorter...yes, she tends to repeat some things over and over (Melusina and the locket come to mind), but some of the little nit-picky things aside, I thought the story itself was very good, and I look forward to 'The Red Queen'.
Elizabeth Woodville is quite a figure in English history. I knew a little about her and Edward IV, but not much. My favorite part of history begins with her daughter Elizabeth Tudor (mother of Henry VIII). I thought much of the story seemed pretty accurate, though I don't put too much stock in the whole 'magic' thing. And while the 'Melusina Water Goddess' story was interesting in the beginning, by the end it did start to wear on me. I really like her take on the Princes in the Tower though. I realize there is no proof to back up her suggestion for what happened, but there's no proof to back up ANYONE'S suggestion. Even today, no one knows what happened to them...it's all speculation. I thought Ms. Gregory's theory made just as much sense as anyone else's.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book if you're interested in this time in history. Yes, it probably could have been about 70 pages shorter...yes, she tends to repeat some things over and over (Melusina and the locket come to mind), but some of the little nit-picky things aside, I thought the story itself was very good, and I look forward to 'The Red Queen'.
finding_novel_land's review against another edition
Romance was over in 30 pages. Then just streams of historical happenings but without all the action. Admire the writing and research, just not for me (nor is first person dialogue apparently - too self involved)
becky_mercer93's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
dustbunny1313's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tildy08's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't find the book all that interesting and I really had to push myself to finish it. This novel was: The White Queen by Phillipa Gregory. I usually like Phillipa Gregory novels, but honestly, this one just wasn't that great. I found it difficult to keep the characters straight, especially the men, because of them were named Edward, or Richard. But also, I just didn't find that the story drew me in like the Tudor books she wrote. It was well written, and I still learned a lot from it, but the whole time I was trying to figure out how the Tudor line evolved from that line. I should've just looked it up, but I didn't haha. The low rating is because honestly, I found it boring, and I really had to force myself to finish it. I can't believe it took me exactly a month to read it!
This story follows Elizabeth Woodville. A young woman who goes to the York claim to the throne Edward, to ask for money from her dead husband's estate. They instantly fall in love, and marry in secret. From there on, it follows Elizabeth and her family's climb through the ranks and gaining power, while watching King Edward struggle to remain on the throne, until his younger brother de-thrones him, and takes over. Her oldest son, the heir to the throne, is lost in the Tower of London (and still to this day, no one knows what happened to him!), and the story ends with the return of her second/youngest son returning to her from his 'hiding spot' in France.
This story follows Elizabeth Woodville. A young woman who goes to the York claim to the throne Edward, to ask for money from her dead husband's estate. They instantly fall in love, and marry in secret. From there on, it follows Elizabeth and her family's climb through the ranks and gaining power, while watching King Edward struggle to remain on the throne, until his younger brother de-thrones him, and takes over. Her oldest son, the heir to the throne, is lost in the Tower of London (and still to this day, no one knows what happened to him!), and the story ends with the return of her second/youngest son returning to her from his 'hiding spot' in France.
meggkey08's review against another edition
4.0
Philippa Gregory never fails to disappoint me! This was a wonderful story exploring predominantly the lives of Edward V and Elizabeth Woodpile. The story is beautifully constructed due to Philippa's unique writing which despite the story being about two real people, there is enough intrigue there to wonder where the story is going to go.
What she does so well is create characters seem so real - anyone can read a biography about these to infamous monarchs, but Phillippa has a way of making the characters seem so real, it felt like i was one of Elizabeth's lady in waiting and i was going through her trials and tribulations with her.
Note --- This story is far more political than some of her other books.
Good Points:
- Romance was really good
-Atmosphere was second to none, when your at court your at court, when your in a battle then you are in battle.
- Most of the characters were likeable
- I loved Richard III (don't come for me)
- The emotions that the book evokes is classic Gregory
- I LOVED the family aspect to the story, mother and daughter, brother and sister, Mother and child, father and child, brother and brother.
Bad Points:
- I was indifferent about the water goddess aspects through out the story
- It did feel slightly repetitive in some areas (for example, the reference to the black locket)
Despite these points, it was overall an extremely good story of intrigue, politics and courtship with love and royalty thrown in to create a story of true hardship and what it means to have power.
Trigger Warnings:
execution, death of a parents (multiple), Child death, reference to suicide, slut shaming,
What she does so well is create characters seem so real - anyone can read a biography about these to infamous monarchs, but Phillippa has a way of making the characters seem so real, it felt like i was one of Elizabeth's lady in waiting and i was going through her trials and tribulations with her.
Note --- This story is far more political than some of her other books.
Good Points:
- Romance was really good
-Atmosphere was second to none, when your at court your at court, when your in a battle then you are in battle.
- Most of the characters were likeable
- I loved Richard III (don't come for me)
- The emotions that the book evokes is classic Gregory
- I LOVED the family aspect to the story, mother and daughter, brother and sister, Mother and child, father and child, brother and brother.
Bad Points:
- I was indifferent about the water goddess aspects through out the story
- It did feel slightly repetitive in some areas (for example, the reference to the black locket)
Despite these points, it was overall an extremely good story of intrigue, politics and courtship with love and royalty thrown in to create a story of true hardship and what it means to have power.
Trigger Warnings:
execution, death of a parents (multiple), Child death, reference to suicide, slut shaming,
sandonh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
maemay03's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
abbywebb's review against another edition
2.0
Not the most exciting Philippa Gregory book I have ever read - not by a long shot. It was interesting to read about the Yorks and Lancasters who dominated the royal kingdom prior to the Tudors, which she usually writes about. Just not sure why this book felt so dry in comparison to others, such as the Other Boleyn Girl. It didn't turn me off of the series, though, so I still intend to keep reading her great historical fiction books.
lolasherwin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0