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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
Wow what a horrible woman! I really despised this character and nothing seemed to redeem her. She just got worse as the book went on and by the end I was rooting against her. The history did come alive in this book, I just didn't like or respect anyone in it.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
The unlikeable characters made this book a struggle. I put it down numerous times. I liked it but found it hard to relate to and connect with.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was well written but I hated the protagonist and found it difficult to get attached to her story. Her religious ramblings were annoying and convinced me she's crazy. I did enjoy that I was able to feel more attached to Henry Tudor through her viewpoint and hopefully this will be useful in the next books. Overall this was a tough read. That lady is a looney and I hope Elizabeth brings her right down to where she belongs in the next book! I thought Margaret was stupid and dull. She's a useless character and I see no point in a book dedicated to her other than introducing a more positive outlook for the characters who are interacting with her (her son, jasper etc. )
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-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
I am not a historical fiction reader in general. My mum is a big Gregory fan and I borrowed this, The Red Queen, with interest as I knew that this and the companion The White Queen had had significant publicity.
However I found this a rather unsatisfying read, mainly for the quality of the writing. There is no depth of description and little to give readers a rich image of list in the 15th century. Maybe this is because it's written in first person by a very self centred character. In which case, it is successful in sticking readers right in the head of the Red Queen, Margaret! I appreciate that not all protagonists should be likeable, but around 3/4ths through I just lost all sympathy for her cause (previously I'd thought she did have a decent case). The ending is a flop; there is little build up to events, nothing of others' motivations or how events actually come to be; things I would be interested in such as how Henry Tudor actually got people to support him after overthrowing Richard III surrounded by almost complete ambivalence in the country to Henry's cause (I hope that's not a spoiler, being English history and all) are not in this book. It really ends up being the singleminded vengeance that lasts decades of a petty and sour character who just wants to be known as The King's Mother.
I won't be reading The White Queen and may not approach other Gregory books I'd been interested in reading such as The Other Boleyn Girl. There are much better written historical novels out there.
However I found this a rather unsatisfying read, mainly for the quality of the writing. There is no depth of description and little to give readers a rich image of list in the 15th century. Maybe this is because it's written in first person by a very self centred character. In which case, it is successful in sticking readers right in the head of the Red Queen, Margaret! I appreciate that not all protagonists should be likeable, but around 3/4ths through I just lost all sympathy for her cause (previously I'd thought she did have a decent case). The ending is a flop; there is little build up to events, nothing of others' motivations or how events actually come to be; things I would be interested in such as how Henry Tudor actually got people to support him after overthrowing Richard III surrounded by almost complete ambivalence in the country to Henry's cause (I hope that's not a spoiler, being English history and all) are not in this book. It really ends up being the singleminded vengeance that lasts decades of a petty and sour character who just wants to be known as The King's Mother.
I won't be reading The White Queen and may not approach other Gregory books I'd been interested in reading such as The Other Boleyn Girl. There are much better written historical novels out there.
A solid 4 stars. Even though Margaret Beaufort is the most annoying and rude main character of the series so far, this was by far the most interesting of the series. A woman who secretly stayed Lancasterian while "praising" the Yorks.
I appreciated the parallels between The White Queen & this book but beyond that... Kind of middling in my opinion of it.
I enjoy Philippa Gregory's books & suspect I will enjoy The Lady of the Rivers as much as I did The White Queen - when I get to it.
I enjoy Philippa Gregory's books & suspect I will enjoy The Lady of the Rivers as much as I did The White Queen - when I get to it.