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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
Ummmmm no. I am gonna pass on this one. I know that this book has gotten good reviews, but I cannot seem to understand why. The first 100 pages reads like a Harlequin novel. I hate those type of books. I will throw this one back in the pond for someone else.
After reading the rest of the currently-published Cousins' War books and coming back to reread this one, I liked it a lot less. While it was still enjoyable (as all of Gregory's books are), it was kind of grating to read because there were no real surprises, and Elizabeth Woodville was not as likable a character as she had been before. While I still think this book adds to the narrative of the time period, I don't think I'll be reading it again (as I re-read The Other Boleyn Girl, The Queen's Fool, and The Boleyn Inheritance) anytime soon.
Philippa Gregory has a knack for delving into the lives of English nobles of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and she delivers fairly well in this first of three books concerning the War of the Roses.
Focusing on the ambitious Elizabeth Woodville, readers see through her eyes the rise of her husband to become Edward IV, the man who brought down the Lancastrian line of Kings. Mingling history and fantasy, Gregory brings to life a woman of a ruthless era who worked constantly for the fortunes of her family, and who was beset by tragedy after tragedy.
The White Queen is an entertaining book. With the War of the Roses as its subject matter it could hardly be less. However, while there are many interesting aspects to the book (the use of the rumors of Elizabeth Woodville's descent from a water goddess via her Bergundian ancestors, for example), the story often dragged in places or just skipped over things altogether. For example, after Elizabeth becomes Queen, we hear nothing of her and Edward's children until she is preparing to give birth to her first son. Suddenly, we hear of the three daughters that came before the boy (of whom is included Elizabeth of York, the future mother of the infamous Henry VIII). There should have been a bridge there at some point, letting us know that they'd been born instead of just having them appear out of nowhere.
A decent read, and I'll probably work to get my hands on the second book, but it's not the best War of the Roses historical fiction that I've ever read.
Focusing on the ambitious Elizabeth Woodville, readers see through her eyes the rise of her husband to become Edward IV, the man who brought down the Lancastrian line of Kings. Mingling history and fantasy, Gregory brings to life a woman of a ruthless era who worked constantly for the fortunes of her family, and who was beset by tragedy after tragedy.
The White Queen is an entertaining book. With the War of the Roses as its subject matter it could hardly be less. However, while there are many interesting aspects to the book (the use of the rumors of Elizabeth Woodville's descent from a water goddess via her Bergundian ancestors, for example), the story often dragged in places or just skipped over things altogether. For example, after Elizabeth becomes Queen, we hear nothing of her and Edward's children until she is preparing to give birth to her first son. Suddenly, we hear of the three daughters that came before the boy (of whom is included Elizabeth of York, the future mother of the infamous Henry VIII). There should have been a bridge there at some point, letting us know that they'd been born instead of just having them appear out of nowhere.
A decent read, and I'll probably work to get my hands on the second book, but it's not the best War of the Roses historical fiction that I've ever read.
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Maybe this just wasn't my style but I struggled to get into this one.
I know it was set in a different time period, with different social norms- but the first 50 pages put me off and I couldn't immerse myself.
Particularly the part where she is sexually assaulted by the man who killed her husband and basically immediately falls in love with her assaulter... Ugh
To me the narration was also too matter-of-fact. I felt like it was just written as a long series of events occurring in quick sequence, rather than building a story. I also just didn't find the main character likeable, even after the first 50 pages. I wanted to- I really did. Normally I love a good strong-but-flawed female lead. But this one just didn't hit the mark for me.
I finished the book, but have no interest in continuing the series
I know it was set in a different time period, with different social norms- but the first 50 pages put me off and I couldn't immerse myself.
To me the narration was also too matter-of-fact. I felt like it was just written as a long series of events occurring in quick sequence, rather than building a story. I also just didn't find the main character likeable, even after the first 50 pages. I wanted to- I really did. Normally I love a good strong-but-flawed female lead. But this one just didn't hit the mark for me.
I finished the book, but have no interest in continuing the series
First of all, the fact that 90% of the characters in this book were named Richard, Edward, George or Margaret made it a bit difficult to keep things straight at times. That said, it was a very enjoyable book about a period of British history that I don't know much about. The characters were both endearing and flawed, as is common in Gregory's novels. It was interesting to see how these families interacted, and what brought them to where they were during the Tudor years and other periods that I've read more about.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was an interesting read, but near the end, I started to get confused about who some of the lesser characters were. I felt like I needed a scorecard to keep track of enemies and alliances.
I look forward to the next book in this series.
I look forward to the next book in this series.
Before I start I must say that I read this book in English, which is not my native language but I had no trouble understanding it whatsoever.
I expected more from this book. It is the first Philippa Gregory's book that I've read and I have heard so many great things about her work, perhaps my expectations were too high.
The book unfolded a bit slow for me. I enjoyed reading about the politics and war strategies quite a lot but at times it took the characters some time to fully understand what was going on and that was a bit irritating. I would have liked it if there was more about that and less Melusina stories though. It felt a bit too superstitious at times and I couldn't help but think this was more of a marketing trick to get more people interested in The Lady of the Rivers, rather than anything else. Having said that, I really liked the character of Jacquetta and reading more about her might not be such a bad idea.
The main character, I have to be honest - I did not like a whole lot. I couldn't relate or sympathize with her much. She was very irrational at times, way too proud and definitely favored some of her children more than the others. Kings or not they are all her children for God's sake! I feel like the author would show her suffering for the death of her Grey son from time to time and try to make her more likeable and then go back to caring about the princes alone. I have no idea how I am supposed to read the story from the red queen's perspective since this is supposed to be the more likeable queen of both.
The ending I found a bit rushed and unfinished. I know, there are more books from this series but still I expected a little more, after all this is still a book by itself and should present a good, finished story.
I expected more from this book. It is the first Philippa Gregory's book that I've read and I have heard so many great things about her work, perhaps my expectations were too high.
The book unfolded a bit slow for me. I enjoyed reading about the politics and war strategies quite a lot but at times it took the characters some time to fully understand what was going on and that was a bit irritating. I would have liked it if there was more about that and less Melusina stories though. It felt a bit too superstitious at times and I couldn't help but think this was more of a marketing trick to get more people interested in The Lady of the Rivers, rather than anything else. Having said that, I really liked the character of Jacquetta and reading more about her might not be such a bad idea.
The main character, I have to be honest - I did not like a whole lot. I couldn't relate or sympathize with her much. She was very irrational at times, way too proud and definitely favored some of her children more than the others. Kings or not they are all her children for God's sake! I feel like the author would show her suffering for the death of her Grey son from time to time and try to make her more likeable and then go back to caring about the princes alone. I have no idea how I am supposed to read the story from the red queen's perspective since this is supposed to be the more likeable queen of both.
The ending I found a bit rushed and unfinished. I know, there are more books from this series but still I expected a little more, after all this is still a book by itself and should present a good, finished story.