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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
Four and a half stars. A very good book. The pace was good and the story was engaging. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The White Queen is the first book in Philippa Gregory's Cousins' War series about the War of the Roses. The heroine is Elizabeth Woodville, a widow with two young boys, who has been left destitute after her husband's death while fighting for the Lancastrian cause. Her sons' inheritance has been seized back by her mother-in-law, so she waits upon the road hoping to meet the new king, Edward IV, and plead for her cause. Edward, however, takes one look at her and falls madly in love (or rather, lust) and is determined to have her for his own, even if that means going against the man who made him king, the Earl of Warwick. When Edward tries to force himself on Elizabeth she turns a knife on him, so he agrees to marry her. But as the marriage takes place in secret, with very few witnesses, is it even legal?
The beginning of the story took me a little by surprise, as it is similar to those historical romances I love to read, with not quite so much of the battles and beheadings I'm used to reading about in Philippa Gregory's books. But the characters were very likeable and realistically portrayed, and it was fascinating getting a glimpse of the real people behind the stories in the history books. The first half of the book shows the endless battles Edward went through to keep his throne (we experience them second-hand through Elizabeth, waiting patiently at home). The second half is about how Elizabeth is forced into various alliances to protect her children.
I did enjoy reading The White Queen, and would happily give it five stars, but out of the series I think I preferred the later stories. The Red Queen, about Elizabeth's frenemy Margaret Beaufort, was a far more interesting character, as was Elizabeth's mother, Jacquetta of Luxembourg (The Lady of the Rivers) and sometime 'witch'.
As The Lady of the Rivers is effectively a prequel to The White Queen and ends at the exact point The White Queen starts, you may wish to start the series with that one. I wish I had read it first, as it would have helped me understand the characters motivation a bit more, and who they all were.
The beginning of the story took me a little by surprise, as it is similar to those historical romances I love to read, with not quite so much of the battles and beheadings I'm used to reading about in Philippa Gregory's books. But the characters were very likeable and realistically portrayed, and it was fascinating getting a glimpse of the real people behind the stories in the history books. The first half of the book shows the endless battles Edward went through to keep his throne (we experience them second-hand through Elizabeth, waiting patiently at home). The second half is about how Elizabeth is forced into various alliances to protect her children.
I did enjoy reading The White Queen, and would happily give it five stars, but out of the series I think I preferred the later stories. The Red Queen, about Elizabeth's frenemy Margaret Beaufort, was a far more interesting character, as was Elizabeth's mother, Jacquetta of Luxembourg (The Lady of the Rivers) and sometime 'witch'.
As The Lady of the Rivers is effectively a prequel to The White Queen and ends at the exact point The White Queen starts, you may wish to start the series with that one. I wish I had read it first, as it would have helped me understand the characters motivation a bit more, and who they all were.
#77 - 2019 RC
Genre: Historical Fiction
I had a big expectation for this book, but my reading slum creeped in my mind and I finished this book slowly. About ambition to have throne in England in 15th century when King Edward reigned. It had many details about the situation, I thought I read my history book back at my school. If you love history I can recommend this, sorry if I didn't give more than 3 stars for this.
Genre: Historical Fiction
I had a big expectation for this book, but my reading slum creeped in my mind and I finished this book slowly. About ambition to have throne in England in 15th century when King Edward reigned. It had many details about the situation, I thought I read my history book back at my school. If you love history I can recommend this, sorry if I didn't give more than 3 stars for this.
so glad i finally read this book after like 8 years of it sitting on my shelf!!! i've always been super interested in the british royal family and this series really hits the spot.
this book is heart breaking and i feel for elizabeth and all the hardships she had to face throughout her life. the scene with the dagger is completely badass and i'm so glad that the author included that in the story, since it's not really known if it actually happened.
looking forward to continue with the 15+ more books about this family!!!!
this book is heart breaking and i feel for elizabeth and all the hardships she had to face throughout her life. the scene with the dagger is completely badass and i'm so glad that the author included that in the story, since it's not really known if it actually happened.
looking forward to continue with the 15+ more books about this family!!!!
I really wanted to love this book. In fact ever since The Other Boleyn Girl I've read most of Gregory's novels hoping for another one just as good. Unfortunately I just didn't love this one. I didn't connect with the characters at all, and for me I want my historical fiction to be really well written. This was just not and the addition of the supernatural elements just turned me off. I ended up skimming many chapters. For me the fascinating true story of the last of the Platagenets was not given it's due in this novel.
If you really want an outstanding novel about Richard III read Sunne in Splendor by Sharon Kay Penman.
If you really want an outstanding novel about Richard III read Sunne in Splendor by Sharon Kay Penman.
I loved the writing. It was long and flowing but it was also filled with suspense. Everything about this book was filled with suspense. The plot, the characters, the rival families of York and Lancaster.
Atfirst, I thought it would be another Game of Thrones but it really isn't. The White Queen is its own special story full of battle and intrigue and just the right amount of magic to make you hold your breath in anticipation but not roll your eyes everytime things work out in favor of the good guys.
Which it doesn't. Elizabeth's family suffers losses and sometimes I really felt like I was drowning in her misery when they were on the losing side but the war is a continuous tide and new players rise and old enemies fall and people betray and regret and betray again. It really is just amazing and I can't wait to get my hands on the second book, The Red Queen.
Atfirst, I thought it would be another Game of Thrones but it really isn't. The White Queen is its own special story full of battle and intrigue and just the right amount of magic to make you hold your breath in anticipation but not roll your eyes everytime things work out in favor of the good guys.
Which it doesn't. Elizabeth's family suffers losses and sometimes I really felt like I was drowning in her misery when they were on the losing side but the war is a continuous tide and new players rise and old enemies fall and people betray and regret and betray again. It really is just amazing and I can't wait to get my hands on the second book, The Red Queen.
Another solid read from Ms. Gregory. Not sure I will read the other two in this series, but this was good.
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Sometimes a bit hard to follow but definitely worth reading. I found myself researching the history of the time to understand better who ultimately prevailed in the various conflicts portrayed.
Glad I had seen the documentary by Philippa Gregory before I read this, as it's not a period of history I'm very familiar with. I did enjoy the way she entwines history with mythology and magic, but there was a bit too much repetition for my liking, and I could have done without as much on the battlefields (but then I suppose it was a book about the Wars of the Roses). Sufficiently intrigued to have bought the next two in the series, as I need to know what happens to the Elizabeths next - or where they are at the end of this book, to where history tells us they are going.