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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
I read this book for my undying love of the television series and oh the humanity, how disappointing it was. Thank goodness I'd seen the series and was familiar with the characters because the book desperately lacked any character development. The plot was slow, oh so slow, yet skipped years at a time. Still, it was the writing itself that was truly a bore and made me anxious to finally be able to throw the book down, finished. I won't be reading any more Philippa Gregory.
i'm being generous and rounding up in the rating because there were parts i did enjoy of this book (and because i know this will be among my favorite of her books) but there is so much i dislike about this book i cannot rate it much higher.
here's the thing: the plot is historical. that is not on gregory. what happened, happened. some characters were unberable, but i thought it made sense because that is how they were, and that is how they would have come across to elizabeth at the time. at the very least, i think it is realistic for that to be so. but the events are told so boringly. we jump from this happened to this happened at neck-breaking speed, and while i get it that it is done to cover pretty much two entire reigns (edward iv's since he married elizabeth and then all of richard iii's), it doesn't stop it from feeling too much. the execution was simply not one i enjoyed.
there are other nitpicks i could make: i didn't enjoy the writing at all time. elizabeth is not very likeable all the time (i like her most of it, but sometimes her internal monologue was unbearable). i personally don't like the idea of "yes, lets grab this actual accusation made against them of being witches and make it true" (but that falls into personal preference, and i am aware). despite all the ricardian arguments re something that happens (is it a spoiler if they are theories that have been around for centuries for an event that is, what going on half a millennium by now. i don't know. i'll err on the side of caution i suppose), it is not one i personally believe in. the foreshadowing is so heavy handed that anyone who knows a bit of history can see where it is going, and some who do not, probably will too. anyway. what can i say. i don't particularly enjoy this book - i might try my hand at a few more books by gregory but i have a feeling i will not enjoy the books. i hope i am wrong, of course.
here's the thing: the plot is historical. that is not on gregory. what happened, happened. some characters were unberable, but i thought it made sense because that is how they were, and that is how they would have come across to elizabeth at the time. at the very least, i think it is realistic for that to be so. but the events are told so boringly. we jump from this happened to this happened at neck-breaking speed, and while i get it that it is done to cover pretty much two entire reigns (edward iv's since he married elizabeth and then all of richard iii's), it doesn't stop it from feeling too much. the execution was simply not one i enjoyed.
there are other nitpicks i could make: i didn't enjoy the writing at all time. elizabeth is not very likeable all the time (i like her most of it, but sometimes her internal monologue was unbearable). i personally don't like the idea of "yes, lets grab this actual accusation made against them of being witches and make it true" (but that falls into personal preference, and i am aware). despite all the ricardian arguments re something that happens (is it a spoiler if they are theories that have been around for centuries for an event that is, what going on half a millennium by now. i don't know. i'll err on the side of caution i suppose), it is not one i personally believe in. the foreshadowing is so heavy handed that anyone who knows a bit of history can see where it is going, and some who do not, probably will too. anyway. what can i say. i don't particularly enjoy this book - i might try my hand at a few more books by gregory but i have a feeling i will not enjoy the books. i hope i am wrong, of course.
I love historic fiction and Phillips Gregory gives a master class in it in this book.
This is the only way I want to learn about British history from now on. An incredible amount of complexity in all the characters and I can’t wait to read more.
This is the only way I want to learn about British history from now on. An incredible amount of complexity in all the characters and I can’t wait to read more.
Interesting book. It felt very repetitive but I guess that’s what happened in the War of the Roses. I am looking forward to reading the next one in the series. I feel like I know more about that period of history.
I liked Lady of the Rivers better but this was also a fun read. A woman's ambition is a powerful thing.
I loved it! The history is fascinating, but at the same time awful. Everyone tried to have a claim to the throne. I would never want to be king or queen. You always are thinking someone will kill you so they can have the throne. And everyone kills everyone because they want the throne. It is crazy. This book is about Jacquetta' daughter, Elizabeth and her turn at the throne. What is fun about these books is that I look up the real history of the people to see what is real and what is fiction. It is sad though that two princes went missing and no one knows what happened to them in real life. Philippa Gregory gives her theory on it, but it is still sad. Is the crown worth your life or your family's life?
Although I did enjoy this novel overall, there were some major flaws which meant it didn't fully engage me until the second half. Mainly these were to do with the scanty source material and being limited to a single POV narrator. I respect the choice to centre Elizabeth Woodville in the story of her own life and to tell things from her perspective, but there was a lot that happened beyond her ken.
Elizabeth Woodville's choices and motivations often don't make sense, but that is the fault of history, not the author and I'm glad Gregory stuck to the historical record, even when it made for nonsensical characters.
I'm therefore in two minds about this review because I think this could have been a better novel with less of Elizabeth Woodville and more of the other characters, but I also appreciate having her perspective centred as so many factual and fictional accounts of this period marginalise women.
Elizabeth Woodville's choices and motivations often don't make sense, but that is the fault of history, not the author and I'm glad Gregory stuck to the historical record, even when it made for nonsensical characters.
I'm therefore in two minds about this review because I think this could have been a better novel with less of Elizabeth Woodville and more of the other characters, but I also appreciate having her perspective centred as so many factual and fictional accounts of this period marginalise women.
I really liked learning the history but the writing style felt too disconnected emotionally to give this more than 3 stars.
This has to be my favorite in the plantagenet series. Gregory includes wonderful drama, while she admits most is fictional. This time period is difficult to write from due to being so long ago. Though Elizabeth's marriage was heavily documented, making it more engaging. The tree where they met is still growing to this day!
her latest books have not been as interesting--this was repetitive, and while a bit more engaging than The Red Queen, still lacks the intrigue of The Boleyn Inheritance, The Constant Princess, The Wise Woman, and of course The Other Boleyn Girl. (my favorites of Gregory.)
my chief complaint is this: did anyone notice the glaring editorial errors?!! with Edward, Elizabeth says she has 3 daughters before her son Edward is born--Elizabeth, Mary, and Cecily. (p. 150.) Later she has Anne, Catherine and Bridget. but then in the end of the book she keeps referring to her "5 daughters," leaving Mary out twice--she had 6. it's like Gregory just couldn't be bothered to be consistent. (and no, Mary is not the baby girl who dies, she comes later.) the editors missed that one--twice. argh.
my chief complaint is this: did anyone notice the glaring editorial errors?!! with Edward, Elizabeth says she has 3 daughters before her son Edward is born--Elizabeth, Mary, and Cecily. (p. 150.) Later she has Anne, Catherine and Bridget. but then in the end of the book she keeps referring to her "5 daughters," leaving Mary out twice--she had 6. it's like Gregory just couldn't be bothered to be consistent. (and no, Mary is not the baby girl who dies, she comes later.) the editors missed that one--twice. argh.