Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
Philippa Gregory masters yet another time period in English history. I loved the characters of Edward and Elizabeth and there public and personal battles. You watch as Elizabeth goes from a country girl to a lady full of ambition. I am ready to start the next book in the "cousins war" series - The Red Queen
emotional
informative
mysterious
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:
Yes
I love love LOVE Phillippa Gregory, her skills are amazing and I'm filled with envy whenever I read one of her books. This was no exception, I loved this book more than some of her others mostly because of the sub-plot of Melusina the water goddess and how Elizabeth Woodville beleived she was descended from and inherited gifts from her. She wasn't alone in thinking this, others were also which gives it more credit, more reality in ways. Elizabeth has been my favourite character throughout Gregory's books, she was beautiful, clever, regal and all this from a low born Rivers family she made one of the greatest rebellions last for years by keeping her family safe through marriage and manipulation of the court. Her mother was just as loveable and taught her daughter the court game which she needed to survive.
The characters as always were startingly realistic and the plot line was fast moving, I couldn't put it down once I'd started it. My 4 1/2 hour flight went without me noticing the time once I started this book, by the end I had finished and couldn't want a better start for my holiday reading.
http://theteenagebookworms.blogspot.com/
The characters as always were startingly realistic and the plot line was fast moving, I couldn't put it down once I'd started it. My 4 1/2 hour flight went without me noticing the time once I started this book, by the end I had finished and couldn't want a better start for my holiday reading.
http://theteenagebookworms.blogspot.com/
adventurous
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I find Philippa Gregory's books to be interesting and fun--even if they aren't terribly challenging. I will probably read the rest of the books in this new series about the Plantagenets.
dark
informative
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This took me ages to get through. Not because it wasn’t interesting or well-written, but I just found it felt like a heavy read. The story is very good but I have been favoring quick reads lately and so found myself picking this up and putting it down, as opposed to being absorbed.
Watched the show first and was surprised at how much wasn't in the books. But I guess I'll just have to read the rest now to see if it's in them instead.
Overall Rating 3.25
I wouldn't say this is my favorite book but it kept me interested... I absolutely love the tv series this inspired after this book so I was pretty excited to read the book and I noticed how the author chose to do a few things differently from her book. The main story revolves about Elizabeth Woodville and how she caught the heart of King Edward IV. Their love story was pretty cute to read. Man seemed more in love with Elizabeth than in the show so I really enjoyed that and the book was surprisingly more political than I thought it was going to be. I liked how they went more into detail about Elizabeth's life through the years and just how hard life was at court. Woman basically had little to no friends (and while sometimes it made sense it was still lowkey unfair) and had to basically advocate for herself and her children constantly.
Especially when confronting the York family... You think your mother-in-law and husband's family suck? Well look no more because basically ALL of King Edward IV's family were bitches. BITCHES. They wouldn't leave that poor woman alone omfg. I think the only person who was decent in that family was King Edward IV's sister who was married off. It's sad I didn't get to see more family moments but there are plenty scenes with the Woodville family. They're great!
I can't speak much to the politics at that time because.... lowkey... some of old europeans were kinda stupid and money hungry... HOW MANY FUCKING PEOPLE WERE CLAIMING "KING" IN THIS MOTHER FUCKING SERIES? It was TOO DAMN MANY I'll tell you that. Like bro... its never that serious... But that's just me....
Any who, even though it was boring at times I honestly couldn't put this book down... it's like I was hooked on some historical crack (can I say that?) or something.
Will I be continuing the series? FUCK YES BECAUSE THE WHITE PRINCESS IS ONE OF MY FAV HISTORICAL TV SHOWS OF ALL TIME. So OF COURSE I'll be reading it.
I wouldn't say this is my favorite book but it kept me interested... I absolutely love the tv series this inspired after this book so I was pretty excited to read the book and I noticed how the author chose to do a few things differently from her book. The main story revolves about Elizabeth Woodville and how she caught the heart of King Edward IV. Their love story was pretty cute to read. Man seemed more in love with Elizabeth than in the show so I really enjoyed that and the book was surprisingly more political than I thought it was going to be. I liked how they went more into detail about Elizabeth's life through the years and just how hard life was at court. Woman basically had little to no friends (and while sometimes it made sense it was still lowkey unfair) and had to basically advocate for herself and her children constantly.
Especially when confronting the York family... You think your mother-in-law and husband's family suck? Well look no more because basically ALL of King Edward IV's family were bitches. BITCHES. They wouldn't leave that poor woman alone omfg. I think the only person who was decent in that family was King Edward IV's sister who was married off. It's sad I didn't get to see more family moments but there are plenty scenes with the Woodville family. They're great!
I can't speak much to the politics at that time because.... lowkey... some of old europeans were kinda stupid and money hungry... HOW MANY FUCKING PEOPLE WERE CLAIMING "KING" IN THIS MOTHER FUCKING SERIES? It was TOO DAMN MANY I'll tell you that. Like bro... its never that serious... But that's just me....
Any who, even though it was boring at times I honestly couldn't put this book down... it's like I was hooked on some historical crack (can I say that?) or something.
Will I be continuing the series? FUCK YES BECAUSE THE WHITE PRINCESS IS ONE OF MY FAV HISTORICAL TV SHOWS OF ALL TIME. So OF COURSE I'll be reading it.
Another fascinating read by author, Philippa Gregory.
This series can be a little confusing. This is the first novel in The Cousins' War series but the second novel in The Platagenets and Tudor series which includes The Cousins' War novels. For some reason this book has the series in the wrong order as well. It states them as being 'The Lady of the Rivers, The Red Queen, The White Queen...' when in fact it should be, 'The Lady of the Rivers, The White Queen, The Red Queen..." Anyway....
Elizabeth Woodville, a commoner (and if you have read the first book, the daughter of Jacquetta of Luxembourg), marries Edward IV in secret and has several children, the first born being Edward V, the next in line to the throne. All very simple so far except that Edward IV's brother Richard is a little tinker and decides he wants the throne for himself. Thus ensues a beautifully interweaving and pleasantly complex turn of events all centring around Elizabeth herself.
What is so fascinating about this book is the fact that around 90% of the events that take place are real, historical happenings and not some made-up piff-paff to get people to buy the book. You literally could not make it up!
Most of you will know about the story of the princes in the tower. If you don't, it is alleged that Richard III kidnapped Edward (later to become Edward V) and his brother Richard (of Shrewsbury) so that he could become king. At the time Edward was to succeed his father also called Edward (Edward IV). The two boys went missing. Nobody knows what happened to them and there have been numerous suggestions as to their fate. Their bodies have never been found either. Phillippa imagines their fate in this book and weaves it beautifully into the story.
I love the first instalment of this series, [b:The Lady of the Rivers|45011210|The Lady of the Rivers (The Cousins' War, #3)|Philippa Gregory|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554847017l/45011210._SY75_.jpg|14428801], but this has topped it. I never thought I would say that as the first was incredible but yes, this is better and I love this series.
You think that nothing much can be said of one person in a book of over 400 pages but Philippa Gregory has perfected her craft so beautifully that every page and every chapter just makes you want to read on and I can't wait to read the next book, [b:The Red Queen|45011214|The Red Queen (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #3)|Philippa Gregory|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554847090l/45011214._SY75_.jpg|7413156].
A stunning second instalment.
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes