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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
This was a great historical fiction full of lots of well researched fact. If you've ever heard the story about King Richard who killed his two nephews in the Tower of London, this is the book to read. No one actually knows what happened to Princes Edward and Richard, but this book gives their family story, as well as one of the most powerful and least known queens - Elizabeth Woodville.
I like to read through other reviews of books I've just finished to see if there are any mental notes I want to include in my own review. Sometimes a person's review can make me reconsider something I didn't care for, or even change my mind about something I liked.
Reading the 1 and 2 star reviews of this book made me realize I liked this book way more than I thought. Also, people are whiny. We knew that already.
I knew literally nothing about the War of Roses before I started this book. The extent of my knowledge is actually from Gregory's earlier Tudor novels. Reading The Other Boleyn Girl is what kicked off my massive Tudors obsession, and got me to read as many books on Henry VIII and his wives as I could get my hands on in a relatively short period of time. So everything that happens in this book, short of Henry Tudor taking the throne (because duh) was a surprise to me.
Which is why I'm so disappointed at the lack of detail here. Having the story told from Elizabeth's perspective is fantastic, but what's not fantastic is she's a very lacking storyteller. It's hard to see what's happening in privy council and on battlefields when one is locked away in an abbey for months, or when all one talks about is the constant stream of babies from her vagina.
I wanted more detail. As such, I'll be hunting my library for books about this period of time, along with continuing with this series. I've already got The Red Queen on hold at the library. I don't see myself being nearly as interested in her mother's story, though.
I like that the overall theme of this book, and the promised theme of this series, is powerful women. The slander thrown at women in medieval times being turned on its ass. "Witches? Bitch, you haven't seen witches."
Very fun. Needed way more detail, though.
Reading the 1 and 2 star reviews of this book made me realize I liked this book way more than I thought. Also, people are whiny. We knew that already.
I knew literally nothing about the War of Roses before I started this book. The extent of my knowledge is actually from Gregory's earlier Tudor novels. Reading The Other Boleyn Girl is what kicked off my massive Tudors obsession, and got me to read as many books on Henry VIII and his wives as I could get my hands on in a relatively short period of time. So everything that happens in this book, short of Henry Tudor taking the throne (because duh) was a surprise to me.
Which is why I'm so disappointed at the lack of detail here. Having the story told from Elizabeth's perspective is fantastic, but what's not fantastic is she's a very lacking storyteller. It's hard to see what's happening in privy council and on battlefields when one is locked away in an abbey for months, or when all one talks about is the constant stream of babies from her vagina.
I wanted more detail. As such, I'll be hunting my library for books about this period of time, along with continuing with this series. I've already got The Red Queen on hold at the library. I don't see myself being nearly as interested in her mother's story, though.
I like that the overall theme of this book, and the promised theme of this series, is powerful women. The slander thrown at women in medieval times being turned on its ass. "Witches? Bitch, you haven't seen witches."
Very fun. Needed way more detail, though.
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a good read. There was (still is, let's be real) a lot about this time period that I don't know about. I feel like I got a decent feel, and I was inspired to do research on the War of the Roses and all the key players here. I always appreciate a historical fiction that intrigues me enough to get out of the story and learn more about what's happening. And not only that, but I'm going to keep digging and learning more. My only complaint would be the speed of the narrative. It moves pretty fast. I get it. There's a lot to get through, but some of the speed was just a little whiplashingly fast.
I think this is my first historical novel ever? I honestly didn't think I would enjoy it because historical novels are just not my usual genre. Surprisingly though, I liked it.
This book is quite thick but there are definitely no dull chapters. There are always intense moments or revelations in every chapter. While reading, I found myself anticipating the next battles, curses, children etc.
This book also gave me certain feels that I haven't felt while reading a book in a long time. One of these feelings is annoyance. I really felt annoyed about how women are treated and are used in this book. The reason I felt that annoyance is because these treatments are still happening now. This book also made me feel nervous. There are so many deaths in this book making me feel nervous if my favorite characters will die next.
The only reason why I didn't give it a 5 rating is because I don't feel like continuing the series at the moment.
This book is quite thick but there are definitely no dull chapters. There are always intense moments or revelations in every chapter. While reading, I found myself anticipating the next battles, curses, children etc.
This book also gave me certain feels that I haven't felt while reading a book in a long time. One of these feelings is annoyance. I really felt annoyed about how women are treated and are used in this book. The reason I felt that annoyance is because these treatments are still happening now. This book also made me feel nervous. There are so many deaths in this book making me feel nervous if my favorite characters will die next.
The only reason why I didn't give it a 5 rating is because I don't feel like continuing the series at the moment.
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
books is as good as first one from this series. each characters are interesting in their own way.
i feel i am already addicted to Philippa Gregory novels. and i think i feel Crown on my head
but i must say that Jacquetta of Luxembourg mother of Elizabeth, was ideal woman, wife and mother for me- brave, wise, devoted. whilst Elizabeth was ambitious and vengeful. there were too many people she cursed forgetting her mother's warnings not to use curse as it can boomerang back.
ah and her relations with husband, enormous amount of mistresses and whores of Edward IV. and Elizabeth like *no problem, he is a king* and Edward * yes honey i can have whores but i love only you *
when i remember Jacquetta and Richard love story, That was true love
i feel i am already addicted to Philippa Gregory novels. and i think i feel Crown on my head
but i must say that Jacquetta of Luxembourg mother of Elizabeth, was ideal woman, wife and mother for me- brave, wise, devoted. whilst Elizabeth was ambitious and vengeful. there were too many people she cursed forgetting her mother's warnings not to use curse as it can boomerang back.
Spoiler
i hope she really could guess who was her real enemies and save Richardah and her relations with husband, enormous amount of mistresses and whores of Edward IV. and Elizabeth like *no problem, he is a king* and Edward * yes honey i can have whores but i love only you *
when i remember Jacquetta and Richard love story, That was true love