Title/Author: The Lady of the Rivers (The Cousins' War #3) by Philippa Gregory
Publisher/Date published: Simon & Schuster, October 18th 2011
How I got this book: received it from the publisher as an egalley
Goodreads summary: "Jacquetta, daughter of the Count of Luxembourg and kinswoman to half the royalty of Europe, was married to the great Englishman John, Duke of Bedford, uncle to Henry VI. Widowed at the age of nineteen she took the extraordinary risk of marrying a gentleman of her house-hold for love, and then carved out a life for herself as Queen Margaret of Anjou's close friend and a Lancaster supporter - until the day that her daughter Elizabeth Woodville fell in love and married the rival king Edward IV. Of all the little-known but important women of the period, her dramatic story is the most neglected. With her links to Melusina, and to the founder of the house of Luxembourg, together with her reputation for making magic, she is the most haunting of heroines."
I had completely forgotten how much I love Philippa Gregory's books! I've read The Other Boleyn Girl and The Queen's Fool and I loved them, I don't know why I waited this long to read another of this author's books!
I'm such an anglophile and every time I pick up one of the books about a part of english history, I can't believe I didn't know more about that time period already. Seriously, I think we skipped the interesting parts of history in high school.
I loved Jacquetta as a character! She was such a sweet young girl, who just wanted to be loved and was disappointed when she found out her first husband didn't marry her for love at all. I loved that she had visions and that they were both beautiful and tragic. And Richard! OMG, Richard! If there ever was a swoonworthy historical character, it's him! Wouldn't you want your man to say 'I always come home to you'?? I know I do! But then again, mine doesn't go off to fight wars, only soccer matches ;)
I never knew Henry VI was so messed up! And OMG, the foreshadowing for what is to become of Elizabeth Woodville, Jacquetta's daughter! Sure, I've heard of the princes in the Tower that nobody is really sure about what happened to them, but that she was their mother... I can't wait to read the previous two books in the series, I'm dying to find out EVERYTHING!
My rating: 5 stars
Oh, I think we skip the best parts of history at school too!
ReplyDeleteAnd this book sounds terrific, I don't think I had heard of Jacquetta before, though I do know of what princes you're talking about (so sad!).
And Richard sounds awesome.
Thanks for the review, I've never tried a Phillipa Gregory book before -they kind of intimidate me - but I'll definitely pick up this one if I see it at the stores here (they usually import her books :) )
I read The White Queen (the first) and remember liking that as well. I really need to read The Red Queen and this one, I'm glad it sounds just as good!
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog and have been skipping around a bit, reading reviews. Love it! Not sure if you check comments on old posts, but have you read The Virgin's Lover by Gregory? It is so good, all about Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley. I think I enjoyed that even more than the Other Boleyn Girl. Also if you haven't tried Elizabeth Chadwick yet, she is amazing-she has written a couple about William Marshal that are just wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I haven't read the Virgin's Lover yet, but I do own it, I'll be sure to try and get to it soon! And Elizabeth Chadwick is on my TBR list :) Thanks for the recommendations!
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