"The White Queen"
by Philippa Gregory
Source: sent by publisher in exchange for review
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
My Review:
Elizabeth Woodville, a commoner who traces her family tree back to the sea goddess, Melusina, needs the King's help. Her husband was killed in battle and her dowry lands and money were taken from her. Knowing where King Edward will be passing through with his men, she sets out to seduce him. Little does she know they will fall in love that day. And with a little help from Melusina, she will go on to rule England with him, all the while trying desperately to hold onto their throne.
I was so surprised by how romantic this book was. I've read this author's books before, as well as historical fiction in general, and I'd never read one this romantic. At the beginning, when King Edward meets the commoner Elizabeth under the oak tree, and in the time that followed, I was positively starry-eyed. It was like a real life Cinderella tale, as I'm sure people romanticized the story back then in songs and tales too. Even though Edward had his flaws, he was so likable and charming and he truly loved Elizabeth.
Elizabeth was a fascinating character. I loved her connection to Melusina, the sea goddess, and how she was able to do magic. She was always accused of witchcraft and, as the author pointed out in her notes at the end of the book, powerful women are always feared. Sometimes Elizabeth's ambition was all-consuming, even at the expense of her children's safety. So it was good to see her called out by her daughter, Elizabeth.
I also really liked Elizabeth's brother, Anthony, with his dedication to knowledge and poetry. i will have to do more research on all of these phenomenal historical figures.
Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5
Setting: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Bottom Line:This book was a fascinating piece of historical fiction and I learned a lot about a time period that I hadn't read about before. The characters jumped off the page and I can't wait to find out more about them. My favorite aspect of the book was the real life romance between Elizabeth and Edward.