Review: The Lady of the Rivers

The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory

Summary: Descended from Melusina, the river goddess, Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford, always has had the gift of second sight. As a child visiting her uncle, she met his prisoner, Joan of Arc, and saw her own power reflected in the young woman accused of witchcraft. They share the mystery of the tarot card of the wheel of fortune before Joan is taken to a horrific death at the hands of the English rulers of France. Jacquetta understands the danger for a woman who dares to dream.

Jacquetta is married to the Duke of Bedford, English regent of France, and he introduces her to a mysterious world of learning and alchemy. Her only friend in the great household is the duke’s squire Richard Woodville, who is at her side when the duke’s death leaves her a wealthy young widow. The two become lovers and marry in secret, returning to England to serve at the court of the young King Henry VI, where Jacquetta becomes a close and loyal friend to his new queen.

The Woodvilles soon achieve a place at the very heart of the Lancaster court, though Jacquetta can sense the growing threat from the people of England and the danger of royal rivals. Not even their courage and loyalty can keep the House of Lancaster on the throne. Henry the king slides into a mysterious sleep; Margaret the queen turns to untrustworthy favorites for help; and Richard, Duke of York, threatens to overturn the whole kingdom for his rival dynasty.

Jacquetta fights for her king, her queen, and for her daughter Elizabeth for whom Jacquetta can sense an extraordinary and unexpected future: a change of fortune, the throne of England, and the white rose of York.

My Thoughts: The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory is definitely my favorite of The Cousins’ War series – so far, at least (there are at least two more books planned). Jacquetta is a very likable character, and the story is fast-paced and well-written. I know that, chronologically, it comes before the other two books, but I loved that I read it last. (I prefer reading in order of publication, for some strange reason.) Richard Woodville is amazing, and her story is equally amazing. And, honestly, I was surprised by how little “magic” and similar things were in the book. Yes, they were probably mentioned more than in the other books, but Jacquetta performs magic less than we see Elizabeth doing so in The White Queen. I thought that was interesting, as I’d expected more magic this time. I think there’s less because Jacquetta had more respect for the unpredictability of magic, as instilled in her by her great-aunt.

My absolute favorite part is the ending. (No, this is not a spoiler, as this is historical fiction! ) Not necessarily how it ends, but when – it pretty much ends right where The White Queen begins (and almost makes me want to read The White Queen again right now! LOL). I love how seamlessly it flows from Jacquetta’s story into the beginning of her daughter’s.

As always, Gregory’s writing is fantastic. The story is written so well that reading it is a pleasure not only for my imagination, but also for the word-loving side of me. She knows how to weave a powerful tale that is not soon forgotten. I very much look forward to the next book, The White Princess.

Source: Received through Crazy Book Tours for review.

Read It: Get your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

Tour Info: For the main page for this blog tour, including more reviews of this book on other blogs, visit the tour post HERE.

Challenges: Counts for the 100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge.

Find me on Goodreads.com >>
♥

FTC Disclosure: All items reviewed were either obtained by me for my own enjoyment or sent (from the author, publisher, publicist, via tour sites, etc.) in exchange for an honest review. I receive no monetary compensation for my posts. All opinions expressed are my own.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.