As I am not a huge historical fiction fan, I don't tend to read a ton of books each year from this genre, but every so often I am drawn to a story not matter what year it took place. If I read historical genre, I usually lean towards Philippa Gregory because she has this unique ability to make a historical story feel accessible to any reader.


This story centered around a mystical woman who is living in a time where people are very apprehensive of magic and mystical things. Through two marriages and many, many children - Jacquetta is a woman who has power when women don't usually have power or even a say in their lives. I loved how she exerted power, but also uplifted the man in her life as the center of the household. To learn about the impact that she had on future kings of England was interesting and really made her a bigger character that one may think at the beginning.


I absolutely loved watching her "views" into the future come true in one way or another. That was something that kept me intrigued and reading way beyond page 200.


A great read that is part of a series that is perfect to curl up with during these cold months. Add this one to your list as a readable and enjoyable historical fiction read.

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Wow! This book was amazing, & I am soooo glad that I didn't live in those brutal times. After reading many, many historical romances, this book revolves around actual facts. I could not put this book down; I felt that I was actually there, in the 1450's, living the life of Jacquetta. And while the author has woven an astonishing biography, I am glad I live in the 2000's.

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When I first read The White Queen, I was so eager to know more about Elizabeth Woodville's mother that it made me crazy. I was so happy when I heard that the third book in the series was to be about Jacquetta.

I have to say, for every Philippa book I read there is a plethora of beautiful imagery and creative narration.

I read all the way to the end within less than a week (which is saying a lot for my schedule).

This book, including publication of the King Maker's Daughter, is my favorite of the series. It stays in her focus and her husband's. And they have a spiritual bond that makes their romance more exciting! It's nice to see that England had legends of 'witchery' in this time and was depicted realistically. The only disappointment I suppose, was that the story did not go to the last day of her life as a grandmother of Edward IV's children.

Beyond that an ultimate favorite!

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Every now and then a book comes along that sucks you in so deeply that when you are not reading it you think of what is happening as though it is really happening. That's how this book was for me. It follows Jaquetta, the Dutchess of Bedford through much of her life during the times of The War of the Roses. She is a very strong and wise lady with guts. She's very beautiful and also comes from a line of women who have the 'sight.' Therefore, she is chosen as wife to a much older Duke of Bedford after his wife dies. He cannot seal the marriage because of his age, and is really mostly interested in fostering her second sight for his own goals. The Duke's squire and she eventually fall in love and she marries him after the Duke dies - marries him in secret. She is eventually forgiven and called to attend the young queen of King Henry the 6th. The King is very religious and prefers prayer over his wife. He is a very weak king so the wife becomes the voice of the king with Jaquetta at her side except for trips home on and off trying to guide and support her. The machinations of the politics and the court goings-on is interesting and the characters come alive. How close it follows actually facts I don't know, but it was one of the best books I've read in a while.

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