Helpful Score: 3
Wow! I read The White Queen first and loved it. I so loved Elizabeth and her cause. Then I get this one and it is from the prospective of the "enemy" from the White Queen. I was amazed to start loving this character as well. I REALLY loved both books. The only thing that I did not like was what "happened" to the princes. This is most definately one of my favorite sets of books. My advice is to get BOTH books because as soon as you finish the first one you will want to start the second one.
Helpful Score: 2
Not as good as her other books. Long and boring, seemed like the same thing kept happening over and over. I'm surprised I finished it.
Helpful Score: 2
I thoroughly loved all of Philippa Gregory's Tudor Novels. It seems every book of hers that I pick up has captured me. Not so with this one. I forced myself through half the book, then gave up on it. I hope to not have to give up on any of her other books, as I have them all waiting for me to read. :)
Helpful Score: 2
The Red Queen is the story of the Lancastrian heiress Margaret Beaufort, who is King Henry VIII's grandmother. We are taken through her life from when she is married at the age of 12 and produces an heir who she names Henry to when she finally achieves her goal of the title My Lady, the King's Mother, Margaret Regina. From the very beginning Margaret thinks of herself as Joan of Arc and her mission is to place her son on the throne of England. After her first husband dies, she marries twice more. Her last husband Sir William Stanley is her real goal. He has always been a favorite of any King of England and will always support who he thinks will win.
Gregory has weaved a great story here. I always get wrapped up whenever I read one of her novels. The bulk of the story is told from Margaret's point of view, until the end when it is told by Henry and Richard as they battle it out. I personally do not have a problem with that because the point of the story is that we are seeing and hearing what Margaret experiences. I'm probably a little bias but I enjoy reading just about anything Gregory writes...:)
Gregory has weaved a great story here. I always get wrapped up whenever I read one of her novels. The bulk of the story is told from Margaret's point of view, until the end when it is told by Henry and Richard as they battle it out. I personally do not have a problem with that because the point of the story is that we are seeing and hearing what Margaret experiences. I'm probably a little bias but I enjoy reading just about anything Gregory writes...:)
Helpful Score: 2
I couldn't wait for this book to be done with. Too long and too irritating to read. I just wanted to smack Margaret Beaufort repeatedly throughout reading this. :)
Loved this insight into Margaret Beaufort's life. Greggory is a truly gifted storyteller.
Must admit that I was quite disappointed in this read. It's written in a childish way by a self-centered character. The heroine is immature, arrogant, selfish and lacking in human compassion and understanding. The best part of the novel was the ending where King Richard and Henry meet in battle. I realize that living in this world of war and political intrigue must have been difficult but Lady Margaret is portrayed as a wicked woman who says she takes her strength and calling from God when it is she herself who makes decisions. In reading the author's words at the ending, I felt that Gregory did not really get into this character. Lady Margaret must have grown up at some time in her life, or maybe not!
Another fantastic book by Gregory! A little slow to get into, but an interesting read. I wish the book had covered a slightly different time than The White Queen because I felt like the book was almost a repeat in some parts. Still, Margaret Beautfort's planning and plotting keeps you engrossed. I'm also missing some of the spiciness that shows up in most of Gregory's work, but I guess Our Lady the King's Mother wasn't really into the spice! All in all, well worth the read!
I can see the story in my mind as I read this. It almost makes me want to live it. Can I take my laptop? :)
Phenomenal series - as always with Philippa Gregory!
Confusing read
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I truly detest reading a book from the first person POV. I just never get really comfortable nor lose myself in the story. I was acutely aware at all times that I was reading a novel. Except for a few chapters toward the end of the book that were third person, I never got entrenched in the story. I knew that Margaret Beaufort was a religious fanatic (but then during that time most were) but I got tired of hearing about her Joan of Arc obsession, two or three times on every page. She truly was an annoying and self absorbed person. Even as a child she was very full of herself. The only time I came close to feeling pity for her was when at 13, she gave birth to Henry. It amazes me that any woman lived to have more than one child. While I enjoyed The Red Queen more than The White Queen, neither was as riveting as the Tudor wives books nor the royal gardener books which I adored. Again, this book was thin on the areas that I so loved in her earlier Tudor books, descriptions of the homes, foods, court life and clothes. I like to be able to see as well as read about what was going on in this era. I dislike being told what is happening. It wasnt a great book but Im still holding out hope that the rest of this series will live up to my expectations.
