“Philippa Gregory brings to life the story of Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford, a woman of passion and of legend who navigated a treacherous path through the battle lines in the War of the Roses to bring her family unimaginable power.”
The character development was my favorite aspect of this story. We witness Jacquetta’s evolution from a young and innocent girl in a noble family to the wife of a much older man who objectifies her due to her supposed ancestor – a girl who only seeks love but cannot find it. Eventually, she becomes a lover and a woman in her own right, playing a prominent role in English politics. The development of her character is fantastic. Additionally, I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamics among all the nobility throughout the book. Gregory did a great job showcasing each character.
The atmosphere was fairytale-esque and witchy, another part of the novel that I highly enjoyed. While this is historical fiction, it almost felt like a fantasy novel. Many people may not like the book for these elements, finding them too outlandish. However, later in life, Jacquetta was indeed accused of bewitching Edward IV. I believe there must have been some basis for that, even if it was innocent, like the magic depicted in this novel. The story was atmospheric in the best way!
The writing is where I struggled. The words themselves were fine; I had no complaints with that part. My issue comes with the pacing and repetitive nature of the writing. The first two-thirds of the book were medium-paced, and I had no major issues. However, the last third of the book was slow, and I wanted the story to end already. Many plot points were repeated. Yes, these events are historical, but I wish that some had been glossed over. The way the story was told was fine, but it became lengthy and repetitive.
The plot was great. The Lady of the Rivers is a woman who has yet to have an actual historical biography written about her. This account is fiction, but I still enjoyed learning about her. She was around many influential people of her time and was a major player herself. The story showed what it was like to be a woman in Medieval Europe and the trials that came with it.
The character work was my favorite part of this story. The story was atmospheric in the best way! However, I struggled with the writing. The story effectively depicted the challenges faced by women in Medieval Europe. Overall, it was a great book, but it didn’t become a new favorite.
4 out of 5 stars.
Izzy Reads 