I start and end May with a book by Philippa Gregory. I purchased a used copy of The Other Boleyn Girl at my library book sale. After reading that book earlier this month and falling in love with Philippa Gregory’s writing, I decided to start that series at the beginning with The Lady of the Rivers.
There is magic between these pages which brings Jacquetta alive though she lived six centuries ago. If Philippa lived in the 15th century, she will be accused of witchcraft for seducing the readers with her writing.
I love how the story starts with the young Jacquetta, and we get to witness her growth on the pages. Meera, my protagonist in Heir to Malla is a similar age in that book, and that trilogy spans three decades of her life.
The story is told from Jacquetta’s perspective which is wonderful because you can get a glimpse into the domestic lives of the royals. The author portrays her realistically with very human fears and flaws. The only drawback to having a female point of view is all the battle scenes are narrated secondhand. In a few instances, the author places her in the middle or sidelines of the battle actions. I overcame this challenge by using a male protagonist in my novels who provides a firsthand view of the battles.
I enjoyed learning about the history of this period through this medium of storytelling. My goal as an author would be to evoke the feelings Philippa evoked in me as a reader. Such powerful mastery of her craft. I look forward to reading the next book, The White Queen. Highly recommend this book to all fans of historical fiction.
Anna Bushi 