Tag: Philippa Gregory

Dark and twisted

This book reminded me of the Lord of the Flies, another novel filled with unsympathetic characters. This is a dark book, and our protagonist Alys is selfish and cruel, a hard person to root for.

Alys is only sixteen for most of the story, and some of her sense of survival is understandable. I turned the pages like I was reading a horror novel, afraid of what mad scheme Aly would embark on next to save her skin.

The novel, set in the Henry VIII Tudor period, highlights how little power women had in those times, pitting them against one another to win the favor of the lord of the castle. It was a difficult time to be a Wise Woman.

The Lady of the Rivers

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.

Book Review: The Other Boleyn Girl

This is the first book of Philippa Gregory I read, and it will definitely not be my last. Based on the true story of the Boleyn Siblings, the author weaves a masterful tale, gripping from start to finish.

Some of Philippa Gregory’s readers go on to read my books, and I understand why. Our books depict royal intrigue, a world where women are powerless unless a man bestows them with it. In these historical times, women were like the moon with no light of their own. However brightly they shined, it was a reflection of a man’s power.

In The Other Boleyn Girl, the lack of a male heir plays a central role, and this is a recurring subject in my trilogy as well. One distinction in my novels based on medieval India is the ability of the male royalty to marry many wives. In Tudor England, that was not possible and resulted in deadly rivalry.

I love the choice of Mary as the narrator of this novel, so we can see her progress from her a naive young girl to a woman who understands what will bring her happiness. The author breathes life into this period of Tudor history, and I look forward to reading her other books. Highly recommend to all fans of Historical Fiction.