'Caught between loyalties, the mother of the Tudors must choose between the red rose and the white.
Philippa Gregory, #1 New York Times best-selling author and 'the queen of royal fiction' (USA Today), present the latest Cousins' War novel, the remarkable story of Elizabeth of York, daughter of the White Queen.
When Henry Tudor picks up the crown of England from the mud of Bosworth field, he knows he must marry the princess of the enemy house--Elizabeth of York--to unify a country divided by war for nearly two decades.
But his bride is still in love with his slain enemy, Richard III--and her mother and half of England dream of a missing heir, sent into the unknown by the White Queen. While the new monarchy can win power, it cannot win hearts in an England that plots for the triumphant return of the House of York.
Henry's greatest fear is that somewhere a prince is waiting to invade and reclaim the throne. When a young man who would be king leads his army and invades England, Elizabeth has to choose between the new husband she is coming to love and the boy who claims to be her beloved lost brother: the rose of York come home at last.'
My thoughts:
When I read a historical fiction novel by Philippa Gregory I know that I am going to get a good story even if it does not really stay accurate to historical fact. I've learn to read her stories for the love of the story and not for historical accuracy. I did have some issues with this one as the author liked to discuss in detail the incestuous relationship between Elizabeth and her uncle Richard III. While in historical fact, there may have been a real relationship between them, it's something that is skimmed over. I really would have like to have not read in detail about an incestuous relationship, but whatever.
We all know that Henry VII, the first of the Tudor kings was obsessively paranoid about his throne and had to deal with threats at every turn to the safety of his throne and his line. Philippa Gregory has portrayed Henry as overly obsessive and quite paranoid, which is really how he might have been, it was just annoying that he turned on everyone and found that he could trust no one all the time. It was annoying when he was accusing everyone at every turn and especially lashed out at Elizabeth for no other reason than being born a York.
Philippa Gregory is a great historical fiction writer. I just personally wasn't all that impressed with this book because the characters were some that I really didn't come to care about. I am tired of Tudors and was actually glad that this book was not about Henry the Eighth. He does make an appearance as a young boy and his personality shows through, but I'm tired of hearing about his relationships. His mother is one to be admired while his father was just another king in the line of kings of England. A good read if you love the Tudors and the history about how they came to power, but something that just felt overplayed and not exciting. Overall Rating: 2
Title: The White Princess
Author: Philippa Gregory
Series: Cousins' War Book #5
Publisher: Touchstone
Publication Date: July 23, 2013
Pages: 544
Genre: Historical Fiction
Get It: Amazon; Barnes & Noble
Disclaimer: This book was selected from the library by myself and I reviewed this book without compensation of any kind. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.