The queen of historical (especially Tudor) fiction does it again in the fifth book of her The Cousins’ War series. Philippa Gregory tells the tale of Princess Elizabeth of York, daughter to the once-grand Queen Elizabeth of York. In The White Princess, Elizabeth is still grieving for the man she loved, King Richard III, and hates the man who killed him. With the knowledge she must marry the new king Henry Tudor in order to unite a country torn by war, the beautiful York girl has a bitter taste in her mouth.
Thrown into an unwanted marriage, Elizabeth must navigate a domineering mother-in-law, a suspicious husband, and rumours of her missing brother Richard come back from the dead to claim his throne. Her husband might have won the crown through battle, but Elizabeth knows he cannot win the hearts of the Englishmen.
Gregory does the first Tudor queen justice in this tale of tragedy, suspicion, and the different shades of love. Despite being daughter to a couple who loved each other passionately, Elizabeth’s marriage is so fraught with secrets and mistrust that the idea of Henry and Elizabeth loving each other seems impossible throughout most of the book. It is a shared love for their children and the desire to make their kingdom secure that draws the two into a bond that, despite everything, could withstand any pretender to the throne.
One enjoyable aspect of The White Princess is seeing little Henry VIII, affectionately known as Harry, in his childhood years. So much of Tudor England surrounds the copper-headed man. To see him as a child who loves games, good food, and being the center of attention paves the way for Gregory’s other Tudor books, namely The Other Boleyn Girl. His brother Arthur, who so rarely is shown in history books, is made to be the picture of a prince, one who would have made a great king.
Gregory shows readers a woman who makes her way through heartbreak to her mother’s throne, something she did not always desire. Like her mother and grandmother before her, she follows the Wheel of Life as is brings her from her lowest point to the highest position in the country.
The White Queen, The Red Queen, The Lady of Rivers, The Kingmaker’s Daughter, and the last book in the Cousins’ series, The King’s Curse are all available online and in stores.
Thrown into an unwanted marriage, Elizabeth must navigate a domineering mother-in-law, a suspicious husband, and rumours of her missing brother Richard come back from the dead to claim his throne. Her husband might have won the crown through battle, but Elizabeth knows he cannot win the hearts of the Englishmen.
Gregory does the first Tudor queen justice in this tale of tragedy, suspicion, and the different shades of love. Despite being daughter to a couple who loved each other passionately, Elizabeth’s marriage is so fraught with secrets and mistrust that the idea of Henry and Elizabeth loving each other seems impossible throughout most of the book. It is a shared love for their children and the desire to make their kingdom secure that draws the two into a bond that, despite everything, could withstand any pretender to the throne.
One enjoyable aspect of The White Princess is seeing little Henry VIII, affectionately known as Harry, in his childhood years. So much of Tudor England surrounds the copper-headed man. To see him as a child who loves games, good food, and being the center of attention paves the way for Gregory’s other Tudor books, namely The Other Boleyn Girl. His brother Arthur, who so rarely is shown in history books, is made to be the picture of a prince, one who would have made a great king.
Gregory shows readers a woman who makes her way through heartbreak to her mother’s throne, something she did not always desire. Like her mother and grandmother before her, she follows the Wheel of Life as is brings her from her lowest point to the highest position in the country.
The White Queen, The Red Queen, The Lady of Rivers, The Kingmaker’s Daughter, and the last book in the Cousins’ series, The King’s Curse are all available online and in stores.