This book was hauled in my April Book Haul (that was
the last haul before my book buying ban … that barely lasted a month. LOL.). As you well know, I absolutely LOVE Philippa Gregory! She is definitely one of my favorite
authors because of the subjects that she brings to life. I have always loved the history of
English monarchies and Gregory’s Tudor Court Series, especially. But after reading The White Queen, I completely fell in love with the dynasty
that came before the Tudors. The
House of York and the House of Lancaster have completely grabbed my attention,
and I think I may even be more interested in them than the Tudors! After reading The White Queen, I knew I had to read this book next!
Title: The Red Queen
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Touchstone
Publication Date: August 3, 2010
Pages: 432
Out in Paperback?: Yes; June 7, 2011
My Rating: 4.5/5
Goodreads Summary:
Heiress to the red rose of
Lancaster, Margaret Beaufort never surrenders her belief that her house is the
true ruler of England and that she has a great destiny before her. Her
ambitions are disappointed when her sainted cousin Henry VI fails to recognize
her as a kindred spirit, and she is even more dismayed when he sinks into
madness. Her mother mocks her plans, revealing that Margaret will always be
burdened with the reputation of her father, one of the most famously
incompetent English commanders in France. But worst of all for Margaret is when
she discovers that her mother is sending her to a loveless marriage in remote
Wales. Married to a man twice her age, quickly widowed, and a mother at only
fourteen, Margaret is determined to turn her lonely life into a triumph. She
sets her heart on putting her son on the throne of England regardless of the
cost to herself, to England, and even to the little boy. Disregarding rival
heirs and the overwhelming power of the York dynasty, she names him Henry, like
the king; sends him into exile; and pledges him in marriage to her enemy
Elizabeth of York’s daughter. As the political tides constantly move and shift,
Margaret charts her own way through another loveless marriage, treacherous
alliances, and secret plots. She feigns loyalty to the usurper Richard III and
even carries his wife’s train at her coronation.
Widowed a second time, Margaret
marries the ruthless, deceitful Thomas, Lord Stanley, and her fate stands on the
knife edge of his will. Gambling her life that he will support her, she then
masterminds one of the greatest rebellions of the time—all the while knowing
that her son has grown to manhood, recruited an army, and now waits for his
opportunity to win the greatest prize.
In a novel of conspiracy, passion,
and coldhearted ambition, number one bestselling author Philippa Gregory has
brought to life the story of a proud and determined woman who believes that she
alone is destined, by her piety and lineage, to shape the course of history.
Characters:
I completely fell in love with the House of York, especially
Elizabeth and King Edward IV and their love for one another and their many
children. I didn’t know how well
reading about the enemy house, the House of Lancaster, was going to sit with
me, but I ended up really enjoying this book as well! I didn’t fall in love with the characters like I did in The White Queen; however, I did find
Margaret Beaufort, the red queen, very interesting to read about. Going into the story, I didn’t know
much about her past, but she really has an interesting story that kept me
wanting to read more. Her
childhood was incredibly interesting with the numerous arranged marriages, the terrible
childbirth experience, and the treatment from her mother; this really made me
feel for Margaret and enjoy her character a bit more, so although I didn’t love
her as much as Elizabeth (which is the reason for my rating), I still really
enjoyed reading about her strength and role in the Cousin’s War, especially as
a woman. I admired her courage,
ambition, and drive to get what she believed in and to do absolutely anything
for her son. Some of the more
minor characters, including her husbands Henry Stafford and Thomas Stanley,
were also interesting to get to know.
I loved how kind Henry was to Margaret and was amazed at the plotting
that was done between both Thomas and Margaret, which I found really
interesting to read about. Jasper,
Margaret’s brother-in-law from her first marriage to Edmund Tudor, was an
amazing character; he always supported Margaret and her son. I also loved, though they only got a
few pages in this book, reading about Elizabeth of York and Anne Neville. Elizabeth of York is really only seen
in The White Queen under her mother’s
control; similarly, Anne Neville never spoke as she obeyed her father, The
Kingmaker, and her husband. I
really enjoyed all of the characters and their stories and didn’t dislike any
of them aside from Margaret’s mother (I couldn’t believe some of the things she
said to her daughter). Even though
Margaret talked badly of my Elizabeth Woodville, I still enjoyed her story and
her incredible strength to never let anyone ruin her dreams of putting son on
the throne.
Plot:
Starting in the 1453, the plot covers the difficult
childhood of Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII. This novel covers her 4 marriages, difficult childbirth of
her 1 son, and the ever-changing throne from the hands of Lancaster to the
House of York. I found the plot
just as intriguing as I did with The
White Queen. I enjoyed reading
about the Cousin’s War and the battles that ensued until 1485 when the novel
ends. It was especially
interesting reading this right after I finished The White Queen because I was able to see the other side and view
events and situations from their point of view. This novel, I feel like more than The White Queen, focuses on the deceit and plotting in which
Margaret partakes. Overall, a very
interesting plot that keeps you hooked!
Writing Style:
I have said this several times now: I love Philippa Gregory and her writing
style! As I have mentioned before
since this novel is set up like her others, I love the fact that the chapters
are broken up into the seasons of each year, and at times, the exact date is
given. I don’t have that much to
say (that I haven’t already said) about Gregory’s writing style, except that I
love it! Everything flows so
smoothly, and it is so easy to get lost in the novel as the story just comes to
life. The description (especially of
the battles scenes) is incredible as always, and I just can’t wait to read her
other novels!
Have you read this
book? What did you think? I can’t wait to pick up Gregory’s other
books in this series, especially The Kingmaker’s Daughter! I
also believe her next novel will be about Elizabeth of York, Elizabeth
Woodville’s daughter and the wife of Henry VII. I can’t wait for The White Princess to come out this summer!
FTC Disclaimer:
All items mentioned were purchased by me. This is not
a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. No affiliate links were
used.
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