Philippa Gregory

The Lady of the Rivers

When the death of Joan of Arc shows her the dangers faced by strong women, Jacquetta, a psychic descendant of a river goddess, studies alchemy and becomes the secret wife of Richard Woodville before returning to the court of Henry VI.

A Novel

Lacy W

3.5 stars!

tw: sexism and racism (pretty rampant)

This book was kind of dense and I was not expecting that. Normally, Gregory's books are a lot easier to read; they are more fluid. This one read like a dairy written by Jacquetta, which made it feel dense and clunky. 

As for Jacquetta, I liked her. Her ancestry was mentioned in other books by Gregory so it was nice to finally understand her story better. But Jacquetta just felt naive to me. She was clearly a feminist which I loved. But also made some pretty dumb decisions and paid the price for it. It that were me in that situation, I would thought things out just a little bit better. Monarchy England is so dangerous. You really had to play your cards right. 

The whole story was just too dense as I mentioned above. There were far too many names to try and remember. It was confusing as to whose side they supported along with which side was considered the "good" side and which was the "bad" side. I consider myself pretty knowledgeable to this time frame of England history but man, I was just so lost. I might need to do some more research for sure.

I'm not disappointed I read the book, though, as my review might suggest. It cleared up some things for me but also left me very confused. But overall, this fulfilled the itch I had for some good old historical fiction. Onto the next book.

Beatriz Pereira

So beautiful. It takes time to get used to such writing tbh but it's so worth it. Ready to dive into the cousins war. This book made me rethink my place as a woman in the world. Not for everyone I admit. It's a slow reading and the plot is extended through all the pages.

Maria Banning

So much better than the Red Queen. I absolutely loved Jacquetta!

Jenny

I enjoyed the book, it gave me less gorey, less crimes against women, Games of Thrones vibes. I had heard the Song of Ice and Fire was based off English royal history, but ignored that while reading it. If so, Lady Jacquetta Woodville reminds me of Lady Catelyn Stark, personality and mannerisms wise. Starts off with a bang... the girl befriends and watches the burning of Joan of Arc and also already has a lecherous duke on her tails. Though I was really happy to find the lecherous duke was actually wanting her for her family's history of visions. So he married her, but kept her a virgin so he could use her for his pursuits toward the sorcerer's stone. She is a lady of the river and as a girl of water and air can see the future through scrying. 

Richard Woodville is the cutest, sweetest, cinnamon bun... I was really nervous when she forced the marriage with him, thinking it was going to cause a bunch of drama that would ensue, but was relieved to find it wasn't a main plot point. I did enjoy reading it by the end but in the beginning the most emotion I felt was when she thought she had lost her books and husband, hahahaha. The main relationship between Richard Woodville and Jacquetta is so wholesome and sweet. I really enjoy how in love they are. The recurring theme with the Wheel of Fortune is very fitting and does a great job of tying the story together.

"He walks toward me. He walks toward as if nothing could ever separate us."

Sarah Ryan

A good read by historical fiction author Philippa Gregory, following the life of a woman who lived in a time when woman were not permitted any power. It is a surprisingly modern lens to view Jacquetta of Luxembourg through. Often in historical fiction women accept their position in a man’s world, and play within those rules. But Jacquetta strives for greatness for her family, does not accept being a pawn of the court, choosing to take matters into her own hands to marry for love, and at times even refuses royal orders to stay true to herself. A very interesting and strong woman who lived in dangerously turbulent times. 

Gregory also weaves in magic and alchemy throughout the story, something common to the medieval period. The House of Luxembourg were said to be descended from the Goddess Melusina and this is accepted as fact throughout the book. This was a time when religion, myths, science and magic seemed to live side by side and when the laws constantly changed as to what was permitted by law and what wasn’t. Jacquetta is the perfect protagonist to illustrate these times.

Grace Holding

** spoiler alert **
           Historical fiction, the idea of witchcraft and spells and clairvoyance in the 1400? Who doesn’t like that, when is mixed with real life kings and queens, on a real country.
England, and the whole monarchy and how the york and the tudors started fighting for the throne...
We meet the main character in a castle in Luxembourg, and her being royal in her own way in France, marries a duke and that’s how her adventures begin.
Cousins on war? The fight for the throne?
This book is the first book in the series and if you love history and fiction this book is for you.

Jade Flynn

If you loved the 'White Queen' (like I did), I can almost guarantee you'll fall in love with Jacquetta's story, just as you fell in love with her daughters.

Descended from Melusina, the river goddess, Jacquetta always has had the gift of second sight. As a child visiting her uncle, she met his prisoner, Joan of Arc, and saw her own power reflected in the young woman accused of witchcraft. They share the mystery of the tarot card of the wheel of fortune before Joan is taken to a horrific death at the hands of the English rulers of France.

Carolina Poças

Jeni Enjaian

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would. I typically approach popular books, or in this case, popular authors, with a significant amount of skepticism having been let down in the past.
Gregory's writing style captured me from the outset and kept me engaged through the decades of history she traversed in this book. I also kept looking up more information about Jaquetta, Lady Rivers, and found much of the historical research accurate with hints of artistic liberty which I appreciate.
While I probably will not pick up any of her books regarding the Tudors, I may pick up other books in the Cousins' War series since I know far less about that historical time period.

Rebeca Keren Nuñez

Me gusta mucho la ficción historia, así que esperaba mucho de este libro. De hecho, me hizo cambiar la óptica respecto al rol de la mujer en esa época. Me gusta mucho que recoja hechos reales y los mezcle con la ficción, cómo llenando los espacios que faltan y no podrían llenarse de otra manera. Ademas la época y lugar donde se sitúa la historia me resultan atractivos. Ahora quiero seguir leyendo. Empece por este porque queria leerlos cronológicamente. He visto series basadas en estos libros y me daban mucha curiosidad. No estoy segura de si colmo mis expectativas totalmente, pero tal vez sea porque el personaje central, no me sea tan atractivo por si mismo, sino mas en como se vincula con otros personajes centrales de la saga.

Ciska van Bokhorst

Ik had er iets meer van verwacht. Soms een beetje langdradig en saai. Maar wel interessant.

Roos Kuijper 

Gregory heeft de gave om fictie met waarheid te vermengen tot een meesterlijk verhaal. Over Jacquetta Woodville is weinig bekend maar Gregory heeft haar een compleet eigen stem gegeven. Ik vond het een heerlijk, meeslepend verhaal. Een goed verhaal over the Cousins’ War vanuit een vrouwelijk perspectief!

De volledige recensie kan je lezen op:
http://sterrenboek.wordpress.com/2015...

Andrea

wren

Emily Akerman

Addy

Cheyenne Burt

Megan During

Jacquetta, daughter of the Count of Luxembourg and kinswoman to half the royalty of Europe, was married to the great Englishman John, Duke of Bedford, uncle to Henry VI. Widowed at the age of nineteen she took the extraordinary risk of marrying a gentleman of her house­hold for love, and then carved out a life for herself as Queen Margaret of Anjou's close friend and a Lancaster supporter - until the day that her daughter Elizabeth Woodville fell in love and married the rival king Edward IV. Of all the little-known but important women of the period, her dramatic story is the most neglected. With her links to Melusina, and to the founder of the house of Luxembourg, together with her reputation for making magic, she is the most haunting of heroines.

The Lady of the Rivers

Reviews