HISTORICAL FICTION REVIEW: The Red Queen - Philippa Gregory

Release Date: 19/08/10

BOOK BLURB:

The second book in Philippa's stunning new trilogy, The Cousins War, brings to life the story of Margaret Beaufort, a shadowy and mysterious character in the first book of the series - The White Queen - but who now takes centre stage in the bitter struggle of The War of the Roses. The Red Queen tells the story of the child-bride of Edmund Tudor, who, although widowed in her early teens, uses her determination of character and wily plotting to infiltrate the house of York under the guise of loyal friend and servant, undermine the support for Richard III and ultimately ensure that her only son, Henry Tudor, triumphs as King of England. Through collaboration with the dowager Queen Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret agrees a betrothal between Henry and Elizabeth's daughter, thereby uniting the families and resolving the Cousins War once and for all by founding of the Tudor dynasty.


REVIEW:

The second novel in Philippa’s Cousin War trilogy, sees Margaret Beaufort take up the role of principle storyteller, who is the mother of Henry Tudor and spends the whole book scheming to place her son onto the English Throne. It’s full of religion, it’s full of warfare and to be honest that’s pretty much it. This title lacks the enthusiasm and the romantic aspect that the author’s previous titles have had to offer and to be honest felt more like a rehash of the White Queen as told from a different Point of View. This title could well have been bettered had the two titles been merged to tell of certain aspects at one time from multiple characters.

The book really is a let down and to be honest if you’re a fan it could well put you off as all in all it is, in my opinion, a very poor offering from an author I expected more from.