Review: The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory

The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory

Publisher: Atria Books 

Pages: 497 

Format: ARC paperback and  eARC 

Buy the Book:Amazon 

Goodreads:  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 house-hold 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.

Kritters Thoughts:  As I am not a huge historical fiction fan, I don't tend to read a ton of books each year from this genre, but every so often I am drawn to a story not matter what year it took place.  If I read historical genre, I usually lean towards Philippa Gregory because she has this unique ability to make a historical story feel accessible to any reader.  


This story centered around a mystical woman who is living in a time where people are very apprehensive of magic and mystical things.  Through two marriages and many, many children - Jacquetta is a woman who has power when women don't usually have power or even a say in their lives.  I loved how she exerted power, but also uplifted the man in her life as the center of the household.  To learn about the impact that she had on future kings of England was interesting and really made her a bigger character that one may think at the beginning.  


I absolutely loved watching her "views" into the future come true in one way or another.  That was something that kept me intrigued and reading way beyond page 200.    


A great read that is part of a series that is perfect to curl up with during these  cold months.  Add this one to your list as a readable and enjoyable historical fiction read.

Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

GR Oct-Dec Challenge 2011: Who Would You Like to Sleep With?

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Crazy Book Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.