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The White Queen

6 replies

PeachandBlack · 05/02/2015 16:21

I recently finished the White Queen and although I enjoyed the historical detail of the families and tying up the different threads, I didn't really engage with it on a storytelling/characterisation perspective.

Is there any point in reading the other books in this series? Is it just more of the same? Should I just get a good history book about the Plantagenet's?

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Becca19962014 · 05/02/2015 17:22

I've not read all of that series (I'm going through it at the moment) but found with the Tudor series for example there were some really good and, in my opinion, poor books in the series.

I'm reading 'lady of the rivers' at the moment and I'm really enjoying it, it's the prequel to 'the White queen'. I did read 'the White queen' when it was first published in paperback and didn't really get on with it, but enjoyed the next one.

If you want a historical perspective then I found reading some of the books she uses for her research a good starting point. I don't really know much about the Plantagenets to be honest.

I've listened to the audio books (very abridged) of this series and found them to be good, though I don't know if they are still available (I got mine very cheaply in the works!)

I don't know if that's helpful or not!

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PeachandBlack · 06/02/2015 13:38

Thanks Becca, I found the Tudor series a bit hit and miss as well. I might give The White Princess a go, and if I don't like it then look for something else that deals with this period.

Just noticed my rogue apostrophe in the OP .

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Becca19962014 · 06/02/2015 13:56

I've not read the White princess.

It's odd how her books can be hit and miss. I did notice though the ones I enjoyed were the ones she really enjoyed writing herself like 'lady of the rivers' for example. Probably just coincidence though. I wonder if others have felt the same.

I did, like I said, find the audio books good but they are hard to get hold of via I libraries and very expensive to buy.

I'll forgive the rogue apostrophe. This time

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fatowl · 07/02/2015 17:09

I enjoyed The Red Queen more than the White Queen.
Lady of the Rivers was very readable too.
I have the Kingmakers Daughter on my to read pile.
I do enjoy a bit of Phillippa Gregory, but it is fairly light- my dd doing history at uni rolls her eyes at me

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Hamiltoes · 07/02/2015 23:20

I read them yonks ago now but if I recall correctly, I thought the White Queen was ok, couldn't get into the Red Queen at all, and enjoyed Lady of the Rivers. I have the princess one lying about somewhere but think I'd need to re-familiarise myself with them again and I'm not quite ready to do that.

Sorry if that wasn't much help!