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Any Philippa Gregory fans?

19 replies

BeanieTeen · 04/09/2022 09:22

I’ve been reading Philippa Gregory novels for years. I’d like to get into another one, there are still loads I haven’t read. But they are so hit and miss! I don’t want to invest myself in a disappointing one.
Some I’ve loved and really been drawn into (The Other Boleyn Girl, The Queen’s Fool, I quite like the new ‘Tidelands’ series but they are kind of tame and I do miss the ‘old Philippa Gregory’ where sometimes you’d turn a page and think WTF?? Like in Wideacre and The Wise Woman.)
But some have been real snooze fests where it felt like she was just listing events from a first person narrative or the characters have been bland and annoying (The Kingmakers Daughter, The Other Queen) I haven’t read anymore of the Plantagenet series because The Kingmakers Daughter really put me off - are the others any better?
What are your best (that I might try next) and worst (which might leave for now.)

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rc22 · 13/08/2023 23:45

The White Queen is good. I've just read the Kingmaker's Daughter and I was disappointed. I finished it but it was rather dull. Going to try some more of the Plantagenet series but hoping they're more like the White Queen.

SheilaFentiman · 12/08/2023 23:10

Also agree that The Lady of the Rivers is one of the best

SpamFrittersYouSay · 12/08/2023 23:03

My favourite was Earthly Joys.
I believe based roughly on a real man who was a botanist who brought us 'tradescantia' plants, of which I have a few.

Beautiful story.

RJnomore1 · 12/08/2023 22:56

Have you read lady of the rivers?

StSwithinsDay · 12/08/2023 22:55

I love Elizabeth Chadwick.

mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 12/08/2023 22:54

I am currently listening to the Wideacre trilogy, as it's free for Audible members. Having only read her tamer, later work before, I was a bit WTF 🤣 She's such a great writer though. My favourites are the ones about Elizabeth Woodville and her family.

FrankTheThunderbird · 12/10/2022 23:10

The Wideacre trilogy are some of my favourite books ever.

I also agree with PP that Anne O'brien is similar. I also enjoyed Joanna Hickson and Darcey Bonnett recently.

Carlycat · 12/10/2022 23:06

I loved the Wideacre Trilogy and the Tradescant books. I have a beautiful plant in my garden named after John Tradescant ( Tradescantia )
The Other Boleyn Girl I've read at least 3 times.
Marvellous author 👌

ghislaine · 12/10/2022 22:47

I’m coming at this from the opposite direction from you. I was in the library at the weekend and was looking for the familiar warmth of the Jean Plaidy royal history novels I devoured as a teen. I couldn’t find any so I picked a Philippa Gregory instead - The Red Queen. Definitely try Jean Plaidy, she wrote nearly a hundred titles in this genre.

StarbucksSmarterSister · 12/10/2022 21:05

Sharon Penman

I absolutely second this. She was a great writer.

PrincessesRUs · 12/10/2022 20:52

Innocent traitor by Alison weir is great and like the best Philippa Gregory's

Whiterose23 · 12/10/2022 20:45

My favourites have been a respectable trade, lady of the rivers, the white queen and the white princess. I stopped reading after the kingmakers daughter.

deathofthesnark · 12/10/2022 20:37

There is the Wideacre Trilogy, which in my view is amazing read if read in reverse order as you are just thinking wtf is going on!?!!?

MissAmbrosia · 04/09/2022 11:35

Sharon Penman - particularly the Sunne in Splendour. It's marvellous.

Original poster
BeanieTeen · 04/09/2022 11:33

I have read The Tea Rose series by Jennifer Donnelly, I loved it!

Will look into Anne O’Brien and Kate Furnivall a try, I haven’t read their books before. And Taming of the Queen.

Thanks all!

OP posts:
BeyondPurpleTulips · 04/09/2022 10:04

Mueslikid · 04/09/2022 10:00

My favourite Philippa Gregory one is set in a travelling Victorian(?) dance troupe.

I can’t remember the name though.

I also really enjoyed the one about Katherine Parr - might be The Taming of The Queen.

Meridon? I just finished rereading it, it's my favourite too

Mueslikid · 04/09/2022 10:00

My favourite Philippa Gregory one is set in a travelling Victorian(?) dance troupe.

I can’t remember the name though.

I also really enjoyed the one about Katherine Parr - might be The Taming of The Queen.

mossberry · 04/09/2022 09:48

I loved her Tudor novels but like you, wasn't keen on the Plantagenet ones.

Other historical fiction I've really enjoyed;
Jennifer Donnelly - Tea Rose trilogy
Kate Furnivall - The Russian Concubine / The Concubine's Secret

Apl · 04/09/2022 09:42

Loved the Wise Woman, Wideacre and The Other Boleyn Girl! But I kinda drifted away from her after that, I boight a couple I couldn’t finish which out me off.

Have you read Anne O’Brien? Very similar style (you can’t tell it’s a different author to Gregory) and I was gripped by some of hers, like Virgin Widow, The Forbidden Queen, etc. Some fascinating historical detail.