Krystal's Reviews > The White Queen
The White Queen (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #2)
by
by
Krystal's review
bookshelves: historical-fiction, loved-up, chick-lit, disappointments, struggletown
Nov 20, 2018
bookshelves: historical-fiction, loved-up, chick-lit, disappointments, struggletown
I'm honestly worried for the other half-billion novels written by Philippa Gregory.
This novel is only slightly less dull than the (chronological) first, The Lady of the Rivers. Once again it just spans too long a period, meaning that there's not a lot of attachment to what's happening. There are a lot of battles, a ton of births and deaths, and keeping track of claims to the throne is about as easy as keeping track of Australia's Prime Minister.
Our protagonist, Elizabeth - the titular White Queen - is an unlikable queen and makes absolutely horrid decisions. I can appreciate that this is true historical happenings, but I think she was a poor choice for narrator. Did not like her one bit.
Also really wasn't feeling the whole witchcraft angle. Don't call it 'historical fiction' if you're going to include curses and supernatural happenings. That's pure fantasy. It wasn't even used cleverly. Entirely disappointing.
There's also such a depressing lack of court drama. I feel like this would have been better if it dealt with a shorter time period, and we were allowed to grow attachments to characters. We don't really get to know a lot about the people, or what life is actually like for them. There's just the vague tellings of who is fighting whom, and who marries whom, and what the political ramifications are. All this drama and action and it was just totally BORING.
I'm really fascinated by this period of history but this and the previous book have really taken some of the interest away for me. The French court was clearly much more happening.
Not sure when I'll get to the next book in the series but its unlikely to be any time soon. I might have to find some other authors who have delved into this history. I definitely don't understand how this series is so popular when it's so dull.
This novel is only slightly less dull than the (chronological) first, The Lady of the Rivers. Once again it just spans too long a period, meaning that there's not a lot of attachment to what's happening. There are a lot of battles, a ton of births and deaths, and keeping track of claims to the throne is about as easy as keeping track of Australia's Prime Minister.
Our protagonist, Elizabeth - the titular White Queen - is an unlikable queen and makes absolutely horrid decisions. I can appreciate that this is true historical happenings, but I think she was a poor choice for narrator. Did not like her one bit.
Also really wasn't feeling the whole witchcraft angle. Don't call it 'historical fiction' if you're going to include curses and supernatural happenings. That's pure fantasy. It wasn't even used cleverly. Entirely disappointing.
There's also such a depressing lack of court drama. I feel like this would have been better if it dealt with a shorter time period, and we were allowed to grow attachments to characters. We don't really get to know a lot about the people, or what life is actually like for them. There's just the vague tellings of who is fighting whom, and who marries whom, and what the political ramifications are. All this drama and action and it was just totally BORING.
I'm really fascinated by this period of history but this and the previous book have really taken some of the interest away for me. The French court was clearly much more happening.
Not sure when I'll get to the next book in the series but its unlikely to be any time soon. I might have to find some other authors who have delved into this history. I definitely don't understand how this series is so popular when it's so dull.
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Reading Progress
June 22, 2017
– Shelved
June 22, 2017
– Shelved as:
to-read
October 20, 2018
–
Started Reading
October 20, 2018
– Shelved as:
historical-fiction
October 20, 2018
– Shelved as:
loved-up
October 25, 2018
–
27.97%
"I'm really looking forward to the demise of George. He's like the guy who changes who he cheers for when his team loses. He would have been a Golden State fan for sure."
page
127
November 18, 2018
–
46.04%
"But where is all the DRAMA?? Scandal? Intrigue? Plotting and scheming and ... DRAMA.
I feel like Reign may have given me false expectations for this series."
page
209
I feel like Reign may have given me false expectations for this series."
November 20, 2018
–
71.37%
"I'm already mentally writing a lot of sass into my forthcoming review."
page
324
November 20, 2018
– Shelved as:
chick-lit
November 20, 2018
– Shelved as:
disappointments
November 20, 2018
– Shelved as:
struggletown
November 20, 2018
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-6 of 6 (6 new)
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by
Diane
(new)
Nov 21, 2018 03:56AM
Fair n honest review, Krystal!
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Kayla wrote: "To be fair a book can still be considered historical fiction if it has fantastical elements. There are hundreds of books that are considered historical fiction that have supernatural elements like ..."
In hindsight, I do agree with you. I think my problem with this one is that there was so much history that the fantasy element just seemed really out of place. It wasn't crafted well enough to be believable for me.
In hindsight, I do agree with you. I think my problem with this one is that there was so much history that the fantasy element just seemed really out of place. It wasn't crafted well enough to be believable for me.
My sentiments exactly and I usually love historical fiction. I had been listening g to it as an audio read and didn’t much like the character or the repetitive harping on certain issues and events. Set it down for a while and liked it no better so i abandoned it which is very rare for me indeed. LOL when I read your first sentence!
Renata wrote: "My sentiments exactly and I usually love historical fiction. I had been listening g to it as an audio read and didn’t much like the character or the repetitive harping on certain issues and events...."
I can't imagine how much of a trial this would be as an audio book! You're not missing much by abandoning it lol. Still waiting to be impressed by Philippa Gregory!
I can't imagine how much of a trial this would be as an audio book! You're not missing much by abandoning it lol. Still waiting to be impressed by Philippa Gregory!