I bought this book because I enjoy history. Please note that I used the word 'enjoy' and not 'know'. I like to watch the odd documentary and imagine what it would be like to be Cleopatra from time to time, please never ask me a serious history question. I spent most of my history lessons at school playing the Malteasers game*.
I don't know exactly what I was expecting, perhaps an easier to read Wolf Hall (which I loved), but I did not expect this...
Within the first few chapters I knew that I was going to struggle finishing this one. Don't worry, I did. I am incapable of leaving a book unfinished no matter how little I like it (See also The Yard by Neil Grecian Review).
There is absolutely no dimension to the main character and it's a problem. I just had to look up her name because I cared so little about her. Elizabeth is a female that wants power, she loves King Edward. That's pretty much the book. The first few chapters read as a chick lit set in ye olde days, which I know now does nothing to improve my chances of liking that genre. Once queenie has bagged her man, the rest of the book is her worrying about her husband as he goes away to fight endless battles. Later, she worries about which of her children will sit upon the throne.
Oh, and don't forget about the small side plot of her and her mother doing some witchy shiz by pulling threads out of a river. That REALLY rounds out the story...
Obviously, I know this book is based on historical fact, so certain events are solidified in the timeline, but there are just so many better examples of historical fiction, if that is what you are looking for. If you are looking for chick lit but with more expensive jewellery, then you might actually enjoy this book! There's love, and heartbreak, rivalry, and all the other things that go along with that style. This book is just really, really, not for me. As you can probably guess, I will not be reading the rest of the series.
An extra note of advice, if you want to read this, be aware that it is set around the time of the cousin's war, so although there are a good number of characters in the story, they are ALL called Richard, Edward, or George. Girls are named Elizabeth. This can become confusing if you are really not into the story.
Have you read The White Queen? What did you think?
*The malteasers game consists of making an obstacle course on your desks, from pencil cases, textbooks, whatever is to hand. Then, you and your desk friend proceed to blow malteasers from one side of the obstacle course to the other. Much skill is required, this is why I don't know who William the Conqueror is....
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