1 New York Times bestselling author and “queen of royal fiction” (USA TODAY) Philippa Gregory brings to life the story of Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford, a woman of passion and of legend who navigated a treacherous path through the battle lines in the War of the Roses to bring her family unimaginable power. When the young and beautiful Jacquetta is married to the older Duke of Bedford, English … older Duke of Bedford, English regent of France, he introduces her to a mysterious world of learning and alchemy. Her only friend in the great household is the duke’s squire Richard Woodville, who is at her side when the duke’s death leaves her a wealthy young widow. The two become lovers and marry in secret, returning to England to serve at the court of the young King Henry VI, where Jacquetta becomes a close and loyal friend to his new queen.
The Woodvilles soon achieve a place at the very heart of the Lancaster court, though Jacquetta has visions of the growing threat from the people of England and the danger of their royal York rivals. Jacquetta fights for her king and queen, as she sees an extraordinary and unexpected future for her daughter Elizabeth: a change of fortune, the white rose of York, and the throne of England…more
I really enjoyed The Lady of the Rivers. I have read The White Queen before but The Lady of the Rivers is a great back story to The White Queen and would be even more enjoyable if I had read to first. I love the history in this story. I m eager to continue with Phillippa Gregory’s other novels in the Plantagenet and Tudor series.
This is one of my favorites in Ms. Gregory’s “Cousins War” series. I found the story to be especially interesting as I knew nothing about the main character, Jacquetta Woodville before listening to this audiobook and found her to be likeable (at least in Ms. Gregory’s interpretation). I found Margaret Beaufort of “The Red Queen” and Mary Queen of …
I loved this book I found myself going back and looking up the history on the characters.
This is the first book in the Plantagenet series and I think readers should start with this one so they’ll be hooked and will want to read the entire series. Great stories!
One of my favorite authors! You can’t put her books down
LADY OF THE RIVERS is Philippa Gregory’s latest foray into the world of the Wars of the Roses. Ms. Gregory has a talent for picking out a female heroine, who is both very interesting and totally unknown. She managed that feat with Elisabeth Woodville in THE WHITE QUEEN and Lady Margaret Beaufort in THE RED QUEEN. Now we have Jacquetta de St. Pol, …
Incredible book that starts out with Joan of Arc”s capture and murder. From there it just gets better!
The royal house can trace its lineage to a mermaid-type queen who married a human man for love.
…several generations we meet Jacquetta, a daughter of the house, who is just coming into her powers.
If you enjoy historical fiction, …
I could not put this book down. I found myself researching the characters to learn more about them. I’ve read this entire series and it’s great. Philippa Gregory bilks are great.
I wish I had read this book first before the others in the series. It sure provided the background needed to appreciate “The White Queen.”
I never expected it, but this has been my favorite book of this series so far. It took a character from book one (“The White Queen”), Jacquetta, whom I didn’t really care for much, and filled out her history, her character, her motives. She went from a character I found mildly annoying into one of my favorite characters in the series. This book …
“She tried to live like an ordinary woman, but some women cannot live an ordinary life. She tried to walk in the common ways, but some women cannot put their feet to the path. This is a man’s world, Jacquetta, and some women cannot march to the beat of a man’s drum.”
The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory is a wonderfully written historical …
I have been fascinated by the Tudors and Plantagenets most of my life. I knew the various kings and queens, as well as how they ascended to the throne. But to focus on all the women behind the scenes and then in front of the scenes was a fantastic approach. Definitely will continue this series.
The setting and the descriptions are magical. You …
Philippa Gregory does the most amazing research into her characters and brings them to life. The whole War of the Roses series can be tracked in the history books. When I ran across someone in my ancestry search in the White Queen I had to follow that whole period and her characters weave together in a wonderful lifelike tapestry.
Loved this book and the whole series!
Everything Gregory writes guarantees a great read. Have loved her since I was a child sneaking reading time under the covers with aa flashlight.
This was actually one of my favorite of Gregory’s Plantagenet and Tudor novels (and the first in that series): the story of Jacquetta Woodville, the mother of Elizabeth Woodville, who would become the wife of Edward IV. Jacquetta is married to a duke as a teenager, but then widowed by age 19. Instead of waiting for another arranged marriage as …