This New York Times bestseller from “one of the great storytellers of our time” (San Francisco Book Review) turns from the glamour of the royal courts to tell the story of an ordinary woman, Alinor, living in a dangerous time for a woman to be different.A country at war A king beheaded A woman with a dangerous secret On Midsummer’s Eve, Alinor waits in the church graveyard, hoping to encounter … Eve, Alinor waits in the church graveyard, hoping to encounter the ghost of her missing husband and thus confirm his death. Until she can, she is neither maiden nor wife nor widow, living in a perilous limbo. Instead she meets James, a young man on the run. She shows him the secret ways across the treacherous marshy landscape of the Tidelands, not knowing she is leading a spy and an enemy into her life.
England is in the grip of a bloody civil war that reaches into the most remote parts of the kingdom. Alinor’s suspicious neighbors are watching each other for any sign that someone might be disloyal to the new parliament, and Alinor’s ambition and determination mark her as a woman who doesn’t follow the rules. They have always whispered about the sinister power of Alinor’s beauty, but the secrets they don’t know about her and James are far more damning. This is the time of witch-mania, and if the villagers discover the truth, they could take matters into their own hands.
“This is Gregory par excellence” (Kirkus Reviews). “Fans of Gregory’s works and of historicals in general will delight in this page-turning tale” (Library Journal, starred review) that is “superb… A searing portrait of a woman that resonates across the ages” (People).
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ending was a bit surprising. One of my favorite authors as well as one of my favorite time periods.
Wonderful depiction of life in the 1060’s in England.
Always one of my favorite authors now on a new tack providing an understanding of historical times and charactors.
Good read I I love this writer
I can’t wait for the next book in the series. Of course I’m a big Philippa Gregory fan.
Surprisingly formulaic. I didn’t finish reading it. Also, Gregory doesn’t name the king during whose reign this story takes place until well into the book.
Beautifully written exploration of society in an earlier time. I normally hate books that provide a well planned lead in to a so far non existent series. (I am still wAiting for a satisfying finale to Game of Thrones)
But in this case I am anxious to see what comes next
I can’t wait for the sequel – Tidewater showed that women’s lives have hardly changed. Each character came to life with in depth descriptions. Excellent writing!
I love Ms. GREGORY’S writing, though this one moved a little slowly. I hated the ending, though I suppose I was supposed to. I’d recommend it to a friend.
I usually love her books but not this one. I was extremely bored, didn’t even seem like the same author. I could not finish it even half way.
Watching Alinor overcome one struggle after another was interesting and uplifting. How great for a poor woman to use her wits to succeed in the seventeenth century Even when people call her a witch.
Rarely are common folk portrayed in historical novels and this one delves into the lives of the working class and poor in the mid-1600s. Women, especially, have a difficult time as they have so little power to drive their own lives.
Gregory at her best, but with a different focus. This book (I believe to be the first in a series) focuses on an unknown historical woman rather than someone famous.
In her afterward she explains that she will continue to follow this familial line of strong women. I will definitely be reading successive books!
Like previous books better. I also felt the story became more interesting it went on, but I really disliked the ending. It was definitely set up for a sequel and it left you hanging.
Loved this book and learned so much. Looking forward to the next one in this new series- Dark Tides- coming out on Nov. 24.
Another exceptional novel from a favorite author. Looking forward to the next in the series.
Extremely well written historical fiction. The characters came alive and the attention to detail helps put the reader in the experience.
My only disappointment was the abrupt ending and the wait for the second volume of the series.
I like books with lead characters that I like and admire. I also like to learn something and be prompted to learn more. This book did both those things.
This is a great story- you live every moment with these characters and I wound up so grateful that this particular era is long over! Human nature is certainly depicted in this book it’s wonderfully descriptive of the time. You can feel the wind and smell the smells!