Let me admit that this was my first Philippa Gregory read, although I do love historic fiction. I was very impressed by her writing style, by the level of details she provided, and by her ability to create suspense despite the general outcome being a forgone conclusion. I love the women she writes–they are complex characters, neither wholly good nor altogether bad who arouse your sympathies while still making choices you disagree with. I also loved the way she doesn’t get bogged down in time, skipping ahead years at some points and keeping the reader in touch with that sense of history happening. I think even those who’ve never read her should feel free to pick up this book to start out, and I know I’m going to go back for more.
The Lady of the Rivers << Get it from Bookshop Santa Cruz!
