Philippa Gregory presents the first of a new series set amid the deadly feuds of England known as the Wars of the Roses.
Brother turns on brother to win the ultimate prize, the throne of England, in this dazzling account of the wars of the Plantagenets. They are the claimants and kings who ruled England before the Tudors, and now Philippa Gregory brings them to life through the dramatic and intimate stories of the secret players: the indomitable women, starting with Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen.
The White Queen tells the story of a woman of extraordinary beauty and ambition who, catching the eye of the newly crowned boy king, marries him in secret and ascends to royalty. While Elizabeth rises to the demands of her exalted position and fights for the success of her family, her two sons become central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the missing princes in the Tower of London whose fate is still unknown. From her uniquely qualified perspective, Philippa Gregory explores this most famous unsolved mystery of English history, informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills.
With The White Queen, Philippa Gregory brings the artistry and intellect of a master writer and storyteller to a new era in history and begins what is sure to be another bestselling classic series from this beloved author.

Out August 2009

MY THOUGHTS:

I recently picked up this book at a local thrift shop to read and review.

This book is a perfect example of a writer who has struck gold with a recent few series, The Other Boleyn Girl, and my favorite, The Wideacre Trilogy, and either because of expectations from the publisher for additional books, or the lack of ideas, concepts to keep up with rival series and/or to maintain a current success, the writer puts out a mediocre book.

Books like this one that are fictional based on true events are better written with more politics and no supernatural elements included.  Philippa Gregory chose the Tudor era to center her series around and while this period of time is known for its bloody battles, greed and quests for power, there is no supernatural element to it.  Of course, one could argue that wizardry might have been practiced, there is just no historical evidence that it was done. So why add it?

I gave this book: