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    The Lady of the Rivers: Cousins' War 3
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    The Lady of the Rivers: Cousins' War 3
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    The Lady of the Rivers: Cousins' War 3
    Ebook601 pages9 hours

    The Lady of the Rivers: Cousins' War 3

    By Philippa Gregory

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    THE COMPELLING NOVEL FROM SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER PHILIPPA GREGORY

    ‘This is a man’s world, Jacquetta, and some women cannot march to the beat of a man’s drum. Do you understand?’

    1435. Rouen. Jacquetta of Luxembourg is left a wealthy young widow when her husband, the Duke of Bedford, dies. Her only friend in the great household is Richard Woodville, the Duke’s squire, and it is not long before the two become lovers and marry in secret.

    The Woodvilles return to the Lancaster court, where Jacquetta becomes close friends with young King Henry VI’s new queen. But she can sense a growing threat from the people of England, and the danger of royal rivals. The king slides into a mysterious sleep; Margaret, his queen, turns to untrustworthy favourites for help; and Richard, Duke of York, threatens to overturn the whole kingdom for his rival dynasty, the House of York.

    Jacquetta fights for her king, her queen and her daughter Elizabeth Woodville, for whom she senses an extraordinary future.

    A sweeping, powerful novel rich in passion and legend, The Lady of the Rivers tells the story of the real-life mother to the White Queen.

    Praise for Philippa Gregory:
     
    ‘Meticulously researched and deeply entertaining, this story of betrayal and divided loyalties is Gregory on top form’ Good Housekeeping
     
    ‘Gregory has popularised Tudor history perhaps more than any other living fiction writer…all of her books feature strong, complex women, doing their best to improve their lives in worlds dominated by men’ Sunday Times
     
    ‘Engrossing’ Sunday Express
     
    ‘Popular historical fiction at its finest, immaculately researched and superbly told’ The Times
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster UK
    Release dateSep 15, 2011
    ISBN9780857204301
    Unavailable
    The Lady of the Rivers: Cousins' War 3
    Author

    Philippa Gregory

    Philippa Gregory is the author of many New York Times bestselling novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl, and is a recognized authority on women’s history. Many of her works have been adapted for the screen including The Other Boleyn Girl. She graduated from the University of Sussex and received a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, where she is a Regent. She holds honorary degrees from Teesside University and the University of Sussex. She is a fellow of the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff and was awarded the 2016 Harrogate Festival Award for Contribution to Historical Fiction. She is an honorary research fellow at Birkbeck, University of London. She was awarded a CBE title for services to literature and charity in 2022. She welcomes visitors to her website PhilippaGregory.com.

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    Reviews for The Lady of the Rivers

    4/5

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    • 4/5
      It's been a long time since I read a Phillippa Gregory novel and this one did not disappoint. In this book she tells the story of Jacquetta of Luxembourg who was married at a very young age to the Duke of Bedford, the brother of the king of Enland and tehn later, in a love match to Richard Woodville, the 1st Earl of Rivers. Her eldest daughter, Elizabeth, subsequently married King Edward IV, thus making Jacquetta the historical matriarch of the Tudor kings and Queens.This novel begins with the 100 years War with England pursuing Joan of Arc while trying to hold on to their possessions in France. It is intimated that Jacquetta is taught witchcraft by her elderly aunt and also has the gift and sight and is able to foretell the future. Her aunt tries to save Joan from the English, but in the end fails and we see Joan marched to the stake.Then Jacquetta is married off to the much older uke of Bedford, the brother of the English king. e does not want her for sex. Instead he want to keep her chaste so he can use her powers of sight and to help him in his experiments in alchemy. After he dies, Jacquetta takes up with his squire, Richard Woodville, and they marry in what is very much a love match.In the meantime, the King dies and the new King Henry VI, is too young to rule. and is put under a regency of the Duke of York, enraging his Lancaster relatives. The War of the Roses is about to begin. Jacquetta and Richard support Henry and his French wife, Margaret. Richard is almost constantly away at war - mostly in France defending England's last French possessions, but alos in Englad fighting the York forces. Jacquetta is a favorite of the Queen and apparently spends most of her time being pregnant and bearing 12 children. The king is ineffectual and maybe mentally ill and teh Queen is greedy and venal, and perhaps her son and heir has really been fathered by someone else.The plot twists and turns but holds your interest until the very end, when, banished from court, Jacquetta sees her eldest daughter, Elizabeth with the new King Edward and knows that her family is still in the game. Anyone who likes historical fiction will like this Novel.
    • 4/5
      It took me way longer to finish this one than I was expecting. I was on vacation and busy for the last five days though so that kept me from reading. It is a little long winded with a lot of stuff happening but still dragged a little. I did really enjoy it though. I just think this series is similar to Outlander in the way that I'll have to take a little break in between each book. It is amazing how childish and selfish the King and Queen are during their whole reign. I am surprised it took so long to take power from them. Jacquetta as a main character was very appealing and her love story with Richard is amazing. I am excited to continue on with the series.
    • 5/5
      The Lady of the Rivers is the story of Jacquetta St. Pol, a young woman from a wealthy family. She came to England from Luxembourg when she married the English Duke of Bedford. It was an arranged marriage. Her family wanted her to have wealth, title, and influence, but the Duke wanted something unusual. Jacquetta's family claimed they were descended from the water deity Melusina. He wanted to use her power to learn about his rivals and enemies.Jacquetta is much younger than her husband and is widowed at age nineteen. Her husband's last request of his wife demonstrates that he thought of her as a possession rather than as someone he could respect and confide in. Perhaps from a need for respect or from love or desire, but Jacquetta's second marriage is the opposite of her first.I love the way Philippa Gregory maintained historical accuracy, but also managed to weave Jacquetta's mystic abilities into the story. Here is an excerpt from a conversation where her great-aunt is explaining the sight she seems to have inherited:“You have to listen,” she says softly. “Listen to the silence, watch for nothing. And be on your guard. Melusina is a shape-shifter; like quicksilver, she can flow from one thing to another. You may see her anywhere; she is like water. Or you may see only your own reflection in the surface of a stream though you are straining your eyes to see into the green depths for her.”I also love the way Jacquetta's character is constantly drawn between the goals of power and duty vs. the desire for family and safety. Her two marriages demonstrate this, but this goes on throughout the book as both Jacquetta and Richard, her second husband, must take sides in the power struggles of the times.Steve Lindahl – author of Motherless Soul, White Horse Regressions, Hopatcong Vision Quest, and Under a Warped Cross.
    • 4/5
      Third in the series "The Cousins' War", but chronologically the first of them, opening in 1430. Very helpful to read this one before "The White Queen".
    • 3/5
      Not great, but not bad either. At least it's better than "The White Queen".
    • 4/5
      This was a wonderful start to the sweeping series that only Philippa Gregory could tackle. We are introduced to the Lady of the Rivers, mother to the future White Queen of England. As the Cousins' War rages on, we follow her story as she marries, produces heirs, and rises into an always dangerous position of favor to the King and Queen of England.
    • 5/5
      One thing that sets out Philippa Gregory from other historical fiction authors is her willingness to find lesser known historical figures and with research build their story (obviously with artistic liberties as this is a work of fiction) for readers to enjoy as she has done with this novel. The Lady of the Rivers is the story of Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford, and her life through her first marriage to the Duke of Bedford, through her second marriage to Richard Woodville to her daughter, Elizabeth, meeting her future husband Edward IV. Set during the War of the Roses, Jacquetta is loyal to the House of Lancaster and becomes close to the Queen Margaret of Anjou, who was married to Henry VI (who was suspected to be schizophrenic, his illness being a main cause of the turmoil in this book). A descendent of the river goddess Melusina, Gregory's Jacquetta possesses the Sight and the mystical arts are prevalent throughout the book which I liked (indeed the historical Jacquetta was charged with witchcraft but was exonerated).
    • 3/5
      I was surprised to see the story go backwards a generation in this third installment. It is just my personal preference for chronology I guess. But the characterization of the main players was great, as always. Much of the time that Jaquetta was waiting, I felt that I was waiting as well. The timing of the narrative seemed to stall as the war dragged on. Overall it was a good story and I am thrilled that we got to see so much of Jaquetta.
    • 3/5
      Again, it's been a while since I read this one, so I won't have much to say about it. I'm working on catching up, I promise!I almost backed out of reading this one even after I had picked it up from the library. The description makes it sound like there's a lot of witchcraft in the book and that just doesn't interest me. However, it's really not that much. The main character has some uncanny abilities, but she's determined to hide her skills to avoid getting dead. There was never so much that I considered putting the book down. I'm glad that I decided to give it a chance, because I enjoyed it. I liked reading about the romance between Jacquetta and Richard, the family they built together (seriously, they bred like rabbits), and her attempt to balance her responsibilities to her monarchs and her responsibilities to her children.Speaking of her army of children, she once says "My favorite of them all is Elizabeth's brother: Anthony." and that struck me as odd. Why refer to your child (especially your favorite child) as the sibling as another of your children instead of just as your child? It seemed like Gregory was just trying to be more creative than saying "my son", but it was just weird.Yeah, that's about all I've got. I enjoyed "The Lady of the Rivers" and I'm looking forward to continuing along this timeline of books!
    • 4/5
      Philippa Gregory writes very interesting books to help introduce readers, certainly me, to English history. The time of the Wars of the Roses have to date been quite confusing to me, especially with so many similar names, and people have multiple names. Reading this book has helped a bit (although names for individuals still change) because it take a small piece of this period of history, told through the eyes of someone just behind the scenes. The story takes a sympathetic view of the Lancasters - they were after all the ones with the crown. But portrays them, especially Margaret of Anjou in a poor light, along with her husband King Henry VI (but that was not his fault).The mystical elements were a bit much for me- but essential to the story, the title reflects that cleverly. Overall, the author has chosen a wonderful vehicle - the lady of the rivers - to tell the story. It's not as good as The Other Boleyn Girl though.
    • 5/5
      The Lady of the Rivers is the best written, though the most fanciful, of the Cousins' War series. The character of Jacquetta of Bedford, so often obscured by history, is made memorable here. Her personal life was really quite romantic, and highly unusual for a woman of her time. Though the author embellishes Jacquetta's story with legends of mystical river deities and stories about witchcraft, it's still a fairly accurate portrayal of this fascinating person and her family. Jacquetta usually is portrayed as an old crone at the time her daughter Elizabeth meets King Edward, but this novel helps you understand that she was only in her late 40s -- still a relatively young and active woman.
    • 5/5
      Another amazing gift to historical fiction fans by Philippa Gregory. Gregory brings to life another woman of history who is often forgotten and breaths life into her. The first portion is very entertaining as Jacquetta is thrust into the world of alchemy and as the novel progresses it gives way to the romance that I, and others, crave. As a history major this side of history is often left out though love is a vital part of our lives today and must have also been a major influence on history. An amazing read!
    • 5/5
      Another excellent historical novel of British history featuring a strong female heroine.
    • 4/5
      i enjoyed this book a lot. I especially liked the fact that even though king henry was a deeply religious man, the author does not interpret everything through the lens of religion. this was one of the biggest problems i have had with authors such as sandra byrd. the book is engaging and historically accurate, and the love story between baron rivers and jaquette is beautiful.
    • 4/5
      I have been looking forward to this book ever since I heard she was writing it. Jacquetta is an interesting person to say the least. And you can say that when this book end, then book 1 actually begins, The White Queen. Since it is up to that point we hear her story.

      Jacquetta married the Duke of Bedford, something that his former brother in law did not like. And they lost the support of Burgundy. In this book Gregory has the duke marrying Jacquetta because of her legacy, she is a descendant of Melusina. While in truth, who knows, he was old., she was young and pretty. That is reason enough. There she also meets Richard Woodville whom she later married without the kings blessing, and they pay for it. But when you are in love you are and I do admire Jacquetta for going against everything and everyone at a time like that.

      And the story, yes we get to see England fight for France. Jacquetta get children, a lot, poor woman, she was always pregnant. Well at least they liked each other ;) And of course the fall of the Lancaster King. The king falling into his sleep, Queen Margaret trying to keep the country together and then the start of the war of the roses. I also got thinking and I do like to think that Margaret got her child by a lover. Who can tell. And of course a book like this always has me picking a side. By now I have reached the conclusion that I will always start of as a Lancastrian but when Edward comes along I am Yorkist all the way. I also find it funny that I never like Warwick, no way. I haven't liked him in any book I have read so far about this time.

      Some do not like the magic in these books. But I look at it another way. I let Jacquetta think she can see the future, because back then superstition ruled. So if she thinks the saw the future it's because she thought it so. Therefore I do not mind it at all. It does not take anything from the novel. It should also be there since the talk was that she was a witch, just like many other women of power, or who was strange, alone, old, anything really.

      What we got in the end is an interesting tale about a woman who risked it all and who lived through dangerous times and got to see her daughter become queen (even if we do not see it here). I am glad Gregory wrote a book about Jacquetta and I am certainly glad to have read it. It was just what I wanted and I will not get tired of The cousin's war.

      Conclusion:
      A great book that I recommend to all fans of historical fiction, and to everyone because you can't go wrong with history. And it may be long, but it is good. She does make history come alive. In the end we have this fascinating tale about a strong woman in a rich setting and it is worth exploring.

      Rating:
      Recommended
    • 4/5
      The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory; (4*)The story of Jacquetta (Lady Rivers) is so interesting that it is surprising she has been quite lost to history. She was a Frenchwoman who married the most powerful Duke in England and goes to live in the country who which was the enemy of her homeland. Jacquetta goes on to break every rule and marries for love, influencing the kingdom as one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting. And all of this before her daughter became Queen of England.Jacquetta was the mother of Elizabeth Woodville and is a fascinating woman to read about. She appears right in the middle of the War of the Roses & history dictated the role she was to play. I had never heard of her before reading The White Queen. I felt I wanted to know more about her as she has been my favorite character in this series. This book describes a time in England's history that is difficult to imagine and fills in a good deal of information missing from the other books of the series.I quite enjoyed it.
    • 3/5
      This book tells the story of Jacquetta of Luxembourg, briefly the wife of the John, Duke of Bedford, uncle to Henry VI and then of Richard Woodville, his squire. I thought the prose unremarkable, but the story moved right along, especially considering that Jacquetta is not one of the really major characters in this saga.
    • 4/5
      Philippa Gregory brings history to life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book about the life of Jacquetta Woodville, mother of the future queen of England and grandmother to the princes in the tower. I feel pleasantly knowledgeable about The Wars of the Roses after reading this - I frequently fact-checked while reading and looked for more information on points that particularly interested me. I am now interested in finding time to read the other books in the Cousins’ War series.

      Full disclosure: I was getting a bit impatient with all the repetitious battles and running around in the last quarter of the book, but that is what really happened. Maybe the author could have summarized a bit?
    • 4/5
      You pretty much know what you are going to get with Philippa Gregory, and if that's your cup of tea then "The Lady of the Rivers" won't be any different.This book tells the story of Jacquetta of Luxembourg (mother-in-law of King Edward IV), from her early life in France to her role as prominent friend and advisor to Margaret of Anjou during the Wars of the Roses.As with most of Gregory's work, you are getting historical fiction lite here. There's nothing wrong with that, but if you are looking for something more substantial then you will probably be disappointed. Gregory uses the historical record as a jumping-off point from which to build her characters, and she weaves in lots of mythology and magical elements.Overall, I enjoyed this book for what it was: an entertaining and light read about an intriguing time period and cast of characters.
    • 4/5
      I found this book a bit boring in the beginning, but I really grew to love it. I will admit I had to do a lot of Googling to understand the history of the character Jacquetta and what was going on in the time period. Philippa did a great job making these characters come to life. I can see why the Plantagenets were interesting enough for her to write about. I can't wait to sink my teeth into the next book in the series (I'm reading them in chronological order).
    • 5/5
      The Lady of the Rivers is the third in The Cousins' War series by Philippa Gregory, following on from The White Queen and The Red Queen; although chronologically it can be read first. The Lady of the Rivers begins in France in 1430 and is about the life of Jacquetta of Luxembourg. The White Queen is the story of Elizabeth Woodville, (who meets and marries King Edward IV) while in The Lady of the Rivers we learn all about Elizabeth's mother, Jacquetta.After being widowed by the Duke of Bedford, Jacquetta becomes a very close friend of Margaret of Anjou, King Henry VI's Queen.The novel contains all of the intrigue, danger, alliances, betrayals, sieges and power for the throne that thrilled readers (and myself) in The White Queen, at the same time chronicling the life of a fascinating woman in history. During her lifetime, Jacquetta gave birth to 14 children (amazing that she survived), outranked every other lady at court (apart from her friend the Queen) changed allegiances from the House of Lancaster to the House of York, was trialled for witchcraft and later saw her daughter become Queen. In the novel she is portrayed as being loyal to Margaret of Anjou and a devoted and loving wife to her second husband, Richard.The magic and gift of foresight learned and inherited from Jacquetta's Great Aunt play a small role in the novel yet provide a wonderful backstory to the magic in The White Queen. (It was one of my favourite aspects of the novel, and really sets it apart from any other historical novel covering the War of the Roses).My only wish when reading any novel by Philippa Gregory is that I could retain (and later recall) 100% of the historical information imparted along the way. The White Queen was made into a successful and TV series, and I also hope her other novels in the Cousins' War make their way onto the big screen as well.I thoroughly enjoyed this entertaining and engaging novel and was instantly caught up in this most fascinating period in our history all over again. The next in the series is The Kingmaker's Daughter and I can't wait to read it.
    • 4/5
      Excellent! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Jacqueline, Lady Rivers and her husband are presented as very likable characters placed in a very bad position by the Lancastrian king and his queen that they serve, a very reluctant service at times as they can see the disaster looming in the future even without Lady River's second sight.
    • 3/5
      I have been listening to this series of books on audio, and let me tell you, I am so glad that I have chosen this method. Amata has done most of the narrating in the series so far and she doesn't fail to nail the characters every time! You get a glimpse of Jacquetta in previous installments so it was interesting to see things from her point of view this time.When Jacquetta is just a young girl, one of her aunts sees a special gift in her. A mysterious gift that has been attained by many females in the family. Jacquetta will spend years learning to harness her powers to help herself and her entire family. Although the book touched on this subject it wasn't overwhelming as it really was a small but important element of the story. It did help to clarify events from the previous installments though.From the previous books I had labeled Jacquetta to be a heartless and cruel woman, but this novel proved her to be the exact opposite. She was a passionate woman who would do anything to protect those she loves. And the love she declared for her mate was proved countless times, with the many children they had together. Although this is part of a series, I think this book would also be fine as a stand alone novel. I did enjoy this audiobook, but it probably is my least favorite so far, but maybe that's because Jacquetta is my least favorite character! With themes of love, family, and war, you may enjoy this book just as much, if not more, than I did. I recommend this novel for either personal leisure or as a book club selection.
    • 4/5
      This book is told from the viewpoint of Jacquetta of Luxemburg, who became the Duchess of Bedford when she was 17, making her wife to the regent of England - the duke being uncle to Henry VI who was then too young to rule.The story covers the period of 1430-1464, thus it comprises of the times leading up to the Wars of the Roses, and the early years of these conflicts.When the duke dies not long after their marriage, the duchess "lowers" herself by marrying Sir Richard Woodville. Together they produce many children, one of whom - Elizabeth - grows up to marry Edward IV, so as their eldest daughter goes on to marry Henry VII, Jacquetta - a little-known historical figure - is in fact Henry VIII's great-grandmother.Author Philippa Gregory notes that she considers Jacquetta an overlooked woman form history. As there is little info on Jacquetta's life, Ms Gregory was able to use her imagination to fill in the gaps, focusing heavily on the superstition that Jacquetta was descended from the legend of Melusina; a woman believed to be a goddess who associated her powers with water.I think I may have enjoyed this story more had there been less emphasis on the supernatural and a bit more realism, but that's not to say the magical elements drag the novel down. I'm also not a fan of narratives told in the present tense, but this is just a personal taste, not a criticism of the author.Worth reading.
    • 4/5
      The best of the series...so far. Really enjoyed it.
    • 5/5
      Having enjoyed the recent series of The White Queen, I thought I would give the books a read as in my experience a book is usually better than it's TV/film adaptation. I chose to start with this book as, although it is officially the third book in the Cousins' War series, it is the first book in the chronological order. I started the book with high expectations and it certainly did not disappoint me. The book follows Jacquetta's story, mother of Elizabeth Woodville, future Queen of England. Jacquetta's involvement with King Henry VI and his wife Margaret of Anjou is a fascinating story, it is interesting to follow the story of Henry VI and Margaret as the King loses control of his mind and his kingdom. If the other books in the series are as good as this one, then I shall be very happy indeed. I now have a craving to find a non-fiction book that tells me more of Jacquetta's story.
    • 5/5
      My Opinion: When I requested this book from NetGalley I wasn't aware that it was the third in a series, but I was happy to find out that each book tells about a different woman from the time of the War of the Roses. Therefore, this installment was able to stand on its own very well. The Lady of the Rivers tells the story of Jacquetta, who as a child meets Joan of Arc and who as a young woman and adult becomes a friend and confidante to young Margaret, the queen of England. She is married to an older Englishman, John, Duke of Bedford, uncle to Henry VI, when she is still very young, and is widowed when she is not much older. She defies the rules of the time and becomes the lover, and later wife of the Duke's squire, Richard Woodville. While that could have been the end of her life at court, she is not allowed to leave for long because the queen, Margaret, insists she needs her close. She spends her life trying not to get caught between all of the rivalries at court, and the constantly changing social strata of the many players. Philippa Gregory is a masterful storyteller and I enjoyed this book very, very much. Saying that it is a sweeping, powerful story is an understatement! Now, I have to go back and read the first two books in this amazing series, The Red Queen and The White Queen :D
    • 5/5
      Descended from the river goddess Melusina, Jacquetta is blessed with second sight. As a young girl, she meets her uncle's captive, Joan of Arc, and realizes that they share the same abilities right before Joan's horrific death. Eventually, she is married off to the Duke of Bedford, and is introduced to alchemy. When the Duke dies, the talented widow finds love in the arms of her friend, the Duke's squire Richard Woodville.
    • 4/5
      I love these ridiculous books. Jacquetta shows up in the two books previous to this one (The White Queen, The Red Queen) but this book is completely about her and it was magical and interesting. Granted, Gregory didn't have much to work with, so she was able to create as much as she wanted. I loved the marriage between Jacquetta and her first husbands squire, Richard Woodville. I feel like I've read these books backwards though, so I'll have to reread The White Queen The Red Queen after this. As usual, pure fluff. Love.
    • 3/5
      Descended from Melusina, the river goddess, Jacquetta has always had the gift of second sight. As a child visiting her uncle, she meets his prisoner, Joan of Arc, and recognizes her own power in the young woman accused of witchcraft. They share the mystery of the tarot card of the 'wheel of fortune' before Joan is taken to a horrific death at the hands of the English rulers of France. Jacquetta understands the danger for a woman who dares to dream. Married to the Duke of Bedford, English Regent of France, Jacquetta is introduced by him 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.My Thoughts:What I can never deny about PG is the research. The books are full of historical detail and are always a pleasure to read. I do find however that they can be a bit longwinded and I do find that I can easily become slightly bored.This book isn’t one of favourites in the series. I found I enjoyed ‘The White Queen’ and the others I have plodded through. I think the reason being is that I am been told the same story but from the view point of a different person, and I am reading the same thing.I did enjoy the mystical element in this one and the fact that Jacquetta can read the cards, as I have an interest in tarot myself.The books are always well written and heavily researched and should appeal to anybody who likes history, but I just wish PG would leave alone this peroid now and move on. I am looking forward to the new BBC drama ‘The White Queen’ which is based on three of PG books.