Bookmonster #2

decided to blog.

here is a little book review. :)

so, one fine afternoon, i decided to read!

so i whipped up a book i bought some months ago, settled with some coffee & a sandwich..and read.

The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

genre: historical fiction

book description (from Amazon): 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.

my views: (3.5 of 5)

well, this was new and a first for me. mainly cause i hardly read historical fiction. im more of a romance, crime, thriller, fantasy kind of girl. ive always wanted to venture into reading historical based books, but never got around to it. so i finally did with this book. 

ps: ive never really did any book reviews before..and i dont really know how. LOL..so spare me while i type what comes to mind.

and i must say, i did enjoy this book! finished the book in 3 days.

and i was pleasantly surprised that i didnt get bored of the book like i feared. history never being my strong suit. LOL. the author really did her research (i read the author's note) and i was really impressed by it. the fact that most of what happend are what really happend! the mist, the great rain, and the missing princes! through the book i learn bits of the history behind the English royalties. it was actually a fun way to learn about the history behind it all. and honestly, this has intrigue me a little. :) i admit i did some Googling about it after i finished the book. :3
well, i wouldnt rave about the book as a must read, for ME, personally, simply because like i said, its not my genre of choice. but nonetheless, the book was a good read and worth the time to read it. i do recommend it! especially to people who love historical fiction. i would say the book did not bore me nor disappointed me. i enjoyed reading it, it was good and it entertained me as well as educated me! LOL. i would say, i dont think you would regret reading this book! :)

and i do plan to read the other books in this collection, The Red Queen.

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory

the book its not a sequel to The White Queen, but an  parallel story to The White Queen. the story happens the same time as The White Queen, but it follows The Red Queen.

book description (from Amazon): Heiress to the red rose of Lancaster, Margaret Beaufort never surrenders her belief that her house is the true ruler of England and that she has a great destiny before her. Her ambitions are disappointed when her sainted cousin Henry VI fails to recognize her as a kindred spirit, and she is even more dismayed when he sinks into madness. Her mother mocks her plans, revealing that Margaret will always be burdened with the reputation of her father, one of the most famously incompetent English commanders in France. But worst of all for Margaret is when she discovers that her mother is sending her to a loveless marriage in remote Wales.

Married to a man twice her age, quickly widowed, and a mother at only fourteen, Margaret is determined to turn her lonely life into a triumph. She sets her heart on putting her son on the throne of England regardless of the cost to herself, to England, and even to the little boy. Disregarding rival heirs and the overwhelming power of the York dynasty, she names him Henry, like the king; sends him into exile; and pledges him in marriage to her enemy Elizabeth of York’s daughter. As the political tides constantly move and shift, Margaret charts her own way through another loveless marriage, treacherous alliances, and secret plots. She feigns loyalty to the usurper Richard III and even carries his wife’s train at her coronation.

Widowed a second time, Margaret marries the ruthless, deceitful Thomas, Lord Stanley, and her fate stands on the knife edge of his will. Gambling her life that he will support her, she then masterminds one of the greatest rebellions of the time—all the while knowing that her son has grown to manhood, recruited an army, and now waits for his opportunity to win the greatest prize.

In a novel of conspiracy, passion, and coldhearted ambition, number one bestselling author Philippa Gregory has brought to life the story of a proud and determined woman who believes that she alone is destined, by her piety and lineage, to shape the course of history.

the other books in this collection are

• The Lady of the Rivers (Amazon) -- which is about The White Queen's mother who is said to be the descended of the water goddess, Melusina.
• The White Princess (TBA- the author mentioned this in her note at the end of The White Queen) -- it will cover The White Queen's daughter, grandmother to England's greatest queen, Elizabeth I.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:
ive finish reading The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy (right after exams ended)

The Wolfs of Mercy Falls trilogy
(Shiver; Linger; Forever)
by Maggie Stiefvater

my views: (2.5 of 5)
it was a pleasant and easy read. if ure looking for love-fantasy like books that are easy reads to pass the time, then this book is up your ally! mmm..and thats all i have to say on these books. it was a good pass-timer.


Happy Reading! :)