Tidelands by Philippa Gregory

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and have not been influenced by the author, publisher, or other related entity. *

Synopsis:

Breakdown Review:

I have been reading Philippa Gregory novels for about a decade and I have loved nearly every single one. Nearly all of that reading has been via her Plantaganet and Tudor novels because I am obsessed with Tudor England. Her writing is always rich and full with a good dash of mystery and intrigue and despite the fact that it is historical fiction, she manages to be incredibly creative while remaining largely true to historical fact.

This novel is a little different from the usual Philippa Gregory novels if you're a reader of the Tudor and Plantagenet series like I am. There is still strong historical reference present in the text, but the approach of the primary characters is something new. Instead of following a member of the royal family in one way or another, this tale follows a commoner, one very detached from the royal family but still living under their rule.

Alinor is an interesting character who is very well described and created. She reminded me of bits and pieces of other Gregory characters as well as maybe a dash of some Salem era witches from novels I have read here and there. She is a midwife and known to be good with herbs in an era where any form of healing power can become circumspect, especially when wielded by a female. She is careful about her movements and sure to assert to any with suspicions that she is merely knowledgeable about herbs and basic medicine, but...as will tend to happen in small communities...gossip abounds.

The start to this one was a little slow, which did hurt things in the ratings department, but really shouldn't be held against it too hard. The information was good in terms of building up the story and providing information that would largely come into some form of play later, but there maybe could have been some slash and burn editing here and there without terribly effecting the ultimate outcome. Overall though, the story is still really good and the narrative is detailed without being tedious. I just enjoy Philippa Gregory's work, so it wasn't too hard for me to see it through.

And I was amply rewarded for my patience. Gregory just has a way with weaving an intriguing story and her historical knowledge and little bits of detail are always fantastic. The book took a few turns I didn't expect and I kept adjusting my theories of how things will go. I consider myself generally able to see things coming in quite a few cases, but this one kept me guessing. And when it came to the last bits of the book, I was shook. I couldn't put it down and I couldn't read the ending fast enough. It was well-built suspense and I was loving it.

Overall, this is a great read with a ridiculously strong ending. Be patient through the beginning if you pick this up because it will reap its rewards later on. Though it wasn't my typical Gregory read, I was very happy with the outcome and it was very much worth the chunkster investment. I am very much looking forward to continuing with the series.