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The Lady of the Rivers: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.00) - 9,500 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
#1 New York Times bestselling author and “queen of royal fiction” (USA TODAY) Philippa Gregory brings to life the story of Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford, a woman of passion and of legend who navigated a treacherous path through the battle lines in the War of the Roses to bring her family unimaginable power.
When the young and beautiful Jacquetta is married to the older Duke of Bedford, English regent of France, he introduces her 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.
The Woodvilles soon achieve a place at the very heart of the Lancaster court, though Jacquetta has visions of the growing threat from the people of England and the danger of their royal York rivals. Jacquetta fights for her king and queen, as she sees an extraordinary and unexpected future for her daughter Elizabeth: a change of fortune, the white rose of York, and the throne of England…
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"I really enjoy historical fiction and this Philippa Gregory novel was no disappointment - I like how she introduces us to characters that have typically been in the historical background. There were a few sections at the end that felt a little long but overall, very enjoyable."
— Dina (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Wielding magic again in her latest War of the Roses novel Gregory demonstrates the passion and skill that has made her the queen of English historical fiction…Gregory portrays spirited women at odds with powerful men, endowing distant historical events with drama, and figures long dead or invented with real-life flaws and grand emotions. She makes history…come alive for readers.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“This rip-roarer possesses the same intimate imaginative texture of Gregory’s classic The Other Boleyn Girl…It’s about love, power and human weakness.”
— USA Today online -
“The best writers of historical fiction imbue the past with the rich tapestry of life and depth, and Gregory is surely counted among their number…A worthy addition to this fascinating series, once again distinguished by excellent characterization, thorough research, and a deft touch with the written word.”
— Library Journal -
“The best yet, a lively tale of witchcraft and romance set amid civil wars in England and France.”
— Associated Press -
“Sexy…scandalous…smart.”
— Redbook -
“The suspenseful pace never flags.”
— Kirkus -
“The ethereal magic threaded throughout the story contrasts nicely with the power politics.”
— Booklist -
“Gregory is a consummate historical author.”
— Historical Novels Review -
“Bianca Amato has a voice to rave about. Her narration is pure joy to hear. Add to that a fabulous story in this third installment of Philippa Gregory’s Cousins’ War series, and you have an audio experience to savor. Amato’s elegant diction highlights the life, loves, rivalries, and betrayals faced by beautiful, intelligent, and unconventional Jacquetta of Luxembourg, mother of Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen. Amato captures both the young Jacquetta, a descendant of the water goddess Melusina, and the more mature woman who makes life-altering decisions for herself, her husband, and her many children. Court favorite and confidante to Queen Margaret d’Anjou, Jacquetta rises to power in a male-dominated society, an achievement that proves controversial and dangerous. Amato’s striking performance draws lifelike portraits from Gregory’s blend of research and imagination.”
— AudioFile
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
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Selected for the November 2011 Indie Next List
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A USA Today bestseller
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A Kirkus Reviews “New and Notable Title”, October 2011
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Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award
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A Publishers Weekly bestseller
The Lady of the Rivers Listener Reviews
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" This book was a fantastic listen. I really enjoyed the plot and the reader was so easy to listen to. I felt like I was there experiencing the story. Her variations in voice distinguished the different characters with ease. Fantastic listen! "
— Tania, 3/4/2017 -
" Full of magic, desire, and a great backstory to some of histories forgotten heroines! "
— Michael, 1/29/2017 -
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chris kuebler, 6/3/2016
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" I am a big fan of Philippa Gregory. Real life/history always makes for interesting reads - truth is stranger than fiction, and the english monarchy is always entertaining "
— Tania, 2/19/2014 -
" This was a good book. I love Jaquetta and Richard, and think the Queen is definitely a woman who thrives on power. I also like that they introduce a lot of the players of the next book. It was good, but my favorite still remains "The Other Boleyn Girl". "
— Samantha, 2/16/2014 -
" It was entertaining to read. Interesting to view the same events through different perspectives/characters. "
— Magalie, 2/15/2014 -
" I did not know much about the mother of Elizabeth Woodville but after reading this novel, I want to do so. "
— Russamun82, 2/14/2014 -
" I really enjoyed it. If you like history and have read the White queen then you will like this book. Couldn't put it down!! "
— Claire, 2/13/2014 -
" Pat Mann's book. The royalty of Great Britain always provides good reading. Jacquetta is an intriguing heroine as she struggles through the 1400s and her loyalties to the throne. "
— Marie, 2/9/2014 -
" This book shows what Philippa Gregory does best, making a woman who seems unimportant in HIStory the main focus of a book. "
— Rosalind, 1/12/2014 -
" I thought this was the best of Philippa Gregory's! "
— Jeanie, 12/31/2013 -
" This book was absolutely fabulous - the best yet in the Cousin's War series. It was made all the more fascinating as it gave further insight into the first two books. A really great read! "
— Susie, 12/26/2013 -
" War of the Roses is another interest of mine. This is the third of a series. The whole series was good. "
— Peggy, 12/10/2013 -
" I had some prior knowledge of Jacquetta before I read this, but I have to say that I was somewhat disappointed that all she seemed to do in this book was reproduce! "
— Rena, 11/18/2013 -
" I have read a lot of Philippa Gregory's books, but I believe this is one of her best, if not the very best. Without giving too much away, I will only say it is filled with adventure, intrigue and intense love and hate. A great historical novel of the fifteenth century. "
— Russell, 11/6/2013 -
" This was an entertaining and educational read, but it didn't blow me away like The Other Queen did. Maybe I'm being too critical but I didn't feel the strength of Jacquetta's personality and sheer force of will that I expected considering the enormity of the choices she made. "
— Harvie, 10/31/2013 -
" loved it however i have found her other books more engaging than this one however still a great book "
— Kayt, 7/7/2013 -
" I love reading about the royalty of England and no one writes it better than this author. Her research is meticulous and she really enjoys bringing to light the accomplishments of the females who are often ignored in historical writings. "
— Bobbie, 6/6/2013 -
" I love good historical fiction and this one fit the bill. It was occasionally a little slow but good character development. A true love story. Some interesting glimpses into life in the 15th century--not a good place for women. "
— Donnie, 6/4/2013 -
" Surprized I didn't like this book more than I did. It had all the right elements - a strong woman who gained power but loved her family,historically based and a bit of the paranormal. Of course, it's IEP/WES test time so I may try reading it again once the stress and koas is through "
— Betsy, 5/24/2013 -
" Phillippa is always a good easy relaxing read. The history is fun too. "
— Heather, 3/11/2013 -
" love the author and would recommend this to a historical fiction lover "
— Keri, 6/24/2012 -
" This book follows The White Queen and The Red Queen but could be read on it's own. It's a simplified story of the War of the Roses but I'm reading a non-fiction book about it and really struggling. "
— Rita, 1/14/2012 -
" great read as usual from Phillipa Gregory. "
— Elizabeth, 12/3/2011 -
" I am only through the first 50 pages, but this book is AWESOME and makes me want to stay on the treadmill longer:) "
— Lisa, 11/8/2011 -
" I didn't enjoy it as much as the white queen, but still a thoroughly good read that captured my attention from beginning to end. "
— Carina, 11/2/2011 -
" Philippa Gregory is one of my favorite authors. I've read most of her stuff. I like the fact that she focuses on women and the simple everyday world of people in the time period of her books. "
— Christine, 11/2/2011 -
" This was ok. I'm not sure what's stopping me from rating it higher, as it's written as well as Gregory's other stuff. Maybe the story just didn't intrigue me? "
— Jenn, 10/31/2011 -
" Best in the The Counsins' War Series. Really enjoyed this one. Would read it again. "
— Pam, 10/31/2011 -
" Great as always! A must for those who feel in love with the white queen.<br/> "
— Monica, 10/30/2011 -
" I love reading Philippa Gregory's books! This one was about Jacquetta, the mother of "The White Queen," Elizabeth Woodville. In this book, I was struck by how little time mothers spent with their kids. "
— Jenniferpawlik, 10/29/2011 -
" kind of read like a history book, I think it was lacking in more personality for jacquetta, and her family.. "
— Anna, 10/21/2011
About Philippa Gregory
Phillipa Gregory is an internationally bestselling author of historical novels whose success extends to the United States as well, where she is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. She earned her BA from the University of Sussex and a PhD in eighteenth-century literature from Edinburgh University, where she is a regent. Gregory is the author of the Wideacre trilogy, the Earthly Joys series, and the Plantagenet and Tudor novels, which include the enormously popular Other Boleyn Girl, of which there are over a million US copies in print. She is a fellow of the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff and was awarded the 2016 Harrogate Festival Award for Contribution to Historical Fiction.
About Bianca Amato
Bianca Amato, winner of numerous Earphones Awards and the Audie Award for best narration, is an actress born and raised in South Africa. Trained at the University of Cape Town’s Drama school, she went on to work in theater and television in South Africa before moving to New York in 2002.