Friday 26 July 2013

Book Beginnings on Fridays...



Hosted by Gilion at Rose City Reader

Book Beginnings on Fridays as stated by the host was started:

 "to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires."

You can share on Google + and social media , please post using the hash tag #BookBeginnings
and there's also a Mr Linky on the host's blog.



Book Beginning : The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory

The Red Queen (The Cousins' War, #2)

Spring 1453

The light of the open sky is brilliant after the darkness of the inner rooms.I blink and hear the roar of many voices. But this is not my army calling for me, this whisper growing to a rumble is not their roar of attack,the drumming of their swords on shields.   The rippling noise of linen in the wind is not my embroidered angels and lilies against the sky, but cursed English standards in the triumphant May breeze. This is a different sort of roar from our bellowed hymns, this is a howl of people hungry for death: my death.

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.....We don't know who this narrator is but there is a sense of desolation, of doom and impending danger. I am intrigued to see what is going to happen to this as yet invisible person, and want to read on to find out what is happening and where the roar of many voices is coming from, and why are they hungry for this person's death.....

**


A bit of book blurb

The second book in Philippa Gregory's stunning series,  The Cousins War, brings to life the story of Margaret Beaufort, a shadowy and mysterious character in the first book of the series - The White Queen - but who now takes centre stage in the bitter struggle of The War of the Roses. The Red Queen tells the story of the child-bride of Edmund Tudor, who, although widowed in her early teens, uses her determination of character and wily plotting to infiltrate the house of York under the guise of loyal friend and servant, undermine the support for Richard III and ultimately ensure that her only son, Henry Tudor, triumphs as King of England. Through collaboration with the dowager Queen Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret agrees a betrothal between Henry and Elizabeth's daughter, thereby uniting the families and resolving the Cousins War once and for all by founding of the Tudor dynasty.


If you like authentic historical fiction then I am sure you will be interested in the books in this series:



Let me know what you think of this Book Beginning....

More about the author Philippa Gregory

In light of the popularity of the TV series currently on BBC - the books have now been reissued with fabulous tie -in covers.

The Red Queen

15 comments:

  1. I've only read The Other Boleyn Girl and enjoyed it. I need to give her other books a try.

    Oh my...I wonder what she did to deserve to be in house arrest?!
    Friday's post

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    1. Hi Vonnie - thanks for reading my book beginning. Philippa Gregory writes compelling historical novels - I'm enjoying this series.

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  2. I actually haven't read any Philippa Gregory, even though I love historical fiction. Maybe it's because I don't really like first person narrative most of the time. The BB sounds really nice though, I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for sharing :)
    My Friday post
    Juli @ Universe in Words

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    1. Hi Juli - thanks for looking at my Book Beginning. I understand that FP narrative can be distracting sometimes - but this is a great historical fiction.

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  3. I just read The White Princess which is the only book in the Cousin's War series I have read. I liked her writing style and will have to read the rest of the series sometime. Happy reading!

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    1. Hi Kathy - thanks for visiting and looking at my book beginning. I am working my way through the series and have yet to read The White Princess. Something to look forward too.

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  4. Wow, that is quite a beginning!

    Thanks for signing up to follow Rose City reader. i am following your blog now too. And thanks for playing along on Book Beginnings on Fridays!

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    1. Hi Gilion - thanks for visiting and following us. I am enjoying taking part in Book Beginnings - it's great fun and I get to meet lots of interesting book people :)

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  5. I keep meaning to read this author...love the sound of this one.

    Here's MY FRIDAY MEMES POST

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    1. HI Laurel - thanks for taking the time to visit my Friday book beginning. I love Philippa Gregory's books especially the Tudor series - but equally her stand alone stories are just as good.

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  6. I keep seeing this series but have not read any of the books. That is a interesting start. Book Beginning at Mixed Book Bag

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    1. Hi JC - thanks for popping in to read my Friday Book Beginning. I agree the start of the book is interesting and wasn't what I was expecting !

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  7. Great beginning. Like the sound of it!!

    Here is my post

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  8. Such a tempting and vivid opening Josie, I love the language used. I still have to read any of these novels, one day I will catch up.

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    1. Hi Lindsay - Phillipa Gregory is the only author I buy new in Hardback and then I squirrel them away for a rainy day - so I still have two yet to read and the joyful news that The White Princess is due to be published this week :)

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Thanks for taking the time to comment - Jaffareadstoo appreciates your interest.