The White Princess (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #5)
The White Princess (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #5)
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2013
Book Brief
BetaThe White Princess (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #5)
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2013528
Novel • Fiction
•
Romance•
British LiteratureEngland, late fifteenth century, beginning in 1485
•
European History2013
Atria Books
Hardcover • 2013
Adult
16+ years
Super Short Summary
After Bosworth, Henry Tudor takes England’s crown and must marry Elizabeth of York, princess of the rival house, to unite a country divided by war. But Elizabeth still loves his slain enemy, Richard III, while her mother dreams of a missing York heir’s return. Caught between grief, duty, and rival loyalties, Elizabeth enters a deeply fraught political marriage.
Suspenseful
Emotional
Mysterious
Romantic
Challenging
Reviews & Readership
59,948 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Reviewers praise Gregory’s compelling storytelling, especially the court intrigue, emotional drama, and vivid portrayal of the pressures surrounding Elizabeth of York’s political marriage. Elizabeth is considered an observant, sympathetic guide, while Henry’s insecurity is sharply rendered. Criticism centers on repetition: phrases, ideas, and character traits recur so often that they become distracting. Some reviewers also find Elizabeth less dynamic than the formidable women around her, and one argues that limited character growth makes the cast harder to invest in.
Who Should Read The White Princess (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #5)?
Readers who enjoy accessible historical fiction centered on royal intrigue, political marriages, and divided loyalties should try The White Princess. Its focus on Elizabeth of York blends intimate psychology with the power struggles surrounding a contested throne, while Gregory’s engaging, well-paced prose keeps the complex history approachable. It is especially suited to readers who like historical fact woven into dramatic fiction. Although part of a larger sequence, the novel can be read on its own without prior knowledge of the series.
59,948 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
England’s new Tudor king, whose politically necessary marriage to Elizabeth aims to unite the rival houses of Lancaster and York.
Elizabeth of York’s mother and Edward IV’s widow, a former queen whose enduring hopes center on restoring the House of York.
Henry VII’s powerful, controlling mother, whose political determination helped place her son on England’s throne and establish the Tudor dynasty.
Elizabeth’s slain uncle and beloved, whose defeat at Bosworth gives Henry Tudor the crown and overshadows the novel’s opening situation.
Elizabeth’s missing younger brother and a possible York heir, whose uncertain fate creates a threat to the newly established Tudor monarchy.
A Yorkist pretender who claims to be Richard, Duke of York, Elizabeth’s missing younger brother and one of the princes from the Tower.
Elizabeth’s young cousin and a potential York claimant, whose popularity makes his position dangerous under the newly established Tudor government.
528
Novel • Fiction
•
Romance•
British LiteratureEngland, late fifteenth century, beginning in 1485
•
European History2013
Atria Books
Hardcover • 2013
Adult
16+ years
We’re just getting started
Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!