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  • The Lady of the Rivers

  • Written by: Philippa Gregory
  • Narrated by: Bianca Amato
  • Length: 19 hrs and 7 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (124 ratings)

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The Lady of the Rivers cover art

The Lady of the Rivers

Written by: Philippa Gregory
Narrated by: Bianca Amato
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Publisher's Summary

Passion. Danger. Witchcraft....

The Lady of the Rivers is number-one New York Times best-selling author Philippa Gregory’s remarkable story of Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford, a woman who navigated a treacherous path through the battle lines in the Wars of the Roses.

Descended from Melusina, the river goddess, Jacquetta always has had the gift of second sight. As a child visiting her uncle, she met his prisoner, Joan of Arc, and saw her own power reflected in the young woman accused of witchcraft. They share the mystery of the tarot card of the wheel of fortune before Joan is taken to a horrific death at the hands of the English rulers of France. Jacquetta understands the danger for a woman who dares to dream.

Jacquetta is married to the Duke of Bedford, English regent of France, and 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 can sense the growing threat from the people of England and the danger of royal rivals. Not even their courage and loyalty can keep the House of Lancaster on the throne. Henry the king slides into a mysterious sleep; Margaret the queen turns to untrustworthy favorites for help; and Richard, Duke of York, threatens to overturn the whole kingdom for his rival dynasty.

Jacquetta fights for her king, her queen, and for her daughter, Elizabeth, for whom Jacquetta can sense an extraordinary and unexpected future: a change of fortune, the throne of England, and the white rose of York.

A sweeping, powerful story rich in passion and legend and drawing on years of research, The Lady of the Rivers tells the story of the real-life mother of the white queen.

©2011 Philippa Gregory (P)2011 Simon and Schuster Audio

What the critics say

“Sexy… scandalous… smart.” ( Redbook)
“Gregory is a consummate historical author.” ( Historical Novels Review)
“Confident, colorful, convincing, and full of conflict, betrayal, and political maneuvering.” ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about The Lady of the Rivers

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting!

The plot is pretty good. I found that it was more interesting in the beginning and kind of dropped off later on. Overall, this is a fun little read for a commute and, if you like female leads, you'll probably like this!

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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The Wheel of Fortune turneth...

Let's be honest with ourselves for a moment: good historical fiction is hard to find. Fortunately for us readers, Philippa Gregory comes through with her novel The Lady of the Rivers.

This novel is a well thought out piece of fiction that weaves magic and history with a delicate hand. My only complaint is that narrator Bianca Amato can be a tad dramatic and the production quality of the audio could have been better.

Very worth the read.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely Loved it!

I commute 2 1/2 hours a day and could not wait to get in the car to listen to what was going to happen next. #Audible1

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Just beautiful!!

Such a beautiful story and amazing narration!
Even though it is quite long, I didn’t loose interest not for one second. Eager to listen to the whole series

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing

Loved this story from beginning to end. A must read if you are interested in the War of the Roses era. This is the prequel…Jacquetta is truly the wise woman of this era.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

The lady of the rivers

This book is a peek at life in the 1400s. The characters are well developed and the narration was excellent.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Interesting story, excellent narration.

I really enjoyed this book. I learned a few things about medieval battle. Excellent narration.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Another amazing novel.

Once again Philippa Gregory has accomplished the feat of making me feel like I’m there. Her attention to detail and flair for storytelling only makes me want to read more. Bianca Amato does an amazing job altering her voice without making it seem comical. I enjoy the pace at which she reads.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

If you love romance this is for you!

Following the life if the main character was extremely satisfying. So often you want more and to hear how the rest of a character's life goes. This story really gives you that perspective.

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