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Book Review of The Lady of the Rivers (Cousins' War, Bk 3)

The Lady of the Rivers (Cousins' War, Bk 3)
reviewed on + 404 more book reviews


Every now and then a book comes along that sucks you in so deeply that when you are not reading it you think of what is happening as though it is really happening. That's how this book was for me. It follows Jaquetta, the Dutchess of Bedford through much of her life during the times of The War of the Roses. She is a very strong and wise lady with guts. She's very beautiful and also comes from a line of women who have the 'sight.' Therefore, she is chosen as wife to a much older Duke of Bedford after his wife dies. He cannot seal the marriage because of his age, and is really mostly interested in fostering her second sight for his own goals. The Duke's squire and she eventually fall in love and she marries him after the Duke dies - marries him in secret. She is eventually forgiven and called to attend the young queen of King Henry the 6th. The King is very religious and prefers prayer over his wife. He is a very weak king so the wife becomes the voice of the king with Jaquetta at her side except for trips home on and off trying to guide and support her. The machinations of the politics and the court goings-on is interesting and the characters come alive. How close it follows actually facts I don't know, but it was one of the best books I've read in a while.