The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

Published by

Sarah Ann

on

February 12, 2011

The White Queen is part of the Plantagenet and Tudor series by Philippa Gregory, who writes some of the best historical fiction in the genre.

The White Queen is narrated by Elizabeth Woodville-Grey, and its story starts at the very beginning of this well-known saga, on the day the widowed beauty catches the eye of King Edward IV. This story is a compact version of the real one, and goes into how her sons Edward and Richard, the “Princes in the Tower,” mysteriously disappeared from the Tower of London while being confined there. It’s an unsolved mystery that’s been baffling historians for hundreds of years now.

What I like best about The White Queen is how it focuses specifically on the War of the Roses, and the history surrounding it. I also enjoyed the descriptions of Elizabeth Grey’s duties as a queen, and how she handles her role like a true professional.

Overall, The White Queen is an enjoyable read, but it feels very rushed at times. The novel moves at a steady pace at first, but later on, the chapters are spaced months apart, and then years apart. It sort of feels like Philippa Gregory was anxious to cram the entire story in one book, instead of taking her time and dispersing it among a few volumes.

Other books in the Plantagenet and Tudor series include:

What did you think about The White Queen, did you like it?

Last Updated on January 25, 2026 by Sarah Ann

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