Book: Royal Witch: A Novel by Philippa Gregory
Reviewed by Michelles_Cosy_Booknook
Rating: 4.5/5
4.25⭐️
I have been a fan of Philippa Gregory for so many years. Her writing is about as close as you can get to stepping inside a real-life time machine, and Royal Witch once again completely transported me.
The novel follows the life of Eleanor Cobham, whose family estate was in my home county of Surrey, which gave me an additional personal interest in her story.
Eleanor arrives at the royal court of Henry V with little more than her beauty and a hunger to improve her standing in life. Her initial innocence was refreshing to read, particularly as she experiences the splendour of court for the first time. Everything feels bright, fascinating and almost magical through her eyes.
But as Eleanor becomes accustomed to courtly life, we begin to witness that innocence give way to something far more ambitious.
Her desire for status grows increasingly consuming. She wants to marry the right man, remain firmly within royal favour and ultimately occupy one of the highest positions in the land. Along the way, we see her willingness to do whatever she believes necessary to achieve those ambitions — including embracing so-called “dark magic”.
This transformation makes Eleanor a fascinating, if not always particularly likeable, protagonist. At times I found her shallow, selfish and even cruel, which could make parts of her story uncomfortable to read. However, it is testament to Philippa Gregory's writing that my feelings towards Eleanor never negatively affected my enjoyment of the novel itself. If anything, watching her ambition gradually reshape her made her all the more compelling.
Gregory completely immersed me in the medieval unrest surrounding the English and French courts, their politics, power struggles and precarious alliances. Her commitment to historical research is evident throughout, but she has that wonderful ability to weave it into the story without making you feel as though you're reading a history textbook. Instead, the period feels vivid and tangible, giving you a real sense of what life might have been like for those navigating these dangerous royal circles.
My only reason for not awarding Royal Witch five stars was the pacing. It took a little longer than I would have liked to settle into a comfortable rhythm. Once it did, however, I found it incredibly difficult to put down.
If you enjoy historical fiction firmly rooted in real people and events, backed by meticulous research and wonderfully immersive writing, Royal Witch most definitely deserves a place on your TBR.
Thank you to Philippa Gregory, HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of Royal Witch. All opinions expressed are my own.