The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory

Ok so I love Philippa Gregory's War of the Roses series. Deception, betrayal, love affairs, who doesn't want to read about that? The second book in the series The Red Queen, doesn't disappoint. It is narrated by Margaret Beaufort, grandmother of Henry VIII.

The story starts when Margaret is nine years old and all she wants is be a nun. She has visions of being the next Joan of Arc. Of course, it wouldn't be much of a story if that is what happened. Margaret was a cousin to the King of England and therefore she had to make a good match. Which her mother makes sure of, of course. In fact, Margaret was married three times throughout her life.

The theme of this novel is destiny, and whether God has created our destiny or do we create our own destiny? After her son is born (the child who would become King Henry VII) Margaret knows that her son was born to be king. In her mind, it is God's plan for her son to be king. Throughout the novel, Margaret fights for Henry's right to be king. Of course, everyone else tell her it is her plan, not God's.

This theme definitely made me think and question,  do the events that happen to me happen because they were planned by a higher power or is it truly my choices that create events? Gregory doesn't really answer the question, but nor should she. It is an author's place to ask the questions, not answer them.

So was Margaret right? Did God get King Henry VII to the throne or was it Margaret's scheming?

Go and pick up a copy, it will be worth your time.

Till next time,
R.F.F.