Lisa Smegal, Rivendell Bookstore, Abilene, KS Summer 2020 Reading Group Indie Next List I highly recommend this book for fans of historical fiction.” As always, her latest novel, Tidelands, is obviously thoroughly researched, with many historical facts sprinkled throughout. Readers may be frustrated that the European and North American storylines never directly connect, but as this is only book two of a planned trilogy, Gregory will likely reconcile these stories in the final novel.“Philippa Gregory never fails to create beautifully written stories that suck you in and transport you back to the time and place the book is set. Though this is the second book in the Fairmile series, familiarity with the first book is unnecessary. In the first chapter, Gregory establishes that Avery has pined for Alinor for two decades, so his falling for Livia, practically at first sight, stretches credulity. The only weak point lies in Livia’s tricking a local aristocrat, James Avery, into marrying her. And once again, Gregory has shown her keen ability to immerse readers in the time and places of the story, particularly in her chilling descriptions of life in mid-17 th-century Venice. While the Reekie women’s options in Restoration London are limited, their intelligence, courage, and cunning are not.

But as the townspeople gear up for war against them, Ned must decide where his loyalties lie.ĭark Tides features strong female characters without being anachronistic. Having come to America after the Restoration, he befriends the local Native Americans. Meanwhile, in New England, Alinor’s brother, Ned, is content with his life as a river ferryman several miles outside of town. Still suspicious, Alinor sends her granddaughter, Sarah, to Venice to investigate Livia’s claims and search for Alinor’s son, Rob, whom she is certain is still alive. Alys nearly bankrupts the Reekies bankrolling the shipment of Livia’s “antiquities” from Venice to London, but Livia assures them that selling them will make them all rich. Alinor, however, doesn’t believe Livia for a second, but her adult daughter, Alys, embraces Livia as a sister. Livia di Ricci clutches her infant son and declares herself the widow of the son of warehouse’s owner, Alinor Reekie. On Midsummer Eve, 1670, a beautiful young woman from Venice arrives at a ramshackle warehouse in London.

Fairmile philippa gregory