Published October 20th, 2026 by Harper Fiction
Historical Fiction, Biographical Fiction, Political Fiction
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ABOUT THE BOOK:
Ambition. Sorcery. Treason. How far will one woman dare to go?
1420. Eleanor Cobham arrives at the court of Henry V. Pretty but not highborn, she hopes for little more than to marry well.
England is in a golden age – but beneath the glittering surface, ancient rivalries fester and chaos lurks in the shadows.
And chaos, Eleanor discovers, creates opportunities. Appointed lady-in-waiting to a Countess who commands her own army, she begins to see what a woman can truly become.
She dares to dream of real power. Perhaps even the crown itself. But for that, she must turn to darker arts. And the higher she climbs, the darker the path becomes…
Philippa Gregory tells a breathtaking story of sorcery, ambition and one woman’s extraordinary rise.
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MY REVIEW:
Darkly atmospheric, scandalous and complex, Royal Witch is a detailed portrait of the life of an extraordinary woman who has been forgotten by history.
Eleanor Cobham arrives at the court of Henry V hoping to marry well. But as she is not highborn she faces an uphill battle to make it happen and must create her own opportunities. She dreams of power, not love. Even daring to wonder if she could one day wear the crown. There is nothing she won’t do to achieve her dreams, but the higher she rises, the darker her path to get there becomes.
Philippa Gregory has been one of my favourite historical fiction authors for many years. Nobody writes royal historical fiction like she does. And in this bewitching story of ambition, love, jealousy, witchcraft and revenge, she takes that expertise and merges it with a hypnotic tale of sorcery to create a story that is truly unforgettable. Masterfully written and rich in historical detail, Gregory’s meticulous research is evident on every page as she makes life at the royal court leap from the page. I was in her thrall and devoured the book in just two sittings.
Eleanor is not your average 15th century woman. Fierce, bold, ambitious and determined, she is taking her destiny into her own hands. She could also be vengeful – especially in matters of the heart- and wasn’t afraid to step over anyone to reach her goals. I’ll be honest, I didn’t like her. But I absolutely loved reading her and I did understand some of her actions. She lived in a dog eat dog world where you had to be ruthless to get ahead. And Eleanor was intent on success. Although Eleanor’s story is at the heart of this book, it also explores the life of three other remarkable women who also go to xx lengths to achieve their ambitions: Jacqueline of Hainault, Mistress Jourdemayne and Queen Catherine. I loved reading about these women. They lived such fascinating lives and it was interesting to see how Eleanor interacted with them and the ways in which she would use them to reach her goal.
A spellbinding and complex tale that is perfect for reading at this time of year.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰
Thank you Harper Fiction for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Philippa Gregory is one of the world’s foremost historical novelists. Author of bestselling novels such as The Other Boleyn Girl (2001) and The White Queen (2009), recently she has been working on The Fairmile Series, a trilogy which includes Tidelands (2019), Dark Tides (2020), and the upcoming Dawnlands (2022). Her work has been adapted for TV and cinema. She is a recognised authority on women’s history.
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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxxx
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