Tidelands by Philippa Gregory

Title: Tidelands

Author: Philippa Gregory

Series: The Fairmile #1

Release Date: August 20, 2019

Length: pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

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****My Review *****

Tidelands by Philippa Gregory

The fate of young women in Cromwellian England was decided by others. No right to an opinion, no right to choose. Her wishes are unimportant, and her duty is to serve others.

And while we usually read stories from this time that focus on the royal family or nobility, here we have a slightly different story. A story that also offers an insight into the life and rules of that times.

Alinor is a woman who longs for freedom and some peace for her and her children. A fisherman’s wife condemned to abuse, to a drunken husband, to a difficult fate from which there seems to be no escape. Yet sometimes the paths of fate are unpredictable. They bring comfort and fulfillment of wishes…

Her husband disappears and she heads to the churchyard, seeking confirmation of her suspicions. Using her unique gift, she hopes to encounter her husband’s ghost. But there she meets someone who arouses her curiosity from the very beginning.

James, the young man running away from danger, sees in her the solution to all his problems. A place to hide, support and understanding, but he is not ready for everything she can offer him. An outstretched hand brings actions that have the power to change everything. A chance meeting can give birth to feelings that we did not even expect.
But all that brings a danger that can destroy them. What will they encounter in the end?

With an incredibly engrossing, lyrical writing style, Philippa Gregory takes us on a journey through the past, throwing in enough twists and turns to keep our attention until the very end.

I was especially impressed with the way the main character was built. An independent and strong woman, completely devoted to her family, who tries to navigate between social norms and a difficult political situation. In certain parts, her resourcefulness was exactly what made the story even better.

Honestly, at certain moments she didn’t seem like a character from that time, but she had characteristics that are more suitable for some more modern times. But that didn’t bother me in the least.

And the rest of the characters are really complex and well-drawn, finely integrated into the whole story. The excellent balance of interactions and descriptions was just right for me. As I turned the pages I did not feel a single moment of boredom. Although I think that a slightly faster pace, especially in certain parts, would be even more compelling.

Tidelands by Philippa Gregory has an excellent plot with enough elements of political danger, social norms, and dynamics of male-female relations. The plot twist at the end was a little unexpected for me, although it shouldn’t surprise us considering the overall story.

If you like compelling stories with hints of witchcraft and clairvoyance, then you must check Tidelands by Philippa Gregory out. Different from her previous works, Philippa Gregory has put together a story that is an excellent choice for all those who enjoyed Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series.