Title: Tidelands (Fairmile #1)
Author: Phillipa Gregory
Published: 2019
Call #: FIC Gregory
Tidelands is first book in an exciting new series by Phillipa Gregory, author of The Other Boleyn Girl and extremely popular The White Queen series. This time she tells the story
of a commoner, an impoverished woman whose abusive husband has left her. It is 1648 and England is in the middle of political turmoil as King Charles I and Parliament battle for supremacy. Alinor is also battling, she's struggling to keep herself and her
children safe and fed. She is a skilled healer, with a vast knowledge of healing herbs and midwifery. This should provide her some steady income, but her knowledge of herbs only brings suspicion. The era of witch-mania and superstition has arrived and Alinor is caught in its midst.
One night she meets a young man who is on the run and shows him the way across the treacherous tidelands of Southern England. James is a priest and is involved in a plot
to save the King during the political turmoil of the time. This man is younger than her
and quite handsome. They begin a
relationship that is full of problems from the start.
The struggle against the tidelands themselves adds lots of
atmosphere to the story. The tide ebbs and flows making traversing dangerous
for anyone, especially strangers to the area. Alinor finding her way in the tidelands is parallel to finding her way in life.
I look forward to learning more about Alinor and her family
as the series continues. If you enjoy
historical fiction or if you're just a fan of Gregory's other books, Tidelands is great
reading!
Michaelle S.
Popular Materials Asst.