From the opening pages, with its evocation of a young woman on Midsummer Eve amidst the misty, marshy tidelands, in a Cromwellian England under the grip of revolution and turmoil, I was hooked. Alinor, a descendant of wise women, longs for freedom from her drunken, abusive husband. When James, a young man fleeing danger, entreats her for help in leading him across the marshes, her life changes. Her brother gains entree into the family of a local nobleman, and she soon falls in love with James.

I loved reading about Alinor’s growing relationship with James, as well as her daughter
Alys and her son Rob, who both try to rise in the world in their own ways. Alinor is an independent, strong, and resourceful woman navigating treacherous social and political currents. She and the other characters are complex and well-drawn, and the book is a page-turner which also does a wonderful job of evoking the social and historical world of 1648. Political dangers, the dynamics of male-female and class relationships are woven into the plot in fascinating, textured, nuanced ways. The ending has an unexpected twist–which completely makes sense once you look back at the storyline.

A compelling, well-written novel in the tradition of “witch” novels about independent women who are herbalists, midwives, or seers. Though it has a different emphasis than Philippa Gregory’s Tudor novels, fans of those will enjoy this–as will fans of Marion Zimmer Bradley’s The Firebrand and Mists of Avalon series, and of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series.

This was an engrossing, lyrical story done as Philippa Gregory always does.... pulls you into the past and keeps you interested throughout the twists and turns. I connected with the heroine and her devotion to family, the conflicts though set in the past vividly could easily transpire similarly today. I have read many books written by this Author and will continue to do so because she's fantastic. I like that this is not a historical character that was written around, which felt new for me with this Author. Couldn't put this down. Thoroughly recommend.

This is the first in the Fairmile series. Unfortunately, it was read out of sequence, having read the second one (Dark Tides) first. This book gave background to the second. It takes place in the Tidelands during the English Civil War.

We are introduced to Alinor (Goody Reekie), whose husband is lost at sea. She is devoted to her two children and lives a hard life as an herbalist and midwife. Oblivious to what is unfolding in London between the Royalists and Parliamentarians, her encounter with a young priest whom she helps find safety through the Tidelands has consequences for the family.

Gregory’s historical perspectives are always enjoyable. The novel was slow developing and the abrupt ending left a lot questions unanswered for the reader. As a standalone, one might find it a bit unsatisfying.

I read a lot of historical fiction (including several of Philippa Gregory’s Tudor novels) but this was probably the first I’ve read that takes place at the end of King Charles I reign. I was excited to “travel” to a new era, however, it felt like the author assumed the reader would have a base knowledge of the time. I ended up having to look a few things up online.

Tidelands starts out a little slowly and is very dialogue heavy. It started to pick up a little bit at about the 60% mark and we got to see what some of the daily life was like for Alinor and Alys. Nothing major seems to happen until the last chapter, which ended so abruptly, I had to find another copy of the book just to see if mine was missing pages.

I didn’t really connect with any of the characters. Alinor is a doormat and Alys is a brat who only (sort of) redeemed herself on the last page.

If I could give this book 10 stars I would. This author has done it again. Philippa Gregory is one of my very favorite authors for historical fiction and this book does not disappoint. Can't wait to read the next books in this series.

This is a slow-moving long-winded tale that centers on a misbegotten attraction between a priest and a widowed midwife in 1600s UK. The term tidelands refers to a stretch of land that is only uncovered during low tide. This is not a book that everyone will enjoy., but history buffs will find it fascinating.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. It's sad how little has changed in our world, how we are still struggling with the same issues in many ways. The book did drag a bit for me, but overall I found it engaging and enjoyed the characters, even while their actions angered or upset me.

Wonderful! I loved this story with characters full of surprises.
The story follows Alinor and her two children, as she deals with life on the marshes, abandoned by an abusive husband she doesn’t love. Alinor, a midwife and herbalist, meets James, a priest who keeps his faith a secret in anti-Catholic England, and who also works as a spy for the ousted king. The two fall in love and each faces danger – Alison against claims of witchcraft and James against Cromwell’s government.
Alinor is an intriguing heroine, strong and honorable, as well as faithful to her own beliefs. James is believable as a young priest who struggles to stay faithful while falling in love for the first time.
I enjoyed the characters and the way the author blended in the history and superstitions of the time. Five stars!

This was my first book by this author, and I think it shouldn't have been my starting point to read her work. It felt very slow paced and I had a hard time moving through it. I would like to try her other books, and maybe give this one another go after.

I've never read a Philippa Gregory novel before, but a lot of them are on my TBR list, so when I saw both this and its sequel pop up on Netgalley, I jumped at requesting copies.

Sadly, I was disappointed in my first novel by Gregory. I found the story to be too dragged out; a lot of the events were just the daily grind, which helped create a sense of place and an idea of what life for Alinor and her family were like, but I think a lot of the details and events could have been left out with no negative impact to the story.

The love story drove me crazy. Poor Alinor, but it was pretty easy to smell James' make from a mile away, and I don't really have a lot of sympathy for her. Red flags all throughout, although I suppose someone like her, who only had her own experience to rely upon, would have fallen victim to the scam. With that said, the ending was certainly no surprise.

Unlikeable characters overall with a long, dragged out plot. I will read the sequel, but honestly, I don't really care to find out what happens to the Reekies.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I typically love Philippa Gregory's work. I've been hooked ever since The Constant Princess. This book was difficult to finish as I lost interest a fourth of the way through. Unlikable characters was the biggest fault. But she has many great books.

Alinor meets James, a young man on the run and helps him through the treacherous marshy landscape of the Tidelands. She did not know that he was a spy and an enemy. England was in the grip of a bloody civil war that puts Catholics in hiding as the leader in charge of England is against all papists. Alinor and James develop a relationship that they must keep hidden. it is very unsafe for her to maintain this relationship as the other villagers would punish her if they found out the truth. The life in the Tidelands is very tough. This is another good historical fiction book from Philippa Gregory.

A country at war
A king beheaded
A woman with a dangerous secret

On Midsummer’s Eve, Alinor waits in the church graveyard, hoping to encounter the ghost of her missing husband and thus confirm his death. Until she can, she is neither maiden nor wife nor widow, living in a perilous limbo. Instead she meets James, a young man on the run. She shows him the secret ways across the treacherous marshy landscape of the Tidelands, not knowing she is leading a spy and an enemy into her life.

Set in England in 1648, during the civil war, this story was both beautiful and captivating. Filled with drama and rich descriptions this story will transport you to the Sussex tidelands.
For lovers of historical fiction this is a great read.
Tidelands is the first in a series, and after that ending I can’t wait to read the second book.

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I loved this historical fiction novel and if this book is any indication about Philippa’s ability to write this kind of stories, then I’ll getting all of her books. This one is very fast paced and very engaging. I could not put it down.

Philippa Gregory is known for her historical fiction novels centered around strong lead female characters.

Set in 1648 on the outer skirts of England known as the Tidelands. Abandoned by her husband, single mother Alinor struggles in poverty as she raises her two children, working as a midwife/healer, while a civil war threatens to topple monarchial rule. A little romance with the with hot mysterious priest, a little drama, spys, all sounds good right?

Unfortunately, Tidelands is just a slogging bore just like the setting. Alinor is easy to like but she comes off as two dimensional. James the mysterious priest is so uninteresting. The historical piece goes so far back that I had to do further research on the political aspects of things. Not sure it was my fault for lack of knowledge of Charles I rebelling against the parliament or if it is the authors.

I struggled to get through this book which is a rarity for me. It doesn't pick up until much later in the novel. Too little, too late for me. Tidelands reminded me a lot of Hawthorn' s The Scarlett Letter, but nowhere near as good a story or characters.

In the end I am not going to continue with the series and very hesitant to read anything else by the author.

Philippa Gregory has been my go-to for author's writing about England's history. In Tidelands, she veers away from the Kings and Queens I normally read from her and focuses, instead, on a poor, abandoned wife who lives on, what seems like, the edge of the world.

The story was interesting, although -- there are parts that definitely had me feeling some major anxiety. I kept reading because I needed to know. I was cheering for Alinor and her children. I felt rage but I was unsurprised at how life continued to treat them.

Most of all, though, I just felt as if the story was just so bleak. That made it difficult to keep picking it up.

A country at war
A king beheaded
A woman with a dangerous secret
On Midsummer’s Eve, Alinor waits in the church graveyard, hoping to encounter the ghost of her missing husband and thus confirm his death. Until she can, she is neither maiden nor wife nor widow, living in a perilous limbo. Instead she meets James, a young man on the run. She shows him the secret ways across the treacherous marshy landscape of the Tidelands, not knowing she is leading a spy and an enemy into her life.
England is in the grip of a bloody civil war that reaches into the most remote parts of the kingdom. Alinor’s suspicious neighbors are watching each other for any sign that someone might be disloyal to the new parliament, and Alinor’s ambition and determination mark her as a woman who doesn’t follow the rules. They have always whispered about the sinister power of Alinor’s beauty, but the secrets they don’t know about her and James are far more damning. This is the time of witch-mania, and if the villagers discover the truth, they could take matters into their own hands.
I read Dark Tides first before reading this book. I would have preferred to read them in the right order so the story didn't end so abruptly.
This book is fraught with danger.
I like Philippa Gregory historical novels. They are meant to be very different.
I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

This was quite good! I'm a big fan of Gregory's royal novels, and was looking forward to this story about the ordinary people. I found it to be lyrical and beautifully written, while the lives of the people were very harsh. The author has a real talent with conveying a sense of place, with the tidelands themselves becoming another character in the book. There are no true heroes and no true villains, but some deeply flawed people trying to live their lives in difficult times. I did find the miller's wife to be a bit stereotypical, but enjoyed all the other characters. Slow moving, yet filled with suspense for me. I kept waiting for the horrible thing to happen. I'll definitely be reading the second in this series.

England 1648. A dangerous time for a woman to be different . . .

Midsummer’s Eve, 1648, and England is in the grip of civil war between renegade King and rebellious Parliament. The struggle reaches every corner of the kingdom, even to the remote Tidelands – the marshy landscape of the south coast.

Alinor, a descendant of wise women, crushed by poverty and superstition, waits in the graveyard under the full moon for a ghost who will declare her free from her abusive husband. Instead she meets James, a young man on the run, and shows him the secret ways across the treacherous marsh, not knowing that she is leading disaster into the heart of her life.

Suspected of possessing dark secrets in superstitious times, Alinor’s ambition and determination mark her out from her neighbours. This is the time of witch-mania, and Alinor, a woman without a husband, skilled with herbs, suddenly enriched, arouses envy in her rivals and fear among the villagers, who are ready to take lethal action into their own hands.

Miss Gregory has done it again... I AM AGAIN IN LOVE. What can I say? I'm a sucker for a good historical fiction novel, especially if it is a historical fiction romance. So I felt I needed to review this. Now, what can I say about this? Alinor was such a powerful character. Her character just continues to show different sides and it is intriguing to watch her interactions with the other characters of the story, especially James. Their dynamic is one I loved watching unfold. This book was truly one I would recommend to the historical novel fan.