‘#Tidelands’ was on my list months ago. A novel by #Philippa Gregory her name is bigger than the title. That’s all that’s really is needed to sell her books. She has and will be one of my favorite authors. My full review is on Instagram under Maddie _approves_book_reviews and please take a glance.

Thank you,
#Netgalley,#Philippa Gregory and #Simon&Schuster

Consider the year 1648 and what it means to a woman trying to survive with her young children after her husband runs off. Also consider the ages...Alinor is 27-years-old when her daughter gets married. Do the math there & consider the age of her daughter.....It’s really very amazing to stop and consider how women, once upon a time, were treated as basically worthless humans and/or nothing more than a tool in the tool shed or a work horse in the barn! They were expected to only serve their husbands. It’s also interesting how easily friends and neighbors would turn on one another believing in condemnation without proof (she’s a witch!). If these historical topics are of interest to you, this book will definitely provide many of the intricacies of the time.

Poor Alinor, main character, is a herbalist, midwife, and would do anything for love and her children. She works to serve her community in the midst of war despite her own tribulations. She suffers ordeal after ordeal and never stops trying to persevere and is as honest as a person can be, even when her life is on the line.

Thank you to Netgalley & atria books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ona midsummer eve night in England in 1648 at the very southern coast, known as the Tidelands, Alinor Reekie, a poor abandoned fisherman's wife, and midwife and local healer goes to the graveyard to find out if her husband is truly dead. At that same time she runs into a stranger to the area who is lost and has originally come to the area to meet with the local lord, Sir Walter Peachey who is not home at the time. Since it is too dangerous to cross over the marshland at night, Alinor provides the stranger who happens to be a priest and supporter of King Charles a fishing shed to spend the night in. This is the beginning of a strong attraction between the two despite all their differences. The next day James Summer, the name the priest uses, returns to the lord's home to tutor Walter, the son and Rob, Alinor's son is offered a job as companion as well as tutor companion to Peachey's only son until the boy goes off to Cambridge and Rob is then apprenticed to an apethecary in London.

There is so much political intrigue and history intertwined in between the pages of this love story. Eventually Alinor becomes pregnant with James son and at the very first thinks to get rid of it through the use of herbs but changes her mind and begins to love the child within her more and more. Unfortunately for her by the time Parliament captures and put King Charles on trial and subsequently executes him. James has become a changed, cold hearted rake who wants her to abort the child immediately. He claims he cannot give up his position in society for a bastard. Then he even has her accused of being a witch when some money is missing, hoping that that will solve his problem. She survives and leaves him forever and I can't wait for the second in the series. Thank you Net Galley and Atria and most of all Ms Philippa Gregory for her marvelous book.

This was FANTASTIC. Such an immersive and well-crafted, and obviously well-researched, historical novel set in England in the 1600s, during Oliver Cromwell’s rule.

It focuses primarily on Alinor Reekie, a twenty-seven-year-old woman living with her children on a mire—an ever-changing land that only they know how to navigate—and their daily lives, in a small village where everyone knows each other’s business. But it’s more than a simple story of a poor family. Gregory layers in religion and politics and loyalties, all these tricky relationships that play into England’s state of turmoil. What was once the norm is now banned, and some people have strong ideas about who the ruler should be. Even the residents of a small village are affected by what’s happening beyond.

I absolutely adored this novel. The beginning was a bit slow, as the world and characters were introduced, but I tore through the second half of the novel. The story and characters, the history and social constructs and religion—it all tied so well together. As far as historical novels go, easily one of my favourites.

Loved reading the spellbinding and mesmerizing historical story. While Alinor is walking the tidelands on midsummer's eve, she meets James, a priest, on the run, who needs her help getting across the marshlands. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written by the best selling author Philippa Gregory, and a must read story with heart-break, mystery, and treachery. Can't wait to read the second book in the series!
I reviewed a copy of the book through NetGalley.

Phillippa Gregory to me is the queen of historical fiction. I love all of her books. They always give me history with some drama. Highly recommend this book!

Tidelands is the moving story of Alinor Reekie, a poor midwife whose husband has abandoned her and who is trying to make a life for herself and her two children with little skill or resources. When she meets James in the middle of the tidelands, a priest and royalist who is her opposite in every way, they fall hard for each other despite everything that stands in their way. As Alinor finds her son a job in the local lord’s house and raises money for her daughter’s dowry to a local land owner’s son, James is sent on secret missions in support of England’s king, who is imprisoned by the parliament Alinor’s family supports. Though they make promises to each other, the power of society and its opinions as well as the truth of their love sends them to a horrific impasse.

This book is very atmospheric with the descriptions of the lonely marshlands and the hard life Alinor must make for herself. I found her story moving, especially when she is on the brink of suicide but pulls back just because she believes in her own ability to survive. The book is heartbreaking and depressing while being deeply historical at the same time.

It did feel monotonous at times and there were aspects of the whole witch trope that I found a little stale, but I enjoyed the book and found it both moving and disturbing.

I wanted to like this, but it just didn't hold my interest unfortunately. You can tell the author spent a long time researching the time/place story is set in, because the world (from what I read) was well formed and the characters seemed like real people. But the plot was plodding and I couldn't get myself to keep reading.

I love Philippa Gregory's novels, but this one was not my favorite. It wasn't as fast paced as her usual novels. The characters were well developed and I did like the plot. I look forward to the next book in the series. I received a copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 Thanks to the publisher via NetGalley for this free digital copy.

I had a hard time getting into this book at first, I just wasn't sure where it was going. Once I kept reading though I came to enjoy it.

Tidelands tells the story of Alinor and her life with her two children on a poor stretch of land marked by the tides. She comes across James who is a spy for the fallen King Charles. Their lives meet and they begin a long drawn out romance. All this happens while she is dealing with changes within her family regarding her daughter and son.

I did find a few parts of this book to be a little unbelievable. The character of Alys started out as a somewhat believable 13 year old, then changed her tone to that of a woman in her 30s overnight. I actually came to loath this character and all the mean scheming things she did. She was redeemed at the end though when she ended up taking care of Alinor.

The ending was not what I expected at all and I was actually disappointed. Now that I remember this is part of a series it makes more sense. Still not the ending I was hoping for.

This book turned out to be a quick read. Despite the few things I did not like, I was drawn to the story and will likely read the next in the series.

I liked this book but really hated the ending. I have always been a fan of Philippa Gregory and was fine with Philippa Gregory writing about characters that weren't royalty. I expected these characters to have very hard lives. What I wasn't prepared for was the depth of the superstitions and the total dominance of men. Since Alinor was the main character, and her daughter was also a major one, I was not happy with them being alone at the end after all they had done for the men they loved.

I was left feeling pretty disappointed with the ending of Tidelands. The story itself was enjoyable and the characters were interesting enough to keep me engaged and reading, but I saw exactly where the story was going and it was just very predictable. Still, even expecting the events, I was in tears and find myself holding my breath numerous times so it's well written. The ending was just so abrupt and disappointing! Although I just realized this is only book one in a series so hopefully I'll feel better after the next one?

4 stars--I really liked it. What a tense ending!

Philippa Gregory is one of the best at historical fiction. She really has a grasp on the details of the eras she's presenting--the laws, attitudes, and lifestyles. It's these sort of details that make her novels seem authentic.

They're also really sordid, and this is no exception!

I fell in love with Alinor, the heroine of this book, and I wanted what was best for her--which made this a really suspenseful read. I can't wait to find out what happens to her and her family in the next book.

I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!

I’ve been a big fan of Philippa Gregory since reading The Other Boleyn Girl and her series on the Tudors. So I was very excited to read Tidelands. I liked it but I don’t think I’m motivated to continue with the series.

I always appreciate Gregory’s skillful writing, and while I liked Alinor and her family, I did not feel the same connection with James’ character or the romantic attraction of these two characters.. i also like a good “witchy” theme which carried this story. Alinor was smart and wise and hard working, which often got 17th century women in trouble.

Overall, I think this may have been a case of just not the right book for me at this time. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this one!

“These are the Tidelands: half tide, half land, good for nothing.”

On Sealsea Island, England, in 1648, Alinor is only twenty-seven. Her husband has either run off with their small fishing boat—or died at sea. She has two children: thirteen-year-old Alys and twelve-year-old Rob. Alinor also has the “sight” like her mother and grandmother before her. Alinor is struggling to make ends meet by working as a freelance herbalist and midwife, when she meets a strange man in churchyard at midnight. There is an immediate connection between them. But the man is a priest from the exiled Catholic church. She lets Father James sleep in her shed, feeds him her own breakfast, and helps him get to the local Lord’s Priory. In return, she is well-paid and her son is given a job as a companion to the Lord’s son. So why does she continue to think about the young Priest?

It is a dangerous time in England. Parliament has overthrown King Charles, who was allowing the Catholic Church back into England. The King is exiled. Armies from Scotland, Wales and Ireland are being raised to fight on one side or the other. At the same time, women, especially without husbands, are being accused of witchcraft.

This is an excessively long, but intriguing, historical fiction about a largely untold era from a female perspective. The history within Tidelands was the best part in my opinion. If you want to see how far women have come, this is an empowering read. My sole complaint was the immediate attraction between Alinor and Father James went largely unexplained. For two people with very good reasons to remain celibate, I needed a bit more of a rationale. However, still a good read. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars!

Thanks to Washington Square Books, Atria Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

TIDELANDS has a beautiful cover depicting the blue ocean, the rugged tidelands and the blue sky.
This is an engaging and interesting story of civil war, love, ambition, secrets, superstition, oppression, and sacrifice. Philippa Gregory's masterful use of vivid descriptions and character development transported me back in history to the marshy landscape of the south coast of England in the year 1648.
There I witnessed the life of Alinor, a healer and midwife, trying to raise a son and daughter on her own since her abusive husband Zachery was lost at sea. In addition to looking after her own home, herb and vegetable gardens, and drying and preparing herbal remedies, Alinor and her children, Rob and Alys, work for the more well off residents to earn a living.
The effects of civil war reach all of the kingdom, even Sealsea Island. Ned, Alinor's brother, fought in the war and is interested in the politics. He is the ferryman, ferrying people across the water to and from the island.
Philippa Gregory has a loyal following of readers who love her historical fiction books. TIDELANDS is the first book in The Fairmile Series, and now that I have had a taste, I crave more.
Highly recommend ⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️

ARC was provided by Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I chose to listen to the unabridged audio version read by Louise Brealey.

Posted on Goodreads, NetGalley, and Savvy Reader on April 8, 2020

My intention was to pick Tidelands up and read it slowly, but I devoured it. I could not put it down.

Alinor Reekie is a midwife and herbalist, like her mother and grandmother before her. Her husband has been gone for nearly a year, a fisherman that left on their boat one day and never came back. Without knowing for certain if he is dead or not, Alinor is not quite a widow, but she's not quite a married woman either. And living in the tidelands, it's nearly impossible to have any sort of success and comfort in life without being married.

Alinor is close to the earth. She lives near the water, but she fears it. She is not afraid of hard work because she knows her station in life. She is exceptional at things like milking cows and baking bread, at working with her hands outside on her landlord's farm and making the ale that they all drink. She sells fish and lobsters to earn a little extra money for her family. She also works with wool and making oils. She does everything, and she is way more of a woman that I could ever be. But she cannot help that she was born to her exact station and that her husband turned out to be a deadbeat, and this sealed her fate as poor, poor, poor when he left.

I haven't read anything else by Philippa Gregory before, so I have no concept for her historical fictions involving life at court with queens and princesses and the like. But I do know that she wrote this poor woman's English life beautifully. Alinor describes the tidelands as "Neither sea or shore. Neither wet or dry and no-one ever leaves." That is exactly how life is looking for the Reekie family, with daughter Alys in desperate need of a dowry in order to even think about marrying and son Rob without any prospects in the absence of his father. Fortunately for Alinor, she meets a holy man by chance early in the story and BOOM! this opens worlds of opportunities for her family.

Alinor has to tread lightly, though, because things like special chances make her stand out, as if she has spoken a spell and good fortune has come to her. She also has to tread lightly because many of the people in her community equate being a herbalist and healer with using spells and witchcraft, and whispers of witching is one of the worst things that could ever happen to a woman in 1648 England.

I COULD NOT GET ENOUGH OF THIS STORY. I could not imagine it being any better and more interesting to me. The details and descriptions are delicious, and more than once I went to the internet to learn more about objects that were used or to learn more about the details of the war between King Charles I and Parliament. (King Charles believed in his divine right to rule, the right given to him by God, and this was the beginning of some huge changes in England.) It was riveting! This book is well-researched and meticulous, and I felt like I was standing inside of the story watching and hearing everything unfold around me. I felt BIG emotions and I held my breath, anticipating some things that I dare not mention, because spoilers. OH it was so good. AND THAT ENDING!! I am desperate for the next installment. DESPERATE for it.



I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you, Atria Books!

I am a huge Philippa Gregory fan! This book is different from her royals! This tackles an abusive relationship with a woman on the run. She captures the witch-mania of the time very well. You can feel the frenzy throughout! It is a historical fiction must-read!

As always, Philippa Gregory did not disappoint. While I did not enjoy this book as much as the others, I still liked it a lot. I really enjoy Elizabethan England, and exploring its history through historical fiction. Gregory created an interesting world, interesting characters, and a very inspirational female protagonist. I'll recommend this book to anyone! I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book was really good and an interesting change of pace from her normal stories. I was drawn into this world right away and enjoyed my time there.
These characters were fascinating and I felt like I could relate to them. They were brought to life in a beautiful way.

*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*