Historical accuracy and plausibility aside, I am a sucker for Phillippa Gregory's captivating storytelling. This is the second book in a restoration miniseries. I would love for there to be more. Her works inspire me to do further research and learn about the rich sociocultural history the characters live and breathe - what fascinating times! I bought a copy of this book, so let that be recommendation enough!

I have read almost all of Philippa Gregory's novels and have enjoyed them. This book did not capture me in the same way. I did not feel that the characters were likeable or even intriguing enough to forgive their actions.

Another wonderful historical fiction by the queen Philippa Gregory. Her writing is so beautiful and rich. While some of her stories are fiction, the basis of fact can't go unnoticed. Her attention to detail and accuracy always provides a wonderful reading experience.

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It was a well written book. I have read other books by this author and liked them too.

Dark Tides is the second book in the Fairmile series by Philippa Gregory and is set just after the Restoration., 20 years after the events in the first book, It should not be read as a stand alone; I have not read the first book and found it difficult to piece together the history of the main characters or to care about them. I did particularly like Sarah, a member of the younger generation, who had the courage and initiative to travel to Venice to rescue her uncle Rob. However, most characters other than Livia were not well drawn. Livia was unbelievably manipulative and unlikable.
As always for one of Philippa Gregory's books, the historical detail is fantastic and accurate. Ms. Gregory focuses on life not in a Court or aristocratic household but in the poor docks of London, in a Venetian workshop dealing in stolen and forged antiquities and in North America, where she explores the rising tension between the Puritan settlers and indigenous tribes.
Not having liked most of the characters, I'm not likely to read either the first book in the series or the third, if it is published.. I'll return to one of my favourites of Ms. Gregory's earlier works.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary advance reader copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This is the second book in the Fairmile saga, the first book being Tidelands. Philippa Gregory is one of my favourite authors and I wait impatiently for her next novel every time, but I found this book really hard to get into. I really enjoyed the first book in the series so was very excited to receive this one I don’t think this could easily be read as a standalone as there was too many previous happenings that I feel would be difficult for someone who has not read the first book to follow along with. It took me a really long time to read this book, because I really didn’t care for it which is hard for me to say because I love this author. I found the characters predictable and I found the storyline a little bit convoluted. I’m not sure if I will read the third in this series.

While I generally love Philippa Gregory Books, Dark Tides was just ok for me. It was an alright story, but it just seemed to drag on. There was nothing that was able to really grip my attention and get me absorbed in what I was reading.

The plot sounded really good, but I just couldn't get into the book. I really like historical fiction, but found this one a bit dry.

I requested an advance copy of this book, as I have read many of Phillippa Gregory's books in the past (mostly centred around the Tudor era). While I mostly enjoyed the book, I found the plot not as interesting as some of her other works, and it was hard to keep some of the characters straight, as I read it in chunks over many months (which probably contributed to my inability to keep characters/plot straight). It is long, but well written, and for anyone who is a fan of her previous works, it is worth checking it out.

Livia is my least favourite character of all time. From the second we meet her, she gives off this slimy sneaky vibe. Sarah is a bad a$$ who travels to Venice to out her on the suspected lies, and lord I am here for the power this bloodline holds. I was super bummed by Alice this book though. I felt like she just rolled over and gave up her strength when she knew it was stupid and could cost her family everything. Oh, hold on, that’s exactly like the last book..... turns out, 20 years doesn’t change a lot about who a person is deep down. Maybe in the next 20 Alice will stay strong to the morals her mother planted in her.
Ned, ah sweet Ned. I loved him so deeply in this story. New England! What an exciting turn! I was so so proud of him for believing something on his own, not just because the church says so. He made me proud ♥️
James is an idiot lol. Still. Always.

Dark Tides is the second book in The Fairmile Series. It's my first time reading outside of Gregory's usually foray in the 1400/1500's Royal Court.

It's been 20 years since Tidelands concluded with an ending that left me anticipating the sequel. Tidelands had more of a mystical feel than this one does, it was atmospheric and had great character development with many layers to different plot lines. It left me with a number of questions that I hoped to see answered in this new book. It was also a longish book that was a great opening for new series.

Dark Tides divides the story between 1670 England and New England, for me I failed to see the point of the New England setting, it felt like a filler. But maybe it plays a bigger role in the next book (if there is one).

I wanted to really enjoy this book. I got to know Alinor and her daughter so well previously and even Rob but here I couldn't connect with any of them. I found the plot somewhat predictable and the book too long. I didn't get the same atmospheric feel that could have helped. The ended was ok, it might have opened the door to book 3 (sorry I've kinda don't remember much of it, which is sad). If there is a book 3 I'm not sure I will continue with this series or not.

My thanks to Atria Books for an advanced e-arc (via Netgalley) in exchange for an honest review.

As the 2nd in The Fairmile series, Philippa Gregory does not disappoint. James Avery searches out his former lover, Alinor and his son, Rob. Amidst deception and greed, there is more to Rob's disappearance than meets the eye. Alinor is in contact with her brother Ned in the New World, to get him to get to the bottom of Rob's disappearance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read and review.

I'm loving having a new series from Philippa Gregory that isn't set in the royal circle. I really enjoyed the first in this series and love how we meet a lot of the same characters, even though it is 20 some years later. The story was compelling with just enough mystery to keep me wondering. I do wish that Livia wasn't so obviously false right from the start - it seemed a bit obvious. Overall I really really like the book and hope there will be more in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC!

This book was excellent. It sucked me in from the beginning which couldn’t be said for the first book in the series Tidelands. I found Tidelands a bit boring and tedious and I only slogged through because I love Philippa Gregory. This had great pacing and kept flipping back and forth to locations and characters. Each section was an engaging story and I never found myself dreading any sections.

I hope there is a third one as this one finished in a way that left it open for more but was also a satisfactory end.

Great story, a bit slow

I am a big fan of Philippa Gregory and this book covers the Restoration period in England and New England. It is the second book of a series; I had not read the first book, but figured out the previous plot from hints in the text. There are two intertwined stories and lots of interesting historical details about Restoration England, Venice and New England with larger moral questions asked and examined from the standpoint of the characters. The reason that I am giving 4 stars not 5 is that I found the short chapters with change of location/storyline rather choppy but wordy; I feel that the storylines would have flowed better with longer chapters. That being said, I am going to read book 1 of the series as soon as I can!

Thank you to the publisher for the loan of an e-arc via Netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Dark Tides by Philippa Gregory is the second book in her exciting series The Fairmile; it takes place 22 years after the first book and continues the story of Alinor Reekie and her family. Its 1670 and the time of the Restoration in England, Alinor’s brother Ned fled to the colonies when Cromwell was deposed and is treading a cautious line between other settlers and the friends he’s made within the Native community. A visitor from the past and one from Venice bring troubles to the family in their London life. Moving between London, the New England Colonies and Venice, Ms. Gregory weaves an intriguing story mystical, mysterious and with depth and fascinatingly flawed characters. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and will definitely go back and read the first one of the series and hope that a future book featuring Sarah and Johnnie Alinor’s grandchildren will be forthcoming. Publishing Date: November 24, 2020. #NetGalley #DarkTides #PhilippaGregory #HistoricalFiction #StrongFemaleProtagonist #RestorationPeriodNovel #AtriaBooks #SimonAndSchusterCanada #bookstagram #bookstagrammer

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the chance to read an advanced copy of Dark Tides by Philippa Gregory. This is the 2nd book in the Fairmile series, and it picks up 21 years after Tidelands ends. While some people could probably read it without reading the first book, I personally wouldn't suggest it. While Tidelands background was Charles I imprisonment/trial etc, Dark lands now turns to the newly restored King Charles II and begins on Midsummer Eve 1670. Two unexpected visitors arrive at a warehouse The first is a wealthy man hoping to find the lover he deserted twenty-one years before and the second is a beautiful widow from Venice in deepest mourning. She claims Alinor as her mother-in-law and has come to tell her that Rob, her son has drowned in the dark tides of the Venice lagoon, but Alinor—without doubt—knows her son is alive and the widow is an imposter. While I found Dark tides just a engrossing, as Tidelands, the side story of Alinor's brother Ned in New England, while interesting was almost a story in its own rights. Perhaps, there is more to his story in the next book. I was a fan of Sarah, who has a fair bit of the last part of the story, but Johnnie seemed to fade into the background. And as for James Avery, I am quite disappointed in how his character was written, and turned out. This could have been a 5 star book, but lost 1 1/2 stars because some of the characters were disappointing.

Although I didn't love this one as much as the first book, the story was still engrossing with lots of different things happen. This book takes place years after the first one, and Alinor and Alys have worked hard to get by and support their children. I really liked how the author portrayed their struggles and strength in their situation and how they overcame the trauma from the first book. I love the character of Alinor and kinda wanted to see more from her, and her daughter Alys was super annoying in this one just like the first book.
-
This book covers a lot of historical content including how difficult it was for a woman to get by in society without a man, the process of apprenticeship and how women were paid less than male apprentices, as well as life in the colonies of North America, depicted through Alinor's brother. I found these scenes a bit less intense than the other ones, but I liked how the author showed the colonists in the America's and the relationship between the colonists and the Indigenous people of the land. Finally, we also got to read about Venice and the Doge, and the secrecy that was seeped within Venetian society. I also liked that we got to read about what life was like for Jewish people in Venice and we got to see how they were marginalized in society.
-
Life in restoration London was not easy, and it was nice to read about this time period and these historical events.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

A somewhat interesting second book, I didn't enjoy it as much as the first one. I found that this one was much too long and a lot of nothing happened for a long while. Near the end things ramped up but it was a case of too little to late for me to fully get on board. Still enjoyable and interesting to see where Aly and her mother Alinor end up after the first book but it is much more anticlimactic.

Alys is almost unbearable in this book. In the first book her mother warned her about something and she didn't listen which resulted in dire consequences. In this book her mother once again warns her but she is stupid enough not to listen once again. She knows her mother has the sight and still she does not listen. She was a young girl the first time, but this time she is older and there are no more excuses. She does things for Livia that she wouldn't even do for her own children and that makes it both infuriating and unbelievable.

Sarah I enjoyed, and her bravery, although it seems she inherited some of their mothers foolishness towards the end. The Venice part is where the book finally gets interesting for me.

I wish there was more Alinor. I liked her so much in the first book and while she was in this one, there was much much less of her. I think if she was involved more it would have been better.

Neds parts were sometimes interesting but mostly unnecessary. Although I did like the end to his tale, I didn't see how his part really added anything to the story. Also I have to note that in the book there was mention of "Canada" which would have almost certainly referred either to Rupert's Land or New France. I thought it was funny that where Ned was was called New England (not the USA) but Canada was still called Canada even though it didn't exist as a county yet.

Dark Tides is an immersive family saga set in 1670s London, with forays into Venice and colonial New England. A five star book grabs you by the scruff of your neck and pulls you along. Dark Tides did not do that for me. I wanted more from the characters and the plot. That said, adjectives flow from Philippa Gregory’s finger tips.
I enjoyed the settings, and the way the chapters flipped between locals. I especially enjoyed the character Ned’s preparations for winter and his character’s decision making. The Venice scenes rang a little hollow for me.
The essential question in the book, the why should I care, comes from wondering if the character Livia is who she says she is and if her husband (a member of the Stoney family) really is dead. No spoilers, but that she is a bit of a black widow spider is thinly veiled if at all. The older generation is comprised of Alinor in London and Ned in New England. And Alinor doesn’t believe Livia’s claims from day one. But what is Livia up to and why?
I disliked the icky relationship between Livia and Alys, sister-in-laws no less. Their bizarre almost romance added nothing to the book for me.
I most liked the character of Sarah and her bravery. I also liked the historical settings; extra marks for there being a plague at the time. I could have read an entire book about Ned and the tensions rising between the colonists and the Native Americans.
Best line: “I am far more interesting than honest,” from Livia of course.
The writing is good but the plot lacked real twists for me. It was watery, literally and figuratively! Some romance would have jazzed it up.
Beware the dead bodies in Venice.
Readers who adore Philippa Gregory, and there are myriad, will still enjoy Dark Tides, but it is not a classic in its genre.