Reviews

Dark Tides by Philippa Gregory

nancywoolly's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

bibliopage's review against another edition

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5.0

The Fairmile series is back with 'Dark Tides' and I was riveted by the story and the characters! What I really have come to love about Philippa Gregory's books are the way in which she builds the world of each story--using language, she transports you in the story! I am very much looking forward to her next one!

suehepworth's review against another edition

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4.0

Set in the 1670s in London, Venic  and New England. Continues story of Sussex poor family. Gripping, a little far fetched but very good. Times bestseller.

mollyxmiller's review against another edition

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4.0

This is the sequel to Tidelands and the next installment of the generational saga of Alinor Reekie and her family.
The Slytherin in me loved Livia....
Overall I enjoyed this sequel and look forward to reading the next!

readitwithred's review against another edition

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5.0

Philippa Gregory will always be one of my favourite authors. I can only imagine the amount of time she puts into research is enormous.

Her research is echoed in the smallest of details throughout and though the main characters in Dark Tides are fictionalised, I learnt at the end through her authors notes, that a lot of the characters they interacted with where real people from history.

I particularly enjoyed Ned's story, a man caught between two worlds. He befriends the natives in the new England, but feels a pull to his fellow English men. When war is threatened, he cannot make a choice to fight and so he helplessly tries to make peace. Which we know from history, he could not succeed.

Livia, was always suspicious to me and I never trusted her. But I could admire how she effortlessly adapted to any situation to get what she wanted, especially from men.

Alinor, though a lesser character, still is a strong woman to me. A wise old woman now, grown from her broken heart. Part of me hoped she would forgive James and live a happy life with him finally, but the other part of me, understood why she could never.

I really hope there is more from this series, more about Captain Shore and Alys, more about Felipe and Sarah, and dear old Johnnie.

I just love her work and cannot wait for more.

laurenjpegler's review

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3.0

quite a long book for the story and felt like it didn’t really kick in until the last 100 pages. i think i’ll read the last book to round off the trilogy but these aren’t my fave gregory books!

edunn33's review against another edition

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3.0

The author did not build the character of Ned up enough in the first book for me to care about him at the start of this one. Especially given the cliffhanger at the end of the first book I found Ned’s sections jarring. That being said, once I got into it I did enjoy the bits based on New England. The issue remained that just as I was getting into that storyline a new chapter began back in England and vice versa, making it very hard to get into the book. I see what the author was trying to do and I think if Ned had been given more time in the first book it may have been less problematic. Once you do get past these issues the story is enjoyable, just don’t expect to finish it as quickly as the first as it doesn’t flow as well.
I also found the ending somewhat anti-climatic. Let’s just say the ‘villain’ of the story doesn’t get their just deserts…

oliviaalbion's review against another edition

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3.0

Not as good as the first in the series but nice to know what happened to the original characters

readingwithlibby's review against another edition

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4.0

I very much enjoyed Dark Tides. It was so amazing to see Alinor again, though I was was actually really lovely that the story wasn’t focused on her, but around her family. I loved the addition of Livia as a very secretive, suspicious and manipulative character. It was really great to read chapters with Sarah in Venice and Ned in New England and both their journeys there. I did feel the ending was a little rushed, but I enjoyed the book regardless.

tsaks's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot

5.0