The White Queen by Philippa Gregory is the story of Elizabeth Woodville, the daughter of a turncoat family during the War of the Roses and mother of the lost princes of the Tower of London.

The book is sweeping, starting with her marriage to Edward IV of York and ending with the ascension of the Tudors. The central mystery is that of the Princes of the Tower. I’ve read everything from history to vampire stories on the subject.

Gregory gives the characters a depth that made them entertaining and heart-wrenching. The literary license she takes seems acceptable and adds to the richness of rumors and historical text. A very good read.