The Plantagenets discussion

Hi, I've just joined this group although I have been on a number of other history/historical fiction groups on Goodreads for some time. I am fairly new to the Plantagenets and would appreciate some advice on what to read next.

I read jean plaidy's the Plantagenet prelude a few years ago. I am now just finishing off Alison wier's captive queen and have also read the chapter about her in non-fiction Queen's consort. I would like to move on through the era, although I expect I will come back and read more about Eleanor again in future. What's the best thing to read next?

The one I'm really looking forward to reading is When Christ and His Saints Slept..about Henry I and Eleanor of Aquitaine

There's Katherine, by Anya Seton, which is about John of Gaunt's third wife (Chaucer's sister-in-law).

Modesty forbids me to mention Within the Fetterlock as a follow-on to Katherine. In terms of era, not style.

Strongly second the recommendations for Sharon Penman's works, you really cannot go wrong.

A favourite for me for the Henry VI era is The Heron's Catch by Susan Curran, though I think it might be hard to find. It is a very hard-nosed non-romantic account.

Penman's books are all great! I also just finished

which was exceptionally good and "readable" for nonfiction.

I'm almost done with The Reckoning by Sharon Kay Penman, and I looove her. I don't think there are any of her books left that I haven't read. Where do I go from here? Any recommendations?

Elizabeth Chadwick.

Melissa wrote: "I'm almost done with The Reckoning by Sharon Kay Penman, and I looove her. I don't think there are any of her books left that I haven't read. Where do I go from here? Any recommendations?"

I would recommend Anne Easter Smith or Allison Weir if you're looking for the same time period. Ken Follett also has some fantasic novels, though his writing is not quite as good as Penman's (my opinion of course). His Pillars of the Earth is fantastic and takes place during the war between Stephen and Maude. World Without End is the "sequel" that actually takes place approximately 300 years later. My favorite book of his is Fall of Giants which covers WWI and has a sequel, Winter of the World, which is about WWII.

Marina wrote: ", , anything by Susa..."

BTW, Treason is a kindle freebie today 2/7/13.

Thank you! I have been wanting to read Treason!

Thanks guys! I've got the Brothers of Gwynedd Quartet on hold at my library. I tried to download Treason, but it says it's not available in the US. Boo! Thanks for the suggestions!

I am in the US and had no trouble. May be worth another try :-)

This is the edition of Treason that's for free.

Got it, thanks! Who knows what I was doing the first time. :-) Looking forward to reading it!

I think Jean Plaidy is pretty historically accurate, although she was writing a few decades ago, so some ideas about figures and events have changed.
I've never had a problem reading them individually.

I personally couldn't bring myself to finish the first book by Plaidy, but I guess that's why we have so many authors to chose from!