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.

One good thing is not having to know the first book to understand this one. I like when sequels are like that. There's a chance for new readers to come in and then find out there's a story that came before but not have to stop partway through.

However, Dark Tides just didn't go into the characters enough. It felt like as a reader I was just scratching the surface and didn't really get to know them. Personality changes felt odd. It almost feels like this is a first or second draft to get the story with the intention of fleshing out characters more in another round that just never happened.

Ned's story in New England seemed pointless to the overall story. I'd have preferred to stay in London and Venice to get to know Sarah, Johnnie, and Livia more than travel to a story that was dragged out with no satisfying conclusion. Ned's story could have been a book by itself.

I got bored reading this one. I tried and tried numerous times in the past month but it just didn't catch my interest.

I guess this series just isn't for me.

Dark Tides by Philippa Gregory

This is the second novel in the Fairmile series. The first one is Tidelands.

I did not read the first book in the series and it took me quite a while to understand the family structure. It’s started off with this family, mainly women who had made a living out of nothing and we struggling to survive.

I did not understand why Alys, who seems to have had such a hard life, would totally be besotted and risk her whole families stability, on Livia. It made no sense that she would be so easily taken in.

I am still not sure what happened with the pregnancy from the previous book between James and Alinor. I kept thinking one of the children mentioned were going to be his. I’m still totally in the dark about what happened. If there was going to be no resolution, then why keep it as a question James keeps asking, just talk about it. I thought at the end when a heir was mentioned it was a missed opportunity to reveal it at that time, but no.

I’m not sure about Ned at all and what he adds to the main story. The two parts did not come together in the end, so it felt like a whole book.

I did find the Historical aspects of Neds journey and the trip to Venice to be very enjoyable but I don’t feel this is a stand alone read. It took me too long to care about the characters and to try and understand the relationship between Avery and the family. And I am still a bit foggy on it.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a free electronic ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I was given the opportunity to read and review this by NetGalley. Philippa Gregory usually writes historical fiction based on royalty, so this novel is a little different. I was able to read this novel as a stand alone. But I feel that for full disclosure I will have to read the fist novel, Tidelands to truly understand the characters. If you enjoy Philippa Gregory’s books, this one will not disappoint.

I received a free copy of this novel through Net Galley, and unfortunately the digital copy expired before I had finished the book! But only about 25 pages shy of the ending, I read enough to be able to write a fairly accurate review. Taking place in London in the 1670's, a mother Alinor and daughter Alys run a warehouse/dock receiving imported goods from all over the world. A young widow arrives from Venice, claiming to be the wife of Robert (Alinor's son) who apparently had died in a drowning accident in Venice. Livia proceeds to use her charm to make her way into the family and then onto the good will of family friend who agrees to help her sell her inherited antiquities. A parallel story follows Ned, Alinor's brother who is making his way in New England, having left England as a protest against the King. It all sounds complicated but in reality the story is very easy to follow, and actually a bit too predictable. I feel the author could have enhanced the story with more historical background of that era. Although I was intrigued by the plot and didn't want to quit reading the book, I felt an overall disappointment a the lack of substance. I will try another Philippa Gregory novel because she does have a good reputation for excellent writing.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy to review.
I recently read the first book in this series, Tidelands, and was undecided on it. On the one hand, I enjoyed the rich descriptions. On the other, there seemed to be no plot.

Dark Tides was very similar. I requested it based on the summary and assumed it would be an adventure between London and Venice in 1670. It wasn’t. It was very, very detailed. The details and descriptions were lovely. They were also very long. This book had more of a plot than the first in the series, but still not much of one.

It feels as though the author loves this period and wanted to write about all the things she loves, but as an experienced author knew she needed a plot; so, the plot is loosely woven around the details the author wanted to describe.

It takes place about 20 years after the first novel, mostly in London. The summary describes everything else without spoilers. The characters felt alive and detailed, especially if you read the first book. Ned’s life is included, but doesn’t seem to connect to his family’s life for any good reason. My favourite character was the villain. “They” were the most interesting.

Otherwise, it was a bit blah. Very long and an unsatisfactory ending.

I love historical family saga fiction books. However, I found this one a difficult read. In defence of author, I have not read thie first book in the series. For the majority of the book I was bored and was challenged to continue to read. Towards the end of the book I became quite interested in how the mystery would end. The plot was easy to determine for me and I did not see the connect between the England setting and the New England setting. Perhaps it’s setting the stage for the next book in the series but for me it was a complete disconnect from the story ( other than family and caste systems).

I’ve loved the Fairmile series so far. My only critique of this installment was the disconnect between the story of Ned in America and everyone else in England. I found it very jarring to jump back and forth between the two. I really enjoyed both stories, but I would have loved to have them as separate books so that we got deeper and more invested in Ned’s life (shout out to Quiet Squirrel, she’s my favourite). The ending of Dark Tides does seem to hint that we’ll get more Ned in the next one, but to me, it should have been a standalone book.

First I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book by Philippa Gregory. I was somewhat disappointed with part of the story. Maybe I should have read the 1st book in this series, befote I read Dark Tides. The story in London and Venice I very much enjoyed. I found the story in New England boring.
So with that being said, I can only give this book a 3 out of 5. I expected more, from Philippa Gregory, as I usually like her writing and her books.

In the past, I have loved reading Philippe Gregory’s book. I read over a hundred pages of Dark Tides and then lost interest in the story. I would give this book a pass.

3.5 stars

I really enjoy this story, but this, the second book, lacked some of the cohesion of the first. There are multiple settings: Alinor and Alys and the children in London (which splits off further later), Ned in New England, plus James and Sarah, and as some of the stories are not entirely connected, it felt like getting jerked around a bit.

The new characters were a bit stock but it was still fun to read and I’m really annoyed that the story ends where it does; I still want more. I need to know about the consequences for these people.

Dark Tides feels like it’s leading up to some big events, and I’m looking forward to the next book, even though that’s not happening for another few years at least.

Honestly this book felt a bit less prepared then the last and it’s not typical of Gregory’s work in my experience. That said, I’m loving the spunky, take no nonsense women in her books as much as always and the Reekie family is one I would not want to screw with.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for free in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

REVIEW
So first off, I only vaguely remembered that this book is a sequel to Tidelands. That said, it can stand alone however the reader will miss out on the history of characters and may find it difficult to connect with them.

The story is told from multiple POV, the author takes us back and forth between Restoration London, Venice and New England. Set in 1670, the author paints a conservative picture. Women are nothing without motherhood and a husband to define them. Alinor and Alys have their own business on the wharf where they are poor but honest businesswomen, an exception to the rule. Sarah and Rob have suitably been apprenticed into careers to ensure their livelihood and future.

Roberto’s widow Livia shows up on Alinor’s doorstep with her child in tow seeking a home and a chance to start her antiquities business. Alinor is skeptical, she doesn’t want to believe her son’s death, and so she writes her concerns to her brother Ned. Meanwhile, Livia does everything in her power to establish herself in the household.

Ned. Ned is building a new life as a ferryman in the wilds of New England. He regularly trades with the native tribes and believes in peace overall. His storyline to me seemed unnecessary. It did not drive the story forward, it did not add to the goings on in London. It was just there. I found it hard to follow where the author was leading - like a constant whisper in my ear that was distracting.

And then there is James. Poor James. Poor judgement in his youth has led to years of unrequited love. He yearns to make amends with Alinor- but will she have him?

Overall not my favourite Gregory book. Would I have enjoyed it more if I read the previous book? Maybe? I think I would have enjoyed this one more without Ned’s storyline. Will I read this author again? Definitely, because I have enjoyed so many of her other books.

At the end of Dark Tides I found myself googling to try to discover the release date for the next book. Why? I want to know what will happen next! Intrigued?

From the first page author Philippa Gregory caught my interest with interesting characters, detailed descriptions of 17th century England,, Venice and America, and gripping adventures. I loved reading about Venice, its architecture and culture, politics and laws, and the people that navigated the waters n gondolas.

Life in England and on the docks was the complete opposite to Venice. The poor docks were dingy but the people interesting to say the least.

Life in the developing America of Dark Tides reflects the challenges we face today - prejudice, thoughtlessness and selfishness, I respect and admire the character of Ned who has strength in his beliefs of fairness to all.

I have not read Book 1 in this series but will definitely make the trip back.. Thank you Philippa.

Philippa Gregory is so fantastic. Her work is so researched and well thought out - I never get lost in inaccuracies or distracted by anachronisms. Dark Tides is no exception. I was addicted to this book - just the skillful and manipulative dialogue of Noblidonna... I loved it. I loved loving her, then being astonished by her directness, then hating her for being so manipulative, and finally.... well I can't very well say without spoilers.

I love how there were 3 separate stories all woven together, and even Ned, the seemingly odd one out, furthers the plot and serves to reinforce key concepts such as mindful living, contributing to the family, and being a person of their word.

One thing I have always loved about Philippa Gregory is that even in a time where women were not considered to have rights, she shows how much agency they had over their lives. While their rights may have been less, they still had power and influence. Much of history relegates women to the margins, if they are included at all, and yet while maintaining historical integrity, Gregory shows how their sphere of influence is not unremarkable.

Overall, worth the read.

As a fan of Philippa Gregory books, I was excited to read something by the author for the first time in decades.

I honestly laboured to get through the first quarter of the book but then put it down. It was confusing. I later realized that this is the sequel to another book and really doesn't do well as a standalone novel. The characters were not properly developed and I struggled to really like any of them. Perhaps if I had read the previous book I would be more likely to want to continue reading the book.

I have read lots of Philippa Gregory's historical novels and have enjoyed many of them.
Sadly this one did not strike a chord for me. Set in London and Venice in the 1600s, it is a story of intrigue, fraud, and deception. I was never 100% sure who the protagonist was as the POV switched many times. It was clear who the hero was in the end, but Sarah did not. play a key role until later in the book.
Characterization was good — well defined and differentiated. Why Ned's story in the New World was there, I'm honestly not quite sure. I would like a separate novel of his struggles including the outcome of the pending war between the Indigenous peoples and the settlers.
I did enjoy the section set in Venice very much. It was enjoyable to read about the city in that period, how it was run, etc. The descriptions were atmospheric, and Felipe's redemption was satisfying.
All in all Dark Tides was not what I expected and disappointed me in its structure.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Dec. 1, 2020
“Dark Tides” is the second novel in the “Fairmile” series, the first one being “Tidelands”, by renowned historical fiction author Philippa Gregory. Although the novel itself can be read as a stand-alone, I recommend reading “Tidelands” first, to allow for a deeper understanding of the characters and the importance of the settings.
When a young woman arrives on the shores of the River Thames, she seeks out Alys and Alinor, claiming that she is the widow of their son and brother, Rob, and she is desperate for a place to stay. As she has a child with her, one she claims was sired by Rob, the women take her in. Immediately, the woman, Livia, befriends Alys, and starts to immerse herself in Alys’ warehousing business. Alinor, however, is convinced that her son Rob is not dead, and sets out to determine the true identity of the stranger.
Alinor’s brother, Ned, is trying to live his new life as the ferryman in the new county of New England. But as his ties with England serve as a barrier between him and his Native friends, Ned is forced to choose between the home he knew, and the home that he has made for himself.
Without reading “Tidelands”, Alys would indeed be an off-putting character, as she is portrayed as cold and aloof in this novel. However, knowing her history as I do, I thoroughly enjoy Alys, Alinor and Aly’s daughter, Sarah, as they struggle to become independent businesswomen in a society and a world that is reluctant to accept them. Ned returns in the story as well, although, again, separated from “Tidelands” he seems completely irrelevant to this plot. For someone who read Gregory’s previous novel, I enjoyed Ned’s struggles less than the rest of the Reekie family, but I was still intrigued enough to persist.
Gregory’s writing is timeless, creative and engaging, and I always enjoy her historical fiction. This one, also, is not based on any members of any of the past Royal Families, which is how Gregory earned her notoriety, but her writing is definitely on par with her more famous novels.

I read this book not realizing it was the second book in a series. Normally this would not be an issue as books in a series usually give you the backstory of the previous characters from the previous book so you understand why the characters are living as the do. This book was not like this. There were tons of references to a previous story between characters, but nothing was explained.

I wanted to like the characters and I thought I would like Alys but she quickly went from a strong, independent, hard working woman to a weak woman that would risk her business and her families home for the sisterly love she felt for Livia. It was like I turned a page and the character became a different person. It seemed the characters fell under the spell of the conniving woman from Venice at the drop of a hat. It just came across as unbelievable.

I love historical books as it always opens my eyes to how people really lived during those times. This one did show the difference of living in one side of the Thames compared to the other but that was all it really touched on historically. The opportunity to explain why the Jewish man was so scared to meet Sarah alone and for her to touch him was left unexplained. There was a quick mention of the ghetto and the star seen on their clothes but it made no sense to mention that if there was no explanation.

Seeing as this is a series I understand why some stories did not end properly but a good series leaves you wanting to know more about the characters’ future, not holding a book and having a dozen questions.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this ARC and this author has written some lovely books, sadly this is not one of them.