Royal Witch

The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels #1

by Philippa Gregory

Ambition. Sorcery. Treason. How will one woman dare to go?

Eleanor Cobham arrived at court with nothing — her greatest hope was simply to marry well. But her ambition carried her further than any woman before her had dared. She wanted to rule her own destiny. To rule England itself. They say she summoned the devil himself to secure her fate. They say she plotted to murder a king.

Now, it's time to finally hear her story.
This is the tale of the woman they called witch. Who would have called herself queen.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Witches, Fantasy, British Literature, Audiobook

432 pages, Hardcover

First published October 20, 2026

About the author

DR PHILIPPA GREGORY studied history at the University of Sussex and was awarded a PhD by the University of Edinburgh where she is a Regent and was made Alumna of the Year in 2009. She holds an honorary degree from Teesside University, and is a fellow of the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff. Philippa is a member of the Society of Authors and in 2016, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Historical Fiction Award by the Historical Writers’ Association. In 2018, she was awarded an Honorary Platinum Award by Neilsen for achieving significant lifetime sales across her entire book output. In 2021, she was awarded a CBE for services to literature and to her charity Gardens for the Gambia. and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

She welcomes visitors to her site www.PhilippaGregory.com.

Philippa's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/PhilippaGregoryOfficial

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleanor Cobham was an English noblewoman, first the mistress, and then the second wife of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester.

She arrived at court with nothing - it was either the court or the nunnery, and she was determined she wasn’t going to any nunnery. Eleanor was extremely ambitious but devious to boot!

It is said that she made a pact with the devil in order to secure her future, a future that she hoped would one day see her reign as Queen of England, alongside her husband as King. She also plotted to murder a king to further secure that future.

Little is really known of Eleanor’s life, therefore poetic license is used to embroider a well written tale. And what an extraordinary tale this is, a historical novel of ambition, sorcery, betrayal, and survival. Eleanor wasn’t a character that I liked, but nevertheless the eponymous “Royal Witch “ was absolutely fascinating, and made for a terrific read.

*Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review*

[Debra · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

It's Philippa Gregory for the win! She has hit it out of the ballpark with Royal Witch. I love books that are inspired/based on real life people. Eleanor Cobham was an English noblewoman and the second wife of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. In Royal Witch, Philippa Gregory shows her pursuit of power, money, a husband, and to rule England. She is depicted as beautiful, clever, smart, power hungry, ambitious, conniving, and politically motivated. She lived in a time where few women had any power, but she dared to dream, she dared to go after what she wanted, she dared to rule! She is not the only strong female character in this book. But like other female characters in this book, she needed the backing of a man, was reminded of her place, was punished for her deeds.

Eleanor lived in a time where women and those in the royal court consulted with "sorcerers" and "healers" to get information and treatment for various issues. She also lived during a time of war, of Kings and Queens, during the time of superstition, and during the time of power moves by both those in the monarchy but also the church, and during the time where people were accused of being witches.

It has been a long time since I have read a book written by Philippa Gregory and Royal Witch reminded me of her wonderful writing, her attention to detail, her research, and her carefully and well thought out plots. I was glued to the pages wanting to know what would happen next. I loved the focus on strong women, on ambition, on pride, on revenge, on plotting, and on power.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Christy fictional_traits · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

‘I had thought I was the penniless heroine of a love story. But now I know the stories are fairy tales...’

Few authors bring the politics, personalities and power struggles of medieval England to life as convincingly as Philippa Gregory. Inspired by the lives of three real fifteenth-century women, Royal Witch is another impeccably researched and richly immersive novel.

‘This is a novel about women who were extraordinarily famous or notorious in their own time.’

Through three very different women - a wise woman, an heiress who commands armies, and an ambitious courtier - Gregory explores the many forms female power could take, and how each, in its own way, was feared and, all too often, punished. Against the backdrop of England and France's shifting political landscape, the novel vividly recreates the machinations of court, where wealth, ambition, the Church, and the Crown are inextricably intertwined.

Although the title suggests a story about witchcraft, Royal Witch is ultimately about the ways women who possessed knowledge, influence or independence could be manipulated, persecuted, and silenced.

At the heart of the novel, however, lies Eleanor's deeply personal humiliation. Raised on the ideals of courtly love and chivalry, she believes herself destined for both great love and great influence. Instead, betrayal transforms love into resentment, and resentment into an all-consuming desire for revenge and power.

‘This chivalry game that they play among themselves. It's not real. It's all poetry and masquing. It's no more than the choreography of dance. There's nothing underneath.’

For me, Eleanor's descent into hatred and revenge circled the same emotional ground for a little longer than necessary. Even so, her story becomes a cautionary tale of how pride, ambition, and wounded love can slowly eclipse the very person we once were.

Rich in historical detail, Royal Witch is an absorbing read that once again demonstrates why Philippa Gregory remains one of the foremost writers of historical fiction.

‘It’s a hard world underneath the pretty fables’.

[Debbie · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

A tense and dramatic piece of medieval historical fiction that takes place during the 1400s and the courts of Kings and Queens. This author's novels never fail to captivate me with their rich details, brilliantly crafted portraits of fascinating historical people, and spell binding plots.

During this period in France and England, it was marriages and wars that decided the ownership of lands and titles, which also brought wealth. Women and children were used liked chess pieces on a game board. As well as actions at court often being guided by astronomy, astrological charts, tarot cards, and herbs.

Eleanor Cobham secures a position in Queen Catherine's court as a lady in waiting for a Countess hoping to catch a man of position and wealth to become her husband and bring her good fortune. She is a self-described beauty, a devoted attendant, and a naive dreamer. But when she is forsaken by her lover, she secretly plans her revenge. Thus begins a downward spiral of treachery, manipulation, and betrayal. Eleanor will stop at nothing to get what she wants.

Not as much about witches as the title might lead one to believe, this story is a perfect example of how greed, jealousy, and hatred can ruin people's lives. Historical fiction readers and fans of Philippa Gregory will definitely want to grab a copy of this book.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sadie Hartmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title/Author: ROYAL WITCH by Philippa Gregory
Format Read: Audio-thank you Libro.FM
Pub date: October 20th, 2026
Publisher: William Morrow
Page Count: 432
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978006343...
Recommended for readers who enjoy:
- Historical Fiction (based on detailed, extensive research)
- Ambition. Sorcery. Treason. How far will one woman dare to go?
- Golden age of England (1420) the rise of the Tudor line
- Dark Arts
- The POV of an unscrupulous woman
- History from women POVs
__
Minor complaints:
- ZERO-Philippa Gregory is the GOAT

Final recommendation: 
This audiobook is SO GOOD. Ridiculously good. Gemma Whelan did an incredible job with all the voices and accents. This book is loosely based on the real lives of three important women in history. According to the author's note (Philippa Gregory went on location to visit some of the historical landmarks mentioned in the story) there is not much detail given to the lives of these influential women who changed the course of history. Jacqueline d’Hainaut (left court after a failed uprising and challenge to secure her own lands), Margery Jourdemayne (a midwife and healer accused of witchcraft), and Eleanor Cobham (this book is from her POV as she starts from a low status and manipulates her way into a lofty position of Duchess).
Aside from some of the lengthy sections about war and land titles and courtly things, the pace moves along quickly and the chapters are short; never a dull moment. I was fully engaged and never wanted to stop listening. I am a longtime fan of Gregory's books--I am especially interested in the The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels Series. The Boleyn novels are favorites of mine and I also loved The White Queen, The Other Queen, The Queen's Fool, and The Virgin's Lover.

Comps: The Secret History of Witches and all the Louisa Morgan books--very similar storytelling style and quality audiobooks

[Maureen · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Available Now
4.25
Plantagenet and Tudor Novels #1
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this advanced readers copy
This is a historical fiction tale of a strong woman in the 15 century. Little is known about Eleanor Cobham.
Her father had no dowry for Eleanor. Her only choice was to be a nun like her sister. That was not Eleanor‘s plan. She wanted to rule her own destiny and become queen.
Eleanor is not a very likable person. She is very ambitious and conniving. She will do anything to get what she wants.
Eleanor becomes a ladies maid to Jacqueline d’Hainaut A powerful woman but little is known about her. She learns a lot from Jacqueline, but she wants more. When she meets Margery Jourdemayne, a wise woman and herbalist, trouble begins.
A beautifully written story. Philippa Gregory does a wonderful job in bringing the 15th Century Royal Court to life.
This was a captivating story, filled with rich historical details.

[Shantha (ShanthasBookEra) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ambition. Sorcery. Treason. How far will one woman dare to go?

1420. Eleanor Cobham arrives at the court of Henry V. Pretty but not highborn, she hopes for nothing more than to marry well."

England's royalty is spread across Europe. As Eleanor works for a countess, she sees the power a woman can have to control her destiny. She decides to set her sights higher and become the Queen of England through marriage. In order to do so, she turns to the dark arts.

Once again, Philippa Gregory has done impeccable research to write about a woman forgotten by history. It's an interesting story, incredibly detailed about a woman whose ambition and lust for power is so high, she becomes a very unlikable and unsympathetic character. Ultimately, I didn't feel invested in her story although it is one that is told well.

The audiobook performance by Gemma Whelan is flawless and brings Eleanor to life - especially her ambition and desires.

Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, LibroFM and Philippa Gregory for the gifted advance reader's copy and advance listening copy. All opinions are my own. 📚🎧

[Denise Ruttan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Philippa Gregory has done it again, with her meticulously researched historical fiction that brings what could be nonfiction to life. As usual, she shines a light on the marginalized women whose true stories were lost to history or they were named witches and burned.

Eleanor Cobham was promised by her dying mother to a life in the cloisters, but she refuses to be trapped in a nunnery. She has far greater ambitions than that despite her humble beginnings. She finds work as a lady's maid to Jacqueline, a noble woman with lands in France who is trying to muster an army to restore her title. But life at court is not the easy pick of rich suitors that Eleanor dreamed of, nor her fantasies of chivalry. She has a flirtation with a groom who's served an English duke and the queen, but theirs is an unrequited love affair and hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

When women are elevated in historical retellings, I often find them annoying, power-hungry and unlikable, and Eleanor was no exception. But those same qualities in a male character and we don't say the same things, we call him morally grey or sexy. I found Eleanor to be a bitter, vain social climber who was also a terribly unlikable Pick-Me girl, but it is a testament to Ms. Gregory's writing that I found her compelling anyway. I saw in her a relentless, determined woman full of sauciness, who at first wanted nothing more than to use her looks to ensnare a hapless noble to marry her, then she wanted courtly love like in the stories, and when she realized that neither of those were in her destiny, she coldly and calculatingly used everyone around her to rise on her own accord to second-in-line to the queen herself.

But ambition and greed was her Achilles heel, and you can guess how all that turned out. The higher an impertinent woman who doesn't know her place rises, the lower she must fall. Eleanor didn't really redeem herself, though she did finally take responsibility for her actions. As she aimed for the role of Queen it became extremely hard to like or respect her, but I was impressed by her cleverness and resourcefulness. This was a woman determined to rise on her own terms, even if she had to steal her lady's husband, be the woman behind him who told him what to do, and use witchcraft to achieve her own ends. She threw everyone under the bus. Even though Owen, the groom, found true love with her rival and they had four children, when she remained unloved and without a family, and that was a compelling reason for her revenge tour, I had to keep wondering, you're expending all this energy over a situationship with a man who was mostly honest with you from the beginning?

In the end I felt sorry for her and her pursuit of power above all else, even friendship. She was never innocent, but she's a case study in that saying about power corrupting. But that also made her intriguing even as I was often annoyed by her. All the side characters were fully fleshed out as well.

This is a book that will stay with me for a long time. What an incredible look at a period of history that was difficult for women, no matter their station in life.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ellery Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how Philippa Gregory can transport me back in time. Her world building is incredible, as is her research. The heroine of this story is not like any other I've encountered from her. She is very difficult to like. At first, I was a fan of Eleanor's ambition, but as the book progressed, her lust for power and her envy twisted her into an unlikable character. I appreciated how Ms. Gregory gave this woman a story and in doing so, gave many women from that time period a voice. Eleanor was not the witch of this novel. In fact, the character who was the witch was so fascinating that I wish she'd had more scenes. Thanks to libro.fm for the gifted ALC. The narration was excellent.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been years since I last read anything by Philippa Gregory, so I decided to try her latest novel, Royal Witch. It’s the story of Eleanor Cobham, Duchess of Gloucester, a woman who has appeared as a secondary character in other books I’ve read (including Gregory’s own The Lady of the Rivers), although this is the first one I’ve read that focuses on her specifically.

We first meet Eleanor in 1421 as a young woman of twenty arriving at Westminster Palace to become a lady-in-waiting to Jacqueline, Countess of Hainault. Jacqueline has taken refuge at the English court after being betrayed by members of her own family who have seized her lands. She is looking for help to regain them and marries Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, in the hope that he can provide the military support she needs in Hainault. Humphrey, however, is having problems in his own country – although he has been named Protector of England until his baby nephew, Henry VI, is old enough to rule, he faces opposition in government from his Beaufort rivals.

As the daughter of a minor nobleman, Eleanor arrives at court wanting nothing more than to marry well, but once she grows close to the strong and determined Jacqueline and sees what it’s possible for a woman to do, she starts to believe she should be aiming higher. She turns for help to Margery Jourdemayne, known as the Witch of Eye, but if it becomes known that Eleanor has been meddling in the dark arts, it could lead to her downfall rather than her glory.

I enjoyed Royal Witch; I love this period of history and it was good to see it through the eyes of a woman I haven’t read very much about. The events taking place in England are significant because they lead directly to the Wars of the Roses and the founding of the Tudor dynasty, but I also found Jacqueline interesting to read about – her campaign to reclaim her lands forms a big part of the first half of the novel and I kept thinking that maybe Gregory should have just written Jacqueline’s story instead of Eleanor’s! Eleanor’s own story doesn’t really start to gain momentum until halfway through the book when she sets her sights on the throne of England and begins to set her plans in motion.

Gregory often seems to enjoy making her heroines as unpleasant as possible (like Margaret Beaufort in The Red Queen); Eleanor is another example of this – she’s ambitious, vain, selfish and vindictive, with few, if any, redeeming qualities. Despite this, it’s impossible not to feel for her when she is rejected by the man she loves, Owen ap Maredudd, who chooses another woman over her, an incident which is the source of a lot of her anger and resentment in the second half of the novel. You may already know who Owen is and who he marries instead, but if not I’ll let you find out for yourself! As Eleanor plots revenge on Owen and his new lover, her outward actions become more cruel and her inner thoughts more bitter, which makes her both an entertaining narrator and quite a chilling one as well. Not even the young king is safe from her plots and machinations.

Margery Jourdemayne is another interesting character. She’s portrayed mainly as a herbalist and fortune teller who becomes caught up in Eleanor’s scheming, along with the astrologer Roger Bolingbroke, leading to accusations of witchcraft, treason and necromancy. This is the climax of the story which everything that comes before was building towards, but we have to wait a long time for it – and that’s my only real criticism of the novel; it often felt longer than it really needed to be and the earlier sections could probably have been condensed to improve the pacing. Otherwise I found this very enjoyable and I wish more authors would write about lesser known Plantagenet women rather than the Tudors!

[Jan Priddy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eleanor Cobham is a worthy subject and her life and imagined machinations are the focus of this novel. I admire her introduction as a person—it's in the first few pages so no spoiler—as she manipulates avoiding the nunnery. There is plenty of excitement and twists and turns throughout. I saw several of those twists and turns coming from a long way off, but others might admire our villainous heroine.

I wish I'd liked her or even found her more interesting as a villain. Over 400 pages of a whiney unimaginative character I am not meant to admire is too much. She doesn't change, not for the better or worse. Aside from that, Gregory's characters are forever speaking "gently" and droning on about "chivalry." (Yeah, okay, chivalry was timely, but reading the word at least a hundred times?) When Eleanor puts her hair down to show off, though married, I just felt irritation. Maidens wore their hair down in the period, as best I can recall from Art History decades ago, married women covered their hair, and nothing at all was made of this. The novel dithers between hinting that the magic is real and that it's all imaginary. Perhaps the last lines are meant to come down on one side of that, or perhaps the author intends to maintain the question? I liked the herbalist Margery very much, but not the title character, or much of anyone else. I suppose it will make a good movie.

I thank Goodreads Giveaways for this advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion. It's not bad, but I would not have finished it if I'd had anything better to read.

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacqueline d’Hainaut, Eleanor Cobham, and Margery Jourdemayne. All women neglected by history, all women unknown to me until now. Philippa Gregory has provided me and anyone who reads Royal Witch with a fascinating and well-researched book of historical fiction. These three women were unique for their time in daring to defy the roles typically expected of them by men.

Jacqueline d’Hainaut, in her bravery and determination, reminded me of Joan of Arc. She insisted on leading armies herself in attempts to win back her lands. She fought for the release from her “marriage” to John IV, Duke of Brabant to marry Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. The legitimacy of her marriages to John and Humphrey haunted her for the rest of her life.

Margery Jourdemayne, I found to be a very interesting character, and one I sympathized with. She seemed to always hold her own with Eleanor and her insistence on not engaging in the dark arts held true. Was she wise woman or witch? So many women met with her same fate. Her end was sad, but so typical of the time. Jacqueline and Eleanor were fortunate.

Eleanor, I leave to the end, not only because she’s the “royal witch,” but also because my feelings toward her aren’t as clear-cut. At some point during her transformation, for me, she became unlikable. Definitely ambitious, but as her life continued, this ambition turned to greed. She says, “I will have everything.” Her treatment of so-called commoners was really quite despicable (but perhaps typical of all of a certain class) and she had no qualms about planning the deaths of anyone who stood in her way, no matter the age, think King Henry VI. During imprisonment she never doubts that she will be released and will still sit on the throne as Queen of England. It’s only at the very end that she allows the black dog into her chamber. I sometimes wondered if she was delusional.

I must add that the difference between these women and Queen Catherine is quite remarkable. Where Catherine does show incredible strength is in her love and devotion to her son, Henry, almost to the point of obsession. But then, truly, what else did she have?

I learned not only about these women, but also Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, his brothers, King Henry V of England and John, Duke of Bedford. The future King Henry VI and the triangle of Eleanor, Catherine, and Owen Tudor (the beginning of the Tudor line) in itself made for a fascinating story.

Thanks to Net Gallery for the opportunity to read this incredible book.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eleanor didn’t know the meaning of the word “enough.” Wanting more than what she is given was always her priority. That’s why in the England of the 1400’s, the young woman who had been promised to a nunnery since birth, tricked her father on her mother’s deathbed to secure a place at court as a lady-in-waiting. There she knew her destiny would be fulfilled when she caught the eye of a noble lord, married well, and lacked for nothing-wasn’t she more beautiful than any of the other ladies, bested only by Queen Catherine of France, herself? She found that she was not in service to the Queen, but instead to Lady Jacqueline who had petitioned the king to send an army to aid her in recovering her lands stolen from her by her French husband and uncles. Eleanor was despondent. She had no choice but to follow her Lady as Jacqueline negotiated with the King of England for troops to help accomplish her mission. Luckily for Eleanor, Lady Jacqueline was an extremely unusual woman who treated her almost as a friend, rather than as a servant, and taught her how to be self-sufficient and fight for what she wanted. She was able to consult with the palace’s wise woman Mistress Jourdemayne, midwife and dispenser of herbal cures, who assured her that she would eventually possess a well -born husband and riches beyond her wildest dreams. She also found a tantalizing Welsh lover at Queen Catherine’s court.

When the English king died on a French battlefield, Henry, the baby Catherine had while he was away, was next in line to the English throne. His brothers became Protectors of the Crown, and one of them became Lady Jacqueline’s second husband. When Lady Jacqueline and Humphrey, her new husband, rode out with the troops to claim her lands, she found that the inhabitants did not want to switch allegiances to her or have a prolonged fight to win back her rights. Caught between the French and English, Lady Jacqueline stayed with the English army at her ancestral palace while her new husband came back to court in England to prepare for a joust that would settle the land dispute, and Eleanor went with him. She was tired of the gossip and ill feelings of the Queen’s other attendants, and manipulated Humphrey into finding her a husband. After the Welshman begged off, she persuaded Humphrey to denounce Jacqueline and marry her instead. With Henry prepared to assume the throne as he got older, Humphrey had no chance of wearing the crown, but their son might achieve it if Henry died. Eleanor seemed unable to conceive and the son she craved was not materializing-but there were other, darker ways to fulfill her heart’s desire…even if it involved necromancy and witchcraft to achieve it.

Gregory is known for her historical novels about women of the English courts. She poses herself a real challenge on this one-create a story featuring three historic women of the fifteenth century who were lightly mentioned in various manuscripts, but had almost no reliable information on which to base their characters. While the British and French history is indisputable and Lady Jacqueline, Eleanor Cobham, and Mistress Jourdemayne did exist, it was up to the author to flesh out their stories. Through most of the book their tale was told in an unhurried way, but as the noose got tighter, the story picked up the pace towards a harrowing ending. For those who enjoy English history or just want to read about strong women of a different age who wanted more than what was expected of them, this is a fascinating novel.

[Kaitlyn Navarro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to William Morrow Books and Philippa Gregory for the ARC of Royal Witch.

Royal Witch was my first Philippa Gregory novel, despite having her Tudor series sitting in my TBR for some time now, and I’m so glad this ended up being my introduction to her work. Set before the rise of the Tudors, this story shines a light on three fascinating women from history whose stories were completely new to me.

Eleanor Cobham, Jacqueline of Hainaut, and Margery Jourdemayne each navigate a world where women have very little control over their own lives. I especially loved how different their personalities and approaches to power were, with each woman showing her own version of determination, ambition, and resilience. Margery’s story in particular was heartbreaking and fascinating.

Gregory’s writing brings medieval England to life beautifully, from the royal court and political maneuvering to the realities of war and the complicated relationships that shaped the future of the monarchy. I especially enjoyed seeing the early foundations of the Tudor dynasty woven into the story.

While the pacing occasionally felt repetitive, this was still a fantastic historical read and a wonderful introduction to Gregory’s writing. I’m officially invested in diving into her Tudor novels now!

[Becky]

4 ⭐️

My obsession with Philippa Gregory books continues 🫶🏻

Thank you to HarperFiction and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The premise was really interesting, and it’s set very early on in the Tudor and Plantagenet series. Eleanor Cobham arrives at the royal court with nothing, aside from a desire - no, ambition - to marry well after Henry V’s victory at Agincourt.

But her ambition may take her too far, as she becomes embroiled with sorcery and dark magic, dark enough to try and overthrow a king.

I didn’t know much about Eleanor Cobham before this story, but her rise at court was incredible. I didn’t always understand her character - at times, she was naive and hopeful, yet for most of the story she was selfish and even ruthless in her motivations. The two parts conflicted unnecessarily.

The beginning of the story also dragged on a tiny bit too much, but once Eleanor had clung onto power, I was gripped.

I personally didn’t find her likeable, but that didn’t detract from the story in any way - she was a woman, fiercely determined to control her own destiny at a time where women couldn’t.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a ride!

The first 3/4 of the book was absolutely insane. It read like a medieval Bravo show. Relationship triangles, ambition, and rich people behaving badly. It had all the drama you could ever want. I literally kept thinking: if these people had a reality show in 2026, it would be the most popular show on television.

That comparison being made, the writing is smart and sharp, as Gregory consistently delivers. She writes the main character, Eleanor, in such a perfect way. You feel like you’re right inside her head, but she is one of the most horrible, ruthlessly ambitious people I have ever met on the page. That did not at all detract from the book. When done well and for a purpose, unlikable characters are fantastic. You will absolutely abhor Eleanor.

The only thing I didn’t love about the book was the last 1/4. Whereas the rest of the book was fast-paced and literally jaw-dropping at points, the last bit of the book dragged a bit. There was still ongoing “drama,” but it was far less gripping. For this reason, I knocked off a star.

Note: I enjoyed this book as an immersion read. Gemma Whelan does a fantastic job narrating. Her performance really makes it feel like you’re living in Eleanor’s head, which is quite the place to be.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Audio, and William Morrow for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen Mace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another captivating and absorbing book from the author, who does a wonderful job of bringing history alive! And this time she's focused on women whose stories aren't that well known and have no official biography - Jacqueline of Hainault, Margery Jordemayne and Eleanor Cobham. Their story is told from the perspective of Eleanor who is the epitomy of social climber and will do what it takes to have power and wealth at her fingertips!

Eleanor finds herself in the royal court at the time of Jacqueline, Countess of hainault, at a very turbulent time and she's so inspired by this fiercely independant woman and her whole life then starts to center around meeting the right people to give her the lifestyle she thinks she deserves!

We also see the role that Margery plays at court at the time, as she deals with healing and medical roles, but is seen as a 'witch' for her powers. And also the struggles that Jacqueline has to endure, a woman in a mans' world. ~And although women are there supporting one another, there's also still that rivalry between some as they try to get ahead and secure their own legacy so it was fascinating to read about the politics and game playing that was going on at the time.

it's a fabulous story of betrayals, bethrothels and scandals and it was wonderful to be transported back in time!

[Ilona Fomby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Royal Witch or Royal B***h?! I can’t tell. 🤣

Whew, I did struggle a little bit getting into this one. I love 15th and 16th European history, but I will admit, I’ve never heard of Eleanor Cobham until this.

With that being said once I started getting into this story I could not stop. In the year 1420 Eleanor has a choice to join a nunnery or serve in court. Eleanor refuses to serve in a nunnery. She wants power in her life and will do anything to achieve it.

At first I kind of liked her, as the story progressed though I began to LOATHE HER. And honestly, I love when an author can make me feel where I simultaneously hate someone, but also cannot look away.

I honestly think this is one of Philippa’s best works in a while.

It isn’t super “witchy” so I wouldn’t consider this a super spooky read if that’s what you’re seeking. This is a historical fiction where some liberties were taken, because there isn’t a whole lot of information about our FMC Eleanor.

Overall, solid read.

[veerali (writing reviews, sorry!!) · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

eleanor cobham can step on me, and i'll gladly say thank you. 😛

[The Bookish Elf · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

The first lie comes at a deathbed. Eleanor Cobham kneels beside her mother, holding a cold hand, and asks in a trembling voice whether it is her dying wish that Eleanor go to court. Her mother, who has always meant her for the convent, struggles to say no. Eleanor sobs louder and louder until nobody in the room can hear the protest, then hides her face so that her brother will not see her triumph. Royal Witch by Philippa Gregory starts with that scene in 1420 and never asks you to like the woman who plays it. Out now from William Morrow in the US and HarperCollins in the UK, it is the story of how a minor knight's daughter from Sterborough rose to become Duchess of Gloucester, and what she was prepared to call up to rise further.

The Girl Who Wanted More Than Sterborough

The first thread is Eleanor's education, and her teacher is the woman she serves. Jacqueline of Hainault, an exiled countess with a stolen inheritance and a square jaw, takes Eleanor on as a maid-of-honour, teases her about her fake fear of horses and tells her flatly that a woman can hold land and lead an army without a husband. Eleanor thinks this is madness. The novel is about the gap between them.

Gregory follows them to the Low Countries, and the campaign is the best stretch of the book. Jacqueline weds Duke Humphrey, brother of Henry V, for his army, and he weds her for her lands. On the march, the burghers of Valenciennes keep their gate shut and politely explain their charter through the portcullis. At Calais, Jacqueline tells her husband to be quiet in front of a Flemish delegation, and he never forgives the single word. Then the English troops are loosed on Brabant in a burning, looting raid, and every pretence of a chivalric quest goes up with the haystacks.

Eleanor watches all of it and learns the wrong lesson. Where Jacqueline sees lordship, Eleanor sees a stage. Her narration is vain, funny and acid: she resents the queen's prettiness, notes every slipper in the room, and counts her own beauty as capital that loses value every year. Royal Witch by Philippa Gregory is at its sharpest when it lets you see her more clearly than she sees herself, and in this first half Gregory never misses.

A Royal Witch in the Making

The counter-thread is power of a darker kind. Under a carved dog's head at Westminster, in a room whose door is propped open by a stone shaped like a great snail, works Margery Jourdemayne, a herbalist and midwife who sells ink to scholars and fortunes to ladies. She is no hag. She is a cheerful countrywoman who admits that half of foreseeing is simply watching people repeat themselves, and she is the closest thing the book has to a conscience. When she lays out painted Italian cards for Eleanor, only Eleanor notices the black dog walking into the burning tower.

Around Humphrey gathers a circle of Oxford men: the physician, the chaplain and Roger Bolingbroke, an astrologer gentle enough to explain the seasons with a frosted apple and a rose hip. In other hands they would be villains. Here they are curious and flattering, and the slide from horoscopes to something forbidden is gradual enough to be believable. The Church's line between licensed study and necromancy is spelled out early, which makes every later step across it count.

Whether any of the magic works is left open, and that ambiguity is the cleverest choice in Royal Witch by Philippa Gregory. The real Eleanor Cobham was convicted in 1441; the novel cares less about the verdict than about the appetite that led there.

The Last Word

The flaws are structural, not fatal. The middle drags, the politics is often second-hand, and Humphrey deserved more. But Royal Witch by Philippa Gregory gives a forgotten, notorious woman a voice that is vicious, funny and frighteningly reasonable from the inside, and it never pretends she was wronged when she was not.

She started by drowning out her mother. Gregory makes sure you hear everything she says after that.

[Lauralee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eleanor Cobham was the aunt of King Henry VI. She was the second wife of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, who was the son of King Henry IV and the brother of King Henry V. She has been famous for being found guilty of witchcraft. This historical novel chronicles her rise from a commoner to a royal duchess. In order to get revenge on the man who rejected her, Eleanor makes a deal with the devil to become queen of England. However, her plan backfires and Eleanor experiences a sudden downfall.

Eleanor Cobham has always been a compelling royal figure! She was a woman who was first a mistress to Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, and then eventually became his wife. She was later accused and found guilty of witchcraft. She spent the rest of her life in prison. Therefore, I was eager to see how the queen of historical fiction would portray her!

Eleanor Cobham is not a likable character. Even though the story is told from her perspective, she is an anti-heroine. Nevertheless, she was still a compelling figure. Eleanor Cobham was selfish and vain. She used her beauty for her own ends. She did not care about the people around her. She was vengeful and thought about ruining the lives of others. She was ambitious and power-hungry. She was willing to commit murder to be queen. I was appalled by her ruthless actions. Nevertheless, there were times I pitied her because she yearned to be loved, but she remained unloved.

Overall, this book is about ambition, betrayal, and power. I found all of the characters to be flawed but realistic. I liked how Philippa Gregory depicted the early reign of King Henry VI before the War of the Roses. It showed who were the powerful men that reigned behind a young King Henry VI. I found Royal Witch to be an enthralling page turner! I was hooked from the very first page! I did not want it to end, and it lingered with me after I finished the last page! It was a novel I did not know I craved! Royal Witch was a feast for fans of royalty and is one of the best anticipated reads of 2026! I recommend this book for fans of The Queen of Last Hopes, Katherine, and The Goldsmith’s Wife!
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)

[Herbibliomaniac · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 🌟

Beautifully written and well researched, this story is rich with Tudor history with the addition of sorcery.

With snark and wit Eleanor rises from nothing to climbing the social ladder with the dream of becoming Queen of England. She had no problem who she tore down in the process of attempting to achieve her dreams. As a women in a time where life was difficult, her resourcefulness did get her far even if she wasn't the most likeable character. It was interesting to see just how far she would go to get what she wanted.

All the women in this story had their own unique voice that showed a glimpse of court life during Tudor times. It was fascinating to read. There was plenty of drama to entertain.

My only complaint is that it had a bit of a slow start. But the second half makes up for it.

The audio itself was done well. The narrator did a great job with all the characters and brought extra life to this story. It was easy to understand and keep up with even at high speeds.

Thanks to Harper Audio Adult/William Morrow, Philippa Gregory, and NetGalley for sending for me an Alc to review.
Narrated by Gemma Whelan

[Krissy (books_and_biceps9155) · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Loosely based on real women of history, Gregory tell the tale of ambition, betrayal and deceit during the Tudor timeline. It also has a bit of magic thrown in. Gregory has always amazed me at her extensive research and attention to detail. I always learn so much from her novels and am always impressed with the figures she finds in history to tell us about.

I loved the short chapters; the pacing was quick (considering the war/history details) and one of the most epic villains I have encountered in Elanor Cobham. She is manipulative and will stop at nothing. I felt for Margery and the loss she endures and the ambition we see in Jacqueline d’Hainaut. For this being HF, there are quite a bit of shocking twists and things I did not see coming.

If you have read Gregory in the past, this is very similar to her exceptional work. If you haven’t, I suggest the Boylen novels as they are my favorite. I was so obsessed with them that I learned all things Boylen because of it. Thank you to @mother.horror for buddying reading with me and sharing in my love of Gregory.

[Donna McCaul Thibodeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eleanor Cobham was a noblewoman, who became the mistress, and then wife, of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. She wanted her husband to be the king of England, so she put a plan into place to make this happen...
I adore this author, and was thrilled to read an advanced copy of this book. She weaves fiction into historical characters with excellent results. I had never heard of Eleanor Cobham, and after reading this, looked up all the information I could find on her. I loved this book, and would highly recommend it.

[Jennie Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eleanor Cobham might be one of the greatest FMC’s I’ve ever read. She’s conniving, she’s greedy, she’s jealous and she’s extremely likable. This is based in 15th century England and is full of scandal, corruption, witchcraft and royal intrigue. I listened on audio and the narration by Gemma Whelan is superb. Highly recommend!

[Helen Haythornthwaite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philippa Gregory is another author whose books I’ve been reading for nearly 40 years now, and she’s always been an auto-buy author of mine. To receive this proof of her latest book is a dream come true.

‘Royal Witch’ focuses on Eleanor Cobham, about whom very little has been written. She was a commoner, with no dowry, who married Duke Humphrey of Gloucester - Henry V’s youngest brother. I love reading about historical characters I haven’t met before, and this was such a captivating narrative of what her life could have been like.

Eleanor is portrayed as a very ambitious, wily and shrew-like young lady, but she’s also quite naive too. She wants to be the richest, most powerful woman in England, and will stop at nothing to get what she wants. Empathy and sympathy are not words in her vocabulary, and her quest for revenge sees her trample over anyone in her way.

The author’s vivid descriptions immediately drew me in, and I just loved being transported back 600 years to hear about Eleanor’s story and the court of the early 15th century. The narrative includes events which lead up to the first collective women’s petition, in English history, in 1428; and the battle for French sovereignty in which Joan of Arc was involved.

This book is rich in historical detail, and I enjoyed discovering other characters I’d previously been unaware of too. I’ve always thought that the women found guilty of witchcraft at this time were innocent healers or midwives, but it sounds like Eleanor really did dabble in the dark arts to achieve her aims here.



I was sent a proof copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[HalKid2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author Philippa Gregory is known for writing novels that highlight women who played key roles in history, but have largely been ignored in traditional history books. In her newest novel ROYAL WITCH Gregory relates the stories of three women whose lives intersected during the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453). (That was the on-and-off again battles over who had a better claim to rule France - the English or the French?) Awarded three stars, which is lower than most other reviewers.

ROYAL WITCH spans roughly a generation, from 1420 to 1448. Many events from this period help set the stage for England's coming Wars of the Roses (1455-1487). It's a novel focused on both royals and non-royals jockeying for power. Feeding their ambition is growing concern about the suitability of Henry VI (1421-1471) as king. He (according to this and many other accounts) was a pious mama's boy with no interest in sex.

The featured women of ROYAL WITCH are:
• Jacqueline d'Hainaut (1401-1436) - the legitimate female heir to Holland, Zeeland and Hainaut. She is in England looking for an army powerful enough to enforce her claim.
• Catherine of Valois (1401-1437) - the French wife of England's warrior-king Henry V (1386-1422), known for his heroic victory at the 1415 Battle of Agincourt. After his early death, and aside from being a doting mother to her infant son, Catherine surprisingly marries the Welshman who runs her household. His name may be familiar - Owen Tudor (1400-1461). And you may already know that with him, she creates a second family that eventually leads to a new royal dynasty.
• Eleanor Cobham (c. 1400-1452) - initially an English noblewoman who becomes lady-in-waiting to Jacqueline D'Hainault. Later she marries Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (1390-1447), younger brother to Henry V. She is also the novel's narrator so all events and observations are from her perspective. She has what you might call an exaggerated sense of her own importance and becomes increasingly unlikeable as she rises in power and influence.

In theory, there's plenty of drama in this story. Accusations of treason. Lots of superstition. Charges of witchcraft. And an appropriate amount of religious zeal for the Middle Ages. Yet I only found parts of this novel interesting. The first third of the book dragged and, even during the last half of the book, when the pace picks up, the novel felt too long (432 pages). There are many, many long passages where we witness every thought inside Eleanor's head, with much redundancy. In addition, Gregory includes way too much period detail for my taste. I felt ROYAL WITCH would have been better if it was shortened by 20%.

As an author, Gregory is known for thorough research and good storytelling, but not always historical accuracy. In ROYAL WITCH, the momentum of the plot is driven by a relationship that never existed. Lead protagonist Eleanor Cobham is motivated throughout this book by an old lover's rejection. Gregory explains in the novel's opening Author's Note that she made up this love affair. There's no historical suggestion that it occurred. While that fabrication may enhance this story, I personally prefer historical fiction that sticks to known facts and teaches me more about actual history.

So, given how central the fabrication is to the plot of ROYAL WITCH, I'm not quite sure why the author picked this story to tell. Also, be ready. Eleanor develops some abrupt self-awareness near the end of the book which didn't feel believable to me. It felt stuck in, like an editor suggested Gregory needed to somehow redeem Eleanor for her readers. I recommend this book for Plantagenet and Tudor die-hards only.

[Ray Palen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleanor Cobham was as famous for being the second wife of the Duke of Gloucester in the court of King Henry V as she was for being tried for necromancy and witchery. ROYAL WITCH tells this roller-coaster ride of a tale that depicts the rise and rapid fall of Eleanor Cobham and there is no one better to author this than Philippa Gregory, who has made this era in British history her primary focus during her storied career.

As a young woman, Eleanor Cobham was the only member of her family who reveled in the death of her mother because, in her eyes, it marked the start of her freedom. She left home with minimal support from her father to seek a position within the royal chambers in the court of King Henry V. Henry’s bride is the teen-aged Queen Catherine, which inspires the teen-aged Eleanor who sees this as being her way of climbing the ladder to greatness and royal notoriety.

She works her way into the employ of Jacqueline, Countess of Hainault, who is betrothed to Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. Jacqueline is tough-minded and well-respected, and Eleanor gleans what she can from her as she keeps her eyes peeled for a wealthy and powerful man that she can hitch herself to. With England at war with multiple enemies, things take a dark turn when the mighty Henry V falls during battle, leaving young Catherine to rule in his place --- something many elders in the court are not happy about.
Several members of the court take to the field of battle, including Jacqueline who leads her own army and is actually more skilled at warfare than even Humphrey. With Jacqueline away for a lengthy period during battle, Eleanor makes her move on Humphrey and coaxes herself into his bed and the role of mistress. Her timing is ideal, as Humphrey finds his marriage to Jaqueline annulled by Pope Martin V when he discovered that she was still technically married to John IV, Duke of Brabant. Eleanor uses this opportunity to work her into wedded bliss with Humphrey and herself into a Duchess role in the process.

What was occurring behind the scenes of this unlikely rise of Eleanor’s was the fact that she was seeking the advice of occult forces to predict and aid in her decisions and the timing necessary to capitalize on them. She starts with small-time fortune tellers and then works her way up to some of the most famous astrologers in the area. People like Thomas Southwell and Roger Bolingbroke, whose reputations were frowned upon by the staunchly religious citizens who saw this as demonism and witchery.

Unbeknownst to Eleanor, there are those in the court who did not like her and were quite jealous of her allegedly undeserved fortune. It was these individuals who conspired to see her taken down hard. The second half of this novel focuses on the less savory part of Eleanor Cobham’s infamous life, which saw her tried and imprisoned for life as a witch. She was denounced by the royal court and finally died in imprisonment at the age of fifty-two where she was being held in Beaumaris Castle. She fared better than Southwell, who died in the Tower of London, and Bolingbroke who was hanged and then drawn and quartered.

Philippa Gregory breathes life into the woman labeled the ‘Royal Witch’ within the Royal Court of the early to mid-1400’s. Eleanor is someone we can relate to and her ascension and fall within such a quick period of time is the stuff of legend.

Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter

[Emma De Vos Tidd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the more interesting and unique historical fiction novels I’ve read, and my first Philippa Gregory book. I can absolutely see why she’s such an accomplished historical fiction novelist. It’s clear how much research goes into her work, but what impressed me most was her ability to weave that historical knowledge into an incredibly engaging story filled with complex characters and a compelling plot. Historical fiction isn’t usually my genre, but I found myself just as captivated by Eleanor and the world she inhabits as I would be with any fantasy novel.

What really made this book stand out to me was Eleanor’s character arc. At the beginning, you can’t help but root for her. She seems mostly innocent, a woman who simply wants to marry well and enjoy a life of prestige, glamour, and comfort. But as the story progresses, you begin to see just how unreliable a narrator she is, and how selfish, manipulative, and downright horrible she can be to the people around her, including those who genuinely try to help her. I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever gone from somewhat liking a character to full-on hating them over the course of a single book, and that alone speaks volumes about Gregory’s talent for characterization. She makes you understand Eleanor’s motivations without necessarily excusing her actions, and watching that transformation unfold was fascinating.

I also thought the pacing was just right, even if the story moved a little slowly at times. So many years pass throughout the novel, and I appreciated how Gregory chose to focus on particular moments rather than trying to capture every single detail of Eleanor’s life. These carefully crafted glimpses felt like fragments of a much longer, storied history, giving the novel a sense of depth and making the world feel as though it existed far beyond the pages. It’s a different kind of storytelling than I’m used to, but one that worked wonderfully for this particular story.

Overall, I’m so impressed by this book, and I think I’ll be thinking about it for a while. Gregory has absolutely convinced me to give more of her work a try. I highly recommend Royal Witch to anyone who enjoys slower-paced historical fiction set in medieval England, especially if you’re interested in following an entirely unlikeable character whose journey is nevertheless utterly compelling. Sometimes, watching a character become someone you can’t stand is just as fascinating as watching them become someone you love.

Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the chance to review this book before its publication.

[Agi · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Royal Witch, best-selling author Philippa Gregory once again proves her unmatched talent for bringing the forgotten women of history into the spotlight. This time, she takes us into the intrigue-filled world of early 15th-century England to tell the fascinating, yet dark story of Eleanor Cobham.

Eleanor is not your typical, purely likable heroine. Gregory paints her as an ambitious, strategic, and increasingly ruthless woman reaching for the crown in a man's world. Her moral shift and descent into the "dark arts" are masterfully written. I liked the fact that she's a rather selfish. self - obsessed heroine, it somehow fitted the whole story and atmosphere and well, you could learn from her how to manipulate other in the best possible way. She was really not likeable in the ways of a historical fitcion heroine, but nevertheless I did like her and admired her determination to achieve what she wanted. All the other characters are really well written, as well, their development is a complex process.

The court life, the political infighting leading up to the Wars of the Roses, and the growing paranoia surrounding witchcraft are incredibly detailed and vivid. Alongside Eleanor, other historical figures like the court witch Margery Jourdemay get a voice, giving the book great narrative depth.

I had troubles to get into the book, it took me a long time to chew through the first parts - not sure why, maybe becaue of Eleanor, to whom you really must get uses, or maybe because of the many historical facts, not sure.The middle section of the novel drags a bit, as the political intrigues and Eleanor's visits to fortune-tellers start to feel repetitive. Additionally, the title might be slightly misleading for some readers: if you are expecting a fantasy spectacle full of actual magic, you might be disappointed. At its core, this is a grounded historical novel where the "witchcraft" aspect is viewed through the lens of contemporary superstition.

But altogether, this is, just as expected, a highly compelling page-turner for fans of historical fiction, court intrigue, and flawed, powerful female leads. If you loved Gregory's previous works like The Other Boleyn Girl, you will thoroughly enjoy this one!