This is my favorite of Philippa Gregory's books. I thought her prose and pacing was the most well-written out of all of her books I've read (which is almost all, from the good-ish to the BAD). You know that Gregory's books are all on the trashy side. Yes, the narrator is evil and crazy as hell but gleefully and unapologetically so, especially when it comes to lying, cheating, murdering, and oppressing the villagers. Lots of sex and incest. Very entertaining read.