I love Philippa Gregory and thoroughly enjoyed Wideacre, the first book in this trilogy. The Favored Child, which "continues" the story, is actually more of the same. As is typical of Gregory's works, the book is well-written and the characters interesting - at least the first time you meet them. However, because the plot line mirrors Wideacre quite closely and is not sufficiently different, one feels a bit like they are rereading Wideacre. Nevertheless, if you like Philippa Gregory, you will read and finish this book. However, if you are looking for fresh material and a surprise in the story line, you will be disappointed in this book.

Again, there are ugly and disturbing scenes in this book. If you are sensitive to writing that is not "pretty" you may want to skip reading this book and the others in the series.

It's bad.
It's painful to read.
I think Gregory enjoys torturing her characters a little TOO much.
I read pretty well until about page 450 or so, but I just couldn't take it anymore. I skimmed the rest. I HAD to see what happened but I didn't want to actually READ it.

I have to say I couldnt finish this book, mostly because i threw it across the room a few too many times. The abuse and willingness to take the abuse the heroine endures is not only impossible to read, you cant even feel sympathy for her anymore. I'm insulted as a human that an author would think i would enjoy reading about a character who is so spineless and stupid as to let herself be treated this way. It is well written, but you will hate the 2 main characters. Its hard to empathize with a heroine who cant stand on her own 2 feet and get a life, and a villain who has no depth or subtlety to him whatsoever. I will say I loved the queens fool and the other boleyn girl, that is why i picked up this book, so beware!

Ugh...I am utterly disgusted, and not by the incest. I really wanted to like this book, and for about 400 pages, I was on board. While I didn't think any of the characters are either believable or reliable (same went for Wideacre), I was hoping there would be a plot twist and that maybe Julia would have another one of her unpredictable bouts of courage. I was nearly finished, but I became so furious with the plot (and not in a good way) that I flipped to the back and read the last few pages, only to toss the book across the room in a rage. I hate Julia, I hate Richard, and I hate how the novel ends. I can't even go back and finish the pages I skipped. I've read many other Gregory books, but this one makes me want to write her off forever. Ugh...

This is the second book in the Wideacre series and follows Beatrice's daughter, Julia. Out of Beatrice's two incestuous children, Julia inherits her 'good' side (in tune with the land and a natural with animals) whereas her son Richard encompasses Beatrice's worst traits. The Favored Child lacks the eery, shocking, almost disturbing quality of Wideacre, and the more lively (and likable) characters of Meridon. However, I didn't regret reading it- it still has the typical Gregory descriptions and historical traits, and is not a boring story.