To Die For
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Review
"Sandra Byrd's first venture into historical fiction is nothing short of brilliant. All the Tudor details are perfectly placed, like gemstones in a royal crown, yet there is far more to this compelling novel than mere history. The characters live and breathe, their struggles are real, their longings palpable. Seeing Anne Boleyn's story through the eyes of her closest friend provides a well-rounded, even sympathetic view of a woman often vilified in history books. As Meg's story unfolds, Sandra Byrd does Philippa Gregory one better, giving readers a wider glimpse of history, a greater measure of hope, and an ending that satisfies at the deepest level. Simply put, To Die For is the best historical novel I've read in many a season, a masterpiece of history and heart." ----Liz Curtis Higgs, New York Times bestselling author of Mine Is the Night
"In this moving story of a friendship that survives a queen's rise and fall, Sandra Byrd reaches beyond the familiar stereotypes to give us the story of two remarkable women: Anne Boleyn and Meg Wyatt. A refreshingly three-dimensional Anne and a Meg of courage and integrity make this novel a must for your Tudor library."
----Susan Higginbotham, author of The Queen of Last Hopes
"In this moving story of a friendship that survives a queen's rise and fall, Sandra Byrd reaches beyond the familiar stereotypes to give us the story of two remarkable women: Anne Boleyn and Meg Wyatt. A refreshingly three-dimensional Anne and a Meg of courage and integrity make this novel a must for your Tudor library."
----Susan Higginbotham, author of The Queen of Last Hopes
Review
“Most readers of Tudor historicals think they know Queen Anne Boleyn. They'll meet a very different Anne in Sandra Byrd's wonderfully told ToDie For. Anne's life-long friend Meg Wyatt tells the tale of Anne's rise from lady-in-waiting to the arms of King Henry VIII and the throne of England until her tragic fall. Meg, who rises and falls with Anne, seeks her own lost love and faith. Anne's influence during the English Reformation is an integral and refreshing part of this story, one that Byrd tells with authority, adding a new and honest dimension to Anne's life and death . . . A novel to savor and return to.” —Jeane Westin, author of His Last Letter: Elizabeth I and the Earl of Leicester
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Sometimes a book comes along that you not only love reading but it makes you think about your view of history. As an English woman I was taught in school of Anne's role in the reformation of the English church and divorce of Henry VIII from Katherine of Aragon, all of which was based on reports written by those who were against Anne Boleyn. I love reading books about that time period but some have become very much the same as each other but not this one. It was so refreshing to see an Anne with friendships and faith through the eyes her best friend, that it made me rethink what I had previously thought of her.
This story not only brought Anne to life for me but the whole court at the time, I was transported to another time and place and became invested in the lives of the characters I met there. Each character was so real to me and fully developed that I felt like I was there with them.
Seeing the new style of faith birthed during that time and the effect it had on their lives held me mesmerised and I found all too soon I had read the book completely.
Happily I can read it again at any time!
This story not only brought Anne to life for me but the whole court at the time, I was transported to another time and place and became invested in the lives of the characters I met there. Each character was so real to me and fully developed that I felt like I was there with them.
Seeing the new style of faith birthed during that time and the effect it had on their lives held me mesmerised and I found all too soon I had read the book completely.
Happily I can read it again at any time!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the first of Byrd's books I have read, and if this is the standard of her writing, it will not be the last.
As a lover of historical fiction I was in two minds about this book. It is a story that is well known and it is not too long since Philippa Gregory's excellent series, which I thought none could equal.
It was just a few pages before I was hooked and once again immersed in the shifting tides of Tudor courtly life.
I enjoyed the book immensely and found it to be a completely fresh view on a woman who has long been regarded as a harlot, complimenting rather than regurgitating other stories on the subject.
Byrd goes much further than simply retelling what is known but takes many names from the dusty history chalkboard and breathes life into them that challenges history as we have learned it. Each character treads their own path with compelling personality and warmth. Byrd manages to keep this tension between living characters and the known history alive throughout the book.
And yet, where there is no hope, Byrd cleverly weaves the fabric of political wrangling and the threads of changing attitudes towards the church into the struggle of the leading character, Anne Boleyn's closest friend; Meg, whose fate is yet to be decided. Will she take up the role of wife when it is before her or will she stand by her friend, come what may? Will she abandon her faith as Christendom crumbles around her or will she look to the One who is revealed by the recently published Tyndale?
Very cleverly devised and beautifully executed.
As a lover of historical fiction I was in two minds about this book. It is a story that is well known and it is not too long since Philippa Gregory's excellent series, which I thought none could equal.
It was just a few pages before I was hooked and once again immersed in the shifting tides of Tudor courtly life.
I enjoyed the book immensely and found it to be a completely fresh view on a woman who has long been regarded as a harlot, complimenting rather than regurgitating other stories on the subject.
Byrd goes much further than simply retelling what is known but takes many names from the dusty history chalkboard and breathes life into them that challenges history as we have learned it. Each character treads their own path with compelling personality and warmth. Byrd manages to keep this tension between living characters and the known history alive throughout the book.
And yet, where there is no hope, Byrd cleverly weaves the fabric of political wrangling and the threads of changing attitudes towards the church into the struggle of the leading character, Anne Boleyn's closest friend; Meg, whose fate is yet to be decided. Will she take up the role of wife when it is before her or will she stand by her friend, come what may? Will she abandon her faith as Christendom crumbles around her or will she look to the One who is revealed by the recently published Tyndale?
Very cleverly devised and beautifully executed.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"To Die For" is a wonderful mix of history, romance and the roles of women in the court of Henry VIII
The emergence of the protestant church in England is brought to life with the difficulties and intricacies for those involved highlighted .
The story is captivating and reveals a different side to Anne Boleyn which doesn't seem to have been detailed before. Instead of the gold-digging harlot often portrayed, she is shown to be a young woman in love trying to do the best for her man, her friends and her beliefs with all the complications this can entail
The story continued to fill my thoughts and I found myself trying to rush through work to be able to get back to this book!
I would certainly recommend this novel and look forward to the next from this talented author.
The emergence of the protestant church in England is brought to life with the difficulties and intricacies for those involved highlighted .
The story is captivating and reveals a different side to Anne Boleyn which doesn't seem to have been detailed before. Instead of the gold-digging harlot often portrayed, she is shown to be a young woman in love trying to do the best for her man, her friends and her beliefs with all the complications this can entail
The story continued to fill my thoughts and I found myself trying to rush through work to be able to get back to this book!
I would certainly recommend this novel and look forward to the next from this talented author.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A good light read but nothing special
This book was fine, but nothing out of the ordinary or special.
The main character was likable, if a little too innocent/good as gold - although to be fair she was only... Read more
The main character was likable, if a little too innocent/good as gold - although to be fair she was only... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Tudorkat80
The Loyalty of a close friend......
OK.....so most people know how Anne Boleyn's story ends. You set out reading a book about her thinking "how could it all come to this? Read more
Published 2 months ago by A whole lotta history
"To Die for" by Sandra Byrd
To Die for: A Novel of Anne Boleyn
I was unsure that this book, written by an American, about people and places in English history would appeal to me: an English chap. Read more
I was unsure that this book, written by an American, about people and places in English history would appeal to me: an English chap. Read more
Published 4 months ago by kenh
Great read!
I absolutely loved every single page of this book.
The author has chosen to tell the well known story of Anne Boleyn but through the eyes of her childhood friend and lady in... Read more
The author has chosen to tell the well known story of Anne Boleyn but through the eyes of her childhood friend and lady in... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Vickim
nice story
I am very much interested in the English history, this book is good, not as good as the others, eg. The other Boleyn girl by Philippa Gregory, but still you may enjoy the events of... Read more
Published 5 months ago by alex
A surprisingly smpathetic portrait of Anne B.
I liked this book on many levels and the narrative cleverly takes its two heroines (Anne Boleyn and her childhood friend Meg) from young, carefree and optimistic friends, to older... Read more
Published 6 months ago by EleanorB
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