Helpful Score: 3
Sandra Byrd has been on my favorite authors list since I read her first adult novel back in 2008--Let Them Eat Cake. Ever since then, her books have become ones that I pick up immediately without a second thought because I know they will be that good. To Die For was no exception, and now that Sandra has made this transition into the world of Christian historical fiction, I have no idea how she'll ever be able to choose between writing it or contemporary fiction in the future!
So, with all that said, let me just tell you how exquisite this book was! Breathtaking, majestic, heartbreaking, and anguishing...all of those words poured into my mind as I read the glorious, but tragic, story of Anne Boleyn. Only this wasn't a story just about Anne and her love for Henry VIII; it also included Anne's faithful childhood friend, Meg Wyatt. Truly, until this book, I had never heard anything about Meg Wyatt, and I can't remember when I last read a book that showed what true loyalty and constant friendship is all about. Meg had so many opportunities to leave the court life, to withdraw as one of Anne's ladies-in-waiting, but she remained faithful to her call to serve until the very end. I pitied her unfortunate relationships with her father and brother, but her circumstances were true to the time period. Women had nothing back then, unless it was provided through a man, and were extremely restricted in the decisions they made, particularly in regards to marriage. How glad I am that society has progressed since then--I am far too strong-willed to have survived!
This novel was written so masterfully that I cant count the number of times I had to look at the front cover to be sure that I was actually reading a book by Sandra! She grasped the Tudor period and its customs so well that I felt fully immersed its culture. The language of that time was so eloquent and proper that people didnt spout off the first thing that came to their mind. It was a time where words had the power to sentence a man to death, so one had to be extra careful of what was spoken and how it could potentially be interpreted. Also, the descriptions of the food and clothing were enough to make me drool! Multiple-course feasts, hundreds of castles and palaces, and dresses with golden threads woven through the cloth portrayed the extreme wealth and grandeur of the King of England and his courtiers. Sandra skillfully captured every aspect of this grand era in such a way that I felt like a part of the story. That, my friends, makes her one talented author. :o)
I haven't the slightest clue what Sandra has up her sleeve for her next novel, but I know one thing...it can't get here quick enough! For those (like me) who can't get enough of Tudor history, England, or The Royals in general, this stunning book would make an excellent addition to your reading fare, and I guarantee you won't be disappointed. To Die For was one of the best novels I've had the pleasure of reading all year, and has earned a well-deserved place on my keeper shelf. Highly Recommended!
5 Stars
So, with all that said, let me just tell you how exquisite this book was! Breathtaking, majestic, heartbreaking, and anguishing...all of those words poured into my mind as I read the glorious, but tragic, story of Anne Boleyn. Only this wasn't a story just about Anne and her love for Henry VIII; it also included Anne's faithful childhood friend, Meg Wyatt. Truly, until this book, I had never heard anything about Meg Wyatt, and I can't remember when I last read a book that showed what true loyalty and constant friendship is all about. Meg had so many opportunities to leave the court life, to withdraw as one of Anne's ladies-in-waiting, but she remained faithful to her call to serve until the very end. I pitied her unfortunate relationships with her father and brother, but her circumstances were true to the time period. Women had nothing back then, unless it was provided through a man, and were extremely restricted in the decisions they made, particularly in regards to marriage. How glad I am that society has progressed since then--I am far too strong-willed to have survived!
This novel was written so masterfully that I cant count the number of times I had to look at the front cover to be sure that I was actually reading a book by Sandra! She grasped the Tudor period and its customs so well that I felt fully immersed its culture. The language of that time was so eloquent and proper that people didnt spout off the first thing that came to their mind. It was a time where words had the power to sentence a man to death, so one had to be extra careful of what was spoken and how it could potentially be interpreted. Also, the descriptions of the food and clothing were enough to make me drool! Multiple-course feasts, hundreds of castles and palaces, and dresses with golden threads woven through the cloth portrayed the extreme wealth and grandeur of the King of England and his courtiers. Sandra skillfully captured every aspect of this grand era in such a way that I felt like a part of the story. That, my friends, makes her one talented author. :o)
I haven't the slightest clue what Sandra has up her sleeve for her next novel, but I know one thing...it can't get here quick enough! For those (like me) who can't get enough of Tudor history, England, or The Royals in general, this stunning book would make an excellent addition to your reading fare, and I guarantee you won't be disappointed. To Die For was one of the best novels I've had the pleasure of reading all year, and has earned a well-deserved place on my keeper shelf. Highly Recommended!
5 Stars
Helpful Score: 2
I have always been fascinated by Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, so when I saw that Sandra Byrd had written a book about the very historical people I willingly studied without the gentle prodding of any teacher, I was thrilled.
I will admit that I am not a passionate historical fiction reader. I am as likely to put down a historical novel as read it. Not so with Ms. Byrd's novel. She is a charming storyteller that was able to blend historical facts and fiction without any interruptions that pulled me out of the story.
What happens when a king is given all power and no one will say anything against him for fear of their life? Take care, and read the story of this ill-fated young woman and learn from history. Too much power is never good in the hands of sinful mankind. Anne is drawn into a web of lies, deceit, and debauchery - and history itself tells who the unfortunate loser is.
You'll find yourself empathizing with young Anne Boleyn in love with the king of England, and shuddering with trepidation as she allows herself to be persuaded that he is honest and forthright. You'll cringe and shake your head when she becomes blinded to his faults and wonder to yourself how the whole of history would have been changed had she decided to marry someone else. Bemoan a young life lost to the whim of a narcissistic king who thinks he does no wrong and a court too terrified of losing their own heads than to tell the truth and save innocent lives. Finally, you'll sigh with sadness and allow yourself a moment of bittersweet contemplation as well as triumph to know that the surviving child of their ill-fated union would grow up to be arguably the greatest queen of England.
I will admit that I am not a passionate historical fiction reader. I am as likely to put down a historical novel as read it. Not so with Ms. Byrd's novel. She is a charming storyteller that was able to blend historical facts and fiction without any interruptions that pulled me out of the story.
What happens when a king is given all power and no one will say anything against him for fear of their life? Take care, and read the story of this ill-fated young woman and learn from history. Too much power is never good in the hands of sinful mankind. Anne is drawn into a web of lies, deceit, and debauchery - and history itself tells who the unfortunate loser is.
You'll find yourself empathizing with young Anne Boleyn in love with the king of England, and shuddering with trepidation as she allows herself to be persuaded that he is honest and forthright. You'll cringe and shake your head when she becomes blinded to his faults and wonder to yourself how the whole of history would have been changed had she decided to marry someone else. Bemoan a young life lost to the whim of a narcissistic king who thinks he does no wrong and a court too terrified of losing their own heads than to tell the truth and save innocent lives. Finally, you'll sigh with sadness and allow yourself a moment of bittersweet contemplation as well as triumph to know that the surviving child of their ill-fated union would grow up to be arguably the greatest queen of England.
