I liked this historical fiction story of Anne Boleyn and King Henry. ( )

This is the fourth or fifth fictionalized account I've either read or watched surrounding Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. Still, the story ultimately had me riveted all over again, in large part because it comes from Meg's perspective.

Indeed, while I understand the publisher labeling it as "A Novel of Anne Boleyn," a notorious name readers can recognize, I wouldn't call it that. In this case, Anne is one of the main characters in "A Novel of Meg Wyatt."

Now, the writing style seemed geared toward an immature audience at times, stating, explaining, or repeating the obvious. Also, though the story itself kept me interested, I had trouble getting a compelling feel for the characters through maybe a third of the book, and it wasn't until about halfway through that I started to actually care about Meg. Especially in some of the chapters in the first half, as the story had to fit in plot points and historical events at certain times, I wouldn't say the characters involved were always developed enough yet to match the level of the events.

However, I appreciate how, even with the historical religious themes and Meg's faith experience, the author hasn't tried to depict all the religious characters in a comfortably pious light. Yet, even with the greed, adultery, cruelty, hangings, burnings, beheadings, and more in the story, Meg and her personal journey kept the read from leaving me with an overall dark or haunted feeling. And I loved this novel's ending.

I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the Ladies in Waiting series. ( )

Sunday, August 24, 2014
To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn ~ Book 1 in the Ladies in Waiting series by Sandra Byrd, ©2011

Author Sandra Byrd has written a very thorough account of the Tudor period under the rule of King Henry VIII through the eyes of Anne Boleyn's trusted and truest friend, Anne (Meg) Wyatt, her childhood companion and wardrobe mistress at Court.

I liked the first person telling as only a dear friend can; one who is an honest and forthright teller of day-to-day happenings and conversations. Historical fiction is my very favorite genre. Are we to repeat history or reclaim what is rightfully ours? A choice to be made, for sure.

In this telling of Anne Boleyn, I liked Meg and her character very much. She rose above a mistreated home life to become very valuable in following a calling she believed was hers. In putting her life solely for the betterment of her friend, in servitude, she gained a worthy stand above reproach. Trust and fidelity brought her a remarkable outcome.

Notice the necklace on the cover of this novel! Anne Boleyn, whether innocently or contrived became entangled in the life of Henry VIII, a villain in his own right ~ possibly starting out with good intent but becoming ensnared in his own deceit and power. During this time, the Tyndale New Testament of the Bible was being printed in English. Secret meetings during the English Reformation were attended not only by those in agreement, but by those wishing to stand by the king and his rulings. Anne sought to set in power those with alliance to the reform; Henry wanted to affirm his sovereignty. He passed acts beneficial to himself. Seeking a male heir, he found ways to dismiss his wives.

Included are listings of Family Trees showing their connection to each other within the story; author notes, research sources, reading group guide, and author Q&A.

***Thank you to author Sandra Byrd for this copy of To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn and the insight of the Tudor period. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.*** ( )

I have always loved the Tudor era and in particular the lives of Henry VIII’s wives. Sandra Byrd’s book To Die For offers an interesting look into the life and times of Henry and Anne Boleyn. Told by Anne’s longtime friend, Meg Wyatt, the novel is a fresh look at the woman who did much to bring the Reformation to England.

Meg Wyatt, sister of poet and courtier Thomas Wyatt, is the narrator of To Die For. She is truly a woman of her time, bound by the patriarchal society that determines a woman’s future while controlling her present. Meg is the childhood friend of Anne Boleyn and attends her rise and fall with loyalty and love. Although Meg’s story is fictionalized, Byrd brings to life the historical events and people surrounding the court of Henry VIII. The politics, power and greed are all shown through the mostly unbiased eye of Meg. And while Anne’s tale is fascinating, it is Meg’s story that holds the reader’s heart. Controlled by her family, Anne’s court and the laws of the land, Meg finds her way by committing herself to service to God and Queen.

For those of you who love historical details, you will enjoy To Die For. King Henry’s court — its extravagance and glory and its intrigue and deception — comes to life. The royal excesses are aptly contrasted with the sacrifices of men and women seeking religious reform. To Die For is book 1 in the Ladies in Waiting series, and I am looking forward to more great reading from Sandra Byrd.

Recommended.

Great For Book Clubs. ( )

To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn by Sandra Byrd
Source: Purchase
Stars: 4/5

I don’t think I am ever going to get tired of reading Anne Boleyn’s story. I know her story, beginning, middle, and end, and yet I still keep picking up novels related to her life. Not unexpectedly then did Sandra Byrd’s To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn catch my attention. I set upon this historical fiction read expecting what I have read in many other accounts of Anne Boleyn’s life; what I found was something wholly different and exciting.

To Die For opens in 1518, with Anne Boleyn still a maiden living in her father’s home. She is but a child and often found dallying with her best and most loyal friend, Meg Wyatt. The two girls are young, naïve, and living only for the moment when their respective father’s will make them a marriage match both agreeable and beneficial. For Anne, there is little concern this will happen as she is smart, beautiful, and from a respected and wealthy family bordering on noble. Meg Wyatt on the other hand is also intelligent and quite lovely but her family is neither as wealthy nor noble as Anne’s. Neither girl can imagine the journey they are to embark on in the ensuing years.

Byrd recounts what is historically known about Anne Boleyn’s life but is one of the very few authors who does not make Anne out to be a conniving, scheming, and heartless bitch bent only on achieving her own goals and desires. Instead, as Byrd traces the events of Anne’s life she takes care to present her as an intelligent girl who unfortunately falls prey to the desires of a man significantly more powerful and persuasive than herself. Anne is presented as a girl who well and truly loved Henry Tudor and wished nothing more than to be by his side and please him with the birth of a male heir. Furthermore, Byrd goes even further and presents Henry (as I have always imagined he was) as a grown and selfish child who repeatedly set aside or killed those he thought could no longer further his plans or fulfill his desires. As we well know, Anne was one of those who fell from Henry’s favor.

As Anne’s story progresses, she is attended almost constantly by her long-time friend Meg Wyatt. In her own way, Meg is just as tragic as Anne and is often subject to the whims of the men in her life – if she is parted from Anne, it is due to one of those whims. Meg feels called to be by Anne’s side and truly believes it is her duty to advise and guide Anne as well as to protect her at every turn. In many ways, Meg is far, far more intelligent and insightful than Anne and warns her friend of the trouble she will face at Henry’s side. Unfortunately, even Meg’s guidance will not be enough to save Anne from her fate.

The Bottom Line: I enjoyed this reading and accounting of Anne Boleyn’s life and very much appreciate that Byrd took care to present Anne as something more than she is often presented in historical fiction. I also appreciate that Byrd does not expound on every moment of lust and sex between Henry and Anne but focuses more on the issue at hand, the conversion of England from Catholicism to the Protestant faith which made Anne’s marriage to Henry possible. Bound in all of this is Meg Wyatt, a character who, to the very end remained loyal to her friend. Byrd has made sure to entwine Meg’s story with Anne’s thus creating a far more interesting account of these events. For those who are as fascinated by Anne Boleyn as I am, I heartily recommend this read as it is a refreshingly new view of an old story. ( )