Tudor Ladies in Waiting #1
Historical Fiction
When Anne Boleyn catches the eye of the king, Meg Wyatt accompanies her dearest friend to the thrilling court of King Henry VIII. However, as Anne and Henry's affections grow, Meg receives devastating news: the man she loves is forfeiting their future together to pursue his calling as a priest. Heartbroken, Meg commits to ensuring Anne's well-being.
The court crawls with climbers; some see Anne as an ally, while others consider her an adversary. In a place where deception and intrigue are common currencies, it is difficult to discern friend from foe—even within one's chambers. Anne's status rises, and Meg remains her loyal confidante, positions neither takes lightly. Unfortunately, the same determined ideals that make Anne a worthy queen and a champion for the English Reformation provide her enemies with a deadly foothold on her future.
Charismatic Henry is a single-minded king and a fickle-minded man. When Anne cannot produce the male heir he desires, she falls out of favor, allowing her enemies to pounce. Accusations and false testimony prevail. Anne Boleyn is sentenced to die.
Meg bears witness to her friend's stalwart grace, even unto death. Weighted with grief, Meg expects a dim future. But then, an unexpected source reignites a long-held spark still kindling in her heart. Could that which is worth dying for be exactly what makes life worth living?
Fusing compelling fiction with historical facts, To Die For is a masterful tale of unflinching friendship and unquenchable love.
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A discussion of potentially sensitive content may be found on the author’s webpage for this book for those who would like to preview it before reading.
Read the entire series:
1. To Die For
My Thoughts
I am a huge fan of historical fiction, but I’m also a very picky reader. When I first picked up To Die For I was very skeptical. I have read several of Sandra Byrd’s contemporary fiction books and enjoyed them. I just wasn’t sure about how she would do with this new genre. I am happy to report that Sandra blew me away.
The story of Anne Boleyn has been told by numerous authors over the years. Most of those pieces of work center on the downright tawdry details of the House of Tudor. While Ms. Byrd did include those details, she did it in a way that was tasteful while being truthful.
Meg Wyatt has been Anne Boleyn’s friend since childhood. When Anne is called to court to serve Queen Katherine she urges Meg to come with her. The story of Katherine’s downfall and Anne’s rising is very well known. The difference in this telling is the way that Ms. Byrd weaves in the details of the Reformation and the hand that Anne had in that coming about.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about how the Tyndale Bible made its way into the hands of the common man. In the back of the book there are a couple of sections that go into more detail about this. I really enjoyed the Q & A with the author. It gave wonderful insight into her reasoning for the way she had the story unfold.
It is my hope that Sandra Byrd will continue to write Historical Fiction. She definitely has a talent in that area. But of course I’ll be happy to read her other works as well.
Connect With The Author
Disclosure
I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.
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