Book Review ~ To Die For

To Die For by Sandra Byrd





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 ill-fated Anne Boleyn 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.



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.



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 was moved by Ms. Byrd's description of Anne on her dying day and how, as she faced the chopping block, she didn't rebuke her king and still offered him her love. Ms. Byrd portrayed a woman whom I had considered to be a grasping, devious, home-wrecker, and transformed her into a young and deceived reformist carried away with the attentions of one of the most powerful men of her time. A task not easily done, I assure you. Sandra Byrd is now one of my favorite historical fiction authors, and I will indeed seek out more of her writings.







*I was given a copy of this book by the author in return for my honest opinion. I was in no wise required to give a positive review*















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