Review + Giveaway - To Die For by Sandra Byrd

TITLE:    To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn

AUTHOR:    Sandra Byrd
INFO:    Paperback, Historical Fiction, 325 pages
PUBLISHED:   Howard Books, 2011

SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review and Blog Tour

 

 To Die For, is the story of Meg Wyatt, pledged forever as the best friend to Anne Boleyn since their childhoods on neighboring manors in Kent. When Anne’s star begins to ascend, of course she takes her best friend Meg along for the ride. Life in the court of Henry VIII is thrilling at first, but as Anne’s favor rises and falls, so does Meg’s. And though she’s pledged her loyalty to Anne no matter what the test, Meg just might lose her greatest love—and her own life—because of it.

FROM GOODREADS:   

 
Meg's childhood flirtation with a boy on a neighboring estate turns to true love early on. When he is called to follow the Lord and be a priest she turns her back on both the man and his God. Slowly, though, both woo her back through the heady times of the English reformation. In the midst of it, Meg finds her place in history, her own calling to the Lord that she must follow, too, with consequences of her own. Each character in the book is tested to figure out what love really means, and what, in this life, is worth dying for.
 
Though much of Meg’s story is fictionalized, it is drawn from known facts. The Wyatt family and the Boleyn family were neighbors and friends, and perhaps even distant cousins. Meg’s brother, Thomas Wyatt, wooed Anne Boleyn and ultimately came very close to the axe blade for it. Two Wyatt sisters attended Anne at her death, and at her death, she gave one of them her jeweled prayer book—Meg.

MY TAKE:    Anne Boleyn has been a subject of fascination for me for many years.  I tend to read any new book that comes along relating to her or the Tudor dynasty.  To Die For is the newest addition to this sub-genre of historical fiction.  It has earned 4.5 Jewels from me as well as a prominent place on my personal library's keeper shelf.

Sandra Byrd has taken the well documented historical figure of Anne Boleyn and given us a completely fresh new look at her life.  Told in the voice of Anne's childhood and life-long friend Meg Wyatt, we get a different perspective of what their life may have been like.  The author seamlessly blends the historical facts into a fictional tale of friendship, love and loyalty. The realistic dialogue and interaction between characters such as Meg and Anne as well as with their brothers added a very human touch to the politics and intrigues of life at court.  We see into the horrible, grasping Edmund as well as the loving dreamer, Thomas.  Our peek into the Wyatts' life at home with a dying mother and a hard-hearted father helps us see how everyone is at the mercy of the King and his whims, no matter how far away from society they might be.

Meg's thoughts and observations add much color and humanity to this story of the ages.  While we know much of the facts surrounding their tale, it was enjoyable to get lost in a version that may have been. I admit that I couldn't put it down until I was completely finished with this engrossing book. 

The book includes some great extras with a reading group guide and an author Q & A. 

You can learn more about Sandra Byrd and her books by visiting her website or finding her on Facebook.  To Die For is the first book in Ms. Byrd's new Ladies In Waiting series.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

TO PURCHASE A COPY:   Amazon or The Book Depository
Check out the Full Tour Schedule to see what the other tour hosts thought of To Die For.

Sandra Byrd and Amy from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours are generously offering one reader a chance to win their own copy of To Die For.  Thank you ladies!

• Open to residents of US, CAN, UK, AUS & NZ. 
• Must be at least 13 years old.
• Leave a comment with your name and email address
• Contest ends 8/23 at midnight PST.
• Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning email.

 
~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Elizabeth I by Margaret George

TITLE:    Elizabeth I: A Novel
AUTHOR:    Margaret George
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 661 pages
PUBLISHED:   Viking, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review and Book Tour

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FROM GOODREADS:  New York Times bestselling author Margaret George captures history's most enthralling queen-as she confronts rivals to her throne and to her heart.

One of today's premier historical novelists, Margaret George dazzles here as she tackles her most difficult subject yet: the legendary Elizabeth Tudor, queen of enigma-the Virgin Queen who had many suitors, the victor of the Armada who hated war; the gorgeously attired, jewel- bedecked woman who pinched pennies. England's greatest monarch has baffled and intrigued the world for centuries. But what was she really like?

In this novel, her flame-haired, lookalike cousin, Lettice Knollys, thinks she knows all too well. Elizabeth's rival for the love of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, and mother to the Earl of Essex, the mercurial nobleman who challenged Elizabeth's throne, Lettice had been intertwined with Elizabeth since childhood. This is a story of two women of fierce intellect and desire, one trying to protect her country, and throne, the other trying to regain power and position for her family and each vying to convince the reader of her own private vision of the truth about Elizabeth's character. Their gripping drama is acted out at the height of the flowering of the Elizabethan age. Shakespeare, Marlowe, Dudley, Raleigh, Drake-all of them swirl through these pages as they swirled through the court and on the high seas.


This is a magnificent, stay-up-all-night page-turner that is George's finest and most compelling novel and one that is sure to please readers of Alison Weir, Philippa Gregory, and Hilary Mantel.

MY TAKE:    I've read other books by Margaret George and enjoyed them immensely, this was no exception and I think it has moved into position as my favorite work of hers!  I have been on a major Tudor kick in the last few months and was holding on to this one for when I could immerse myself in the story.  I wanted to savor it without having other books on the subject influence what I was reading. I'm glad I did wait as this was a unique perspective and an original telling of a familiar story.  I started and finished it during a recent two day reading binge.  It was a very satisfying and enjoyable experience.
  
Many readers are intimidated or put off by lengthy tomes such as this one with over 650 pages.  I am of the opposite mind as I like to get completely lost in stories of other times and places, the longer the better.  The fact that Margaret George does extensive and meticulous research shines through in her books. Historical facts blend seamlessly with the fictional vehicle she has created to carry them.  By writing in a novel form, she manages to share this information with the reader without making it feel like a textbook.  It's the best of reading for pleasure and reading to learn combined.

I thought it was brilliant to use the alternating POVs of Elizabeth and Lettice.  It really showed the two sides of the Queen that still fascinates the world after all of these centuries.  Presenting the historical facts from someone else's perspective as well as Elizabeth's made it a more enjoyable read. Lettice has been in Elizabeth's life from the beginning and has been at the center of some of these dark times for her. Her thoughts and feelings on the same incidents and memories provide an interesting balance to the story.   Especially when you factor in the jealousies and intrigues that were inherent in their personal relationship as well as the court setting to begin with.

I also appreciated that Ms. George didn't begin her story at one of the same places most novelists do when covering this subject:  the marriage of Henry to Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth's childhood or when she is first crowned Queen.  This tale begins when Elizabeth has already ruled for a few decades and is in her 50s.  She's a mature woman who has suffered many losses and had to make too many personal sacrifices for her country. 

Fans of Margaret George, readers/followers of anything Tudor and those who enjoy good historical fiction need to read this book.  It is one of those epic stories that covers an important time in the history of our civilization and provides a large dose of entertainment while doing so.  Because it is focused on the later years of Elizabeth's reign, it also gives a much more rounded picture of the Virgin Queen as a woman who made her mark on the world.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon and The Book Depository

Learn more about Margaret George by visiting her at Goodreads, her website, and also on Facebook. 

 
~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain by Margaret Irwin

TITLE:    Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain
AUTHOR:    Margaret Irwin
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 336 pages
PUBLISHED:   Sourcebooks, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:    Young Elizabeth, half-sister of Queen Mary has a hazardous path ahead of her. Reports of her as a heretic, a rebel and a potential enemy with 'a spirit full of enchantment' have reached the queen's reluctant bridegroom, Prince of Spain. Elizabeth must advance warily towards her destiny, amid courtly machinations, running the gauntlet between Bloody Mary's jealousy and Philip's uneasy adoration.

This is the final volume installment of the evocative trilogy charting young Elizabeth's precarious path to the throne.

MY TAKE:    This was an enjoyable conclusion to the three part trilogy by famed author Margaret Irwin.  The book can be read as a stand alone, but I am looking forward to reading the first two in the series: Young Bess: The Girl Who Would Be Queen and Elizabeth, Captive Princess: Two Sisters, One Throne.

These books were originally published in the 40s and 50s. Sourcebooks is continuing their grand tradition of reintroducing fantastic books to readers of today.  The books come across a bit more reserved than many of the modern stories about the Tudors that we're used to reading.  I felt it was a refreshing change to see these characters in a different light.  Obviously the historical facts can't be altered, but the author's own inspirations and influences reflect in her writing.  It was also nice to see a lot of the sexual content toned down and not becoming the central theme or focus of the story. 

I found it interesting that Margaret Irwin was able to tell us Philip's story while still being true to Elizabeth and her glory.  So many of these characters that played such important roles in Elizabeth's life don't usually get a chance to share in the spotlight.  She was such a larger-than-life individual that others faded into the background when she was near.

I definitely recommend this book to fans of the Tudor stories and good historical fiction.  It was a quick read and I know I will be re-reading it after I'm done with the first two installments.  

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

 WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon and The Book Depository

   

 
~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - The Arrow Chest by Robert Parry

TITLE:    The Arrow Chest
AUTHOR:    Robert Parry
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 332 pages
PUBLISHED:   2011
SOURCE:   Received from Author for Review

FROM GOODREADS:    London, 1876. The painter Amos Roselli is in love with his life-long friend and model, the beautiful Daphne - and she with him - until one day she is discovered by another man, a powerful and wealthy industrialist. What will happen when Daphne realises she has sacrificed her happiness to a loveless marriage? What will happen when the artist realises he has lost his most cherished source of inspiration? And how will they negotiate the ever-increasing frequency of strange and bizarre events that seem to be driving them inexorably towards self-destruction. Here, amid the extravagant Neo-Gothic culture of Victorian England, the iconic poem 'The Lady of Shalott' blends with mysterious and ghostly glimpses of Tudor history.  Romantic, atmospheric and deeply dark.

MY TAKE:    This was a fascinating book that draws upon various connections with the past.  These include the Tudors and Anne Boleyn as well as Tennyson and his legendary written works.  The artistic and literary influences on the characters and the plot itself are well blended.

I enjoyed the dark and mysterious story of a painter, his housekeeper and his artistic muse/life-long friend.  The characters were well written and full of depth.  I think my favorite is the housekeeper Beth.  It was interesting to watch her grow and see her blossom, especially under the tutelage of Lady Daphne and the attention from her employer Amos.  Daphne's husband Oliver is a truly horrible, pretentious man who just gets worse as the story progresses.  It is very easy to despise him as much as it is to care deeply for the others.

The settings are richly detailed and very easy to visualize.  I found myself wanting to join in the walks over the hills with Amos and Alfred Lord Tennyson.  The author made it all come alive for me.

There were a few bumps in the story when it came to the mysterious visitors Amos entertained, but the story was very well thought out and enjoyable.  It was an engrossing read that kept me turning the pages.  I think this book will appeal to a wide range of readers.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon and The Book Depository

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Midnight Never Come by Marie Brennan

All other things shall change, But She remains the same...

TITLE:    Midnight Never Come
AUTHOR:    Marie Brennan
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 379 pages
PUBLISHED:   Orbit, 2008
ISBN#:   978-0-316-02029-9
HOW I GOT IT:   Bought it

FROM GOODREADS:     "England flourishes under the hand of its Virgin Queen: Elizabeth, Gloriana, last and most powerful of the Tudor monarch. But a great light casts a great shadow. In hidden catacombs beneath London, a second Queen holds court: Invidiana, ruler of faerie England, and a dark mirror to the glory above."
 In the thirty years since Elizabeth ascended her throne, Fae and mortal politics have become inextricably entwined in secret alliances and ruthless betrayals whose existence is suspected by only a few. Two courtiers, both struggling for royal favor, are about to uncover the secrets that lie behind these two thrones, For only together will they he able to find the source of Invidiana's power - find it, and break it.

MY TAKE:    The cover of this book was the first thing that grabbed my attention.  The light embossing and various shades of blue is really gorgeous.  The second aspect that made me go ahead and buy it was the fact that it was a historical fiction about Queen Elizabeth with a paranormal spin.  I've been on a kick for this type of book lately.

I was not disappointed.  Marie Brennan created a dark and sinister mirror court to Elizabeth's London.  The Onyx Court is hidden beneath the city and mimics the comings and goings of the humans above.  Invidiana rules faerie England due to a secret pact she and Elizabeth made years before she took the throne.  Their courts and fates become intertwined over the years until one of Elizabeth's newest courtiers and one of Invidiana's disgraced ladies meet.  The two of them start to unravel the great mystery and with the aid of some delightful brownie sisters, pave the way for a new future for both courts.

The storyline was very well thought out.  On the surface you have the beloved monarch of England while below the city you have a court ruled by fear.  Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and mixing in paranormal with a bit of romance makes it a winner for me.  I enjoyed seeing names, places and events from Elizabeth's London.  The Fae court and its proceedings were seamlessly integrated into the real history.
 

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

I'm really looking forward to reading the next books in the Onyx Court series:  In Ashes Lie and A Star Shall Fall with more planned for the future.

   

More lovely covers...

  

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon, The Book Depository, Powell's Books, IndieBound

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.