To Die For (Ladies in Waiting 1) by Sandra Byrd
Meg Wyatt has been Anne Boleyn’s closest friend since they grew up together on neighboring manors in Kent. So when twenty-five-year-old Anne’s star begins to ascend, of course she takes Meg along for the ride.
Life in the court of Henry VIII is thrilling… at first. Meg is made mistress of Anne’s wardrobe, and she enjoys the spoils of this privileged orbit and uses her influence for good. She is young and beautiful and in favor; everyone at court assumes that being close to her is being close to Anne.
But favor is fickle and envy is often laced with venom. As Anne falls, so does Meg, and it becomes nearly impossible for her to discern ally from enemy. Suddenly life’s unwelcome surprises rub against the court’s sheen to reveal the tarnished brass of false affections and the bona fide gold of those that are true. Both Anne and Meg may lose everything. When your best friend is married to fearsome Henry VIII, you may soon find yourself not only friendless but headless as well.
A rich alchemy of fact and fiction, To Die For chronicles the glittering court life, the sweeping romance, and the heartbreaking fall from grace of a forsaken queen and Meg, her closest companion, who was forgotten by the ages but who is destined to live in our hearts forever. (back cover)
Meg Wyatt grew up as a neighbor to Anne Boleyn and the two were best friends since childhood. When Anne is sent to court in the service of the king’s sister, Meg is married off to an elderly baron while her heart belongs to Will Ogilvy who chooses priesthood over her.
But when Anne starts to rise at court, Meg joins her as one of Anne’s ladies and finds herself in the middle of court intrigue.
I really liked the idea of telling the story from the point of view of Anne’s friend and it was nice change as well. And I loved that she was a real person who could have actually been Anne’s friend.
Meg was likeable person but she could also see the flaws of her friend while still being loyal till the end.
I would have liked to hear and see more about Anne’s relationship with Henry Percy and what did Meg make of the rumors about Anne and George. Since Meg and Anne were childhood friends Meg probably knew George also and it would have been interesting to see her view of it,
Religion is a major theme in the novel thankfully it doesn’t come off as preachy as I feared.
3.5/5
Publisher: Howard Books (2011)
Edition: Paperback
Pages: 332
Source: my own
blodeuedd
Good to hear it’s not preachy cos I can’t stand that
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Elysium
yeh that’s so not my stuff…
Diana Leigh
I was scared away from this book when I saw it labeled as religious fiction, so good to know it didn’t go overboard with that.
Elysium
It made me hesitant too but I’m glad I read this anyway.
Melissa @ Confessions of an Avid Reader
I’ve been on the fence about this one and still can’t decide whether or not it is a book I’d like to try as I’m quite tired of reading books that feature Anne Boleyn. This one seems to get quite good review though, so I won’t write it off just yet.
Thanks for the review.
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Elysium
I’m little tired too but thought it’s worth trying since it’s from Meg’s pov. There wasn’t over much Anne or other main persons of the era.
Alexis @ Reflections of a Bookaholic
Having it from the friends point of view is something new. I like the idea of that.
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