Queens, queens and more queens


No, not this kind of queen, silly.



This queen. You know, Jeanne Kalogridis' new novel about the infamous French Queen Catherine de Medici, aptly titled The Devil's Queen.

Are you up to speed on ol' Cate? If not, we'll give you the Reader's Respite Version: Catherine de Medici was the wife of French King Henry II (that's pronounced On-REE for you non-French types out there). In the mid-1500's, On-REE kicked the bucket early and Cate stepped in to rule France until her son was old enough to screw up the country without adult supervision.

France in the 16th Century wasn't the best place to be for those who didn't completely agree with the Catholic faith and ol' Cate found herself at odds with the local Protestant gang (in France they were called Huguenots. We won't take the time to explain why, it's in the book.) When a whole mess of Huguenots were slaughtered, Cate took the rap for it, historically speaking that is.

Like most historical figures, Catherine de Medici is either lionized or demonized, depending on the historian (or novelist) doing the talking. Kalogridis takes a pretty intermediate stance in this book, although it does focus heavily on Cate's alleged involvement in witchcraft.


the old gal herself, Catherine de Medici

Told from Cate's point of view, the novel covers her life from childhood through her reign of France. While we wouldn't call it a definitive historical piece, it is a good introduction that will serve to whet your appetite about this brilliant, yet oft-demonized, queen. Kalogridis kept our interest throughout the story, chiefly by never really committing to "good queen" or "bad queen." She falls somewhere in the middle around "misunderstood queen."

All in all, an adequate novel.









Interested? Leave us a comment and then check back here on September 30th to see if you are our randomly-chosen winner! (International readers always welcome to enter!)

51 comments:

  1. That first picture is glorious!

    Valorie
    morbidromantic@gmail.com

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  2. Two snaps for the top photo.

    I do love Cat & the witchcraft stuff... hmm... wonder what that says about moi?! Never mind.

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  3. I love your synopsis of the book!!!

    Please count me in.

    Mystica


    mystica123athotmaildotcom

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  4. I enjoyed your review and this one's on my wishlist so please count me in :-)
    Hey you never know, your adequate might be someone elses 'rip snorter' lol

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sounds like a good book. Please include me in the giveaway. Thanks!
    heatherzilla(at)care2(dot)com

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  6. Hey, that top picture reminds me of my hair in the '80's! As for the history lesson, I sure wish you had been my teacher in my younger years. I might have a deeper appreciation for the past!

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  7. I love your funny pics! And your review too!
    Please enter me for the giveaway.
    ahazraDOT88ATgmailDOTCOM

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  8. Ha ha! Interesting review. I'd love to read the book. :D

    linna.hsu at gmail dot com

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  9. She's someone I'd love to read a book about, thanks for letting me know this books exists :o)
    k_springthorpe(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  10. Obviously Catherine could use the hairdresser employed by the Queen in the first picture.

    Please enter me!

    nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

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  11. Sounds good - I'd love to have my appetite whetted. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

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  12. Please enter me for this one. Thanks :)

    Amanda
    fitz123832(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sounds like a good one! You've got me interested! Love the big hair...

    BFish (dot) Reads (at) gamil (dot) com

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  14. Ha, the drag queen really got my attention from all the same old same old on google reader! :)

    Please enter me!

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  15. I love the top Queen. Fab!!!
    Looks like a fantastic book too.

    Happy Labor Day.

    Thank you for the entry.

    freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

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  16. I am a fan of Kalogridis's writing. I have read all of her historical novels and I will also read this one. I actually cannot wait to do so even though I have heard mixed things about this new book of hers.

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  17. Fun review! This is one that I've been wanting to read anyway, so your review just reinforces that desire. :)

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  18. I keep stopping by this one and wondering how good it would be...Thanks for your review:) and please enter me!
    lucy_bertoldi@hotmail.com

    oooh, and I just found out you made the top list for best history-historical fiction..oo-la-la! Congrats are in order and my vote is for you!

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  19. too funny!

    count me in for the giveaway

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  20. This is truly a fascinating time in history. Would love to win!!!

    ryspenc(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  21. I've heard her name, but I know nothing about her, other than what you told me here. Sounds like a fascinating book.

    --Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric
    diaryofaneccentric at hotmail dot com

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  22. Please enter my name in your wonderful draw. Thanks.
    wandanamgreb[at]gmail[dot]com

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  23. I could never resist a book about Catherine Medecis, the woman is fascinating. Please, sign me up!:)

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  24. I love Jeanne Kalogridis's writing. Her Diaries of the Family Dracul are excellent reads (great for people who like to read about Dracula/vampires). I would love to win this!

    miller4plusmore(at)bellsouth(dot)net

    Thanks!

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  25. Sounds very interesting, would love to win. Thank you.

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  26. How could one not want a book

    cyderryATyahooDOTcom

    Cheli
    Cheli's Shelves

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  27. Actually thanks for the synopsis... i am very well interested in this one!
    Awesome review as always!

    givingreadingachance AT gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I don't know much about Catherine de Medici, but she sounds like an interesting woman.

    I'd love to be entered.

    carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com

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  29. Thanks for the great giveaway! I would love to learn more about her.

    shhhimreading[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  30. Oh pretty please give me a chance in this draw!

    grottis6 [at] gmail [dot] com

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  31. I'm always fascinated with the power women can assume and how they are depicted as rulers when they are regents for their sons. I remember reading a little bit about her in school but I don't know that much.

    stephaniefleischer889 [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Love stories of Cate.

    I'd love to read this one.

    mackenzie.casey@fmr.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I would love this book, it looks fabulous. Thanks for sharing it.

    s.mickelson at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  34. And another one!
    Count me in!

    carlos_durao AT hotmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  35. I want this one soooo much!!!! You know Catherine's my homegirl!

    Amy

    ReplyDelete
  36. I would love this one!
    So would my girlfriend and we sure love to have a reading together in bed on a lazy sunday!
    :)

    educhico AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I have had this book on my wishlist for such a long time! Catherine is an intriguing personality. Please add me to the draw

    nellista@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  38. Would LOVE to read this one...

    karen k
    kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  39. Please enter me too. The picture is really sassy; three cheers to you.

    ahazraDOT88ATgmailDOTCOM

    ReplyDelete
  40. Haha. Ok, that picture up there was hilarious. lol. Count me in for this book. It sounds like a terrific read. :D

    ~Briana
    thebookpixie[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  41. Sure is an eye-catching post - especially the pictures! Thanks for the chance to win this wonderful book.
    megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

    ReplyDelete
  42. Le enter the me!

    muchdeepmeaning @ gmail . com

    ReplyDelete
  43. Oh, I want in!
    :)

    jafantu AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hello there!
    Put my email on the giveaway, please.

    o_rei_de_havana
    @
    hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  45. I hope I win to find out why they are called Huguenots!
    Eheheheh!
    Best regards!

    Maria D

    dr.strangelove.vs.citizen.kane AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  46. Oh, I want in!
    :)

    catarina DOT magoito AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  47. Count me in! I'd love to win this book!

    Marie
    utah91960(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  48. I want it, I want it!
    :)

    39 DOT 5susy AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  49. Hi there!
    More giveaways!
    So nice, I'm signing up!

    goncalo DOT mil AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  50. Count me in, please!

    Best regards!

    joanapatriciadias AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  51. Good, I still got to this one on time!
    I will also try my luck on the other two.
    ;)

    tanitalves AT sapo DOT pt

    ReplyDelete

Fire away!