Finished reading on 8/12/09:

THE DEVIL'S QUEEN by Jeanne Kalogridis, 2009.

Catherine de Medici's story is told from her childhood in Florence, Italy, to the aftermath of the Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day in Paris in 1572. The author expertly emphasises the effects of the violence and political unrest in Italy during Catherine's formative years, her belief in prophecies and the occult, and her strained family relations, and how these affect her decision making as a woman and as Queen of France. Her relationships/issues with such notables as Diane de Poitiers (her kinswoman and mistress of Catherine's husband), her bizarre astrologer Cosimo Ruggieri, the famed Nostradamus, the decadent, likeable King Francois I, and other characters are interesting and effectively done. Catherine, long maligned as evil personified, is believably portrayed here as an intelligent but superstitious and tormented woman who took desperate measures through great love for her husband, King Henri II, and for her children and in the hope of averting gruesome disasters. Kalogridis does a great job with creating atmosphere and showing the dark side of Catherine's life; she gives depth and balance to the characters of Margot, Henri of Navarre, Coligny (the Protestant leader), and the emotionally torn Jeanne of Navarre. Plenty of drama, royal intrigue, murder, sex, religious conflict, and violence flow through the novel as easily as the horrible visions of blood Catherine dreams of each night. Lots of period detail, a well paced narrative, and compelling story make this a worthwhile read.