Duchessina: A Novel of Catherine de' Medici

Young Royals #5

by Carolyn Meyer

Young Catherine de' Medici is the sole heiress to the entire fortune of the wealthy Medici family. But her life is far from luxurious. After a childhood spent locked away behind the walls of a convent, she joins the household of the pope, where at last she can be united with her true love. But, all too soon, that love is replaced with an engagement to a boy who is cold and aloof. It soon becomes clear that Catherine will need all the cunning she can muster to command the respect she deserves as one of France's most powerful queens.

Includes a family tree.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, Royalty, Fiction, France, Italy

261 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2007

About the author

Carolyn Meyer is as versatile a writer as you will find. Along with historical fiction and realistic novels for young adults she has written nonfiction for young adults and books for younger readers on topics as diverse as the Amish, the Irish, Japanese, Yup'ik Eskimos, a rock band, rock tumbling, bread baking, and coconuts. And ten of her books have been chosen as Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association. In her most recent historical novels she has dealt with the young lives of Mary Tudor, Princess Elizabeth, Anastasia, and Isabel of Castilla, Spain.

Reviews

[gremlinkitten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Duchessina was a fairly good young adult take on Catherine de' Medici. The historical details are flawlessly added, and while it's too sympathic towards Catherine, I understand the need for the heroine to be that way in this type of book. My only major complaint is the end, where there was too much left in the book to wrap up so quickly. I thought the whole book was just going to be the first twenty or so years of her life, which would have made the book more cohesive. Instead the last thirty pages were rushed with the rest of her marriage and then the historical notes after Henri II died.

However, I do appreciate authors bringing history to younger readers in the hope that they will want to read more about certain people and times. Especially in the case of Catherine de' Medici, whom I feel history was more vicious to than she deserved. She was a woman of her times and she survived as best she could. Was she a saint? No, far from it, but I don't believe she was evil either.

3.5 stars

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been watching "Reign," and although I realize there's little historical accuracy to be found there, I still thought it might be fun to know a bit more about Catherine de Medici. Now that I've read this YA version, I'd like to read something a little more realistic.

Coincidentally, the cover depicts a young Catherine who looks quite a bit like Megan Follows.

[Maven Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Duchessina: A Novel of Catherine de’ Medici by Carolyn Meyer is a coming‑of‑age historical novel that imagines the early life of Catherine de' Medici from her orphaned infancy in the grand but dangerous world of the Medici family to her youth in convents and, eventually, her arranged marriage that set the stage for her future rise to power in France.

Right away I felt a tender sympathy for young Catherine: Meyer paints her as a fragile child deprived of parental love, shifting between palaces, convents, and political upheaval. The book shows her witnessing cruelty and betrayal early, for example the contrast between her kind cousin and another cousin whose cruelty shapes Catherine’s first understanding of human nature. That sense of vulnerability and survival made me root for her deeply. I appreciated how the novel does not shy away from the harshness of her life from the intimacy of convent routines, to the upheavals after riots, to the weight of legacy she carries as last of the Medicis.

At the same time I found myself wishing the characters around her had more depth: some felt too neatly good or bad (kind cousin, cruel cousin, supportive nurse, distant relatives), which sometimes made interactions feel more like archetypes than real relationships. The narrative also spans a wide stretch of years, which sometimes compressed complex events and skipped over potential emotional exploration, the transition into adulthood and political marriage, for instance, felt particularly abrupt.

Overall I give Duchessina: A Novel of Catherine de’ Medici 3 out of 5 stars. It offered me a heartfelt window into a lonely, young girl’s struggle for identity and survival under weighty legacy, and stirred empathy and historical curiosity. While its simplified moral contrasts and sped-up timeline prevented deeper emotional resonance, I still value it as a gentle, accessible introduction to Catherine’s early years, especially for readers who might later seek more detailed or nuanced historical portrayals.

[Luna Laemorte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Duchessina was a likable book at most. There was nothing spectacular about the characters or plot. The details were sparse so I don't believe the story was painted out as well as it could have been. I believe if the author had put a little more time into making the story longer and more detailed I would have enjoyed it more. The character development was slow and I wasn't really fond of any particular character. I believed them all to be uninteresting, especially, Catherine. I did, however, feel bad for the main character because it seems throughout the whole storyline death surrounds her. She basically loses everyone she has ever cared for. I also could not fathom how she could love a husband who did not show any interest in her or kindness towards her and favored his "cougar" mistress over poor, little Catherine. This particular book has not turned me away from reading the rest of the Young Royals books, but I most certainly won't be re-reading this one or recommending it to other readers.

[julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book sparked my curiosity. I am curious to know more about Catherine. Especially if she ever found love. As far as the book goes, it was ok. It was pitiful, all of her misfortune. I didn't feel too emotionally involved in the book. I did feel sympathetic to her and her situation, but I didn't feel her devastation. The fact that Catherine was 4 and planning a future with a boy was unbelievable. It was unbelievable that a 9yr old had any comprehension of romantic love...and a desire for it.

For the most part the book was clean. Obviously the subject of the need to bare the king a son was a main theme, but very tastefully mentioned.

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

[Gretchen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This read like a first-person text book. So it was sort of informative, as long as you felt like you could trust a "historical fiction". Which I didn't since it is a YA book and therefore HIGHLY edited - casting Catherine d'Medici in a very favorable light. In the book she was cast as some innocent bystander to her fate - whereas in real life she was a pretty bad lady.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book and the different angle taken to explore the Medici family and a bit of 16th century history. Suggest there be a follow-up to the Young Royals series looking at the Young Royals as Adults. Catherine's most consequential years as Queen Mother were dealt with in the 2 last pages, a bit short after following her early life in so much detail.

[RebelReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series keeps getting better and better.

[McKenzie Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew nothing about Caterina de Medici, but her childhood (according to this historical novel) was fascinating. I find her one of the most interesting young women in the Young Royals series so far.

[Andrea Wall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very easy read because of course it is a kid's book.

First off I want to say "great job" to Ms. Meyer for making history books for kids!! I wish more had been around when I was a kid. It can be very very annoying when your 12 and you can't find any historical fiction books you can actually read besides the Royal Diaries series. (which where very good also) On this part alone I give five stars.

The story was interesting, but I personally found the characters flat. Please don't take this as an insult!!! It's only because technically I'm to old for this book. I'm sure kids reading it would have found the characters lovely.

I wish Meyer had continued the book longer because I felt there were so many things in catherine's later life that I wanted to know!!! (This is a sign that the book was good)

Great for the age group it was written and highly enjoyable for a person in the age group it wasn't written for. A great Saturday read.

[The Book Queen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Duchessina is historical fiction, and I think my problem with it was that the emphasis was very much on the 'historical' rather than the 'fiction'. And this is coming from a massive hist-fic fan.

The problem was the history was so heavy and the characters, plot and details suffered as a result. There was way too much telling, no showing, and I didn't connect with the characters at all. They weren't real people with real personalities. There was no dialogue and the world-building consisted of recitations from a history textbook. Everyone is a cardboard cut-out, and everything is stated so blatantly. There is no subtlety, the reader is never allowed to figure things out gradually. Everything and everyone is black or white, there are no shades of grey, and this is what makes me really annoyed, because history's not like that.

This, I'm afraid, is historical fiction gone wrong.

[Machaia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always loved this series because it gives me such an entirely new perspective on the oft maligned women royalty. This book is no exception. However, the story is sad from beginning to end. There is no happy ending for Catherine.

[Grace · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of Ms. Meyer's trademarks is the humanization of history's most famous and infamous women. This book is no different. I appreciate this characteristic of hers, but I also think that it is important to include the whole story, the whole personality. In this book, Catherine de Medici is portrayed as a victim of her surroundings, a pawn of her family. I'm not disputing the truth of this presentation and I do feel horrified for the child, but Ms. Meyer's description is not the whole truth! Yes, Caterina was used by the pope, and yes, she was deprived of almost everything her heart held dear, but despite what the author tries to convince you of, Catherine did indeed become one of history's many ruthless and cruel characters! But Ms. Meyer ignores her crimes and misdeeds in favor of holding her up as a model of strength, independence, and intelligence. Catherine did possess these admirable traits, but it must be understood that she did not use them admirably. My heart breaks for Catherine's early life, but it breaks more for the people affected by her later life.

My disgust for the powerful families of this time period deepened immensely during this book. All featured were unfeeling, greedy, and power-hungry. Except Ippolito perhaps, but he seemed to me to be a bit spineless and even cowardly.

Even during the first few chapters, I realized that this story did not and would not seem real to me. It felt like some fanciful, overly colorful tale, like the information I was reading would be more suited to a factual article and not an emotional narrative. It felt unresolved, especially since the years following her marriage were generally rushed through and not given much attention. Twenty-seven years of life were condensed into the birth of her children, Henri's obsession with Diane, and the death of Francois, subsequently followed by Henri's and Catherine's coronations. Perhaps it also felt unresolved because Catherine still had thirty impactful years of life to live. Personally I wonder if these crucial years were omitted because the author wished to preserve her image of a "human" Catherine. I do not understand this omission, especially since the author has already proven her ability to portray unfeeling ambition in an understandable, sympathetic way. Ms. Meyer performed the same omission with "Mary, Bloody Mary," although later she touched upon the atrocities of Mary's reign in "Beware, Princess Elizabeth." Perhaps the same thing will happen with "The Wild Queen," but I'm going to have to read it first in order to find out.

On a note of warning and awareness, this book is liberally littered with references to debauchery, prostitution, infidelity, sexual abuse, bastard children, and other things of that genre. Little of it is graphic, but it is an extremely prominent part of the book. Read with discretion, especially with regard to children.

[Lindsay Bragg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm reading the series to help me put all the characters from this time period into place, to see how they all fit together. Kuddos to Meyer for writing decent, historically accurate YA historical fiction. I really didn't like this one very much. Catherine de Medici was a more compelling story as an adult. I would have enjoyed more a book about her as Queen with flashbacks to tell some of her childhood story. Her childhood, while tragic makes for a boring read.

OR The book could have been longer and told all that childhood story, but continued the story a little further.

It also ends poorly. Meyer tries to tell the last 30 years of Catherine's life in about 30 pages. Either tell the story or don't. I think she just wanted to tell one particular scene from Catherine's adult life so she rushed to include the context around it, but did it poorly.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great novel that explores the youth of Catherine de' Medici starting with the turmoil in the Medici household, the mob uprising against the Medici family, the conflict between Emperor Charles V and the Vatican, and Catherine's own problems with her personal feelings towards Ippolito, her time spent at abbeys with orders of nuns, and the grappling of her own future as a vied wife figure across European royalty and aristocracy. This was not only well-written but brought up tough subjects like slavery and illegitimate children during the Renaissance in Italy. Meyer gives readers a more personal view of Catherine that historians often overlook. A gripping and descriptive historical read.

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to enjoy this book. The story of Catherine de Medici has long intrigued me and made me want to learn more. However, I would not recommend this book. From the first few chapters where Catherine somehow narrates events that happened when she was two and three years old with great detail, something largely scientifically impossible, I found it hard to take this book seriously. I do however, plan to read more books on Catherine, just not this one. I do not recommend this one at all.

[Kelsey Besanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diane if I catch you it’s over. Not sure how Catherine ultimately fell for Henri when he did her like that, but assuming all the crap she went through it was natural to be desperate for a simple love. I’m very much a fan now of little Miss Medici. The moment she got herself into the kings club with crude humor I was all for it.

[Peyton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This gave an interesting look at Catherine’s life, but the ending was really fast and jumped from event to event. At one point it felt like a couple of months had gone by, only for it to reveal that it had been almost a decade.

[Zoe Stern · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was a great book and really brought to justice the intricate character of Catherine de' Medici. The book did seem like it was a little too sympathetic towards her, as she did some questionable things in her life.

[Cassondra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting look at the life of the young Catherine di Medici. I learned new information!

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, Ms. Meyer perfectly captures the mind of a adolescent royal! Very easy to read. Good timeline progression after about half way through the book!

[Charlotte Fiehn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

It is a great book. I would recommend to around 9 and up and those who like history. If you are interested in the Medicis this book is for you.

[Harley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn’t what I was expecting. Most of the book follows Catherine as a child. I did enjoy the last 50 pages but the rest was a bit boring.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical fiction? Narrative non-fiction? I'm seeing a pattern with the lives of royalty back then: they're all depressing.

[Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes one would like to hear a more fanciful history that what was written by the conqueror.

[Diana Valdivia-Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about the life of Catherine de' Medici as La Duchessina until she becomes Queen of France.

[Isabella Richter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because I watched the dramatic and pretty inaccurate portrayal of the Medicis on Netflix (Father Carlo deserved better, he was the only good one of them, still mad). I would not recommend this book unless you have read everything else on your reading list, are weirdly interested in vaguely written history, or are aspiring to be a nun. The problem was that the main character was really young for most of the book and acted like someone 20 years older. The true fault was that the exciting parts of her life were condensed into the epilogue. That should have been the focus of the book! Nevertheless, I finished this in 3 days.

[Lauren Knauer · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit of a let down. I’ve loved most of the other books in this series...but granted I read them a long time ago🙈 I’m gonna try one more and then maybe have these as a memory

[Sophia Burbano · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't as good as it was in 2017.