Her Side of the Story: A Psychically Channeled Untold Story of Catherine de Medici
Young Adult; General Fiction (including literary and historical); (Market)
While looking into her past lives, Dominique shockingly discovered that she was Catherine de Medici. During the process of recovering Catherine’s memories, Dominique realized that Catherine had a secret life she kept from everyone at court. After over five hundred years of silence, the time has come. Dominique must share the story Catherine revealed about an innocent girl from Italy who marries the prince of France and is catapulted into a world she is unprepared for. As she endures life at the castle in a loveless marriage with her husband Henry and navigates the spiteful people at court, she deals with the emotional issues that come along with being a royal. While staying true to herself and fiercely fighting to protect the ones she loves the most, she is forced into keeping secrets from everyone around her, but in doing this, she must pay the ultimate price.
Plot/Idea: 7 out of 10
Originality: 8 out of 10
Prose: 7 out of 10
Character/Execution: 7 out of 10
Overall: 7.25 out of 10
Assessment:
Plot/idea: In Her Side of the Story, Wright weaves historical fiction with a past lives narrative that centers on Catherine de Medici. While the organization can become disorienting–particularly in terms of the melding of past and present–Wright blends well-researched history with effective fictional storytelling, keeping readers glued to the pages.
Prose: Wright's writing is smooth, polished, and at times full of wonder. However, the novel sometimes lacks a sense of urgency and nuance, glossing over potentially darker undertones that readers may expect in a historical, dramatic narrative such as that of Catherine de Medici.
Originality: It's always refreshing to approach historical fact through a fictional lens, and Wright's more modern take on the life of such a prominent and yet understated figure does not disappoint.
Character/Execution: The novel integrates a whole host of intriguing characters. As a result, however, at times the historical significance of Catherine de Medici is muted by other voices vying for attention.
Date Submitted: May 02, 2024
