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The Serpent and the Rose: A novel
"A SMART, EMOTIONALLY ENGAGING PAGE-TURNER."
"DEVILISHLY CLEVER, A JOY TO READ."
THE HISTORICAL FICTION COMPANY
"The Serpent and the Rose" is a captivating tale that skillfully weaves together historical, dramatic and personal elements. Catherine Butterfield brings to life a fascinating period in French history and paints a complex and memorable portrait of Queen Marguerite de Valois." 5 stars, Highly Recommended Award of Excellence.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
"A sweeping but intimate story that highlights the author's clear attention to detail....." "Over the course of the novel, Butterfield employs diary-style from Marguerite's perspective that make for a brisk read, and Marguerite, despite her royal background, comes off as approachable and very human throughout."
In 16th century France, Marguerite de Valois is growing up in one of Europe's most dysfunctional families - the Medici clan. Their extreme inbreeding has led to an alarming number of genetic defects in France's kings.
Marguerite alone has escaped this curse. Uncharacteristically beautiful, intelligent, and sane, she is seen as a useful pawn by her mother, Catherine de Medici. In a scheme to unite the country during the raging religious wars, the queen decides to marry her Catholic daughter to Protestant Henri, Prince of Navarre, a charming libertine. De Medici's plan backfires, however, when the populace recoils at the union. Immediately following the wedding a key Huguenot figure is murdered, which leads to the deaths of thousands of Huguenots in Paris, slaughtered by their neighbors in what has come to be known as the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre. Henri barely escapes Paris with his life and Marguerite, sequestered at court by order of de Medici, finds herself a newlywed without a husband.
To make matters worse the Duke of Guise, the powerful man she spurned for Henri, is determined to make her pay for wounding his vanity. In a tale that covers the trajectory of her life, Marguerite, who narrates her own story, comes to understand that to set herself free of the machinations of others, she'll have to outplay them at their own vicious game.
"DEVILISHLY CLEVER, A JOY TO READ."
THE HISTORICAL FICTION COMPANY
"The Serpent and the Rose" is a captivating tale that skillfully weaves together historical, dramatic and personal elements. Catherine Butterfield brings to life a fascinating period in French history and paints a complex and memorable portrait of Queen Marguerite de Valois." 5 stars, Highly Recommended Award of Excellence.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
"A sweeping but intimate story that highlights the author's clear attention to detail....." "Over the course of the novel, Butterfield employs diary-style from Marguerite's perspective that make for a brisk read, and Marguerite, despite her royal background, comes off as approachable and very human throughout."
In 16th century France, Marguerite de Valois is growing up in one of Europe's most dysfunctional families - the Medici clan. Their extreme inbreeding has led to an alarming number of genetic defects in France's kings.
Marguerite alone has escaped this curse. Uncharacteristically beautiful, intelligent, and sane, she is seen as a useful pawn by her mother, Catherine de Medici. In a scheme to unite the country during the raging religious wars, the queen decides to marry her Catholic daughter to Protestant Henri, Prince of Navarre, a charming libertine. De Medici's plan backfires, however, when the populace recoils at the union. Immediately following the wedding a key Huguenot figure is murdered, which leads to the deaths of thousands of Huguenots in Paris, slaughtered by their neighbors in what has come to be known as the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre. Henri barely escapes Paris with his life and Marguerite, sequestered at court by order of de Medici, finds herself a newlywed without a husband.
To make matters worse the Duke of Guise, the powerful man she spurned for Henri, is determined to make her pay for wounding his vanity. In a tale that covers the trajectory of her life, Marguerite, who narrates her own story, comes to understand that to set herself free of the machinations of others, she'll have to outplay them at their own vicious game.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 19, 2024
9 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Butterfield
11 books15 followersButterfield's first career was as an actress, with an emphasis on Shakespeare and the classics. She performed in New York and regional theatre, but soon decided she wanted to try her hand at writing plays. Her first play, "Joined at the Head," was a hit at the Manhattan Theatre Club. Eventually, events led her writing for film and TV in Los Angeles. ("The Ghost Whisperer," "FAME LA," "Party of Five." ) Two years ago as a result of an inspiring trip to France, she wrote her first novel, "The Serpent and the Rose." Her second novel, "Manhattan Triptych," is contemporary fiction.
Website: Catherinebutterfield.com
Website: Catherinebutterfield.com
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 26, 2024
In her engaging and thrilling novel, The Serpent and The Rose, which is based on historical events in 16th century France, Catherine Butterfield takes us inside the mind of the extraordinary Marguerite de Valois, as she survives (and even thrives) through the tragedies and exultations and disappointments of being a royal in the thick of multiple court intrigues and shifts in power -- and an almost constant ‘battle royal’ with her scheming mother, the infamous Catherine de Medici. Told with a voice that is at once historically authentic and deeply modern, the pages rapidly turn as loyalties shift and fates, both cruel and kind, see Marguerite confronting sexual assault, loss of innocence, deep romantic love, familial and matriarchal betrayal, near-death, head-spinning (in some cases literally) changes in religious and royal successions, and aching grief. Leaping through a “did that really happen” (yes it mostly did!) plot, these historical characters come alive in Butterfield’s prose, moving easily from the page into our imaginations. In the end, what is captured most beautifully by Butterfield is the story of a vulnerable, yet empowered, woman who, enmeshed in dangerous circumstances, is able to use her deep intelligence and wit to survive and outlive those who sought to undermine her, a heroine the equal of any modern feminist ideal.
January 11, 2024
I found this novel to be totally absorbing, beautiful and surprising, and well-researched. It achieves a difficult balance of being true to its period (as far as I know) and portraying a deeply felt truth about feminine power and its challenges in a patriarchal world.
March 9, 2024
What a story! What a life, what adventures, what loves, what tragedies—all told in the first person, with wry sensibilities and sharply-honed craft in abundance. I knew virtually nothing about the personages before I read the book, and though I do enjoy historical fiction, this was unlike in style what I’ve read before. A clever, vivid and captivating portrait of a compelling woman who lived in dangerous times and survived to tell her story.
March 6, 2024
I'm a big fan of historical fiction, especially with strong female characters. Unfortunately many books in this genre devolve into romance novels. But not this book, not at all! The relationships between Marguerite and her family are complex and well written. And although she experiences love and heartbreak, the book is really about her learning how to outplay her family at their own games in order to survive. I highly reccommend!
March 3, 2024
This is a highly enjoyable read, a romantic adventure set in a turbulent time of religious wars and land conquest. The narrator evolves from an innocent, flirtatious girl into a true feminist, and her witty observations give the story a contemporary feel.
February 22, 2024
Ms. Butterfield’s THE SERPENT and the ROSE is a thoroughly delightful and engaging read on many levels. It’s likely to satisfy lovers of well-researched historical fiction, readers who expect crackling exchanges from well-drawn and intriguing characters, as well as those who want a good page-turning yarn. And there’s a satisfying romance, too. She’s ticking all the boxes here. Her mordant sense of humor was particularly admired by me, as was her deep understanding of Shakespeare and his canon. I've never read anything quite like it and enjoyed it so much that my husband is reading it now!
January 23, 2024
This book is terrific.
I am a fan of history first and fiction second. Usually when reading historical fiction, I find myself saying, "That didn't happen," or "they would never do that."
But in THE SERPENT AND THE ROSE, the historical events are happily married to Ms. Butterfield's imaginative creations. For instance, Shakespeare makes an important entrance in the novel, and I found myself saying, "I know that didn't happen historically, but I wish it had!"
Although the story takes place long ago, the tangled, tumultuous mother-daughter dynamic at the book's core is as relevant today as it was in the 1500s. Equally pertinent is the battle between Hugenots and Catholics, reminding us that senseless sectarian violence has been around for too long.
And, most happily, the book has a great sense of humor. I am particularly fond of the description of Marguerite's wedding night.
I read a book on Shakespeare by Harold Bloom that was called INVENTION OF THE HUMAN. In a way, THE SERPENT AND THE ROSE details the story of the invention of the modern woman.
I am a fan of history first and fiction second. Usually when reading historical fiction, I find myself saying, "That didn't happen," or "they would never do that."
But in THE SERPENT AND THE ROSE, the historical events are happily married to Ms. Butterfield's imaginative creations. For instance, Shakespeare makes an important entrance in the novel, and I found myself saying, "I know that didn't happen historically, but I wish it had!"
Although the story takes place long ago, the tangled, tumultuous mother-daughter dynamic at the book's core is as relevant today as it was in the 1500s. Equally pertinent is the battle between Hugenots and Catholics, reminding us that senseless sectarian violence has been around for too long.
And, most happily, the book has a great sense of humor. I am particularly fond of the description of Marguerite's wedding night.
I read a book on Shakespeare by Harold Bloom that was called INVENTION OF THE HUMAN. In a way, THE SERPENT AND THE ROSE details the story of the invention of the modern woman.
October 14, 2025
Catherine Butterfield’s The Serpent and the Rose is a richly imagined and exquisitely written work of historical fiction that captures the grandeur, intrigue, and peril of 16th-century France with both intelligence and heart.
Told through the vivid, diary-style voice of Marguerite de Valois, daughter of the formidable Catherine de Medici, the novel offers an intimate portrait of a woman born into power but trapped within its brutal games. Marguerite’s evolution, from political pawn to self-aware survivor, anchors a story that is as emotionally resonant as it is historically detailed.
Butterfield’s meticulous research shines through every page, yet her prose remains fluid and accessible. The court’s decadence, the shadow of religious conflict, and the chilling events surrounding the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre are rendered with cinematic clarity. At the same time, Butterfield resists turning history into mere spectacle; her focus stays firmly on the human heart at the center of chaos.
Marguerite emerges as a complex and compelling heroine: intelligent, courageous, and profoundly human. Through her eyes, we see not just the cost of royal ambition but the quiet, defiant strength required to survive it. The supporting cast, Catherine de Medici, Henri of Navarre, and the vengeful Duke of Guise, add rich layers of tension and moral ambiguity.
Elegant, immersive, and psychologically astute, The Serpent and the Rose stands among the finest modern retellings of Renaissance France. It’s both a sweeping political drama and a deeply personal story of a woman determined to reclaim her destiny in a world designed to silence her.
Told through the vivid, diary-style voice of Marguerite de Valois, daughter of the formidable Catherine de Medici, the novel offers an intimate portrait of a woman born into power but trapped within its brutal games. Marguerite’s evolution, from political pawn to self-aware survivor, anchors a story that is as emotionally resonant as it is historically detailed.
Butterfield’s meticulous research shines through every page, yet her prose remains fluid and accessible. The court’s decadence, the shadow of religious conflict, and the chilling events surrounding the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre are rendered with cinematic clarity. At the same time, Butterfield resists turning history into mere spectacle; her focus stays firmly on the human heart at the center of chaos.
Marguerite emerges as a complex and compelling heroine: intelligent, courageous, and profoundly human. Through her eyes, we see not just the cost of royal ambition but the quiet, defiant strength required to survive it. The supporting cast, Catherine de Medici, Henri of Navarre, and the vengeful Duke of Guise, add rich layers of tension and moral ambiguity.
Elegant, immersive, and psychologically astute, The Serpent and the Rose stands among the finest modern retellings of Renaissance France. It’s both a sweeping political drama and a deeply personal story of a woman determined to reclaim her destiny in a world designed to silence her.
February 6, 2024
I was blessed to receive a copy of Catherine's book to read and review, and was not disappointed. As a person interested in the European history of nobility and also that of Shakespeare's canon, I was immediately drawn into the author's "speculation" of the what the life and adventures of Marguerite de Valois might have been.
I found that as each chapter of exposition unfolded, I was compelled to pause and explore the intersections of these historical facts and persons, as well as to explore the poetic commentary alluded to have been provided by "M. Shakspere" - until the story took flight. Once fully engaged, the journey took on an energy of its own, as did the characterizations.
The author has woven a slightly adjusted historical timeline into a story of love, intrique, upset and revenge, along with not-so-subtle parallels to the political/socialogical conflict and the dissemination of misinformation that is playing out in our current time. As if to highlight "History will always repeat itself" and to ask "What if the the rule of power is reversed?" - there is a satisfaction to be had in the reading and reflection thereafter. Well done. Well done, indeed.
I found that as each chapter of exposition unfolded, I was compelled to pause and explore the intersections of these historical facts and persons, as well as to explore the poetic commentary alluded to have been provided by "M. Shakspere" - until the story took flight. Once fully engaged, the journey took on an energy of its own, as did the characterizations.
The author has woven a slightly adjusted historical timeline into a story of love, intrique, upset and revenge, along with not-so-subtle parallels to the political/socialogical conflict and the dissemination of misinformation that is playing out in our current time. As if to highlight "History will always repeat itself" and to ask "What if the the rule of power is reversed?" - there is a satisfaction to be had in the reading and reflection thereafter. Well done. Well done, indeed.
January 31, 2025
2.25/5
I did not enjoy this book in particular, which is disappointing given the amazing reviews. The two stars above are entirely due to the intriguing real life story that loosely inspired the book.
It is clear that this is the author’s first book: the book’s production quality is poor (several pages fell out, random areas of bolded text, pixelated cover), there are punctuation and spelling errors too numerous to count, and from a historical fiction perspective, she took far too many liberties with the timeline. The book reads a bit juvenile - almost like the “Dear America” or “Royal Diaries” books I read as a child, albeit with slightly more adult content. The Wikipedia page is far more interesting (and factual) than this book is regarding Marguerite de Valois’ life. I was annoyed that the author significantly massaged the timeline in a way that doesn’t make historical sense based on historical fact. This is surprising given that Marguerite de Valois was the first woman to write and publish her own memoirs - the author literally had a perfect template for an HF novel in these memoirs, but this resulting book is a swing and a miss in that regard.
I did not enjoy this book in particular, which is disappointing given the amazing reviews. The two stars above are entirely due to the intriguing real life story that loosely inspired the book.
It is clear that this is the author’s first book: the book’s production quality is poor (several pages fell out, random areas of bolded text, pixelated cover), there are punctuation and spelling errors too numerous to count, and from a historical fiction perspective, she took far too many liberties with the timeline. The book reads a bit juvenile - almost like the “Dear America” or “Royal Diaries” books I read as a child, albeit with slightly more adult content. The Wikipedia page is far more interesting (and factual) than this book is regarding Marguerite de Valois’ life. I was annoyed that the author significantly massaged the timeline in a way that doesn’t make historical sense based on historical fact. This is surprising given that Marguerite de Valois was the first woman to write and publish her own memoirs - the author literally had a perfect template for an HF novel in these memoirs, but this resulting book is a swing and a miss in that regard.
January 5, 2024
Catherine Butterfield's "The Serpent and the Rose" is a bracing, romantic adventure. It is thoroughly researched, replete with nuanced psychology, and deeply felt. She brings the period to life in many ways, including a lovely braiding together of a hypothetical encounter with a young William Shakespeare and documented historical events. Butterfield's marvelous prose style evokes the period without ever seeming "old-timey" and will sweep you up in the headlong tumble of the dangerous political machinations around the time of the St. Bartholomew Day's Massacre in France. That horrifying event, touched off by extreme religious hatred, shows us how persistent those prejudices have always been in human culture. But it is the bravery of Butterfield's heroine, the hard earned wisdom she achieves through her adventures, that will entrance any reader. This book is loads of fun.
February 6, 2024
The thrill of historical fiction is that a good writer can bridge the distances of time and place and allow the reader to feel immersed emotionally and dramatically into the beating heart of their characters - no matter when they lived. Butterfield has done that beautifully; basing
her book on writings from Marguerite de Valois' diary and carefully researched history of the religious wars of the sixteenth century France. 'The Serpent and the Rose' follows Marguerite's journey from a trusting pawn of her mother, Catherine de Medici, and her frighteningly dangerous brothers to become a woman who recognizes her own integrity and power. A power that comes not from the hierarchy but from her intelligence, wit, courage and sense of justice. Even if you know the history of Henri Navarre, and Marguerite, his Queen, you will be gripped by this revealing novel.
her book on writings from Marguerite de Valois' diary and carefully researched history of the religious wars of the sixteenth century France. 'The Serpent and the Rose' follows Marguerite's journey from a trusting pawn of her mother, Catherine de Medici, and her frighteningly dangerous brothers to become a woman who recognizes her own integrity and power. A power that comes not from the hierarchy but from her intelligence, wit, courage and sense of justice. Even if you know the history of Henri Navarre, and Marguerite, his Queen, you will be gripped by this revealing novel.
August 11, 2024
The idea, premise and people are all alluring and hung lofty goals for this debut novel that was just unable to reach. As a lover of biographies, nonfiction and historical fiction I thought this tale would be right in my wheel house - instead I was trudging. The clunkiness of the prose and the first person usage paired with the overuse of the thesaurus made this a difficult read. The unsympathetic characters especially Marguerite and her girlishness turned cunning to sympathetic was hard to reconcile with the indomitable real historical person. Perhaps this is just untended for those that are looking for a different approach but it was certainly a difficult read for me.
February 23, 2024
I enjoyed the voice of young Queen Marguerite de Valois! Told from her perspective through diary entries, the reader is taken along the machinations of court life. There is a delightful modern feeling to the young Queen's thoughts which makes the writing feel fresh and keeps the reader moving along. You yearn for her to have friendships during this turbulent time, and the author does a wonderful job showing the balance between state life and personal life that defines Marguerite's decisions and thoughts. Enjoy this one for the descriptions of people at court as the author does not bog the reader down in lengthy "get on with it" reading passages.
May 24, 2025
Dazzling and Devastating
Reading this felt like being transported to Renaissance France. The journal format is deeply intimate, and Marguerite’s transformation from pawn to power player is deeply satisfying. An absolute must-read.
Reading this felt like being transported to Renaissance France. The journal format is deeply intimate, and Marguerite’s transformation from pawn to power player is deeply satisfying. An absolute must-read.
March 16, 2024
What a page-turner! This is a smart, witty and emotionally-engrossing book.
I highly recommend reading it.
I highly recommend reading it.
August 5, 2024
The Serpent and the Rose by Catherine Butterfield is a historical fiction work about Marguerite de Valois, the daughter of Catherine de Medici. Marguerite began life as a French princess, became the Queen of Navarre through marriage, and chose to remove herself from that marriage as her husband became King of France.
We follow Marguerite's life through journal entries, allowing us to see her dysfunctional family and the craziness of court life from her point of view. I loved that this was written in first person and in present tense - an unusual POV for a historical fiction novel - because I became quite attached to Marguerite and her quick wit and dry sense of humor.
I typically do not care for books written about this period of time because I get slogged down in the details of a history I can't keep straight and names that mean nothing to me. However, Catherine did an amazing job keeping readers engaged with salient facts, a quick tempo, and dashes of humor. I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction and a good laugh.
We follow Marguerite's life through journal entries, allowing us to see her dysfunctional family and the craziness of court life from her point of view. I loved that this was written in first person and in present tense - an unusual POV for a historical fiction novel - because I became quite attached to Marguerite and her quick wit and dry sense of humor.
I typically do not care for books written about this period of time because I get slogged down in the details of a history I can't keep straight and names that mean nothing to me. However, Catherine did an amazing job keeping readers engaged with salient facts, a quick tempo, and dashes of humor. I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction and a good laugh.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews