Quality Rating: Three Stars
Enjoyment Rating: Three Stars

I really enjoyed the first novel in Holleman's revisioning of Cleopatra's Egypt, and the events befalling the family on its throne. This sequel was less enjoyable, but still interesting enough to get to the end of this fictionalised history. Longer than it needed to be and inevitably less imaginative as it's based on history we have far more records of, we get to see into the lives of two of Cleopatra's siblings, Arisone and Ptolemy.

I felt Ptolemy's perspective slowed things down and didn't really add anything. The first novel had been surprisingly engaging through Arisone's perspective witnessing the historical events, and while the same concept was used for her brother, he was written with such judgement, referred to as weak and cowardly throughout, that he wasn't an engaging character. Why root for someone we're told is automatically a horrible person with no redeemable qualities? Even Ptolemy's inferiority complex was so abject that as a reader he felt like a lost cause immediately and no drama was generated.

Ultimately, I finished the novel due to my interest in the real historical events, rather than this particular revision of them. As a fictionalised version of history, it's fascinating to look at through this less popularised lens, though the conflict between narrative storytelling and historical events can more to the forefront the longer you read - resulting in an incredibly abrupt ending, and disappointingly little progress for the heroine we fell in love with in the first book. This novel's arc ends up about Ptolemy, who is ultimately pretty dull to read about, with Arisone yet again an overlooked footnote in the record.

Sadly I was unable to read this book before my egalley expired. I have given it an average of 3 stars and am very sorry to not have had the chance to read it or review it. My apologies!

Sumptuous & evocative. A great tale underpinned by solid research. Scandal & intrigue abound in this captivating book. A very well deserved 5 stars only because I can't give more!!!

As king Ptolemy lies on his deathbed his children vie for favour. Cleopatra has been joint ruler but her little brother Ptolemy is the eldest son, Arsinoe is not favoured by her father and still has memories of the downfall of her sister Berenice. When Ptolemy names Cleopatra and his son Ptolemy as joint rulers, Egypt is thrown into turmoil. Ptolemy seeks to aid the Romans by killing an enemy but Cleopatra outwits him by seducing Julius Caesar and seizing power herself. Meanwhile Arsinoe flits between the two in her loyalties and she has an ulterior motive as well.

This is the second in Holleman's series about Cleopatra and the first that I have read. That was no barrier as the backstory is outlined and the plot is so rapid that the reader is grabbed from the beginning. I particularly liked the idea of telling the story from the perspective of the two siblings, Ptolemy and Arsinoe, rather than just a third person narrative. Whilst aware of the history I liked this approach as it humanised a tale of scandal and betrayal.