I'm gonna give this a 3.75 rounded up. I overall really liked the journey but found myself a little lost in the latter half with so many characters I forgot who was in love with who and who was conquesting what quite a bit cuz it seemed to change constantly. As a historical adaptation of the real Semiramis it intrigued me enough to go do a little research and see what the history books say about her and I can say I really enjoyed this as the adaptation to her rise to power. There's also great author notes in this to help clarify what was embellished/adjusted vs. what we can speculate given how long ago this was and the surviving documents. If you're into ancient civilizations then I definitely think this is a great book to get out of the textbook droll and into something a little more exciting and digestible to read.

WOW. For fans of Jennifer Saint and Madeline Miller, Babylonia is a masterfully woven story of a lesser known tale. We get an intimate look into the kingdom of Assyria and all of its luxury, chaos, and sin. Semmiramis was such an intricate character and it was fascinating watching her story unfold alongside the other characters. I also appreciated all of the different POVs and even though many of them were confusing and chaotic, it was purposefully so. After finishing the story, I went back to the beginning to reread the prologue and it was much more powerful. I really apreciated the author's note at the end, sharing the historical fact v fiction aspects of the story. Now I want to read her debut novel!

The only reason it is not 5 stars is because I don't think "f***"belongs in an ancient historical story.

CW: violence, child death, blood, suicide, same gender relationships, drug abuse

I did not care for this book…I have liked other Greek mythology books, but I didn’t care for the writing style of this author. I felt she did not do a good job at introducing characters, so I found myself lost at times. Just a miss for me…

As a fan of mythology retellings, I was very excited to read a Mesopotamian myth retold through a feminist lens. This book has beautiful writing, and weaves this tale of Semiramis, who is quite a tough, ambitious and smart female lead. Semiaramis’ story was interesting, her growth from being an outcast to rising through the ranks through relationships until she lands in a position of power was a great example of how women fight for every ounce of freedom they can gain, since the earliest of days.

But while I found Semiramis fascinating, the overall story fell extremely flat for me. I felt like none of the other characters had much to offer, personality-wise or plot wise. The story took on this cadence of boring repetition, felt a bit like reliving the same day/plot point over and over and over again. I am unfamiliar with the original work, so I am unable to summarize if this was a doomed fate due to the constraints of the source material. I enjoyed Casati’s writing and look forward to reading more work by her.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the Arc.

Enjoyed this one more than Casati’s debut Clytemnestra! Another slower moving historical fiction, this time centered around ancient Babylon and the future queen’s rise to power. Semiramis defies the odds and escapes an abusive father, married a violent husband in love with his counselor and proves her self worthy in war.

This novel is at the surface everything I want in a historical fiction, however, it feels stilted at times and all though it is not a happy story it is absent the small moments that make the characters feel real. Semiramis has no real friendships, relationships or connections that are not used to further her power or position in society which made it harder to be immersed in the story. It lacks the moments that make characters human and make the reader see themselves despite the story being set thousands of years ago. I find it hard to believe that even as powerful and determined as she was, she didn’t have a real friend who she didn’t begrudge or judge for her actions (also women trying to survive!).

As always, the prose for Casati is lovely and a sense of dread is present throughout the novel. Will be interested to see where Casati takes her readers next. 3.75/5 final rating and would recommend to ancient historical fiction readers.

4⭐️ read!!!! I loved the description of the book and now I’m a huge fan of the author! This history, the storyline, the strong heroine- it had everything I wanted in a fantasy action adventure! I couldn’t put this down!

I really liked the description of this book but unfortunately I just wasn't able to get into it like most of the other reviewers. I know that it will be a popular read for many so I will continue to recommend it to our library patrons. Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

Absolutely amazing. The storytelling, the history, the emotion. I loved following the tale of Semiramis and learning more about her true history. A fantastic read.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this novel.

This was a heavy book to get into, but when I finally did it was an epic. If you like women who are rightfully angry, you'll like this one.

I enjoy this book so much. The writing got me hooked since the beginning. The short chapter is on point. It's action packed, gorey, and filled with kingdom politicial intricts.

Babylonia is a story of a rise of the only queen ever sat throne in the Assyrian empire. From an orphan, a commoner, turned into a wife of a governor, into a queen.

I love how well researched the book is (and it shows), and the characters are all well written. It's not like I attached with them but I can see how they work amidst the palace setting. It's giving game of thrones vibes with all the war and eunuch spymaster, and scribes, and the wild hunt.

If you're into myth retelling which have spotlight to the female heroine, give it a go.

Thankyou Sourcebook and netgalley for the arc in exchange for honest review ✨

WOW Costanza Casati could sell me anything and I would buy it :D

When I read the topic of the book I wasn't convinced at all about the story and then when I heard there were two love interests I was even less convinced, but somehow she makes it work and you totally buy it. I wish the Semiramis - the main character - could stay with both romantic interests. As far as I am concerned, this is the REAL story of Semiramis and no wikipedia page can tell me otherwise.

Loved the story and the plotting. The setting was amazing and I loved the different character perspectives.

Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and the author for providing me with an eARC for review. I gave it 3.75 stars (rounded to 4 on Goodreads).

Babylonia by Costanza Casati was a surprising read for me, as historical fiction isn’t usually my go-to, but I found myself drawn into Semiramis’s journey. Casati’s embellishment of legend over strict history kept me engaged.

I’d definitely be interested in reading more from Casati in the future.

This lyrical story is my first foray into Constanza’s writing and it won’t be my last. I’m not as familiar with Assyrian mythology as I am other but after reading this I will be rectifying this oversight because wow. Ancient woman being badass things is really amazing.

Anyone who likes books by Madeline Miller or Natalie Haynes(a personal favorite of mine) will love this book. Watching Samiramis go from a commoner with an adopted father to craving her own path and destiny, just absolutely badass. I can’t believe I hadn’t heard her story before and I’m so thankful Constance brought her story to life.

What a fascinating book about a period of history I knew exactly nothing about before picking this up.

Brilliantly crafted, so beautifully written, packed full of the most convoluted character dynamics that had me absolutely riveted page after page, with a strong, complicated female main character who is the epitome of a rags-to-riches antihero.

And yet, at the same time, I felt like I was looking at the story through a trick mirror, an interrogation glass, where I could see everything happening but it was all an arm’s length away.

I LOVED the prose, I was eternally intrigued, it was so easy to keep reading – but I didn’t FEEL much at all about any of the characters’ plights. But I also kind of loved every single moment? It’s a weird feeling, I will admit. While an incredible feat of historical fiction that I will definitely be recommending, this book didn’t hit as hard as Casati’s Clytemnestra did – but I was super familiar with that source material and this was a brand new subject for me. But Costanza Casati has cemented herself as an auto-read author for any future books!

Babylonia is a mythology retelling following Semiramis throughout her rise to power. Costanza Casati did an amazing job creating multidimensional characters, and I love that many characters/plot elements are based on history. Narration performed by Ayesha Antoine is perfection.

I received an ARC and ALC from Sourcebooks Landmark and RBmedia | Recorded Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful tempest of love, betrayal and ambition. The story follows the enigmatic and driven Semiramis, who escapes her village life and abusive adoptive father by marring the new governor of Eber-Nari. In the capital she transforms into a political savy player on the king's council. Her need for security, to never be a nobody again threatens to implode more than just her relationships, but kingdoms.

There is so much to say about this beautifully written novel, but I don't want to spoil it! The story unfolds slowly, and windingly, but the journey is more important than the destination. I loved Onnes, Semiramis's husband and his reaction to the brutality of the Assyrian Empire. It certainly is not for the faint of heart. The cast of characters, including the King's mother, Ribat, and Sasi, are wonderful and really add to the atmosphere of intrigue.

I recommend to anyone who loves stories from the ancient world, who love literary reading, and who just loves a woman on a mission for power. No apologies requested!

BABYLONIA by Costanza Casati is a bold, imaginative take on ancient history that reads like myth, memory, and prophecy all at once. Casati blends fact and fiction so seamlessly that the world feels both distant and eerily present. It’s speculative historical fiction at its best, grounded in the past, but not bound by it.

The storytelling is immersive, the atmosphere thick with heat and tension, and the characters: especially the women, are written with depth and fury. She asks what power looks like, who gets to wield it, and what it costs.

If you like your historical fiction with sharp edges, vivid worldbuilding, and a touch of the uncanny, Babylonia is one worth sinking into. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“There’s something about ancient worlds that still manage to haunt you. The stories of civilizations long past - full of triumph, tragedy, and everything in between - have a way of pulling you in.”

Thank you, Casati, for weaving a story so rich and immersive. The ancient world has never felt so alive, so relevant.

Synopsis: This story takes place in the heart of ancient Babylon, where intrigue, politics, and secrets are layered with the echoes of a fading empire. It’s a journey through time, but also through the human condition - how little we change over centuries.

Review: The world-building in Babylonia is mesmerizing. Casati pulls you into the heart of the ancient city, its opulent palaces, sprawling markets, and shadowed temples. The characters are complex and human - imperfect in compelling ways. The plot was a slow burn.

🎧
Audiobook length: 12 hours
Narrators: Andrea P. Lavoisier & James F. Howard

🔥 Spice: None. This is a historical fiction that focuses more on the intricacies of power and society, not romance or explicit scenes.

Read if you enjoy:
🌍 richly detailed historical fiction
🛕 deep, complex characters
👑 political intrigue and empire-building
🌿 stories about the rise and fall of civilizations
🎧 immersive audiobooks with fantastic narration

The setting of this book was intriguing and I think it will be a great fit for many readers. I just don’t think this book was a good fit for me!