This was a highly anticipated book for me, given how I quickly fell in love with Casati's debut, Clytemnestra, but I had to let this sit with me for a while before I could really put my thoughts down.

At first, I was disappointed in this book because I erroneously thought it was going to be more closely aligned with how Casati wrote her first book and focus mainly on the titular forgotten queen, and for a while this bothered me and affected how I received the book. However, once I finished and let the story sit with me, my initial feelings were wrong.

Casati tells this story through a number of years, from a couple of different perspectives. Take it from me, it wont make complete sense as to WHY she tells the story this way until the end, and honestly, I wish the author's note, or at least some of it, was in the beginning of the book. I think that would have helped center my mind after feeling like the book was pushed forward as reviving this ancient queen. It is, but it isn't. The time, place, and people of this book are not as well known as even parts of Clytemnestra's story were, and I think some context would do the story good.

Its about survival and its about love. Its about doing what it takes to survive and to improve your station. Its about loyalty. The ancient Epic of Gilgamesh is woven throughout this story and its extremely important, to the point where I wish I knew more about this epic in order to better understand the tangled web that Casati weaves.

Because of the complexity of the story I will say that it took a while for it to gain strength and speed for me. But there comes a moment when Casati hits her rhythm and when the three characters truly begin to intertwine, that is when it begins to hum. The early parts are slower, but they truly are necessary to set up for all that comes later.

Casati really is masterful in her writing and that is, once again, a strength. I've never been so invested in a love triangle to the point where I wanted everyone to somehow win.

i thought long and hard abt how to rate this. this was my first thought and then i thought it was harsh so i sat on it for almost a day and made the same decision.

this is an arc so no spoilers but i couldn’t stand any of the main characters. i think this book tried to hit you with the reverse of the lessons that were actually there which i struggled with. it felt immensely circular. i was engaged but not much else. i kept waiting for it to level up and it simply… didn’t.

i’m sure other will and have liked it. but it certainly wasn’t for me.

I love Costanza Casati's writing. She really brings you into the ancient world and makes you walk in their shoes. Feel their feelings. You can tell she put her heart into the research and it really shows in the details. This story is about one woman's rise to power. From being a commoner to Queen of the World the journey is not one for the faint of heart.

I knocked a star because I started to lose track of the characters they started to blend together for me and I didn't know who was who at some points. I also understand that it may be a "me problem" but it did take me out of the story.

I look forward to more from Casati. She has a gift of bringing women who are notorious into the spotlight and showing us their "villain origin story".

A dark take on the rulers of an ancient empire. Follow along as the FMC fights to remain relevant and gain power in a kingdom that prizes strength and brutality. A mix of historical fiction, romance, drama, and warfare make up this tale that at times feels part fantasy.

Babylonia tells the story of Semiramis, an orphaned nobody turned Governor's wife turned Queen of all Ancient Assyria. This novel introduced me to Semiramis, a key figure in ancient history with whom I had been previously unfamiliar, but whose name is scattered through the pages of antiquity from the works of Plutarch and Herodotus to Dante to Voltaire to William Shakespeare and beyond. Constanza Casati tells the story of this powerful woman who does what she must to protect herself and her heart, eventually finding herself in the one position from which her power is incontrovertible: Queen.

Her story is told with respect and honor, and she is portrayed in a relatively neutral way, neither demonizing her as later Catholic ministers did, nor glorifying her in the manner of the 1st century BC Greek historian Diodorus. I enjoyed reading about her journey and the unlikely love she finds first in Onnes and then the deeper connection she finds with the king, Ninus.

Altogether an interesting and engaging read about a fascinating woman in history,

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this eARC!

eARC Review: Babylonia by Costanza Casati 🐆

I love me a good female rage story, but this hit the ultimate spot for me because it was a quietly seething kind of rage that I just wish more and more authors used. ❤️

I loved Casati’s research in Assyria and how she used the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Whore of Babylon as inspiration for this novel. It really helps set the tone and I once again wish the Author’s Note was put in the front of the book instead of the back. 📖

The story follows a fictional reimagining of Semiramis, the great and only queen of Assyria who rose from nothing into absolute power. I really enjoyed her character as she goes from a rather hated and abused woman in her village to wife of a governor then queen. At times I did find her reactions to situations a bit odd, but maybe it was me being a bit behind in seeing her adapting to her new life. 👑

Onnes and Ninus were interesting male MCs. I liked that Casati provided their POVs, but I do wish we had a deeper look into Onnes’ mind since he felt like an enigma even to himself. But I do really like that Casati presented these two as successors to Gilgamesh and Enkidu. ❤️

But really though, Casati has become a favorite of mine in the sphere of historical fiction because of her research and writing style. I cannot wait to see who her next project will be about and what period of history it’ll be. 📜

HUGE thank you goes out Sourcebooks Landmark for opening the NetGalley eARC to the first 100 requesters. I had a wonderful time with this world and characters. And a thank you goes out to Casati for breathing life into this formidable woman. 👸🏻

Publication date: January 14

Overall: 4.25/5 ⭐️

I received this book for free from the publisher, but my review is my own opinion of this book.

With the technicalities out of the way, wow I Loved this book! I really enjoyed the complex female and male characters.
Cortana Casati did a beautiful job of weaving history and fiction around Semiramis’ story. Casati really breathed life into this long past civilization. The story was compelling and very human. Even though the description of the book leads you to the generics of how Semiramis’ story end it was such a treat to read how it all played out.

I felt enthralled with Semiramis as a character and felt like I couldn’t put the book down. If you enjoy historical fiction around dynamic and complex female protagonist then this book is for you.

In particular this introduction to the authors work wants me to read more of her books! Highly Highly recommend! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to enjoy this fantastic novel!

I have such mixed feelings about this book. It really was well-written and appeared well-researched, though I can't vouch for historical accuracy knowing nothing about Assyrian history. I did wish there was a bit more color about Assyrian cultural traditions and customs; it mostly felt like a retelling of Gilgamesh combined with historical precedent, war games and much quoting of Gilgamesh herein, but could have been set anywhere in ancient Eurasia.

I am, however, a major Game of Thrones fan, and this is my main gripe with this story. It was so derivative of GoT. I first noticed the similarities with Sasi, the eunuch Spymaster, whose physical description even was identical to Varys, and once I saw that comparison I couldn't unsee it and kept seeing others. The queen mother who was exactly like Cersei, the good king gone mad who was exactly like Daenerys, the small council meeting to plot war games, the bloodthirsty battles. I did like how it brought the harsh brutality of history to life and the post-traumatic stress that people must have suffered then.

However, I absolutely LOVED the love story in this. First we have commoner Semiramis, whose father beats her and she has no future other than getting married off to another villager. But she has other plans. She seduces the visiting governor or perhaps the other way around, and Onnes takes her back to the palace to marry her.

Back at the palace, it soon becomes obvious that there is a tangled web of romantic intrigue that others use to their own ends. This is finally an actually proper love triangle where they are all in love with each other, not just two men fighting over the FMC. The only kind of love triangle I actually like. I loved how queerness was handled in this; it showed how sexuality was not shunned in the ancient world but marriages were a business proposition to cement alliances and breed heirs. Ninus, the king, who is seen as weak for his good heart, is pansexual (squee for good pan rep) and is in love with his half-brother, Onnes, who can never love him back in the way he longs for, because Onnes suffers from PTSD and can't love anyone.

He thinks he loves Semiramis, but he is only attracted to her because he thinks she is like him in that regard. However, she soon captures the attention of the king as well and things quickly become complicated between the three.

I loved all three of these characters and did enjoy seeing Semiramis's ruthless rise to the throne - and she has a pet leopard!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

THIS, THIS, THIS!
This is the book I've been craving!

A book about the rise of the only recorded female ruler in the Assyrian empire, Semiramis, written by the author of Clytemnestra? I was so in.

I'm a fan of mythology retellings, and I don't know if this actually qualifies as a mythology because Semiramis was an actual person in history. But while it was meticulously researched and its characters come from historic records, it feels less like historical fiction and more like a legend, a myth, an epic.

Semiramis is a wonderfully complex character. She is not a straightforward protagonist by any means; she is power-hungry, uses other people, and will do anything to get what she wants. But she also loves as fiercely as she fights, and is driven to power by specter of the powerlessness she felt as a young girl in an abusive home.

The writing is incredibly descriptive, giving the reader beautiful scenery and evocative images of the opulent palaces of the Assyrian capital -- and also, extremely graphic depictions of violence. The Assyrians were barbaric: engaged in constant wars, impaling their enemies on stakes, beheading them, and flaying them alive. Instead of shying away from this aspect of their society, Costanza Casati describes the gore in graphic detail -- but rather than letting the violence be gratuitous, she uses it to explore the trauma and grief that must have pervaded such a brutal society.

4.75 stars, maybe a full 5 🌟

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC to read and review.

Babylonia by Costanza Casati is a captivating read for fans of historical fantasy and mythological retellings, particularly those drawn to stories of strong, complex female characters, Assyrian culture, and epic love triangles set against a richly detailed backdrop of ancient civilizations.

I am a geek for these Greek mythology/ancient times novelizations. This one is about Semiramis, who rose from being an orphan whose mom drowned herself to the heights of nobility in Assyria and eventually Babylonia. Four stars would be two generous, but this was a solid 3-1/2. Most intriguing to me is that this is the THIRD book this year that draws heavily on the Epic of Gilgamesh, a poem from Mesopotamia about The Epic of the hero, his companion and the quest to find fame and immortality—and I had never heard of it before this. Kind of strange. If you like this kind of stuff, you will appreciate this book. Otherwise, not a must read.

After loving Clytemnestra, I was so excited to read this next one from Casati, and I loved it just as much. The way that Casati gives care and attention to developing the female characters in her stories completely hooks me and leaves me wanting more.

I loved the storytelling of the street rat Semiramis to the Queen that she ended up becoming and the journey laid out for us readers. The political intrigue in this one was brilliantly set up, and although there was a bit of a slow start in the beginning, it picked up with each passing page.

I love reading about the less focused on women’s stories in Greek and Roman history/mythology and I look forward to following Casati in her next novels!

Amazing time reading this book and was unable to put it down. The world building and characters are especially compelling.

Huge thanks to Net Galley and Sourcebooks for the digital galley copy

Babylonia by Costanza Casati is a story of war and betrayal, of regret and grief. But mostly of ambition and the safest found behind power. Babylonia spins the tale of Semiramis on her rise from poor orphan to clever Queen through a blend of history and myth.

Semiramis is born to a cruel world. Cruel to men and women alike, but mostly cruel to those who are weaker, or those perceived as weaker. And those that are weaker are crushed.

Semiramis didn’t have anyone to be strong for her, to protect her. She had to be that person for herself.

Casati weaves of tale of blood and survival juxtaposed with glittering palaces and beautiful skies. I loved her words whether it was describing the beautiful sky outside of the palace or watching the light leave someone’s eyes.

I appreciated that this story was told from multiple points of view, it helped to make the characters three-dimensional.

Once I got to the last third of the book, the story left me breathless. Each page was fraught with dizzying tension. Even though I knew the overview of Semiramis’ story, I was still stunned by what was laid out before me.

Babylonia is a blend of historical fiction and myth retelling of the only woman to rule the Assyrian empire. Though her reputation generally focuses on her lust, ruthlessness, and love triangle that eventually put her on the throne, she was also a warrior and concerned with the affairs of her people.

Can you blame someone wanting to have power so she could protect herself, to keep herself safe?

It's just been this year that I've started to read (and enjoy) the fantasy genre. Babylonia is fantasy/historical/intrigue/action all rolled into one. Excellent storytelling and well worth the immersive reading experience. Strong heroine for the win! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reader's copy of the book. I enjoyed this book immensely. This book solidifies my love of this author. I love the writing and the way she brings to life the ancient world. This is her second novel and it's just as good as the first. I love that she picked Semiramis to write about because it's not another "retelling of a Greek myth." Don't get me wrong I loved this author's take on Clytemnestra, but the fact that she left Greece and went to Assyria and Babylon, chef's kiss. We need more from that area as I think the Greek myth retellings are played out and becoming too much. Loved Clytemnestra and I especially loved this book. The care and attention to detail given in this work proves that this author does her research, and then she crafts a beautiful world and story. 10 out of 10 from me.

Casati does it again. Her prose is stunning, and her characters are all so compelling. Semiramis’s journey—from a mistreated orphan to a powerful figure—is gripping and tragic. The multiple POVs worked well for this book though my only complaint is that the story dragged at parts.

If you’re a fan of historical fiction with depth and grit, this is a must-read.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

It takes approximately one conversation with me to find out that the best author I read this year was Costanza Casati. It should come as no surprise that I felt I needed to get my hands on Babylonia ASAP, so I decided to make a NetGalley account solely to request it. I’m so happy to report that this book had me hooked from start to finish.

Semiramis is, without question, the crown jewel of this book. She’s an incredible protagonist—strong, cunning, and fiercely determined to carve out a place for herself in a world stacked against her. Every decision she makes, every challenge she faces, pulls you deeper into her story. Like Clytemnestra, Semiramis is the kind of character who sticks with you long after the final page.

The second factor of this book that had me hooked is the relationships. What started out as such a compelling relationship between Semiramis and Onnes grew into an even more enthralling trio when Ninus was introduced. The dynamic between the three of them is electric– their tangled web of love, ambition, and loyalty absolutely mesmerising. Every interaction is loaded with tension and emotion, and you never quite know what’s coming next.

Casati’s ability to bring ancient history to life is unparalleled. Not only does she take familiar myths and give them fresh, vivid energy, full of passion and humanity, she gives a spellbinding voice to women who have always been silenced by the men around them.
If you loved Clytemnestra, you’re going to adore Babylonia. And if you haven’t read either yet, what are you waiting for?

I went into Babylonia by Costanza Casati with high expectations after loving Clytemnestra, and I wasn’t disappointed! Casati’s talent for weaving emotional depth into her retellings shines once again. Babylonia is an excellent addition to the retelling genre, with richly drawn characters whose faults make them feel so real.

The story does take a while to pick up momentum—the first half leans heavily on politicking with minimal action, which made it a slower read for me. It took a few sessions to get through that part, but once things got moving, I couldn’t put it down. The second half flew by, and I devoured it in just one sitting!

As someone who loves both non-fiction history books and retellings, this felt like a perfect marriage of the two. While the retelling genre has been saturated with Greek mythology lately, Babylonia feels like a breath of fresh air. For me, it’s the retelling to end all retellings!

A very interesting and engaging book, I loved the main character instantly and was very involved and emotional about their story.