4.75/5⭐ This is my first Constanza Casati book and it certainly won't be my last. Her story writing and attention to detail is up there with that of Madeline Miller. As someone who was not familiar with the story of Semiramis prior to this, this was incredibly informative as it was captivating - even as a historical fiction.

My only critique is that that it took a bit of time to jump into the story. While I know that there is world building needed to set up the story, I will admit that it took me a little while to fully get invested into the story. BUT once I hit a certain mark in the book, I could not put it down!

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Constanza Casati for the opportunity to read this eARC for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

This book is epic! Wow—just wow. I hadn’t read the author’s previous work, but after hearing the buzz, I’m now eager to go back and read Clytemnestra. This novel tells the captivating story of how Semiramis, born an orphan, rose to become a queen. Simply amazing.

With its blend of spies, scribes, war, love, and betrayal, this book truly has it all. Be sure to read the author’s afterword—the level of research that went into this story is astounding. I felt completely transported.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an early copy!

This is an absolute gem! This book takes you on a whirlwind journey through history, myth, and the rich tapestry of ancient Babylon. The way Casati blends fact and fiction is so seamless - it's like you're living in the ancient world, learning about the city's rise and fall through the eyes of its characters. The storytelling is immersive, the plot is unpredictable, and I couldn't put it down. If you love complex characters, historical depth, and a touch of magic, this one's a must read.

Historical Fiction done right.

This story is immaculate. The writing is flawless as the story is woven through Semiramis' life and rise to Queen during Mesopotamian times. The research and time this must have taken to make this story is just amazing. Not enough props go to authors who meticulously research and plan ancient people and empires so that they can create stories that make them come alive in the present day. Just outstanding.

The characters in this story pack a punch. I mean, every character is deep and complex, none more so than Semiramis and her relationships with Onnes and Ninus. All three are deeply flawed beings who struggle to find truth, love and happiness. It's not something that comes easy as they navigate their complex relationship. This adds so much to how Semiramis develops and works her way to power.

The political intrigue in this book is also front and center. Leaders have to make tough decisions, which in ancient times meant war and death. The book doesn't shy away from these certainties during that time and instead makes the political game front and center as Semiramis cultivates and cements her power as queen. In a time when men ruled over all, Semiramis let nothing stop her.

This book is so well written. If you are a lover of historical fiction, this is literally one you cannot miss.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the eARC.

I had never read a book from Costanza Casati until now, and clearly that was a mistake. This book was amazing. The characters, politics, and world building were so well done. I never wanted to put the book down and actually finished it in 2 sittings. I love how Semiramis was never hesitant or doubtful when it came to her goals, often FMC are portrayed as feeling guilty or remorseful for their actions but Semiramis took herself in stride. My only critiques of the book would be how at least two characters, Sosane & Princess Taria, felt more like plot devices and didn't add much to the overall story besides being obstacles. other then that I adored the book.
Thank you net galley for the chance to read an arc of Babylonia.

This is the second novel from Costanza Casati after last year’s Clytemnestra and this did not disappoint!

The novel follows Semiramis, an orphan who was mysteriously abandoned as an infant. She was taken in by a shepherd and his family and lived a modest life in the village. Those who encountered her noted her beauty which she had gotten from her mother.

As a young woman, She is taken by the governor, Onnes, to the city as his wife. She manages to make an enemy of the queen mother and intrigues the king. She places her trust in a slave and keeps the spymaster at arm’s length—all the while maneuvering through the court so successfully that by the end of the novel her character has evolved significantly.

The story is told primarily through three points of view: Semiramis, Ninus the king, and Ribat the slave. Casati’s writing is brilliant as it is in Clytemnestra, and the story itself is almost lyrical the way it was told. The book was truly a pleasure to read from start to finish and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the ARC!

I really loved this book! I read Clytemnestra as well and enjoyed it but I think I liked this one more. Semiramis is such a compelling main character and total bad ass. Casati does such an excellent job at writing complex characters and weaving the relationships between them with breathtakingly beautiful prose.

I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to follow because I don’t know this kind of mythology the way that I already know a lot of Greek mythology, but I don’t think it affected my reading experience in a negative way at all. If anything, it was lovely to be exposed to mythology that I haven’t learned much about before.

this is an incredible feat of historical/mythological retelling. the characters, relationships, settings, and overall story are all rich and incredibly detailed.

our POV characters are each sympathetic and frustrating in turn, caring for each other and betraying each other as the pages turn, sometimes at the same time.

our real MC, Semiramis is incredibly compelling: a woman who emerges from nothing to be the first female Assyrian monarch. I loved her, I empathized with her, I rooted for her, and I worried for her. she also drove me absolutely nuts.

she has complicated relationships with a lot of people, including our other POV characters: the king Ninus, and a slave Ribat. plus her husband/Ninus’ close friend (and more) Onnes, the foreign princess, the king’s mother…. she’s a polarizing figure due to her womanhood and her common ancestry. I loved how complicated the relationships were allowed to be, where people didn’t fully trust each other but worked together and loved each other.

our main trio is incredibly toxic, but the love story(stories?) is so fascinating to watch play out. especially as we watch the love story between Semiramis and her real love (power/safety) play out at the same time.

the richness of the historical setting and politics takes this book to the next level; the stakes always feel real and the injustice makes the character’s morals and dreams all the more compelling.

This is another great book from Costanza Casati! I loved Clytemnestra so I was very excited to read this. The book is gorgeously written and once again has an amazing story full of complex characters. Following the journey of Semiramis was incredible and so so powerful. Starting as an orphan and working her way up to a queen through her intelligence, strength, cunning, and charm. I loved everything about this and was so invested from the very beginning! I’m hoping to see more from Costanza soon!

Casati has done it again! Clytemnestra was one of my top reads when it came out, and Babylonia exceeded my expectations. The way she made ancient Assyria come alive was truly amazing- it motivated me to learn more about this time in history. The way she crafts her characters is truly remarkable. They will live in my head for a long time to come!

4 stars! Having no knowledge of the original tale, and with this being my first book by the author, I'm pleasantly surprised as I really enjoyed this book. I adored the epic-yet-personal scale of it, the political intrigue and betrayal and interpersonal relationships all delivered through intricate, immersive, and lush writing. It's truly a standout from 2024, and I can't wait for everyone to read this book when it's out next year!

Thank you to Net Galley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this early read! I loved Clytemnestra so it was no surprise I also really enjoyed this book by Casati. This book was extra interesting for the information and history behind the life of Semiramis and ancient Assyria.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC, what an absolute treat!

I was truly delighted to receive the ARC for Babylonia because I have been waiting for its release since Casati announced her sophomore novel would be released. Clytemnestra was my favorite book of 2023 and I knew Casati would be an author I would auto-buy from there on out. And Babylonia did not disappoint! I can’t wait to have the physical book on my shelves.

The way that Casati is able to accurately describe and portray the complexities of her characters is one of the reasons I am so drawn to her writing. Not one character, main or otherwise, is left at surface level. With Semiramis, she shows the depth of attachment she can hold with the men she grows to love (not even getting into how she loves them differently and in just the way that suits them and her equally) while also still striving to overcome her “status” and become the ruler she knows she is destined to be. She isn’t ruthless at every turn just in order to get ahead. She seems torn and tortured and real and human. And the way she shows the descent into “madness” for Ninus and Onnes (and Semiramis in her own ways) is so expertly done. MANY times during this book I would let out a gasp and find my hand flying to my mouth in shock. Casati just does not miss for me in this regard!! She also brings the setting to life in beautiful ways that make it so easy to get immersed into the story.

There are some narrative choices that did leave me scratching my head and thinking of the ways I might prefer characters or plot lines differently, but in the end it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of this book. I honestly am leaving these pages thinking of the ways I would like to be more like Semiramis in her strength and cunning, while also being more like her in her vulnerability and adaptability.

4.25 stars for me!! This book is incredible!!

4.25. I received an ARC this book through NetGalley and wowza. The writing was almost addictive - Casati conveys emotion in such a unique way and gives the characters such strong POVs. Based on the story of ancient Queen Sammuramat, Babylonia follows Semiramis and her story + relationships + ascension to the throne. Casati satisfyingly crafts Semiramis’ complex character (+all her side characters) to the point where when the book ended, I wanted more.

A Queen's Rise: A Captivating Tale of Power and Desire
Costanza Casati's Babylonia is a thrilling historical fiction that breathes new life into the enigmatic figure of one of history's most fascinating queens. Set against the backdrop of ancient Assyria, a world of brutal power struggles and opulent excess, Casati crafts a narrative that is both historically grounded and wildly imaginative.

The novel follows Semiramis, an orphan raised on the fringes of the empire, as she navigates a treacherous path to the throne. With stunning prose and meticulous research, Casati brings to life the political intrigue, military campaigns, and personal dramas that shaped Semiramis's reign.

At the heart of the story lies a complex and compelling heroine. Semiramis is a woman of extraordinary intelligence, courage, and ambition. She is a skilled warrior, a shrewd diplomat, and a ruthless strategist. Yet, she is also capable of deep love and compassion. Casati explores the psychological toll of power, the sacrifices required to achieve greatness, and the blurred lines between love and obsession.

Babylonia is a must-read for fans of historical fiction, epic fantasy, and strong female characters. It is a rich and rewarding read that will leave you pondering the nature of power, the cost of ambition, and the enduring legacy of one of history's most enigmatic queens.

A common woman. The governor she married. The king who loved them both. Babylonia across the centuries has become the embodiment of lust, excess, and dissolute power that ruled Ancient Assyria. In this world you had to kill to be king. Or, in the case of Semiramis, an orphan raised on the outskirts of an empire: Queen.

Nothing about Semiramis's upbringing could have foretold her legacy. But when she meets a young representative of the new Assyrian king, a prophecy unfolds before her, one that puts her in the center of a brutal world and in the hearts of two men - one who happens to be king. Now a risen lady in a court of vipers, Semiramis becomes caught in the politics and viciousness of ancient Assyria. Instead of bartering with fate, Semiramis trains in war and diplomacy. And with each move, she rises in rank, embroiled in a game of power, desire, love, and betrayal, until she can ascend to the only position that will ever keep her safe.

Casati writes beautiful prose. This is a wonderfully intense ride through a time and place I know little about. Fascinating. Gripping. Beautiful. 5⭐

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

In her new novel Babylonia, author Constanza Casati brings ancient Assyria to life. In the 9th century BCE this backdrop of beauty and brutality, kings will fall and a Queen will rise. Semiramis, a lowly orphan adopted by a shepherd , risks much to catch the eye of the new governor. When fate rewards her gamble the governor Onnes takes her as his bride to the capital Kalhu. There she meets his friend since boyhood, the King Ninus. Can she survive in the world of the court, so foreign to all she knows, or will her ambition be her undoing
This is a brilliant novel that brings to light a genuine historic figure, Queen Semiramis of Assyria and Babylon and tells the story of her rise to power in an age dominated by men. I found the author's depictions of life in ancient Assyria fascinating: the court officials the visual art and poetry, the palaces and temples, the feasts and lion hunts. I love to read historical fiction set in Ancient times and this book is outstanding. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is one of the best historical novels I've read in many years. The character development is excellent - not all of the traits exposed abruptly but unfolded like peeling an onion in the action of the setting. The character development is not only deep, but placed in the context/setting with historical accuracy of the Assyrian Empire. I love the way the author used the Assyrian gods to show the progress of time (i.e. setting of the sun) throughout the text. Very rich and gripping - pace is good to envision the setting, not overly described, and moves at a pace to keep the reader engaged. Highly recommend this book for anyone that likes historical fiction (that feels like true history) and an interest in the history of the Middle East.

Costanza Casati has done it again. She has written an epic tale of power, ambition, and love in the treacherous ancient world. The story follows Semiramis, the only female ruler of the Assyrian Empire. Her story is of an orphan turned queen. The narrative masterfully entwines myth with history, balancing intense political intrigue and intimate character moments. Every chapter builds on the stakes, drawing you deeper into the cutthroat world of the Assyrian courts.

Semiramis starts from tragic beginnings, and we can see her use intellect, courage, and unyielding determination to escape and build a different life for herself. Her relationships with the two emotionally complex men reveal her vulnerability and ambition. The romantic and political plots amplify the tension in her struggle for survival. All the other nobles watch her, and the slightest misstep could lead to her ruin. Watching Semiramis navigate this world with cunning and strength is thrilling and deeply satisfying. She went against everything expected of a woman and wanted more out of life. Having a woman who used her cleverness and courage to claim a legacy and honor that no one would give her is refreshing. She challenged what it means to control one’s destiny in a world built to suppress women. The layers of intrigue from assassinations, alliances, and betrayals are expertly written, making it impossible to put the book down. The book is a triumph in scope, emotionally resonant, and historical significance.

I received an ARC ebook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark.

Is there enough adjectives to describe my love for this book? Probably not .... but this book had me from page one all the way to the end !