“She kills her lover on the altar of a foreign goddess.”

You know the book is going to be amazing when the first line leaves you wanting more. And it’s even better when the prologue leaves your mouth agape. A book with a nonstop hook is bound to be insane in the best way.

And that is exactly what Casati gives us.
Babylonia was and still is a ride.

I’ve always loved to highlight passages in my books, and this one takes the win for the amount of highlights! I swear I was highlighting every other page.

The story revolves around Semiramis. She was orphaned when she was just a baby. She’s taken in by the chief of her village. Unfortunately though, she is beaten, mistreated and bullied often by both her ‘father’ and village boys. Obviously at one point in the story she realizes she’s up for marriage. She has finally reached that age. Her options are marry someone from her village and stay in a place where she is miserable or do something better for herself. Luckily, her luck changes when the governor comes to her home. He takes an interest in her and ends up marrying her. You can imagine how fulfilling it is to go from being essentially a nobody to the wife of the governor. right? I mean sure, we’d like to think that but does that happen? you have to go and read this book!

This is my first time reading a book from Casati. And one of the main things I can say is oh my god, her writing is absolutely astounding. Casati has such a special way with words, and the way she puts them together. She weaves a story into your brain and heart. Everything flows beautifully and you end up wanting more and more from it. She is easily put up next to Miller in my book.

Casati’s characters are so unique and complex filled. She makes them so utterly real. She doesn’t just give us a character with relatable tropes and qualities, she gives us characters that are deep, flawed, powerful, vulnerable. We get multiple points of views through the book which i appreciate, because you’re able to be pulled into everyone’s minds and see them for who they are.

There are a lot of twists and turns, ups and downs though out the story but Casati keeps it 100% the whole time. She keeps the brutal reality of greek retelling woven into the story, with war, battle, violence, being a woman in a time where simply being that was not easy, but also showing how strong and resilient, and powerful one can be if you believe in it. The gradual climb in power and risks Semiramis takes are moving.
This novel was so complex and beautiful, and i’m looking forward to reading her debut novel.

I absolutely loved this. This is completely immersive and balances the perfect amount mystical otherness, while keeping the story grounded and characters relatable (albeit deeply, deeply flawed). The prose is beautiful and I can see why so many people consider Casati to be the successor of Renault and Miller. The complicated relationships are where this book really shines though - Casati took risks and they paid off.

The story focuses on Semiramis, her ambition, and the love triangle between her, Ninus, and Onnes. All three of them are complex, flawed, three-dimensional characters that you can't help but root for and that's what makes the story so compelling. The book focuses on love and desire but it is a tragedy, not a romance. And most importantly: the book includes my favourite brand of queer characters (codependent and a little messed up).

Costanza Casati has once again taken a woman in myth who has been historically demonised and has given her a voice. Highly, highly recommend this one.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC and the easiest 5 stars I've given a book in a while!