Babylonia is the tale of the Assyrian Empire's only female ruler, Semiramis. Abandoned by a mother who ends her own life and raised as a stepdaughter of a shepherd, Semiramis desires power and freedom and she navigates the courts of the Assyrian Kings and advisors by marrying Onnes, a governor. It's a tale weaved with myth and historical fact giving a voice to the one woman whose reputation should rival Alexander the Great.

I am always a a fan of myths and giving them a new voice in the modern age especially the women of myth. Constanza Casati brings life and magic into the world of Semiramis, a queen I knew nothing about since she had faded from history. Though slower paced, Casati should be regarded as a wonderful storyteller to rival Madeline Miller with ancient tales.

Semiramis is a queen who rises from nothing and becomes powerful and ambitious. the cast of characters is fantastic and the descriptions of the world allows you to dive right in.

Thank you Sourcebooks for inviting me to read an eARC of Babylonia for an honest review and thank you to NetGalley for providing the title.

Costanza Casati establishes herself as a titan of the mythological retelling genre with Babylonia. She expertly weaves together multiple POVS and complex characters and an engrossing plot. Just a year since the publication of Clytemnestra and Casati’s writing has progressed leaps and bounds from what was already impressive. TikTok review to come and recommendations to follow.

"Immortality doesn't mean living for ever. It means surviving even after your heart stops beating and your body is burned. It means living in myth, in stories."

From the start, I knew this story was going to be special. I knew I had to request the retelling of Queen Semiramis from Mesopamain legend and myth. The story went above and beyond what I imagined. Constantza delivered on this story and then some.

I cannot recommend this story enough. An easy five stars.

I’ll admit I often judge books by their covers, but in the case of Constanza Casati, both her writing and the artwork are breathtaking. I dove into *Babylonia* with little prior knowledge of Ancient Mesopotamia, having only skimmed some tales and the legendary gardens that may or may not have existed. However, I was immediately captivated.

From the outset, I was transported into a world so vividly imagined that I felt as if I were witnessing it unfold before me—like an epic HBO series I’d binge-watch for eight seasons. The characters are deeply complex and richly developed, showcasing a remarkable journey from humble beginnings to power, juxtaposed against those at the top spiraling into madness.

The fighting and war scenes are particularly visceral and brutal, pulling no punches in their depiction of the chaos and violence of battle.

Casati masterfully portrays fierce female warriors who have historically been labeled as demons or witches, challenging the male-centric narratives. I was fascinated to learn that this story is inspired by the real-life Queen Semiramis, and I’m eager to explore more about her, especially the intriguing detail of her rumored pet leopard.

I can’t wait to see what Casati will create next; her storytelling is truly exceptional. Thank you to NetGalley for providing this advanced copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Costanza Casati is becoming on of my new favorite authors! I really enjoyed Clytemnestra. Babylonia did fall just a little short for me, but only because I had really high expectations. This book was still really interesting and entertaining and I could not put it down! I can’t wait to read more from Casati!

Babylonia by Constanza Casati completely blew me away, and it builds on everything I loved about Clytemnestra while still feeling fresh and unique. Casati’s writing is as beautiful as ever—seriously, her writing style reads like poetry, which is what I loved most about Clytemnestra as well. Every sentence pulls you deeper into the world she’s created. The way she brings ancient Assyria to life is incredible, with rich details that make you feel like you’re part of it.

I had never heard of Semiramis before reading this, and I was hooked from the start. Just like with Clytemnestra, Casati gives us a powerful, complex woman who feels real, with all her strengths and flaws. Semiramis’s story is full of ambition, love, and betrayal, and I found myself rooting for her even when she made tough or questionable choices. The dynamics between Semiramis, Onnes, and Ninus is full of tension, passion, and heartbreak. It’s messy and emotional, adding even more depth to the characters and their relationships.

I’m really grateful to have gotten an ARC of Babylonia. This is my first ARC ever and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Having loved Clytemnestra, I was excited to see what Casati would do next, and this book totally delivered. I’m excited for everyone to get to read it!

I really enjoyed Clytemnestra, so I was so excited with I was approved for the ARC from Net Galley!

It was a fun historical fiction, mixed with tragedy and romance, and Costanza Casati is very good at portraying complicated relationships on a visceral level. However, the book did suffer from the slow build up, and it felt like the book was written in design for the reader to identify with the main character, rather than letting the main character be a unique character on its own. That being said, it was quite immersive and it was fun to be in ancient Mesopotamia. The central love triangle was so angsty, but the most intriguing relationship in the book for me was, without a doubt, Onnes and Ninus.

It was a little bit of a disappointing follow up to Clytemnestra, because the themes and tone of the book was very similar. Clytemnestra and Semiramis essentially felt like the same character, except perhaps the former was more cruel and the latter was more sentimental. The prose feels a little bit like a "young adult novel" that graduated to being adult content.

It actually reminded me a lot of the manga Red River/Anatolia Story, which also featured ancient Mesopotamia and angsty romance so for people who enjoyed Babylonia and want to stay in that world for a little longer, that would be a fun series to delve into afterwards.

3.5 ☆
Thank you, netgalley, for the early access.
I was excited to read this because I loved the novel Clytemnestra! Unfortunately, it fell a little short of what i was expecting. I was somewhat disappointed in the depth and feel of the main characters. It is well written, but I didn't fall in love with this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I went into this book knowing nothing of Semiramis and now I can only wonder where her story has been hiding all my life?

Babylonia is an incredible tale of transformation, love, and ambition. A perfect book for lovers of ancient history and mythology retellings. Casati is officially a must-read author for me, and I can’t recommend this one enough!

What else can I say other than the fact that I love this book? Babylonia isn't your typical mythology retelling; set in the ancient Assyrian empire in the ninth century, Babylonia tells the story of Semiramis and her ascent to power. She is one of the most prominent and legendary leaders of the Assyrian empire being the only female ruler in history. This story is often a heavy read but it's beautifully written.

Once again, Costanza Casati has proven herself to be an excellent storyteller of historical fiction and mythology retellings. Despite my lack of knowledge when it comes to Mesopotamia and the ancient Assyrian empire, I never felt lost with the story. Casati does any amazing job of introducing historical figures and settings without overloading the reader with information. Her prose is intricate and distinct, yet somewhat mystifying in the way it grips the reader. I found this to be an incredibly addicting story due to the excellent pacing and structure.

At the heart of the book is the triangular relationship between Semiramis, Onnes, and King Ninus. Their dynamic is fascinating to follow, particularly as relations between one another grow tense, and the shifting POV's lend an interesting view into each of their minds. Each character has a love/hate relationship with the other two, so it's intriguing to see how the dynamics shift throughout the course of the book.

I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone interested in ancient historical fiction or someone looking for a mythology retelling that isn't Greek. This is a very well-researched story that serves as a great basis for a formative time in ancient Assyrian history.

I didn’t enjoy it as much as her previous novel CLYTEMNESTRA, but it was still a historical fiction page turner! Casati knows how to draw the reader in and immerse them in the story, time period, and setting of the book. I enjoy her strong female protagonist characters and epic sweeping sagas. She’s definitely a writer to watch and read again and again.

An excellent mythology retelling. The book was very well paced and I couldn't put the book down. I plan to reread this one day once I have more knowledge of this particular time period. I feel like I would have loved even more had I personally been more familiar with the original material. Which is totally a me thing, not this book thing. Definitely read this book.

A beautifully written historical fiction story, with complex characters to fall in love with. Everything Costanza Casati writes, I will read happily.

What a gem and a joy to read. Casati is a masterful storyteller of mythology, and I love her attention to historical detail. The characters jump off the page and none lack in depth, their varied experiences and complex emotions shape them so completely.

Reading a book set in a time so distant from our own, it’s interesting to think about qualities that were integral to improving ones’ livelihood or increasing their station, and how hard people had to work to survive. Cleverness and ambition (and willingness to act) was crucial, and it’s easy to draw parallels with today’s world, but also very difficult. I have a lot of respect for Semiramis (what a badass, honestly, with her pet leopard), and can sympathize with Onnes and Ninus.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the advance reader copy!!

Babylonia by Costanza Casati is a captivating dive into the ancient world, blending historical detail with rich storytelling. Casati brings to life the complexities of Babylonian culture, politics, and daily life, painting a vivid picture of one of history's most influential civilizations. The narrative is both informative and engaging, making it accessible for both history enthusiasts and general readers. With its intricate character development and evocative descriptions, this book offers a compelling journey through time that will resonate long after the final page.

I really enjoyed this book and found it a lot darker and more twisted than Clytemnestra. The characters were complex, layered, and flawed. Even though they weren't necessarily likeable, I was drawn into the story and constantly wondering what would happen next. Semiramis was a really interesting character and I loved reading about her rise to power, though I wish more emphasis had been placed on her rise to power instead of the love triangle between her, Ninus and Onnes. I also really loved Ribat's character and would have loved to read more about Nisat to gain a deeper understanding of her character.
I wasn't a huge fan of the romance in the book - the relationship between Ninus and Onnes was a little odd considering they were both lovers and half-brothers, and I also felt that the chemistry between Semiramis and Ninus was lacking towards the end. However, as individual characters, I loved the complexity and the way the author explored each characters' reaction to the brutality of war. All of the characters were wonderfully flawed and multifaceted, which created a truly riveting narrative.
The writing was also beautiful but also blunt - the author created a vibrant picture of Assyria and the daily life of a woman in the palace. The author's note at the end was also really informative and inspired me to learn more about Assyrian history and mythology.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the eARC!

This is the second book I have read written by Costanza Casati and I can say without a doubt that she has become one of my favorite authors. This, like Clytemnestra, is a fantastic telling of a well-rounded, realistic, and multifaceted female character. Semiramis is so, so interesting. She has ambition and strength, but also thoughtfulness and wrath. She highlights what it means to be a woman in society, and how history perceives these types of characters. I fell in love with her immediately and truly it was a joy to watch her story unfold.

Casati’s writing is so beautiful. I could have flown through this book, but I took my time, wanting to fully enjoy it. Fans of Circe by Madeline Miller will also love Babylonia.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher and author for sharing this advanced read with me! I look forward to purchasing this book when it debuts.

4.5 stars

I was so excited to read “Babylonia” after being totally blown away by “Clytemnestra,” and I was not disappointed. Casati is such a strong writer with a clear and powerful voice. This retelling of the tale of Semiramis, the queen of ancient Assyria, tells of her rise from an anonymous village girl to the wife of her province’s governor and eventually her rule as queen. It started out rather slowly, but then momentum built over time as the political intrigue intensified, interspersed with time of battle and of love. There was no character that wasn’t complicit in terrible things - if you’re a fan of morally gray protagonists, this should be added to your list. I particularly loved Taria, Sasi, and Sosane as figures who influenced Semiramis into the ruler she becomes. Semiramis herself is a fascinating character, and as a reader I loved how she presented an opportunity to really examine what it means to serve one’s own interests above all else. I also appreciated how we spend time both within her perspective and in the perspectives of others observing her. If you’re not a fan of gratuitous violence I’d probably recommend avoiding this book, but I found it rich in detail, fascinating, and beautiful.

I wanted to love this book so badly because Clytemnestra is one of my favorite historical fictions. But this one fell a bit flat for me. I wasn’t a fan of the love triangle and overall I feel like the book was too lengthy. I did like the writing and I feel like there is an audience for this book but it wasn’t my favorite.

Really cool ancient atmosphere to this story, I enjoyed that quite a lot!

(I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)