Ancient history fascinates me. Getting to read such vibrant and extensively-researched fictional interpretations like this one is such a treat.

Babylonia is the story of a girl who came from nothing. Less than nothing, some might argue. Semiramus was born into shame, but by mercy of the gods, she survived. She became a young woman beaten down by hardship with only her own wits to rely upon. They serve her well as she navigates her fate in the ancient Assyrian Empire.

Because of her hard upbringing, Semiramus never takes anything for granted. She knows what it is to suffer and to live in squalor, so when she comes to the greatest city in the Empire and gets to live in a palace, she doesn't get complacent. She also has no fear. She befriends slaves and wild leopards. She does not let the King's mother or the court's spy master intimidate her. She trains with weapons like a soldier with her husband, and then by herself.

When the army comes home from their siege at Balkh begging for more troops, Semiramus volunteers to come as one of the climbers. She does not take no for an answer, her husband and her King need help, and she is not one to sit idly by. Then, when there, she sees an opportunity the King's advisors did not, and it leads them to great success. This clever act of bravery is yet another turn in her story that leads her down a more complicated and treacherous path she could never have anticipated.

This novel is beautifully immersive and speckled with immaculate detail. The names, the rituals, the exhibitions, battles, the dramas...I loved every minute of it. She is an example of making lemonade out of a few raggedy lemons and the importance of taking control of your own destiny. She is a strong woman in a time of strong women, and an absolute pleasure to read about.

I am so grateful to the publisher and netgalley for granting me an early review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read and loved Clytemnestra by this author so I was looking forward to her next novel. Unfortunately I couldn't connect with the writing and the pacing felt off.

This book was an emotional rollercoaster, but in the best ways possible. The fact that I read over 220 pages in one reading session goes to show how much I liked this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the emotional damage Costanza Casati caused me. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time because I felt like I couldn’t let my guard down. There were so many twists and shocking moments that I was constantly being surprised. My heart was smashed several times. I raged along side the characters. I honestly couldn’t get enough. Also the fact that Babylonia is written in the style and format of a Greek tragedy just makes me so giddy, even though I could tell early on that this story wasn’t going to have a happy ending… or at least not the happy ending that most people would expect. It’s still an incredible book and I highly recommend it.

Clytemnestra is one of my favorite books so I couldn’t wait to read Costanza Casati’s Babylonia. Just like Clytemnestra, this book drew me in from page one and it was so hard to put it down. Semiramis was such an incredibly written character. I found her so complex and multifaceted. I loved getting POVs from Ribat, Ninus, Onnes and other characters as well. Sasi was an absolute delight to read. He reminded me a lot of Lord Varys from Game of Thrones in the absolute best way. I thought the look at the brutality of warfare and just general kingdom keeping was very interesting, especially seeing the effects it had on the people it was inflicted on and the people inflicting it. Also, the writing style was just so wonderful. Lyrical, powerful and very easy to get swept away in the emotions of the characters. I’m blown away by this book. IF you enjoyed Clytemnestra, you’ll absolutely love Babylonia.
CW: death, suicide, animal death, child abuse, murder, war, violence

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a journey I just went on! This is a story of an orphan who would not back down, no matter how many times she was beaten and abused and pushed aside, only to become a legend. I absolutely relished these pages and her strength. I was transported to a world of long ago, and fought alongside our heroine as she crawled her way to her destiny.
Two of my favorite parts from this gem:

She smiles. “Poems are special because they have a thousand hidden meanings in them. Words bend like truths.”
“Truths are unchanging.”
“Do you really believe that?”
The question takes him by surprise. He used to believe it. Now he isn’t sure what he believes.

Whew! So good! Here is the second:

A betrayal isn’t only a broken promise. It is also a word, a smile, a hand against the shoulder, skin against skin. It can be a thought, an obsession, a need.
A betrayal can be so many different things, which is why no one is exempt from it.

Are you intrigued yet? You should be…
Don’t skip over the Author’s Note either. She was real. She is in the scrolls of history. This is a legend come to life.

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

I’m not sure why I had such a tough time with this book. The writing was beautiful and vivid and the imagery painted was stunning. The descriptions felt appropriate to richly describe a very particular place and time in history. The characters were well fleshed out and felt human. And yet I just really struggled to get into the book. I just never really got hooked and it felt often like a bit of a chore to pick up. This could be entirely me and historical fiction just isn’t really my genre? This is one of those books that I personally don’t hold high on my list of books I enjoyed, however I will still highly recommend it to others with more of a love for historical fiction, especially ancient societies, than I have.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an eARC of this incredible book.

As with Clytemnestra, I went into this book completely blind, and I'm so glad I did. Assuming you are like me and unfamiliar with Assyrian history and the rise of Semiramis, I encourage you to approach this with as little prior knowledge as possible. At no point did I know what would happen next. This story is twisted and complicated, as is each character in their own distinct way.

Costanza Casati's writing is sweet and rich in one moment, and heady and metallic in the next. She has a spell-binding way with words -- nothing compares to the atmosphere she builds as backdrops for her equally striking characters. Every single word and detail is precise and sharp, resulting in a novel that grabs you and doesn't let go. I knew I was being led to brutality and carnage and went willingly, time and time again. As the reader, the unsettling feeling of doom sinks in and is hard to shake, even after you put the book down. No complaints from me.

"No man has done the things I have done."

Five stars.

“In the ninth century BC, one woman ruled an empire stretching from the Mediterranean coast in Syria to present-day western Iran. Her name was Sammuramat, meaning ‘high heaven.’ The Greeks called her Semiramis. Sammuramat is the only Assyrian woman who succeeded in imposing her personality on history.”


Costanza Casati’s choices of Semiramis and Clytemnestra as heroines for her novels tells me all I need to know about her - brilliant researcher, champion of women, and overall literary badass!

Casati’s newest novel, Babylonia, and her acclaimed work, Clytemnestra, are told from a woman’s perspective - all-encompassing, inclusive of emotion, logic, strategy, rage, and passion. They feel their destiny in their bones and their intuition is a keen, blazing guide in all they do.

Casati’s storytelling always has me rapt. I find myself enamored with her heroines, their depth, fierce resoluteness and self-confidence, and the ability to love even with lives steeped in suffering. She weaves historical detail with emotional depth making her characters come to life and creating a vivid sense of the time.

Semiramis, the legend and the ruler, is made so real in Babylonia, that I felt her power with me as I read. She was written as a woman with the ability to love without being tied to another’s will or waste, loyal yet unwilling to betray herself. She sees, feels, and harnesses everything to her benefit but not without honor. We see everything from the heart of Semiramis - her destiny is the thread that ties everyone together.

The feel and flow of Babylonia, and the magnificently imagined Semiramis, is clearly informed by copious amounts of research. Each character we meet feels whole and real. Every piece of this tale is vividly believable and unromanticized, the horror of battle coloring every person and place, with superstition and fear of death forming the core of their everyday lives.

Casati weaves ancient texts and her own poetry into the narrative directing us to see how myth fed people’s perceptions and drives. She shares insights that illuminate the characters' longings and tell truths about human nature throughout time. The questions posed in the story tell us of the myths that shaped not only that time but ours too. I am left understanding that we are not so different from ancient people in our existential yearnings.

“To humans, everything seems indelible, permanent. What would we do, she wonders, if we knew that our actions don’t count, that everything keeps shifting and changing no matter our will? How would we act?”


If you loved Clytemnestra for its fierce heroine and complex portrayal of power and women’s roles in legend and history, you'll find yourself equally captivated by Babylonia. Both books show Casati's gift for bringing ancient heroines to life in all their complicated glory, but where Clytemnestra focused on personal vengeance, Babylonia shows us how one extraordinary woman shaped an empire while remaining true to herself.

I absolutely recommend this book to lovers of Greek and Roman mythology retellings, fans of dark academia, and anyone who appreciates beautiful, descriptive writing that brings the ancient world to life.

4/5 🌟 for Babylonia! Shoutout to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS for the eARC!

Wow, this one was wild, but in a good way! It's been awhile since I've been able to get lost in an ancient historical setting, but Babylonia did just that. Cotanza Casati's writing was superb in describing Mesopotamia and all the legends and relationships that come with it.

Casati's take on Semiramis was brilliant and added to her arsenal with her previous work, Clytemnestra. Again, thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS for the eARC!

With beautiful writing and lyrical prose, Babylonia depicts the rise of a woman named Semiramis from the life of a commoner, to the wife of a Governor and eventually to the Queen of the Assyrian Empire. Babylonia is a poignant and captivating novel: meticulous research brings to life the rich history and culture of Assyria, as well as deftly-crafted characters whose despair and triumphs are exquisitely presented.

It is difficult to not emphasize with the main characters-Semiramis, her husband Onnes and Ninus, the King of Assyria-as they struggle with their yearning, their personal pain and the trappings of the roles they play. The use of multiple perspectives provides a deeper understanding of each character, their desires, ambitions and flaws.

Even secondary characters such as: the Spymaster Sasi, Ninus’ mother-the Queen Nisat-and Ribat, a slave in Onnes’ household are engaging, complex and enhance the story. The inclusion of history, mythology and poetry are also a seamless addition to an already well-written novel.

The damage caused by excessive violence and the grisly nature of conquest are not portrayed lightly or glorified. The class dynamics and the precarious existence of those viewed as lesser-slaves and women-are also presented, as secrets serve as currency and a single misstep can easily bring about ruination.

Babylonia is already my favorite book this year and I’m very grateful to have been able read it.

Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and NetGalley for access to this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Goodness - just read the prologue and I am completely hooked!

Ohh this book! Simply amazing in ALL of the ways. Costanza Casati is simply brilliant and has truly done a fantastic job at this wonderful retelling of Queen Semiramis from Mesopotamian legend and myth.

At the heart of this incredible story was the relationship between Seminaris, her husband Onnes and the king Ninus. Each of these characters showed such an incredible level of complexity in their brokenness and I love how the story changed and arced over each of their stories. There was hatred, there was love, there was need. The characters were complex and engaging and I was completely mesmerized by the twists and turns of their story.

Costanza Casati has such a magnificent way of writing, her prose is lyrical, and the vivid descriptions that she paints are second to none.

I love this book dearly and am so grateful to Netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Costanza Costi is a master of the Greek myth retelling genre. Clymenestra was a fantastic, insightful look at the tragic heroine. Similarly, Babylonia adds depth and complexity to the ancient story. If you like strong, smarty, complicated heroines, this is the novel for you.

I loved the descriptiveness of this book and how the author really made the characters come alive. The author gave a lot of detail about a very specific time period in history but kept me engaged throughout.

📖 Read if you like:
👑 Mythology Retelling
📜 Ancient Babylon
👸🏽 Ambitious FMC
🤫 Secrets & betrayals
⚔️ Epic battles
🐆 A JAGUAR AS A PET!

💭 My Thoughts: I gasped when I got an ARC of Babylonia because Clytemnestra is one of my all-time favorites! Costanza’s writing is stunning and so immersive, even during the slower moments. Semiramis is such a complex, badass character who rises from nothing and bends those in power to her will.

Costanza blends history and mythology so perfectly without it ever feeling like a history lesson. I had 43 highlights in my kindle. That alone shows how compelling of a read this was. She’s officially an auto-buy author for me!

⚠️ CW: violence, gore

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

Fictional take on the legend of Semiramis, the first and only woman to rule Assyria.
An orphan from humble beginnings her beauty and ambition led her to marriage with a governor and then a king. Quite a remarkable woman who became a warrior and a queen. Uniting her kingdom with the surrounding territories and the kingdom a Babylon. Castanza Casati has used whatever historical writings available to fashion this story but the real beauty is the license she takes with the real people who lived here. The relationships between Semiramis, Onnes and Ninus are tense and complex. The cruelty of this time makes their actions and emotions believable. This is just a very well done story. Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark

Left on the riverbank as a baby while her mother drowned, Semiramis has to rise from nothing to make her way in the world. She takes her opportunity when a new governor comes to her town and travels back to the capital of the Assyrian Empire as his wife. However, she quickly finds herself in a strange relationship triangle in a court where it is hard to trust anyone. Semiramis gains a fierce leopard as a companion, goes into battle, and finds herself climbing up the ladder of power.

I loved Clytemnestra by this author, and was very excited to read this retelling of the only known female ruler during this time period. It did not disappoint, I thought it was beautifully written and researched. I really felt like I was transported to this time period with the writing, it was so immersive and interesting. There are some very complicated relationships in here and Casati does a great job of exploring them! As a reader I wasn't even sure whether to root for Ninus, Semiramis, or Onnes at times. They are all flawed in their own ways with different strengths. Even the side characters are interesting - Sasi was one of my favorites and gave off Lord Varys vibes from GOT. We also follow Ribat, a slave in Semiramis' household a little and see the large divide between classes even more closely.

Overall I really liked this book! It was long but it didn't feel that way, every scene had meaning. I would recommend this to all who enjoy retellings with strong female characters! I will definitely read the next book Casati writes. Trigger warning for domestic violence and suicide - there's also a lion hunt that I was not a fan of (but I do realize that was probably commonplace at the time!). There are also quite a few battle scenes with some graphic descriptions, the Assyrians liked to go to war and they liked to strike fear into their enemies. I received this as an ARC from NetGalley for my opinions.

4.5 stars rounded up

I read this book so that I could moderate a discussion at BookBrowse.com. (The discussion opened about a week ago, by the way, and it's going very well - lots of positive feedback.) I haven't really spent a lot of time analyzing the novel, since it's not a review book for me and BookBrowse is the only publication I review for. However, I will say it's one of the finest examples of Historical Fiction I've come across. The author's research was excellent, as was her ability to realistically fill in the (many) blanks of her heroine's life. I think it's a stronger book than her earlier novel, Clytemnestra.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a novel that made me care so deeply about ancient Assyrians! Babylonia tells the story of the rise of a woman named Semiramis, who is orphaned as a child and works to improve her status in life. The author did a great job of portraying complicated dynamics between people and the deep grief we all experience at some point in our lives.

The exploration of various aspects of Assyrian mythology added a lot to the story, and was done in such a natural way- I never felt like I was being lectured or reading a dry text. The characters were brought to life so vividly, and were incredibly complex characters. This was an excellent read!

I always enjoy a book that focuses on a real historical figure, especially a woman who has been lost to history. You root for the protagonist in this imaginative retelling. You want her to fulfill her destiny, especially after the hard life she has had. An interesting read about a little known character.

Semiramis was born a commoner in a village in Assyria. Through her own ambition, she eventually becomes Queen.

Clytemnestra is one of my favorite books of the last ten years. And as soon as I saw it announced, I preordered it. And Casati did not disappoint.

Casati’s rich, luxurious historical scene setting was present throughout the novel, letting me feel the dry heat of Semiramis’s village and the cloying humidity and incense in the palace. And I loved the little snippets of songs and poetry that fleshed out the world.

And her character work remains unparalleled. Every character was unique, with strengths and weaknesses, backgrounds and ambitions, that all fit and played an impact on the novel. Semiramis’s desires shape the whole of the novel, and we can see the evolution of her from an abandoned orphan to the most powerful woman in the kingdom.

Really, my only qualm is that I wish the novel had gone a little longer. I loved the build up from Semiramis’s childhood to her ascension to the throne, but as a queen she led military campaigns, expanded the rule of Assyria, and ruled under her own power. I wanted to see some of that. I wanted to see her control and decisiveness when she was on the throne, not just leading up to it.

But Casati had cemented herself as an autobuy author for me, and I cannot wait to see what she does next.

Many thanks to both NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this arc!