I was provided an ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I was a huge fan of Casati's [book:Clytemnestra|61361681], and this has that same slower paced build up and similar world building style that I enjoyed so much. The author took great care to ensure that the historical aspects of the real people and events in the book were portrayed to the best of her ability and that her characters felt real. Her writing is descriptive and doesn't hold back when we get to the battle scenes. In her author's note she explains her research and where she took liberties with this retelling.

Much like in Clytemnestra, we get another strong willed female lead in Semiramis who makes her own way in the male dominated world she lives in and captivates the men around her to establish her own future and power. We get to see Semiramis rise from a mistreated orphan to the ruler of an empire. She had goals and ambitions, and she wasn't afraid to go after them.

This book is full of political posturing, the court reminded me of King's Landing from Game of Thrones where everyone has their own goals and will stab their neighbor in the back to get what they want. There is war, love, death, betrayal, guilt, and so much more going on but the author does a great job stringing everything together.

I really enjoyed this but I wasn't as drawn into this book as I was Clytemnestra. I enjoyed the narration and felt the narrator did a great job telling the story. If you enjoy mythology and retellings this is well written and well researched.

Thank you to NetGalley, RBmedia & Costanza Casati for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4 stars.
Genre(s): historical fiction, historical retelling.

Overall impression: I was hooked from the opening line: "She kills her lover on the altar of a foreign goddess." It really set the tone of the novel - which felt like a celebration of women and their power. Two notable female characters were Nisat, the King's mother that spent years gaining the trust of the council members and held significant political sway, and Semiramis who started life in poverty but rose to become the only Queen of the Assyrian empire. The narration, writing style and plot were all really well done. I haven't read a book from this time period before but the language was modernised and really easy to follow. The only thing I struggled with was connecting with the characters - they didn't feel real somehow. Maybe because I struggled to understand how they really felt or what motivated certain actions. But given it's a historical retelling from thousands of years ago, I imagine no one truly knows how people thought back then. Despite this, I'm really looking forward to reading Costanza's other novel Clytemnestra which I have the Page & Wick special edition of!

Tropes:
➵ Historical retelling
➵ Greek mythology
➵ Gods and goddesses
➵ Prophecies
➵ Strong female characters
➵ Feminist undertones
➵ Rags to riches
➵ Royalty romance
➵ Love triangle
➵ Opposites attract
➵ She fights in the war
➵ Battles, violence & brutality
➵ Vicious court politics
➵ Secrets, lies & betrayal
➵ Death of core characters

⤷ Plot:
Babylonia is a historical retelling of Semiramis' ascent from poverty to the throne. It was packed with historical events including wars, political marriages, council meetings and other daily events that happened in the Assyrian Empire from around 823 BCE onwards. Despite the history-overload, it didn't feel like you were reading a textbook. You could picture the characters going about their everyday lives and see the world the author created.

I spoiled the plot for myself by looking up Semiramis on Wikipedia...and it matched pretty well. I would recommend not doing what I did and go into the story blind because there are a few 'twists' that you might not see coming and that were pretty exciting!

I also really like that Costanza made the book multiple POV and included the perspectives of the king, commander and servants. We were able to glimpse the world through the eyes of people who had vastly different experiences with it.

⤷ Characters:
I've already raved about my two favourite characters Semiramis and Nisat. They were both cut-throat in fighting for their place in society and it was inspiring. However, Sasi the spymaster and Ribat the slave that taught Costanza to read were other interesting characters. Sasi honestly reminded me of Littlefinger from Game of Thrones and I pictured him as this the entire time. I wasn't quite sure who he was loyal to but like everyone else - he was just trying to survive in any way he could. Ribat was an endearing character for most of the story. He represented so many people from that time period, so it was interesting to see how he lived and fought for his freedom.

⤷ World-building:
The world-building was really well done overall. Semiramis' mud home and village, Onnes' palace halls, rooms and gardens, and the city of Babylon were all described in a lot of detail and I could picture them easily. The only thing I couldn't picture was the outside of the palaces. I saw on Costanza's Instagram that these palaces actually look like pyramids with hanging gardens, which I wasn't expecting at all! I don't remember them being described in the book but they are gorgeous.

⤷ Writing:
Although lyrical, Costanza adapted her dialogue and storytelling to the modern day. It made picturing the scenes and world really easy because I wasn't jarred out of the story with a bunch of words that I didn't know the definition of. There were a couple of times when I read some of the scenes and I thought "why are you doing that?" or "that seems out of character", so maybe a bit more time could have been spent exploring what motivates some of the main characters.

⤷ Everything else:
The audiobook eARC I received was narrated by Ayesha Antoine. I listened on 1.25x speed and this pacing was perfect for me - not too slow/fast and still really clear and engaging. Ayesha's voice really suited the story and kept me hooked even during some of the more tedious scenes. Her voice really suited the characters and I never felt like I was jarred out of the story because one of the voices sounded off.

I actually think I enjoyed this book more as an audiobook than as a print book. I was able to look up pictures of the buildings, people and places online whilst listening and got swept up in the world of the Assyrian Empire. I actually progressed through the book a lot quicker than I was expecting because it flowed so well.

Well… I didn’t like that. I expected something much cleverer than a Queen who rose to power by sheer sex appeal. Why is it that every man she’s around seems to be in love with her or at least wants to claim her body? It almost wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t all so incestuous on top of it. I very nearly DNF’ed at 80% because I realized that I wasn’t enjoying the story at all, but decided to push through and finish anyway for ARC-reviewing purposes.

The plot was problematic, the characters were unlikable, but worst of all in my opinion, it was written in third person present tense, which is my least favorite. The language was so vague that it felt like everything important was happening off-page. There were some really beautiful lines of prose mixed in, but instead of filling out the imagery, it only served to further mute the details of what was happening.

I normally really like this genre, but this one just didn’t work for me.

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for the audiobook ALC. I sincerely hope this book reaches readers who love it, but this time that wasn’t me.

Set in ancient Assyria, this novel follows an orphan girl from a tragic childhood to the height of power. Semiramis must sacrifice much to make this journey, but she is definitely up to the challenge.

"Babylonia" includes lots of court intrigue, back-stabbing, politics, manipulation, and affairs of the heart. It touches on warfare, mental health, homosexuality, and patricide. None of the characters are all good or all bad, and most are unlikeable, but the story carried me along and I had to find out what happened next.

I recently listened to Casati's "Clytemnestra," which is also about a woman fighting for power. Unlike that one, I didn't feel as much heartbreak for this main character, Semiramis. Instead of being manipulated by others, she more or less made her bed and had to sleep in it. Similarly to "Clytemnestra," however, this one ends before I thought it would. Not a bad ending, just not the whole story I expected. That does leave some to my imagination.

The audiobook was wonderfully narrated by Ayesha Antoine, whose timing and inflections were spot on.

Contains applicable violence, no foul language, minimal sexual content.

Thank you to NetGalley and Recorded Books for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ahhhhh! This was so incredibly well crafted. The storytelling (as always) is lush and gripping. I was so invested in each character’s storyline and I consumed it in one sitting.

Babylonia by Costanza Casati tells the story of a ninth century queen of Assyria. It is historical fiction that blends what is known of Semiramis and myth into a gorgeously written novel. The characters are deep and complex and that is important for what is a character driven story. Semiramis is abandoned by her mother on the riverbank as she drowns herself in the river, and she is then taken in by a shepard and raised as his daughter. He beats her and Semiramis knows if she is to have any kind of life for herself she must take control of her story. She meets the new governor, Onnes, and convinces him to marry her and they leave her hometown. Semiramis convinces Onnes to train her as a warrior - and he does. She knows she will need to know how to fight. This is a story of love, loyalty, betrayal and ultimately, a story of power. A beautifully written well told story by Costanza Casati. Thank you to #NETGALLEY and RB Media for my advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Babylonia is a fascinating mythology retelling set in 9th century Assyria, focusing on the Assyrian empire’s only female ruler, Semiramis. From her humble beginnings as a common girl adopted by a shepherd after her mother’s death, Semiramis’s journey is full of challenges—battles, politics, and the raw power of the Assyrian empire.

What I loved most is how strong and determined Semiramis is. She’s proof that you shouldn’t send a man to do a woman’s job! Her character shines as she navigates a male dominated world with ambition and resilience. The way the book weaves history and myth is impressive, though it might get confusing if you’re not familiar with mythology.

If you’re into ancient history and love stories about powerful women carving out their own legacy, this one’s for you. It’s captivating, intense, and a true deep dive into the world of Assyria.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc❤️

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with the book, it just didn't speak to me for some reason. It is the rags to riches story of a wise and kind (mostly) woman who uses her beauty and brains to rise from orphan to queen. My favorite part was that she had a pet leopard! I actually preferred the parts about the slave who became a scribe more than anything else. This has lots of great reviews, so I'm definitely alone here, but this felt more like a slog to get through rather than a great retelling.

Thank you to NetGalley, Costanza Casati, and Recorded Books for my copy of this audiobook

I loved this author's debut novel, Clytemnestra. It was a favorite of mine. This one, her second novel, is just as good. I will be looking for more by this author.

I listened to the audio while reading. The narrator was magnificent. She makes you feel the story in your bones. In your heart. Every twist of a sword. Every knife wound. Every heartbreak. It was done beautifully.

A woman of low means, Semiramis, has lived with a man and his son all of her life. She was an infant when her mother killed her father and then drowned herself. Leaving Semiramis to whatever fate came her way. It is said that her mother was a very beautiful woman.

Semiramis has been abused and treated horrifically by the man who raised her. She endured it all until she just could not take it any longer. She knew that one day he would kill her. She left with the governor of Assyria, Onnes, to become his bride. To hopefully have a much better and safer life.

The timeframe of this book is the ninth century BC. Ultimately Semiramis rises to become the ruler of an empire. She married the king after the governor, who was the king's brother, killed himself. Together the king, Ninus and queen, Semiramis, could have done such great things. But alone Semiramis did. Ninus died after a great battle leaving her alone to bear his son. She was queen for five years. Until her son became of age to take over.

There are a few characters in this book. Some likable and some to detest greatly. This book was so good. So lyrical in places. There was war. Lots of bloody scenes. There was love. Some hatred also. Two brothers. One king and one governor. One woman who loved them both. Or one king who loved them both. Both his brother and his brother's wife.

It was filled with so much. I can't imagine topping it but I do look forward to this author's next book.
Do not miss the Author's Note at the end. It tells a lot. I had no idea. This story is based on truths. It's a great one about the strength of a woman who was born poor and rose to greatness.

Thank you #NetGalley, #SourcebooksLandmark, #RBmediaRecordedBooks, for this ARC.

Five big stars.

This was an epic story full of love, grief, and power. My jaw was on the floor for most of this book. It’s a fast-paced story with multiple pov’s inside the Assyrian Empire and we follow Semiramis, an orphan turned queen. It’s a whirlwind of a story. Casati’s writing absolutely blew me away. The prose? Gorgeous. Character development and world-building? Top notch. Ayesha Antoine’s narration took it to another level. Seriously, this was a 10-star read for me. Someone needs to turn this into a TV show ASAP. Massive thanks to NetGalley & Recorded Books for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

* I also had an issue playing the audiobook in the NetGalley shelf, but I reached out to the support team and they were able to quickly resolve the issue for me. Shoutout to Megan!

This book was a wild ride. I’m newer to fantasy but to me this felt more like a historical fiction/romance with a sprinkle of mythology in there as well. With that being said it was a quicker read for me which I wasn’t expecting!

I could not get the audiobook to play on the NetGalley shelf app. I am still excited to read the book and hope that I will enjoy it as much as the author's previous works!

Costanza Casati does it again with her second novel and I am living for it. Diving into Mesopotamian myth and legend with this story, captured my attention quickly and I was hooked.

I love running across a book which explores mythology beyond the more common, Greek, Roman and Egyptian. While they are often phenomenal stories, it is refreshing to find one which branches beyond into more cultures and amazing stories. Gilgamesh was one of my favorite epic poems in college and this book does make a reference to it, which I was pleased to see.

Semiramis was orphaned when her mother threw herself into a river after being rejected by the babies father, and Semiramis finds herself raised by a man who seems to hold a great deal of resentment towards her and often raises his hand against her. When he discovers her body is transitioning into a woman, he makes plans to find her a husband which sounds more like trying to sell her and/or find a new keeper for her.

The story has such vivid imagery and detailing. Casati is wonderful with her turn of phrase and prose. She draws you into her writing and truly makes the story feel alive and you are a part of it. It's worth the read with the balance of beauty and pain, plotting and romance. I thinkthis is one of my favorite reads so far in 2025.

Babylonia by Constanza Casati is a spellbinding tale of ambition, resilience, and power set in the brutal world of ancient Assyria. Nothing about Semiramis’s upbringing could have foretold her legacy. Born to a woman scorned by Aphrodite and raised as an orphan on the outskirts of an empire, Semiramis was never meant to hold power. But that does not mean she was not made for it. When she meets a young representative of the new Assyrian king, a path unfolds before her, placing her at the center of a court riddled with politics, betrayal, and a famous love triangle that will ultimately define her rule.

Casati weaves a stunning narrative of a woman who rises against all odds to become the only female ruler of the Assyrian empire. Having loved Clytemnestra, I was eager to dive into Babylonia, and it exceeded my expectations. The storyline is rich and immersive, filled with vivid imagery and emotional depth. Ayesha Antoine’s narration was a perfect match, breathing life into each character with passion and nuance, enhancing the drama and fire of Semiramis’s journey.

This myth-based historical fiction is a must-read for fans of powerful heroines and epic tales. Many thanks to NetGalley, RB Media, and the immensely talented Constanza Casati for the opportunity to listen to this masterpiece! Highly recommend!

Chef’s Kiss! I finished this stunner in two days and it has officially jumped to the top of my favorite mythology. It was an even better read than her first novel Clytemestra, which I loved, and absolutely impossible to put down.

Casati did a phenomenal job of shaping the story of Semiramis and creating a narrative that felt like more than just mythology. I was completely consumed by this woman’s life, and after all she’d been through her determination, strength, and kindness and what defined her. I loved it more than I can properly do justice to!

Thanks Recorded Books for the alc!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

From the very first page of *Babylonia*, where a stabbing sets the tone, you know you're in for a thrilling and intense journey. Costanza Casati's Babylonia plunges readers into the ancient world of Mesopotamia, where an orphan girl rises against all odds to become the queen of an empire. Casati’s writing is nothing short of mesmerizing, weaving together the brutality of the time with moments of beauty and hope.

As the story unfolds, we follow the protagonist through a maze of war, political intrigue, betrayal, and love. I found myself completely absorbed in their world—despite its darkness—and rooting for the heroine as she navigated the perils of power and survival. The author’s intricate plotting and vivid world-building will appeal to anyone who enjoys stories where historical fiction meets high stakes drama.

The narration of the audiobook was equally impressive. The voice actor’s performance brought the characters’ emotions to life, further enhancing the gripping nature of the story.

If you’re a fan of authors like Madeline Miller, Natalie Haynes, or Jennifer Saint, *Babylonia* is a must-read. From the very first page, this novel grips the reader and doesn’t let go until the last sentence is read. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys historical fiction with strong, multi-dimensional female characters and a story that keeps you hooked.

Wow! 🤯
This book blows me away! This is the first I've read by this author and I'm awestruck by the story. Semiramis is a nobody. She is an orphan that a merchant took home to use as a bargaining thing later on. Relentless mockery about her mother, who committed suicide after falling for a man who did not return her feelings and had a daughter. The father did not claim the baby. Unable to bear the shame, she committed suicide by tying rocks to her ankles and jumping into the water. The village knows about the incident, but they underestimate her, and Semiramis plots her escape.
However, the effects of the war and the king's death make her unable to escape. She gains the attention of Onnes, the king's bastard bother, who has similar backgrounds, with both of their mothers having the same fate as the others. They eventually marry, and she becomes a thorn in Ninus's side. However, when Semiramis plans an attack and wins, she saves Ninus and his opinion of her changes. He slowly falls in love with her and Semiramis starts to fall in love with him, but she is still married to Onnes. A love triangle forms and the anger and tension are in the air!
I was given the audiobook to enjoy! The narrator is perfect and her voice keeps you engaged and literally sounds like a voice that will tell you a story of mythology! An absolute AMAZING audiobook! If you listen to one audiobook this month, it should be this one! It's that good!
Thank You RB Media and Netgalley for the opportunity to listen and review this one! It was a treat that book me back to reading mythology as a kid! I loved this one!

Mythological threesome!
Constanza Casati should be getting as much acclaim as Miller.

Semiramis is a nobody orphan at the fringes of an empire who is determined to rise from her place taking her from her village to the high halls of the emperors.

Semiramis is powerful, resourceful, and ambitious whilst also still be caring and compassionate to the people around her.
Her relationships with her husband, Onnes, and Ninus the king of Assyria, are

<b>”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.”
</b>
This jumps in time, perspectives, and locations which gives you a full picture and offers a more satisfying ending. It wrapped up so perfectly with a narrative device I adore but won’t spoil.

This had bromance, a relationship borne devoid of passion to one that becomes dependant and respectful.

Sadly, this was not as good as Clytemnestra, but take this with a pinch of salt - I am sucker for Greek mythology.

Semiramis’s gradual rise to power is not fully expanded on so it seems sudden when she is this misfit bride to suddenly having all this respect and power.
I also didn’t feel as attached to her as I did the character of Clytemnestra.

Audibook Arc gifted by RBMedia.

Ayesha Antoine’s, narration is fantastic. I was pulled in instantly.
Babylonia by Costanza Casati is an engaging tale of rising from humble beginnings and leaving a legacy. The world-building is exceptional, with a brutal and often harsh setting that highlights the political intrigue and power struggles within. Casati’s storytelling is compelling, and I’m excited to read more of her work in the future.

Costanza Casati’s Babylonia is a masterful exploration of human resilience and vulnerability, set against the richly detailed backdrop of ancient Mesopotamia. The novel’s greatest strength lies in its characters—flawed, exquisitely rendered, and achingly human. Their pain and trauma feel palpable, woven into every decision they make and every relationship they navigate. Casati doesn’t shy away from their imperfections; instead, she uses them to deepen the emotional resonance of the story, making their triumphs and failures feel profoundly real.

The storytelling is equally breathtaking. Casati crafts a tale that is both sweeping and intimate, immersing readers in the complex social and political dynamics of the time while never losing sight of her characters’ deeply personal struggles.

Babylonia is not just a historical novel; it’s a profound meditation on humanity—our flaws, our pain, and our enduring hope.