Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, Casati does it again and knocks it out of the park for a 5 star for me! How she takes individuals from history and completely creates her own characters from it is astounding. Her writing is very lyrical, but it flows together so well and is never flowery for the sake of being flowery.

The amount of political intrigue, plotting, and seeing the development of Semiramis into her role of power from nothing is enough to leave you turning each page at lightning speed. The characters were so complex and relatable even in today's times. The battle scenes are very descriptive, and you get wrapped up in the heat of the moment, experiencing every bit of action you are reading.

Such a tragic, intense, twisty, dramatic tale should not be missed, and if you haven't read the author's other book, Clytemnestra, I highly recommend you read that as well!

This was the first book I’ve read by Costanza Casati, but definitely not the last! I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrators were entirely captivating. Between the narrators and the vividly flowing writing style, I found myself transported back to this time in history of which I had not previously explored. While I found that it took me a bit to become invested in the storyline and the characters, about 30% of the way in I found myself hooked. Following the trials in Semiramis’s life and her rise to power was a rewarding journey to be along for, and I appreciated the different perspectives that we were given throughout the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for the ARC!

Constanze Casati does a masterful on crafting this historical fiction about one of the only known female rulers of the Neo Assyrian empire.

Semiramis is an orphaned young woman who decides she no longer wants the ordinary life promised by staying in her village and marrying one of the men there. Her abusive adoptive father helps push her into this resolve. She knows she deserves more. Full of tense moments, historical and mythical intrigue. This book asks how far will you go to get what you feel is yours.How much are you willing to sacrifice and is it all actually with it in the end?

If you love complex characters, complicated romances, forbidden love triangles, and learning a bit of history this is the book for you.

🐆 ARC REVIEW 🐆

BABYLONIA by Costanza Casati
4/5 🌟
Pub date 🇺🇸: Jan 14th

I am greatly interested in the history of ancient civilizations, so I was so excited to receive this ARC! It was definitely way different than what I was reading (Dungeon Crawler Carl), so it took me a minute, but I was drawn into the book by the dynamic characters and masterful storytelling.

This book is a retelling of the Assyrian myth of Semiramis, the only Empress of the Assyrian Empire. It's filled with wanting, love, and betrayal. Please read if you enjoy the following:

🗡 Political and cultural environment of ancient Mesopotamia
🗡 Ambitious young women who are willing to grow and change
🗡 Tragic love that is doomed from the get-go
🗡 Leopards as pets 🐆

Thank you Netgalley and RBMedia for an audio ARC of this book!

🔖#Babylonia #NetGalley #retelling #bookblogger
#bookstagram #books

Audiobook Review 🐆📖🎧

thank you so much @bookmarked @recordedbooks for the gifted audiobook!

Babylonia
by Costanza Casati
Narrated by Ayesha Antoine

About the book 👇🏽

Nothing about Semiramis’s upbringing in ancient Assyria in the ninth century BC 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 a path unfolds before her when she meets a young representative of the new Assyrian king, a path that puts her in the midst of a brutal world and at the heart of two men raised as brothers—one who just happens to be king.

Now a lady in a court of vipers, Semiramis becomes caught in the politics and brutality of ancient Assyria. Even in this lavish kingdom, she is aware of the precariousness of her position. Instead of bartering with fate, Semiramis trains in war and diplomacy, rising in rank with each move. Embroiled in a game of power, desire, family, and betrayal, she seeks to ascend to the only position that will keep her safe: queen.

🐆 My thoughts:

KINGS FALL, QUEENS RISE.

I need to start out by saying that Clytemnestra is one of my all time favorite books and when I went to try and get the Waterstones edition a part of me died when they were sold out. SO when I saw that Costanza Casati had another book coming out I did not hesitate and immediately placed an order. And it did not disappoint!! I am going to need the US version of Babylonia to make my heart happy and low key wish I got an ARC. I consumed this book via 100% audiobook and it was GLORIOUS. It is savage, rich, and utterly delicious. I love a story of female rage and my goodness is this brutal. It will be impossible to put this down… from the characters to the story, it’s magnificent. Semiramis is complex and powerful and a woman to be reckoned with. And my goodness does Casati’s writing give me CHILLS! Don’t even hesitate, Babylonia is a must read of 2025 and you can get it tomorrow, 1/14/25!!!

'You want too much from this world. And you leave everything burning in the wake of your desire.'

Happy reading 🐆

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Audio for an ALC of Babylonia! Babylonia is a lush and sweeping tale of ancient civilizations and the women who helped shape the conquests and legends of history. Fans of Jennifer Saint and Natalie Haynes will enjoy this epic tale of the first true Queen of Assyria, a queen in her own right. Semiramis is ambitious and clever, and is able to keep up with the most notorious schemers at court to not only maintain but continue to increase her power and influence. This was a tale that I was completely unfamiliar with, having never heard of Semiramis previously, and Casati was able to weave a story that was not only compelling and fascinating but haunting as well.

The audiobook is well-narrated, with Ayesha Antoine perfectly conveying the voices of Semarimis, Ninus, and Ribat throughout the novel. Her inflections and tone were well-suited to the story being told.

In this imagined retelling, Semiramis is born out of wedlock and abandoned on the banks of a river when her mother takes her own life. After a childhood plagued by loneliness and abuse, Semiramis grows into a young woman as defiant as she is cunning, with plans to escape her village before her adoptive father finds a suitor to take her hand in marriage. But when a new governor arrives to rule over the war-torn region, Semiramis discovers a better way to change her circumstances. She marries the governor and accompanies him to the heart of the empire, where she will live in splendor alongside her husband and the king.

This book is a masterpiece! 📚💖 With its beautifully crafted plot and multidimensional characters, it takes you on an unforgettable adventure through history and resilience. Get ready to be inspired by a woman who refuses to be defined by her circumstances!

Ayesha Antoine’s performance differentiates the POVs and enjoyable to listen to. I think this audiobook could benefit from multiple narrators.

Perfect for fans of Circe and The Lady Macbeth!

This historical retelling is fast paced and I really enjoyed it. The plot is exciting, the writing style is immersive and the characters are well developed. The story features multiple POVs which helps you to quickly connect with the characters.

Babylonia focuses on the woman’s narrative and truly delivers on that. Semiramis is an interesting character and her decision making among this real, brutal world is exciting.

This story is gruesome. With tons of on page bloodshed and political violence so, please check the trigger warnings.

Thank you to RBMedia and NetGalley for the listener copy of Babylonia in exchange for my honest review.

The Audibook downloaded in the app but isn't working at all. I'm sad because it sounds great and I was looking forward to it.

The makings of gripping historical fiction: a charismatic central character, intriguing supporting cast of an array of classes from aristocrats to servants, a love triangle, power struggles, and battling to expand an ancient empire all come together to ensnare readers into the captivating tale of Babylonia. All of this is wrapped up in the author's excellent lyrical prose. A story born in a seed of history from the short reign of the only female ruler of the ancient Assyrian empire, the authors imagination gifted us a creative tale of just what kind of events it would take to set the stage for this rule. Semiramis's story, from orphan upbringing to her assent to queen (regent) highlights not only a clever and complex main character but the interesting characters that she encounters along her path. Perhaps my favorite aspect of the story was that a eunuch and a slave were as pivotal to the story as kings. This is the type of tale that lovers of historical fiction especially ancient historical fiction can appreciate.
I had the pleasure of enjoying the audiobook and would like to acknowledge the wonderful narration of the story by Ayesha Antoine.
I received advanced access to this audiobook thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, RBmedia) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.