5/5
Entirely captivating from the very first chapter, where the curiosity beat out the confusion and I was enthralled to see what was going to happen!
I tend to shy away from mythology retellings as the author usually very clearly doesn't know what they're talking about OR they're shoving lore down your throat so clumsily that it appears as if they just want you to know they're smart, but this author struck the PERFECT balance. They clearly know their stuff but the lore didn't overtake the plot in a distracting way.
Love the character relationships (hello throuple!) and the love-hate vibes that show the comp[exity of their dynamics. Definitely want to check out the author's other work!

Okay this is incredibly hard to review because the audio was a DNF. The narrators voice, while lovely, was so low and soft it seemed to almost have an echo to it.

The story has an interesting premise and I’d love to pick it back up as a physical read one day.

"Babylonia" by Costanza Cosati is well-researched historical fiction set in the 8th century in the Assyrian Empire. It is about Semiramis, the first queen to rule this Empire. She comes from humble beginnings as an orphaned taken in by a man who later turns out to be abusive.

She runs away with the Governor, Onnes, and her life changes. This was a violent time, and there are scenes of war. There are lion hunts that are brutal. Semiramis saves a leopard who is going to be part of the next hunt. The leopard becomes her protector, almost like a pet.

The writing is spectacular! It's very descriptive and clear and yet not overdone. You can really see yourself there and imagine the place and the people. The characters are clear and fully developed. Despite all this, I didn't like the story. I didn't care for the violence and war at all. If that doesn't bother you, you'll probably really enjoy this book.

There is a gay love story as part of this narrative that I found refreshing.

The 16+ hour long audibook is expertly narrated by Ayesha Antoine.

Characters - 5/5
Writing - 5/5
Plot - 4/5
Pacing - 3/5
Unputdownability - 3/5
Enjoyment - 2/5
Narration - 5/5
Cover - 4/5
Overall - 31/8 = 3 7/8 rounded up to 4 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, RB Media, and Costanza Cosati for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This was a do not finish for me. It was just to hard for me to stay focused. It was a different read for me which is probably why I couldn't get into it.

I requested the audiobook ARC of Babylonia because I had previously read and enjoyed Constanta Constanzi’s Clytemnestra, and I’m glad I did—this story delivered another richly imagined world full of myth, emotion, and power struggles. The narration added a lot to the experience; I especially appreciated the narrator’s voicing of the characters and her thoughtful pacing, which helped bring the story’s emotional undertones to life. While there were a few spots where the pacing of the plot felt uneven, the overall experience was immersive and rewarding. Constanzi continues to have a distinctive voice as an author, and I look forward to what she writes next.

5 glowing stars! I absolutely loved this book! It is a creative reimagining of a true event in history, the rise to power of the Assyrian Empire’s only female ruler. Casati expertly weaves in ancient Mesopotamian history with beautiful writing and masterful storytelling to tell the tale of a poor girl named Semiramis with a horrific home life who comes from nothing. One day, a governor visits her small town and she decides to take a chance in an effort to improve her destiny. This leads her to a bigger adventure than she could have ever imagined.

I actually went into this book blind and had not read the synopsis beforehand so I was incredibly shocked with some of the major developments. The story captured my attention from the beginning and there were many twists and turns throughout that really caught me by surprise. There are multiple continuously evolving relationships and plot lines that kept the story moving and changing. I felt incredibly invested in many of the major characters, what decisions they would make, and what would ultimately happen to them. It was easy to stay engaged, wondering what events would take place next and where that would lead.

Semiramis is the perfect FMC heroine and it was amazing to watch her confidence, interactions, and abilities grow throughout the novel as she learned who she could and could not trust. Casati is brilliant at building mystery and tension, then pulling the rug out from under you when you least expect it. This is my first book by this author and it definitely will not be my last! I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was excellent, I loved her accent and listening to her voice tell this story and felt engaged throughout! I highly recommend this one, especially if you love stories of the ancient world, historical fiction, and mythology. Thank you to NetGalley, Costanza Casati, Sourcebooks Landmark, and RB Media for the gifted ARC in an exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this author's debut book! The writing is gorgeous and the stories are absolutely fascinating. The voice actor was great!

Thank you Netgalley for the ALC. I really enjoyed this audiobook, I enjoyed the history that is uncovered in the book as well and the setting of it. Mythology always gets me hooked and I will forever be buying anything Costanza Casati creates!

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

I would love to reread this physically to be able to give this the review it deserves. Because of the jumps in time and the consistent pace, also the many unique names it was hard to follow in the audiobook. However physically I’d feel like that would be a much easier read. It was very unique and the relationships were MESSY which was hilarious when I found out it was based on reality or culture. A very interesting historical fiction though with interesting beliefs at that time. I always am very intrigued by that kind of stuff and that was great. The writing was amazing I feel like it was almost poetic. Though there were only 2 likeable characters to me and yeah it’s probably because of the time period and the power greed so it’s understandable but I just struggle to get into a book without characters that I love. I won’t put that against the book though it’s just the plot and time period but it did make it slightly less enjoyable. Can’t wait to read it physically though.

I'd like to preference this by saying, I think audio books are just not for me. I struggle to keep my mind focused on just the book and tune out the rest of the world. Because of that I feel like audio books give me a less immersive reading experience.

So, with that said, I did still enjoy listening to this! The book itself is a good story, and the Narrator gave a great delivery.

But I do feel like because I have a hard time staying focused on the audio, I did miss certain details of the story. But that's at no fault of the author or narrator, and I do plan on getting a physical copy of the book to read!

I absolutely loved this book; I could not put it down. In recent years, I’ve come to really enjoy historical fiction set in this time period, and I think this was an excellent example of a story that was both engaging and informative. Looking forward to reading more from the author!

My first 5 star read or the year!

Babylonia brings to life the incredible story of Semiramis, the only female ruler of the Assyrian empire. The novel beautifully blends romance, tragedy, and palace intrigue, immersing readers in the emotional and political complexities of her reign. the world building was exceptional with well-researched and vivid descriptions of Assyrian culture. The central love triangle was written with depth, and the novel raises thought-provoking questions about violence, survival, and legacy. While the story could have benefitted from more focus on Semiramis’s later reign, the historical facts, myths, and the author’s own creative interpretations blended seamlessly, making for an immersive read. The audiobook narration was excellent as well, with the narrator giving each character a distinct voice. A truly powerful and engaging novel that brings an often-overlooked corner of history to life.

Costanza Casati is an autobuy author for me after Clytemnestra, and I was excited for a retelling outside of Greek and Roman mythology/history.

Babylonia offers a lush experience through beautiful prose that depicts a story of power, legacy, resilience, trauma, and love. The relationship between Semiramis, Onnes, and Ninus showcases Casati's talents in fleshing out individual characters while weaving together their stories in a way that they cannot exist on their own.

The narration by Ayesha Antoine is beautiful and well-paced. There is an air of elegance, but also the emotion and brutality of some moments really show through when it matters. I wish there had been a slight distinction between the points of view as I found myself backtracking a couple times if I lost focus for a bit.

Thank you so much for letting me listen to this audiobook. I got emersed in this story fairly quickly. A gripping tale of a powerful woman.

Picked this up because there isn't nearly enough historical fiction out there set in the Mesopotamian empires, much less ones about female and queer monarchs. It did not disappoint in delivering a very vivid and well-written tapestry of the politics and the intrigue and the fraught emotional and social landscapes of the times. I wish the audiobook was multicast as it was multi-POV across VERY different characters. Would've made the sprawling and long narrative a bit more engaging, since I found myself taking long breaks between picking this up when the narration got too monotonous for me. Perhaps in order to do the real history justice, the length was necessary, but I wish the story had cut to the chase a little bit more at times. As much as I was surprisingly moved by the fraught dynamics of the "love triangle", each of whom was approaching love and ambition from a place of deep trauma, I wish it was cut by at least a third so we could get more of Semiramis's actual reign as Queen and everything she accomplished. Instead, all we get of that is an epilogue. Regardless, I'm glad I got to spend time in this overlooked corner of history with characters that are so evocative of a world and people we could stand to learn from more in the current zeitgeist.

“He thinks both of them have been drowning. But rather than fight the storm together, they have lost each other at sea.”

My first Costanza Casati book but definitely not my last! The prose of Babylonia is so lyrical, it was amazing how solid the characters felt.

I listened to the audiobook which is powerfully narrated by Ayesha Antoine I definitely don’t think I’d have been pronouncing the characters’ names correctly without hearing them.

Sumeramis is a woman born with nothing who radically changes her life through incredible bravery and determination. This book is one for all historical fiction fans!

Thank you NetGalley and Recorded Books for an advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review!

I love Casati’s debut novel and I was thrilled to get an early audiobook of her next book (if you’re thinking to yourself, “you’ve owned this book since its UK release” shhhh). Babylonia did not disappoint, and it’s a beautiful rendering of ancient history. Her characters are complex and compelling and I love the quality of the writing. I loved Semiramis and I loved following her journey, and Casati gives the world a rich depth that makes me love historical fiction. I really loved Casati’s choices and will absolutely read anything she writes.

The audiobook was lovely and Ayesha Antoine did a wonderful job narrating! Absolutely recommend.

This gave Game of Thrones vibes and I was here for it. The cover said it all, “Kings Fall. Queens Rise.” Semiramis is a fighter and you will be craving her resilience by the end of the book. Themes of power, lust, loyalty and betrayal, this book is a must read for mythology/historical fiction lovers.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC!

4.0

Thank you NetGalley, RBmedia, and Costanza Casati for this arc in exchange for an honest review!


Thoughts:

“When she was a child, it was her greatest wish to have someone who loved her so much that he would protect her from any danger. But life wasn't kind to her, so she became that person for herself.”

Messy, messy, messy, but BRILLIANT! Ate this one up! I’m in awe. Not much to say, but that I need to pick up another read by Costanza Casati.

P.s. the narration by Ayesha Antoine is AMAZING!


Paperback/Hardcover/Audiobook/E-book:


Audiobook


Pace:


Slow, Fast, Medium (lol - depends on the chapter)


Cover thoughts:


Eye-catching!


Trigger Warnings (Spoilers****):

Death, War, Violence, Suicide, Incest, Mental Illness, Slavery, Infidelity, Sexual Assault, Torture, Genocide, Racism, Homophobia, Murder, Abuse, Grief, Sexism, Misogyny, Classism, Toxic Relationships, Addiction, etc.

Babylonia is a historical fiction novel that tells the story of Semiramis, the only female ruler of the Assyrian empire, and how her ambition elevates her from a powerless village orphan to a dynamic queen.

This book is part romance, part tragedy, part palace intrigue, and wholly a story of a woman striving not just to survive in a world stacked against her, but to carve out a place for herself within it. Time and time again, we witness Semiramis rise to face threats that seek to destroy both her and the empire, her intelligence and strategic thinking elevating Assyria over its enemies.

The world-building is executed exceptionally well here, showcasing the author's thorough research. I especially enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the hanging gardens, along with the architecture and art that adorned the various palaces within the royal quarters.

Something fascinating I learned is that the Assyrians were terrified of death. They believed that after passing away, people entered the House of Dust, where commoners and kings sat together in darkness, eating clay for food, their wings covering themselves in shame. It's interesting to see, in this novel, how this fear translates into a willingness to do anything to survive.

Two central questions plague this story:

1. Is it better to be the arbiter of violence or the victim of it?

2. When violence is all we have ever known, when it is the very legacy of a kingdom, can we break free from these cycles?

There are also various references to The Epic of Gilgamesh, which add depth to the narrative. Nenus and Onus, two members of the central love triangle, are even based on Gilgamesh and Enkidu.

All in all, this was a powerful but heartbreaking read.