I did not like this one. I was really confused and by chapter 20 I still had no idea what the plot was.

After reading and enjoying Clytemnestra I knew I needed to read this one. If you enjoyed Circe, the Song of Achilles, and Clytemnestra then you will absolutely enjoy this novel.
This was better than Clytemnestra and followed Semiramis and her path from ruin to “riches.”

I thoroughly enjoyed it and Costanza Casati is an automatic buy / read from here on out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Babylonia

A historical fiction about what may have occurred in Babylon? Say less.

Told in multiple POVs which keep you coming back for more, this story has so many layers to it. Layers woven with madness, violence, betrayal, lust, scheming. There is so much going on, it keeps you guessing of what came next.

While I enjoyed the narrator, I do wish it had been a full cast. I think that could have helped me buy into the characters more.

Incredibly interesting and well written. Casati weaves a beautiful story based on the myth of Semiramis, the only female ruler of the Assyrian empire, and the famous love triangle that made her queen. Characters were all well developed and she provides a lush landscape for them.

Ayesha Antoine has a voice like velvet and made this an absolute joy to listen to.

Semiramis’s journey is full of challenges with stunning battles, intricate politics, and the raw power of the Assyrian empire. This book gave me everything I wanted from it. I got my mythology fix as well as some romantic nods. The quotes were amazing and I am beyond thrilled I got to read this exquisite work of art.

"She knows that they will meet again in the house of dust: The common woman who became queen, The governor she married, And the king who loved them both."

"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."

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Semiramis, cast aside and orphaned at birth, has a chance encounter with the governor and from there she goes from orphan all the way to queen -- the only female ruler of the Assyrian empire. But how did she get there? This is her story.

Casati does a fantastic job bringing to life Semiramis. From the moment we see her taking the rings to when she finally ascends the throne, there is a lot to unpack. The raw emotions and the violence of the time bleeds into this book. There were a lot of moments I was rooting for her, especially when she fights back against a society that wants to keep her down because of her gender, and there were moments I wanted her to stop pushing aside any happiness just because she was afraid of being trapped into a life she never wanted -- I understood where she was coming from, but like also take a moment and chill. Mixed with mythology and historical moments, the story of Semiramis was beautiful and cruel and heartbreaking and I absolutely loved it.

Actual Rating: 4.5 stars

An unlikely female underdog is determined to rise above her lowly station and change her future. Born cursed by her mother’s choices, taken in by an abusive, adoptive father, and born for more, Semiramis will use her pain and heartache to rewrite her destiny and become the Assyrian Empire’s only female ruler. This is a fantastic reimaging of Babylonian history. It is a political drama full of lies, deceit, determination and stubbornness that fueled a new empire. Creatively blending myth and ancient history, Casati weaves a timeless tale of rise to power. I enjoyed this historical escape immensely and will be reading more from this author. Babylonia is a January 2025 new release and I highly recommend it for fans of mythology, political intrigue, and historical fiction. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for my ALC in exchange for an honest review.

4.25/5 ⭐
1/5 🌶️

An imaginative combination of legend and fiction come together to tell the tale of a fierce warrior woman who fought from infancy all the way to queen. A very enjoyable read in which the only downside was it left me wanting more of her story all the way to her death. A true rags-to-riches story of an orphaned girl who earned the ire of everyone in her farming village for no other reason than existing. She did not just luck her way up the social and political ladder, she clawed and bled at every rung while trying to keep her head above water. This book definitely takes you on an emotional roller coaster with some dark twists to be had. This book is a great example of multi PoV done well.

The narrator, Ayesha Antoine, was such a joy to listen to. I really enjoyed the voices she used for different characters and felt they fit the image my mind was painting of the various players in Semiramis' life. Her flow was enthralling like a great waterfall all the way through the book and even through the ending author's notes. This audiobook is for anyone who enjoys strong women in times when they were not supposed to be seen as strong. Fans of truly ancient legends and Mesopotamian mythos should enjoy this fictional take adorned with excerpts from the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Thank you to RBmedia via NetGalley for an ALC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you, NetGalley for a copy of this eARC.
It's been a few days since I finished listening to the audiobook, and let me tell you, it was an experience that left me at a loss for words.
Firstly, the choice of narrator could not have been more spot-on than Ayesha Antoine; her voice was magical and a perfect fit for Semiramis' strong personality. I felt fully immersed in the story, seriously it was hypnotizing.
Secondly, this story and how it was written is magnificent; I LOVE a strong, powerful woman. It was enticing how ambiguous relationships were until the end of the book it made me want to devour it whole; I needed to know every heartbreaking detail.
This book is perfect for anyone obsessed with historical/mythical retelling; I highly recommend listening to the audiobook, it enhances the atmosphere astronomically!

Costanza Casati is officially an auto-read author for me after reading both Clytemnestra and Babylonia! Her writing is beautiful and her stories of historical women are inspiring. Definitely check this one out!

Thanks, NetGalley, for the audiobook ARC! Ayesha Antoine is an exceptional narrator, so I definitely recommend checking out the audiobook version.

Dive into a rich history of rags to riches, rivals, and belonging. This story has wonder and has you wanting more from the characters. The narration in the audiobook is not bad but the voices can be a little off.

I am a huge fan of historical fiction, but often get stuck reading too much WWII fiction. That is why this book was so intriguing to me. I have never read a book about Ancient Assyria and knew virtually nothing about this time period. What grabbed my attention the most is the story of a girl coming from nothing and how she rose to power as queen of Assyria. I love a strong female lead that against all, gains a strong sense of self. If you are looking for something a little different, try this book! I recommend listening to the audiobook for pronunciation and continuity.

"Babylonia" is a captivating historical fiction that takes readers on an extraordinary journey through time. The story follows a remarkable woman who rises from humble beginnings to ascend to the throne, and the narrative is so intricately crafted that it immerses you completely in her world. The author's vivid prose brings the past to life, making it impossible to put the book down once you’ve started. As someone who deeply appreciates historical fiction, I found this story to be both engaging and unforgettable. This is a novel that deserves to be read and appreciated by anyone with a love for history and storytelling. I highly recommend it.

🗣💬: "The whole of a life, is but a twinkling of an eye"

👩🏾‍🏫 𝔾𝔼ℕℝ𝔼: Fantasy

📄 ℙ𝔸𝔾𝔼 ℂ𝕆𝕌ℕ𝕋: 432

✍️ ℙ𝕃𝕆𝕋:
You are orphaned and raised on the outskirts of an empire, born into a life of toil and anonymity. But dreams of power and potential course through your veins.

You will have to chart your path from your village of shadows and dust to the hallowed halls your emperors walk.

Legend has it you will rise from nothing to rule kingdoms and command armies.

💟 𝔽𝔼𝔼𝕃𝕊:
This was a surprising one because how gritty it ended up being which I LOVED.
Don't get me wrong, a nice, flowery book is wonderful, but one that gets to the heart of darkness in the name of stepping into your light; totally new levels of reading.

I saw a review that said "I support women's rights, wrongs, and morally dubious choices" and boy oh boy, if that doesn't reflect my thoughts on this book, I don't know what will. I even liked the way the Queen was written, I loved to loathe her 🤣😌
Also, something I love about high fantasy is how subtly the fantasy elements are woven through the plot (making it the kind of story that anyone can read, regardless of your preferred genre) and that makes this the perfect kind of read- especially as the world building happens around you as you read, rather than an attempt to describe EVERYTHING in the beginning which can be overwhelming.

The highlight of the book for me was the complexity of the relationships.

Thank you @netgalley for the gifted audiobook. What an amazing read this book, Babylonia by Costanza Casati was! I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this gripping tale of Mesopotamian period!

A fierce, intoxicating tale of power, love, and survival in Ancient Assyria. Semiramis rises from obscurity to become a queen in a world where men kill for the throne—but she won’t be a pawn in their game. Casati’s lush prose and sharp storytelling make this a gripping read, perfect for fans of Clytemnestra and Circe. Plus, the deluxe edition is stunning!

Thank you NetGalley, Costanza Casati, and RBMedia for access to the audiobook version of Babylonia. This ancient historical fiction is about the first Queen of Assyria, and was absolutely incredible to read. It had beautiful prose and amazing parallels.

Casati added a creative twist to the historical accounts about the first Queen of Assyria, Semiramis, which I think made for an incredible story. The parallels to Assyrian literature and mythology like the Epic of Gilgamesh being used to inspire an interesting dynamic between King Ninus and Onnes, and the parallels between Ishtar and Semiramis fit very well. I like a challenging read so I wish I had to work a little harder for the comparison, but it was still beautifully done and made accessible for those who might not be familiar with Assyrian mythology.

The juxtaposition between Semiramis who came from nothing versus the people of the palace who were born into higher positions and their views on power, was really interesting to me as well. Semiramis seeing power as a guarantee to safety and to get what she wants, while those around her see it as a burden where they can’t trust those close to them, and the consequences that come with being able to get anything they ask for.

I saw a few reviews by Assyrian readers which were all positive, so that was also really good to see.

Side note: by the time I was done with this, I'd reached 104% on the audio. LOL

Narrated by Ayesha Antoine
Presented by RB Media

An excellent historical fiction that I really enjoyed, though it felt a little too long by the end of it.

Babylonia tells the story of Semiramis, a nobody who rises to become the only female ruler of the Assyrian empire.

Knowing that's how it'll end does not make this story any less enjoyable. I really enjoyed her ruthlessness, and how she was so determined to just live.

The story gives us multiple viewpoints, so we get a well-rounded story that takes into account the thoughts and opinions of those close to Semiramis and allows a glimpse into the motivations of several. I appreciated having more insider knowledge of these other characters.

The story gets brutal at times, but I liked that about it. It added a realness that this story truly benefited from.

I do think the romance side of things worked against it - I loved Semiramis climbing the ranks for power, so as soon as questions of love were raised it started to soften and I wasn't wholly convinced. At the same time, the romance was never drawing the focus away from the progression of the story, so I appreciated that.

The narrator's performance was excellent - I was entranced by her voice and its strength suited this story so much. It was easy enough to differentiate characters, even without huge variations in pitch. A brilliant job and I'd happily listen to this narrator again.

Towards the end, it did feel like it was starting to drag - like the rest of the story had been so spread out that there was more but it had to be squashed in at the end because time had run out. It felt like a cramped ending that perhaps needed more time, or just less time spent elsewhere to balance it.

Still, I was entertained throughout and would happily recommend this to fans of historical fiction.

With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC

Yet another great read by Costanza Casati!
She writes amazing Greek mythologies retellings. The characters were all well written and well developed. I loved the fact that I couldn't always tell what was going to happen next. This is author I recommend to anyone that wants a Greek Mythology that is feminist instead of a romanticized story.

For fans of:
- Masquerade
- For She Is Wrath
- The Song of Achilles
- A Song to Drown Rivers
- Queen of Shifting Sands

Semiramis is a woman with nothing to lose and a desperation to give her life meaning, purpose. When the opportunity to escape her abusive, stifling household arrives, she jumps at the chance to free herself. Now chained to a life of court machinations, lies, and secrets she now must discover what it means to survive in a ruthless palace.

This book includes:
- ancient retelling of the Epic of Gilgamesh
- atmospheric desert setting
- warring brothers
- backstabbing
- secrets and half truths
- an honest portrayal of the cost of war
- politics and manipulation

"Babylonia" is spectacular. When I first started the book, I had my doubts and felt like the story may end up being a little slow. The next thing I knew I was totally engrossed and unable to put the book down at all (metaphorically since this is an audiobook). The prose is gorgeous. The characters and the complex conflicts they come up against are agonizing in the most delicious way. I loved the various portrayals of the kinds of love and how love impacts the characters decisions sometimes in the most grotesque ways. Each character in this book is dynamic and flawed, yet I find myself resonating deeply with parts of each of them. I also love the exploration of ancient Babylonia and am now eager to read up on my history of the region. The Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest story ever recorded - more ancient than the Bible and the Torah - and it is so fascinating that the themes of the story can still speak to us so deeply now in the 21st century.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves cunning women and ancient history. My only complaint is of the audiobook narration; I felt that the narrator did not modulate their voice for any of the characters to give them a unique sound, and this sometimes made it confusion to understand who was speaking.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Costanza Casati, and RBMedia for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted across my socials under the username @tinynightingales, check out my GoodReads profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863
my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightingales/
and booktok https://www.tiktok.com/@tinynightingales?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Clytemnestra is perhaps in my top 3 favorite mythology retellings so i simply had to read Babylonia too! although the former was more engaging in its entirety, i thought this one was more thrilling in parts (but dragging in some) since i was not familiar with the story and characters