⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

Babylonia is a captivating, complex reimagining that blends ancient history with political intrigue, love, and power.

This one was fascinating. I adored the inclusion of ancient history, myths, and the story of Gilgamesh. The characters were well-developed and intriguing. Costanza’s writing was beautiful and complimented the story and characters well. The settings, political intrigue, and love stories were compelling, and I enjoyed the ending. The pacing occasionally felt slow, but overall, the story progressed at a comfortable speed. I would absolutely recommend this one to fans of retelling and ancient historical fiction!

Ayesha Antoine narrated Babylonia beautifully. Her voice added wonderful depth and emotion to the story, making it even more immersive.

Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!

Ancient history is even more appealing to me than more recent history, mainly because there’s so much that we don’t know, and uncover new information all the time. Reading historical fiction set in the distant past takes on a life of its own, as we are introduced to settings we aren’t familiar with, and commonly follow the stories about the lives of people who lived in those times. Kind of like how Pompeii is endlessly fascinating because we’re still making groundbreaking discoveries about the site.

Although I didn’t read Clytemnestra, I have seen a lot of positive reviews. So when Casati directed her focus to ancient Assyria, I couldn’t resist. The audiobook format made it a little harder for me to follow what was going on at first. I must have listened to the first 10% four times before I finally got it, because the beginning is complex. We’re introduced to the three main characters, Semiramis, Onnus, and King Ninus, all historical figures from the ninth century BCE.

Multiple restarts of the book really worked out well for me, because I was finally able to immerse myself in the ancient Assyrian Empire. The beginnings of the novel are complicated because we’re being introduced to an empire that has long passed, the specifics of the lives of the three main characters, and most importantly, the intrigue and politics in play amidst the running of the empire. After things finally clicked, I was very invested in the story. I’m glad that I didn’t DNF this one, which I was considering, until I saw a ton of positive ratings for it.

Semiramis is the perfect character for her story, and it really made me think about how neither could be separated from the other. I don’t think any other woman would be able to take the reins of the Assyrian Empire, especially in the time period in which she lived, when women could only aspire to be wives and mothers. Semiramis doesn’t just not fit in the societal box of expectations, she completely demolishes it. She grows up as an orphaned child when her mother committed suicide, and she is raised by a man who took her in, but is abusive. So her worldview is informed by trauma, loss, and insecurity. It makes sense that she grows up so focused on improving her lot in life, mainly by tying her destiny to that of a powerful man, since that is the only way she’ll rise in society.

Today, a woman like Semiramis would be celebrated, and probably rocking a career in politics, where the sky is the limit. But back then, the best a woman could hope for was to marry a man who treats her well and gives her healthy children. Semiramis is aware that she wants more for herself than this lowly village life, and fortune is on her side when a powerful governor is sent to her town by the king. She quickly enchants him with her beauty and brains, and before she knows it, she’s no longer scraping by, but instead is married to the governor, Onnus.

Once the scene is set, and readers are introduced to the very distant world the story is set in. Casati’s writing is so beautifully descriptive, and Ayesha Antoine is fantastic in this role. The perks of reading an audiobook set in a time and place that I haven’t learned anything about other than that they used cuneiform as a writing system. The pace isn’t exactly consistent throughout the story—it maintains a decent pace in the beginning and successfully navigates the thin line between info dumps and not offering enough info, but it isn’t until after the second half of the story begins that the pace picks up. Once that happens, however, the pace keeps speeding up as the novel comes to a close, and there is a lot of action in the second half of the book, when political intrigue and war stalks the pages.

The part of the book that kept me rapt, however, was the love triangle at the center of the story. Casati demonstrates her mastery of the love triangle dynamic by creating a true one—rather than two men fighting for the affection of a woman, each person is caught in a web of connections. Semiramis is married to Onnus but has her eyes on Ninus, while Ninus is in love with Onnus, and Onnus has been raised as a brother to the king. I was so intrigued by Semiramis’s relationship dynamics, and really viewed her as morally gray in actions, but deep down was just trying to ensure that she is safe. As a woman who has never felt safe and always dealt with violence and insecurity, it makes sense that she is the way she is. Add in her experiences in wartime, where she actually goes to the battlefield as a warrior, and it’s clear that she’s dealing with some trauma, although so are the people around her. I was caught up in the actions of Semiramis and the two men in her love triangle.

Overall, this was a good book although it was a bit longer than it needed to be. At times, the story felt like it dragged and there wasn’t a lot going on, while at others, I couldn’t read fast enough to find out what would happen next. For the most part, I really loved exploring ancient Assyria as a kingdom, and look forward to more historical retellings of standout figures in ancient history. I’ll be challenging myself to read more history in the upcoming year, and recommend this for: fans of Casati’s writing, lovers of ancient history, those who enjoy learning more about historical figures, and appreciate reading about powerful women in history.

DNFed this. My mood just isn't in a right spot for this, will probably try again at another date. Saw the special edition in stores and it was beautiful to look at!!

4.5⭐️

Going into the Assyrian empire was a little out of my depths but this author was such an amazing storyteller not once did I feel lost. The story itself is such a beautiful and tragic tale of a fearless woman that rises from orphan to queen, she never shys away from conflict or war. This is my first read from Constance Casati but definitely won’t be my last.

It was cruel and mad from the beginning to the end. But that didn't feel justified. Being cruel for the sake of cruelty and being mad for the sake of madness wasn't something I would expect from this book. It was like this just because the author could do it. Not a single happy moment. I believe that joy is in balance, but the book definitely lacks it. No intrigue, no culmination, just a dull story.

Thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with ARC copy

I support women's rights and women's wrongs. I had no idea who Semiramis was before this book and now she is now my favorite historical figure.

((I listened to the audiobook via NetGalley.))

I love mythology retellings, but what usually holds my interest in the stories is how the author interprets ancient stories. "Babylonia" had me INVESTED in the characters and their terrible decision-making skills. This book is a work of art. I am impressed at how well the author captured grief and depression (re: terrible decision-making.) Ribat's POV was genius. I could feel the characters' desperation, growing hope, longing, pain, anxiety and spiraling madness.

DNF at 45%

Babylonia is written with extravagant, vivid details that leap off the page and features an expert narration by Ayesha Antoine. Despite these strengths, the novel just isn’t for me. At 45% of the way through, I still don’t feel a strong connection to Semiramis or a clear understanding of her ambitions and motivations. While I wanted to enjoy this story, reading it has started to feel more like a school assignment than a personal escape.

That said, readers who love richly detailed historical fiction inspired by ancient myths may find much to appreciate here.

Babylonia is an absolute must-read for fans of historical epics and myth-based stories. Semiramis’s journey is a masterclass in resilience and ambition. Her story plunges you into a brutal world of politics, war, and betrayal.

I really like how Casati portrays like the love triangle at the heart of the narrative—entwining Semiramis, a king, and the man they both love—adds a layer of emotional intensity that will leave you torn and captivated.

If you’re looking for a tale of power, cunning, and fierce determination wrapped in lush prose and ancient intrigue, this is the book for you. A dazzling tribute to a queen who refused to be forgotten 👑✨

I really enjoyed this audiobook and am very grateful I was able to revive a copy of it. The narrator was very expressive and really made the story come to life. I love a history fiction books that happen around this time period because they are so educational but also so compelling.

I have absolutely no idea how to review this book.

I'm going to have to sit with it for a while. It was.... I don't know. Like I said, I don't know how to review it.

I can tell you what it's about ...

It's a mythological retelling about a female ruler in 9th century Assyria named Semiramis. (A legendary queen likely based on Queen-Regent Sammu-Ramat.)

She starts life the abandoned daughter of a murdered father and a mother who killed herself after murdering the father. She's adopted by a severely abusive man but -- through strategic moves, lies, and machinations -- eventually finds herself queen of Assyria.

It's.... a story. I just don't know how to tell you what kind of story. Ha. It's a good one, and you need not be familiar with the original myth to appreciate it. But it's.... dark and sad in places. But it showcases Semiramis' strength, intelligence, and will throughout.

It's a great story for anyone who loves reading about powerful women who will do anything to make their way in the world. (Think Game of Thrones' Cersei but a lot less cruel and deviant.)

That's the best I can do right now. It's just a lot to digest (in a good way).

First of all, I would like to thank the publisher and Netggaley for the eARC provided for me!

Without any influence I can say, that this book is wonderful. I was always fond of ancient countries and retellings of stories about them. My favorites were mainly Greek retellings, that's how I found the work of Constanza Casati. Her story about Clytemnestra was already a good start but I have to say that I can see her progress as an author in Babylonia. It's also great to see someone step away from the Greeks and seek out an other civilisation, which is rarely mentioned when it comes to retellings.
The story of Semiramis has EVERYTHING a reader might need from this genre: love, betrayal, a great insight into the characters' soul, beautifully depicted culture and history. I could barely stop listening to the audiobook provided for me. The characters each were very human, they had their own motives, weaknesses, desires and they felt so real they almost stepped out of the book.
The narrator did an outstanding job too, the audiobook is entertaining and engaging.
I will definitely keep Casati in my mind, waiting for her next books. She is going places!

[4+] Just when I swore I was done with re-tellings - along comes the dazzling "Babylonia!" I was captivated by Semirana's story. Casati masterfully brings to life her rise to the throne, drawing on historical records from 800s BC Assyria. The audio was beautifully read by Ayesha Antoine.

a little slow but I think that's just kind of how this style of story goes. i went in blind and really enjoyed my time but... at 3x speed 😅

the characters are incredibly realistic and somehow feel down to earth despite being such powerful figures. the longing was INTENSE and I was really hoping we were going to be able to wrap this up with a power throuple, but alas, it wasn't meant to be. shame history didn't work out that way, lol.

another weird history nitpick, but I needed a little more world building despite everything? i just didn't know much about Assyria/the time period going in and constantly felt a little behind the ball on the "who's who" every time an international incident happened

i am obsessed with this narrator tbh, she was incredible, and I feel like this is a hell of a text to make as immersive as she did. I'll be checking out more of her work for sure

i feel like I've been saying check triggers a lot lately but WOOF you are gonna wanna check triggers on this one babes!!!

Costanza Casati is slowly becoming one of my favorite authors. Clytemnestra was a masterpiece and Babylonia is on the exact same level.

I have one issue with this books, I wish the story continued all the way through Semiramis’s death. Honestly I could have read about her entire life and enjoyed every second of it.

If you like strong female characters, political intrigue, historical fiction, mythological retelling, lyrical prose, this is the book for you.

I can’t wait to see what the author’s next project is!!!

First 5 star of 2025!!! HUGE thanks to NetGalley and RBMedia for the ALC!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

"Lonely souls rarely find each other, but when they do, they aren’t meant to part."

I wasn't too inclined towards reading Costanza Casati's debut novel, Clytemnestra because:
A. I'm SICK of Greek mythology
B. Celebrated authors like Madeline Miller and Jennifer Saint were misses for me
However, ancient Mesopotamia immediately caught my attention. Fun fact about me: I'm a huge ancient history nerd and I think ancient Mesopotamia is criminally underrated. Oh, this was brilliant. Babylonia is an exquisitely crafted historical epic that reimagines the life of Semiramis, the only female ruler of the Assyrian empire. I'd never heard of Semiramis before reading this so the story felt like a breath of fresh air.

I always appreciate it when extensive research is put into writing historical fiction and the way Casati breathes life into Assyria is nothing short of incredible. This is one of the most immersive settings I've ever had the joy of experiencing. It's made even better by the impeccable prose. Casati's prose is knife-sharp and resplendent. Although there are no supernatural elements, fantasy readers will love this because of the political intrigue (that's done better than most fantasy novels, imo) and a compelling cast of morally gray characters. The narrator, Ayesha Antoine, did a fabulous job at bringing the characters to life!

I loved reading about Semiramis' rise to power. If you love ambitious female MCs, this one's for you. Ambition, wanting more than what's given, and what power means to those who don't have it and the lengths they go to obtain it are the major themes of the book. There's not a single dull moment in this book. The messy relationships between the characters were the highlight of the book for me. Don't go into it expecting a romance, though. The relationship between Semiramis, Onnes, and Ninus is definitely not healthy and ends in tragedy.

The author's note was quite enlightening. I loved her decision to include a slave's perspective into the story. It added depth and authenticity to it. Casati also blends into the narrative the epics and poetry of Assyria and draws parallels to the Epic of Gilgamesh. With kings and queens, slaves and spymasters, priests and soldiers, Casati has painted a vivid picture of ancient Mesopotamia that I'll never forget.

Babylonia" by Constanza Casati is a richly detailed historical novel that takes readers back to the ancient world. Initially, I found it challenging to immerse myself in the story, as the narrative took some time to pick up pace. However, once the plot started to unfold, the book became an entertaining read.

However because so many characters were involved in the active telling of the story, some of them felt a bit "flat" and lacked the depth needed to form a strong connection with the reader. As a result, it was sometimes difficult to fully engage with their individual journeys and emotions.

Despite these challenges, "Babylonia" offers a fascinating glimpse into a bygone era and showcases Casati's dedication to historical accuracy. The book's strength lies in its vivid descriptions and Casati's dededication to adhere to history while giving herself the liberty to go beyond what is known. Additionally, the feminist take was refreshing and shows us, once again, that strong women have always existed.

For those interested in Assyrian history, "Babylonia" will prove an engaging story.

If you are a fan of historical fiction and a strong FMC, this is an enjoyable audiobook! The story held my attention for the duration. I liked the author’s writing style- using short simple sentences to tell a compelling story. I found it a bit challenging to keep the character’s name straight in my head.

Rating: 3:5 stars

A captivating tale of Semiramis, a powerful and ambitious orphan who rises from obscurity to imperial heights. With complex relationships, immersive world-building, and a satisfying narrative, this book is a must-read for historical fiction and mythology fans. While it didn't quite surpass Casati's "Clytemnestra", it's a compelling and emotional ride that will leave you breathless.

In Babylonia, Costanza Casati tells an epic tale of love and betrayal, set in the violent grandure of the Assyrian empire. Casati takes the myth of Semiramis, combining it with the fragments that are known about the historical Shammuramat, and from these two stories she creates her own tale of the eventual queen of Assyria. Semiramis is nothing. Abandoned at birth she is adopted by a shepherd who mistreats her. She knows that the only thing anyone expects of her is that she will dutifully marry and fade into obscurity. So she takes her fate into her own hands, recognising that power can be claimed by those who are not born to it.

I really enjoyed that the novel is told from the perspective of multiple characters. We see from the perspective of Semiramis, as well as king Ninus, and Ribat who is a slave that longs to be a scribe. The shifting perspective allows us to become aware of things that we wouldn't otherwise, and it adds depth to the relationship between Ninus and Semiramis's husband Onnes, which we would lack if we were always viewing it from the perspective of Semiramis.

The love and betrayal that hangs over Semiramis, Onnes, and Ninus is perhaps the most enduring theme in the novel. It is a very character driven story, and these three are at the heart of it. There isn't one lover and one betrayal. The three of them love and hurt each other over and over again, and it is this that is their undoing. As a reader you know where the novel will end up, and perhaps if you know of the myth you have an idea of how we are going to get there, but it makes the resolution no less tragic.

I hadn't read any of Costanza Casati's books before I picked up Babylonia, though I have since discovered that this is her second novel. If Babylonia is anything to go by, she has become an author who I will instantly read. I know that many people are getting tired of retellings and myths, but I encourage you to give this one a try. Firstly, Mesopotamia has hardly received any attention when it comes to retellings and so still feels very fresh and interesting, and secondly, this book is so well written I think it is possible to enjoy the story being told, irrespective of its historical and mythical origin.

I am so glad that I read this, and what a good way to start a new year.

This was a great book! I am not typically a fan of historical fiction, but I wasn’t tricked given it was about Greek mythology. I like the story, and how it shows the strength of women. It was a well written book, I like the audiobook in the voice of the narrator.


Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!