“This is a memoir like no other” the book blurb states. So true. I haven’t come across a memoir that deploys such a unique and artful framework to a memoir. Leveraging the ancient warrior queen Zenobia, the author deftly shares her own story reporting from various countries as she weaves in the life of Zenobia from seventeen centuries ago. She draws parallels and imagines similarities between events from her encounters with those of Zenobia’s. It is effective and seamless, which demonstrates the talent she has for storytelling. The book was compelling, engaging, informative, and the author doesn’t shy away from sharing the brutalities of war. There’s a bit of self deprecating humor thrown in for good measure. I like the way the author lifts the curtain on how actual reporting gets done - a lot is a mad scramble seconds before a reporter is live on the air. Her fast-paced career melds together with her personal life and she invites us into that world for a bit - thank you. I loved the writing style - how I long to see more authors display the fantastic command of the language like Gayle Young does. It makes the reading experience such a pleasurable delight. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and didn’t want it to end, but I did love the last personal tidbit! Five stars for this wonderful book. It’s almost the end of August and this is only my third five-star book this year - yes, I’m a tough rater and this book deserved all five stars. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This witty memoir intertwines the experiences of a modern-day woman journalist in the Middle East with those of Zenobia, a 3rd-century queen, exploring surprising parallels in their lives and the enduring challenges faced by women in the region.

I’m not generally a memoir person, but I loved this mix of memoir and history. The writing is brilliant, the story compelling, and the style immersive. The book is funny and sometimes heartbreaking, but always a pleasure to read.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.