A memoir with a dash of history, this is a witty account of the overlapping adventures of a foreign correspondent in the Middle East and an ancient warrior queen – 17 centuries apart.

Young was a novice broadcast journalist when she was catapulted into the position of CNN Cairo bureau chief in the early 1990s; Zenobia was the same age when she unexpectedly seized Egypt along with a third of the Roman Empire in the 270s AD.

One woman made history, the other reported on people who make history. Yet both encountered desert wars, besieged cities, and military coups. They also shared a love for overly emotional camels, nomadic lifestyles, dabbling in religions, and having a beer with the guys.

By seamlessly weaving together these two fascinating life trajectories, Young explores how warfare, ambition, sexuality, and the perceptions of women in antiquity compare with the world today. Many of the issues they encountered as women in the Middle East remain much the same.

This is a memoir like no other. A testament that humans across centuries can buck trends, take risks, triumph and fail, making our marks on the world great and small. Inspirational, fun, and informative, it is a great read for people who love adventure with a side of humility.