Took me some time to get into but was greatly rewarded.The characterisation in each chapter builds as we follow through the struggles, successes and savagery of a deeply flawed group of characters.
Semiramis is an icon, however you feel about her actions, a woman in the epitome of a man’s world who does whatever she can to create a better life for herself and those who deserve it. She also refuses any categorisation that others wish to impose on her - whore, betrayer, witch.
The love between Ninus, Onnus and Semiramis is a glorious, if ultimately destructive, story that's fascinating to read and heartbreaking to experience through Casati's incredible prose.

Casati has come back with another incredible ‘retelling’ that focuses on the power of women, the abuse of men and what people have to do, purely to survive.

If you enjoyed Clytemnestra, but wished there was a little more gore and action - you’ll love Babylonia!

Fascinating historical fiction about the rise of a village girl to political significance in the Assyrian empire circa 800BC
It’s a love story as well as an epic tale, and I thoroughly appreciated the entering of a woman who was clever and courageous enough to forge her own way in a world where women ranked barely above slaves.

“I do not want to live in service to men. I do not want my fate to depend on anyone but myself.”

Babylonia was a phenomenal retelling of the legendary Semiramis and I absolutely adored this story! I didn’t know much about the Assyrian queen prior to reading this but I love Costanza Castati’s writing style and knew it was in safe hands. Her style is so lush and I was completely immersed in this world. Semiramis is such an interesting character and I loved seeing her evolve as the story progressed. At times this story is incredibly uncomfortable with the relationship between Onnes and Ninus, however, it was written about so well. The authors ability to navigate this taboo relationship was really impressive, especially with how delicately it was managed. It created a really compelling dynamic between our main characters.. I loved having multi povs, especially being able to hear from Ribat which allowed a deeper understanding of Semiramis.

I would highly recommend this for lovers of mythology retelling and a healthy dose of female rage.

Babylonia is a retelling of rise to power of the Assyrian empire's only female ruler, Semiramis. The book focuses on Semiramis, a girl from humble origins longing for more, her marriage to the war general Onnes, and their relationship to the newly crowned king Ninus. These characters and their tortured relationship dynamic was a key element in the book and really drove the story forward. Casati made the decision to focus on Semiramis’ rise to power rather than the years she rules, taking a tale of rags to riches and weaving it into something truly spectacular. What follows is a tale full of twists and turns, filled with scheming, politics, and bloody battles. I knew nothing of ancient Mesopotamia going into this book and yet did not get confused once. As a fan of Casati’s previous novel, Clytemnestra, and the way in which she portrayed an often-vilified female character, I adored the way in which Semiramis and her motivations and desires were presented. I would recommend Babylonia to those who want a character-driven story of power and love centred upon a truly complex female character.

*Thank you to the publisher for sending me an early copy in exchange for an honest review*

After reading Costanza’s book Clytemnestra which is set in ancient Greece, an interest of mine, I didn’t think twice about requesting this book because Costanza’s writing style is beautiful. I have no knowledge of the Assyrian empire, Semiramis or any of the other characters that were mentioned in this story, with Clytemnestra I knew a good deal of the original story and going into this story blind, made me appreciate her storytelling and writing even more. There’s a mythical feeling when reading Costanza’s words, she is able to transport you to another time, another world even, and it is so easy to get lost within her story.

The story of Babylonia follows Semiramis as she rises from nothing until she is the ruler of the Assyrian empire, the only female ruler. I found it so easy to attach, and connect, to Semiramis and I was rooting for her the entire time, I enjoyed the character a lot. There is a whole cast of interesting characters, Ribat was one of my favourites, Nisat stood out as well and of course, Onnes and Ninus.

Provided by NetGalley and Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.

Babylonia.
Semiramis, the queen who rose from nothing and changed everything!

Semiramis is an orphan, poor, and wanting to escape her world from her cruel adopted father on the outskirts of a brutal Assyrian Empire, the village of Mari, where she meets Onnes, who is passing through, and he takes her away. Onnes and Ninus have a deeper friendship from childhood that grows into something deeper, until Semiramis comes between them both, and a love triangle erupts between them all. Fighting a war brings them closer but more troubled. She is a fearless warrior, alongside her cheetah, who becomes Assyrias, only female leader!
This is beautifully descriptive, complex characters, brutal and emotional throughout!

This is the first Greek mythology I have read, and at first I struggled and had to keep referring to the list at the front of the book for reference, it took me some time to get into it for the first half but by the second half i felt I understood more, I loved how the story evolved and how Semiramis kept picking herself up with strength and courage, to get herself to the top!

Having read a few Greek mythology retellings I was really looking forward to getting to read this story centred around Assyrian mythology. I found the characters all very compelling, even those who were not main characters I still wanted to get to know; even the more unlikeable amongst them. Even those who are more unlikeable are still portrayed as incredibly human - while we mainly look at the world through Semiramis’ eyes, the almost omnipotence provided by the book being in three widely different perspectives opens the world up more than if the book had featured a single narrator, a really smart choice by the author and not one I expected. I’ll definitely be checking out Clytemnestra now that I’ve experienced the beauty of Casati’s writing and the world she paints so beautifully.

Who doesn't love a bit of female rage!

This is one of the most beautifully written and devastatingly sad books that I have read in ages.
Casati's prose are so transportive that you feel as if you are right there with the characters.

This was an exceptional book and it really opened my eyes to an ancient world that I don't much about.

Costanza Casati has turned into my new favourite auto-buy author.

I really enjoyed Casati's book Clytemnestra so thought in all likelihood I would also enjoy Babylonia. Casati brings Ancient Assyria to life in this book about a woman's rise to power. There are quite a few integral characters to follow but it makes for an interesting read. I liked the mix of characters as well. Thought it was interesting to see a slave's viewpoint as well as those in higher positions.

Thank you to NetGalley and Micheal Joseph, Penguin Random House for the advance reader copy.

I had really enjoyed the authors first book and was excited to hear about this one.

I think if you enjoy historical fiction and strong female leads then this will be a good book for you.
I enjoyed reading this story especially as I didn’t know a lot about Babylonia and also the queen she is based on.

The beginning does seem long, but you realise it’s to world build and also give general back story that feels necessary later on in the book.

Babylon is the story of Semiramis, how she exists in a world that is built for the pleasure and wants of men.

The story is really compelling and has beautifully descriptive passages and moments of pure tension.

The way Costanza Cosati describes everything is wonderful. She manages to build such a vivid image in the reader's mind, so we can see scenes in technicolour; the clothing, the almost desert landscape outside Kahli, the village, the beatings, the looks between characters. I loved how I felt like this was a setting I have never experienced in fiction; ancient Mesopotamia, but I felt all of my senses were transported there, to feel the heat, taste the food, hear the screams, smell the fire and see the intraccies of their war art, their gardens.

However what Casati does immaculately for me is use this as an immersive background to a story that is driven and captures you till the very last page.

So this is the new Ancient Greek are to hit the book world (at least for me) and Im hoping it is just the start.

To rate this book my less than 5 stars would be a crime. Costanza Casati’s writing is beautiful, and damn, what a magical and captivating storyteller she is! Love, love, love, LOVED this.

I’ll admit I did not know much about Semiramis/Shammuramat other than a few basics, so diving in to this story I really did not know what to expect or much of the context in which she existed in (again, other than the basics and things I could fill in). Casati explored and presented the world really well, she made it so easy to understand and easy to imagine while expertly and deftly keeping the nuances and the imagery of the world.

The characterisations were wonderful and I loved Semiramis and her ambition, and her desire to live on longer than she herself would live. I loved the undercurrent conversation about how legacy and myths are formed, and about memory and how easily it can be changed and manipulated.

The other characters were great too and complex, especially Onnes and Ninus. I loved how their descent into ‘madness’ was written, it felt like a natural progression of their characters (Game of Throne writers take notes, Casati could’ve written Daenerys way better than you).

Sometimes I struggle with books that go through so many time jumps and skip through so many different periods of life, yet how Casati moved this story and these characters through the passage of time was amazing. It felt so seamless, and you really could see how the characters differed and changed throughout each time period, while keeping up all the same plot threads and damn…just what an expert writer. I’m so impressed with how she did it and so blown away by this book.

i really enjoyed this book!

i didn’t know the mythology this was based on before hand, but it felt really well explained and the writing was brilliant.

i particularly loved the mc. she was so strong and brave, and willing to do whatever she needed to gain her power. she reminded me a lot of cersei lannister in the best way.

the lowest point in this book for me was the romances. i didn’t quite understand if she actually loved them or the power she got from being with them, but this may be on purpose.

i still highly recommend!

Babylonia, set in ninth century BCE Mesopotamia, weaves a captivating tale of the semi-legendary warrior queen Semiramis. Born on the fringes of the Assyrian Empire to humble beginnings, we see her rise to the heart of the capital Assur, navigating friends, enemies and her own desires.

The story contains a myriad of vivid characters, all of whom come to life and we really get in their heads. The protagonist Semiramis is a determined, strong character driven by a prophecy and a willingness for power:
“She does not pray. She looks at the sky and makes promises. She promises she will be bold and fearless. As luminous as a star and as raging as a lion.” Her story is one of wonder, by no means is she perfect, but it’s incredibly compelling. The history of the ancient Near East is dominated by kings and men, but Casati gives us a perspective of a powerful woman, one with a strong will and a voice to be heard.

As much as I liked Semiramis driving the story, I really appreciated the perspectives from the warrior Onnes and King Ninus. This allowed a more organic development of their own relationships, back stories, and the impact of Semiramis. Although the story is told by 3-4 characters, the narrative doesn’t feel overcrowded or disjointed. Among the different POVs, we also see minor characters who amplify the plot such as the household staff, council members, and other equally intriguing women. There is a good balance of revelations, intrigue and military campaigns aided by decent pacing.

Babylonia is nothing short of a page turner with its complicated love triangle and political intrigue. The prose sings, lulling the reader back to ancient times with its lush temples, art, and clothes.

Babylonia was something slightly different for me. Although I read a lot of historical fiction, I’m not often drawn to ancient history and I think this could possibly be the first novel I’ve read set at the time of the Assyrian Empire. I enjoyed Costanza Casati’s previous book, Clytemnestra, though, so I decided to give this one a try.

Babylonia is set in the 9th Century BC and tells the story of the legendary Semiramis, thought to be based on the historical Assyrian queen, Sammuramat. I had heard of Semiramis before beginning the book, but knew almost nothing about her or the legends surrounding her.

Semiramis, at least in this version of the story, is the daughter of Derceto, who kills her lover after he denies being the father of her child and then drowns herself. The orphaned Semiramis is taken in by a shepherd, Simmas, who raises her along with his own son. However, Simmas is not a loving father and treats Semiramis so badly that as she grows into a woman she begins to plan her escape from the village. She finally gets her chance to move on and start a new life when she marries Onnes, the new governor of Eber-Nari. Onnes is the illegitimate half-brother of King Ninus and through marriage to him, Semiramis becomes close to the royal household. Still not content with how far she has come, Semiramis sets her sights on the throne, but when it comes to politics she may have met her match in the King’s mother, Nisat.

Much of the focus of the novel is on the relationships between Ninus, Onnes and Semiramis and the different kinds of love and hate each one of them has for the other two. It’s a fascinating triangle to read about with the dynamics shifting and changing throughout the book and the use of multiple perspectives helps us to see that there’s more than one side to the story. These three are not the only interesting characters in the novel – I’ve already mentioned Nisat, but two others who stood out for me were Sasi, the King’s spymaster, and Ribat, a young slave who serves as Semiramis’ eyes and ears in the palace, while dreaming of becoming a scribe.

Because of my lack of knowledge of Semiramis and this period of history in general, I can’t really comment on how this novel compares to other retellings of the same legends. I suppose one of the advantages of writing about a mythical figure is that it does allow the author a lot of freedom in how they choose to approach the story. As for the Assyrian world Casati builds around Semiramis, it feels real, believable and rooted in historical research, from the descriptions of food and clothing to the accounts of battles and political intrigue. Casati writes so beautifully this novel really was a pleasure to read.

I'm not sure how I stumbled upon Costanza, but I am so glad I did. I read Clytemenestra last month and knew I needed to get my hands on this book immediately. The prose in this one was somehow even more beautiful than in Clytemenestra. It honestly blew me away how lyrical and detailed this story is. The characters are very complex and the dialogue and situations leap off the page. Costanza also really has a knack for creating fierce and powerful female characters. The story style is an intimate window into how Semiramis builds her legacy. Despite the blend of myth and ancient history, this book does not feel distant or unreal. I felt very invested and absorbed into the realm and in Semiramis's rise to power. I loved the use of vivid, lush imagery of the scenery juxtaposed against the brutality in the realm. There are moments that make your heart soar and others where you feel crushed. There's multiple perspectives which is not always my favorite in stories, but in this case they were expertly woven together. The multiple perspectives made the story feel more layered, intentional, and real. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this!! I was genuinely thrilled to get an advanced copy of this because of how much I love her writing style. I finished the book in two days. I can't wait to see what she writes next.

3,75 stars.
I think it is fit that I shall start by saying I love the overlap of myth and history (ancient history) and the stories belonging to such being retold.
I also particularly like females given voice and agency in such books.
Though, I must also admit that due to the potency of the original stories, my expectations are high, and so far my experience with these books have been a mix bag.
Babylonia draw my attention because of its concept and that Semiramis was given a strong voice.
She is indeed loud enough in Babylonia.
Unlike some readers, I found the pacing to be good from the start and across the board.
And yet, I liked the prose more in some chapters (by the way, the chapters are ideally structured - great length and progression), and less so in some others (mostly halfway till the end).

I appreciate this book, and ignore my personal tastes. The characters and the setting do not disappoint. I liked Semiramis, Ribat, Onnes and Ninus.
I am extremely eager to read other books by this author.

Babylonia brings the ancient world to life. The beautiful prose transports you into a story of love, loss, battle and triumph. I loved the flawed and complex characters, their lives were completely mesmerising to read about. The multiple viewpoints give such a depth to the narrative. It’s character driven for sure but there is also plenty of action and political intrigue to keep the pace steady. One of my favourite reads this year. Definitely a must read for fans of mythology and historical fiction. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

'What had Ribat called a queen? A šarratu, a woman who rules in her own right. A leader. A conqueror. A ruler.'

I read and loved Clytemnestra last year - Costanza Casati has quickly become one of my favourite authors. I absolutely adored Babylonia, though Semiramis's tale was not one that I was familiar with prior to reading. Casati captured the Assyrian empire beautifully, I felt like I could picture everything perfectly. I loved how Semiramis came from nothing but rose as high as she did. She was a fighter, a woman who did everything she could to transform her life.

As well as Semiramis, I enjoyed Casati's characterisation of Sasi the spymaster, and how he became Semiramis' ally. He was a character who really stood out to me (I do love a spymaster in fiction.) I also really liked Sosanê's brief appearances, she played a nice middle to Nisat, King Ninus' mother, and Semiramis.

Onnes and Ninus were also intriguing, and so was their relationship. Casati really portrayed well the overlapping and oftentimes juxtaposing relationships between Ninus, Onnes and Semiramis - I found it such an interesting dynamic to read about!

Casati's writing is lyrical, beautiful, and addictive, and Babylonia as a book was intriguing and evocative. I thoroughly enjoyed, and couldn't put it down! One of my favourite reads of the year for sure.

Babylonia is utterly brilliant, @constanzacasati weaves a spell binding tale of rags to riches & the rise of Assyria’s only Queen, the legendary Semiramis.
The story follows her from the petty problems, poverty, and brutal life of a border village to the plotting, scheming and ruthless machinations of the Imperial Northwest Palace in the Assyrian capital & explores the damage of vicious & violent expectations of Assyrian men on those Semiramis comes to love most, & the power plays and personal vendettas that leave her unable to trust anyone.
I was utterly spellbound and totally immersed in this vibrant and lushly imagined world the glamour of the palace juxtaposing as harshly with the vicious brutality of the wars that pay for the glamour as the arid heat & Kalhu’s lush hanging gardens. The characters are vivid and complex, often as petty as they are powerful even if maintaining power is the only way they survive.
Also I wish Artemis was as big as Semiramis’ leopard & that he only bit others. Unfortunately he thinks bites are love.
If you liked Clytemnestra, get this ordered. If you love women doing what they have to & managing to outdo the men at every turn, get this pre-ordered! A massive thanks to @penguinukbooks for the approval on @netgalley.