I tend to really enjoy mythology retellings and historical foction. This one is well put together but the narrative wasn't my cup of tea, which made me struggle to read it at times and keep my interest. Probably is a me problem. I haven't read the author's previous book so I cannot compare it to it.

Babylonia is the second novel by Constanza Casati. This book follows Semiramis who dreams of power whilst living a life of toil. She is strong as well as quick. Semiramis will have to rise from nothing to become exactly who she should be.

For me this wasn’t a new favourite novel. I really wanted to love it and in general I do like retellings and historical stories of women claiming their power. The narrative was just very boring to me and I struggled to stay interested in reading it. It was okay and I would recommend this. It just wasn’t great for me.

This is a really difficult one to review. The characters were just all so unlikable, but something kept me reading. The writing was well done and lyrical which I really appreciate, but I just couldn’t root for anyone.

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

Last year Constanza Casati’s debut ‘Clytemnestra’ absolutely blew me away; and now, somehow, ‘Babylonia’ has managed to surpass my sky high expectations and left me utterly speechless. Although she’s only written two books Connstanza Casati is now undeniably one of my favourite, must read, authors and, despite some very steep competition, ‘Babylonia’ is within my top reads of 2024 so far. Needless to say if you’re remotely curious about this book I advice you pick up a copy of it as soon as possible.

One thing that constantly struck me whilst reading ‘Babylonia’ was how beautifully it was written. From her debut I was well aware of how wonderfully compelling a story by the author could be and I remember finding her writing delightful to indulge in. Even so I was surprised by just how often I found myself longing to share a quote with the world, staring at a line, marvelling at its power and re-reading a certain segment because how exquisitely it was crafted left it impossible not to go back and revel within it again. The temptation to share a combination of incoherent gushing and mesmerising quotes, rather than a standard review for this book was surprisingly strong.

Another element of the author’s novels that I can’t help but love is her characters. They’re so deliciously complex, layered and compelling. Not everyone is going to be a pleasant person to discover yet you’ll inevitably find yourself desperate to discover more about them regardless. Everybody has such wonderfully crafted backstories, histories and connections. The unusual bond between Semiramis, Ninus and Onnes was superbly shaped. And there honestly wasn’t a single individual that I didn’t long to spend time learning about.

The narrative is split mainly into three perspectives, each of which was a wonder to lose myself within. Naturally much of the story is seen through Semiramis’s eyes and I utterly adored seeing exactly where she came from and where her journey ultimately led. For someone with a thirst for power and desperation to be remembered I found her depths surprisingly refreshing. Ninus, King Of Assyria, is another viewpoint that you get to explore, offering a rather different ruler than you’d expect from such a brutal, bloody world. And Ribat, a slave, is the third perspective, one that you can’t help but feel for. On occasion you get a small segment from someone else and although rare each of these was memorable.

The world was wonderfully crafted and detailed, bringing its setting vividly to life. And the plot was filled with memorable moments, twists and turns. The type of scheming involved within this novel, along with its brutal clashes, gave it the glorious feel of a fantasy offering on occasion, even though it’s more historically rooted (Gods are mentioned but not seen). The overall style was reminiscent of the Greek retellings that I adore so I’d definitely recommend it to fans of those too.

Needless to say I wholeheartedly recommend ‘Babylonia’ and can see it leaving many readers star struck. From its very first page it reels readers in, leaving them entranced enough that it’s impossible to look away. If this book doesn’t find itself within many ‘books of the year’ lists I’ll be surprised. Whatever the author writes next I’ll certainly be reading it.

‘”We have grown up longing to rule the world,” he says, “and now we are turning it to dust.”’

When discussing first class authors of this genre; (Madeline Miller, Natalie Haynes…) there’s a writer who deserves to be up there and her name is Constanza Casati.

In a time where Greek retellings have become a dominant genre it would appear difficult for newer authors to bring something fresh to this crowded market. However, with her debut novel - Clytemnestra - Constanza Casati proved there were indeed many more stories to tell and voices to be heard, with her second novel though she has not only gifted readers another beautiful story she has affirmed her position as a frontrunner and standout writer of the genre.

I really enjoyed reading Clytemnestra last year so Babylonia was definitely a book I was excited to read and boy did it deliver! Unlike its predecessor, I went into this book rather ignorant about its characters so I loved delving into a world and time I knew little about. Casati has clearly meticulously researched the history of the Assyrian Empire and she brings it to life in such a vivid and rich way that I felt as though I was walking the streets and palaces alongside her characters.

I cannot express enough how much Casati’s writing style sings to me. Her turn of phrase, her rich language, her perfect pacing and the emotional depths she reaches all blend seamlessly together to create an authentic story. Her words read like honey.

‘𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘺𝘭𝘶𝘴, 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴, 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴, 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘴.’

As with Clytemnestra, Casati gifts us with another incredible lead female character - this time warrior Queen Semiramis. Her journey lies at the heart of this story as we watch her transcend from orphaned commoner, to general’s wife to Queen. Semiramis was certainly a woman ahead of her time; she is fearless, she is upfront, she fights to get her voice heard and she doesn’t accept her predetermined place in society. Semiramis isn’t a leader who sits on a throne giving orders, she’s a ruler who leads from the front and I loved her for it.

What really elevated this story was the relationship between Semiramis, Onnes and Ninus. All 3 are brilliant, all 3 are broken and all 3 feel things so deeply you question whether any of them will ever truly find happiness. There are no one dimensional characters here, she cracks open the complexities of Semiramis, Onnes and Ninus never shying away from their individual flaws and painful truths. No one is a hero, no one is a villain the beauty lies in the light and shade of each character.

I was so sure that I could predict the direction of the story but Casati cleverly weaves the intricacies of their evolving relationship so beautifully that my feelings for these complex characters kept evolving too. Casati’s choice to tell this story from multiple perspectives only served to enhance the connection I felt to each one. The inclusion of Ribat, a slave, also added another layer to the story and offered some perspective on the barbaric hierarchy of the time.

There is beauty and there is trauma in this book, I was devastated, enthralled, repulsed, inspired and uplifted. Casati’s words just make me FEEL and that is the true magic of her writing.

This is an easy 5 stars for me, and I hope this book receives the recognition it deserves. It really is a sublime read.

*Thank you NetGalley for the arc. I cannot wait to own this book in print!

The product of an illicit liaison with a priest, Semiramis is born in Assyria to a mother who kills her father for failing to acknowledge his role in her conception before killing herself.

The abandoned, nameless baby is raised by a cruel widower named Simmas, whose son Amon is one of the few people to show her any kindness in her childhood. Many of her peers taunt her, including Baaz, the tormentor of her youth.

But despite this less than promising beginning, the stunning young woman is destined for a great future, one that she already dreams of as a lonely girl who's mocked for her lowly status. How that destiny unfolds is vividly described in Cassati's absorbing book.

The warmth, flavours, smells, culture atmosphere and perils of life in Assyria and Babylon are brought vibrantly alive through Cassati's storytelling, and she succeeds in doing the tale of Semiramis justice. This story is perfect for those who love history and legends.

A retelling of the story of Queen Semiramis from the Ancient Mesopotamian times. This book does a truly wonderful job telling us Semiramis' story. Of her love, loss, humble beginnings, and her eventual queendom.

Like with Clytemnestra, Costanza does a terrific job of staying true to the original myths and legends. While also giving the characters a new depth and life that the originals usually miss.

"As long as I breath, I will sob for him"

Beautifully written and a joy to read. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this arc. I am sure this book will be considered one of the best releases of 2024.

The story of Semiramis, well researched with brilliant characters, especially Semiramis herself. I always wanted to know more about her, having read about her before, and this fictional account brings her to life. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book, it was enjoyable and gets five stars easily from me.