i was really sceptical but it turned out to be good

Love this book so much; can't say why exactly, but I do. I've read it once and listened to it once so far (Sep 2015)

4.5 stars
Another book set in one of my favourite time periods, Ancient Rome. A beautiful and moving narration of the familiar story of Cleopatra and Marc Antony's twins, Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene starting from the deaths of their parents following which they were taken to Rome by Octavian. I really liked Michelle Moran's Selene. While in a way she is stubbornly clinging to a past life she can never return to, her determination and idealism is admirable. Though I knew how Alexander and Selene's stories ended before I read this, it was engaging nevertheless. Ancient Rome is brought to life in beautiful detail and overall the book is well researched and provides excellent insight into a tumultous and important period in history. Definitely a must-read for historical fiction fans!

I loved this book! I've never been much of a fan of Roman history or anything similar unless it meant reading Asterisk the Gaul. Anyway, so I was a little hesitant at first, but I wanted to know more about this daughter of Cleopatra. I mean I didn't even know she had a daughter much less three other children with Marc Anthony. Although I knew about her and Julius Ceasar.

Michelle Moran does justice to history with her beautiful rendition of the beginning years of Kleopatra Selene. I like the fact that Selene is not portrayed as a child (she does mention in the back its because children then had education far beyond their years) and that readers experience as she experiences. Even though Moran only writes about Selene until she turns fifteen, it's a faithful narrative of how she lived, worried that Octavian might sell her as a slave, worried she and ALexander won't ever go home, adamant that she be useful, so that she like Juba could get her kingdom back.

Selene isn't a weak character either and that adds to the beauty of the story. Even if the sypnosis on the back cover implies a romance greater than that of Marc Anthony and Cleopatra, Moran's written brings Selene's life alive and makes the ending so much more worth the wait.

Her pacing means that nothing feels rushed, except maybe the last few pages, but the rest of the story is slowly evolving. If Moran were to ever write a second novel that perhaps detailed the years of her reign beside her king, I'd gladly read it.

This is perhaps one of the best Historical fictions I've ever read. Definitely worth reading :)

Loved this as much as when I read it the first time round!

I'm over halfway through and loving it so far! Selene is such a strong, complex character. I can't put it down.

5/26 Finished the book and loved it. I'm writing this review quickly so I can google what happened after the ending and perhaps pick up a new book in the process. Michelle Moran does such a beautiful job of creating characters and making the reader care about them. I became so invested in this story that I'm sad to see it end! Excellent book.