Review: Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran (it's out today!)

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran





rating: 4.5/5.0










From Amazon.com:

The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s revengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome; only two– the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander–survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian’s sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts.

The fateful tale of Selene and Alexander is brought brilliantly to life in Cleopatra’s Daughter. Recounted in Selene’s youthful and engaging voice, it introduces a compelling cast of historical characters: Octavia, the emperor Octavian’s kind and compassionate sister, abandoned by Marc Antony for Cleopatra; Livia, Octavian's bitter and jealous wife; Marcellus, Octavian’s handsome, flirtatious nephew and heir apparent; Tiberius, Livia’s sardonic son and Marcellus’s great rival for power; and Juba, Octavian’s watchful aide, whose honored position at court has far-reaching effects on the lives of the young Egyptian royals.

Selene’s narrative is animated by the concerns of a young girl in any time and place–the possibility of finding love, the pull of friendship and family, and the pursuit of her unique interests and talents. While coping with the loss of both her family and her ancestral kingdom, Selene must find a path around the dangers of a foreign land. Her accounts of life in Rome are filled with historical details that vividly capture both the glories and horrors of the times. She dines with the empire’s most illustrious poets and politicians, witnesses the creation of the Pantheon, and navigates the colorful, crowded marketplaces of the city where Roman-style justice is meted out with merciless authority.

Based on meticulous research, Cleopatra’s Daughter is a fascinating portrait of imperial Rome and of the people and events of this glorious and most tumultuous period in human history. Emerging from the shadows of the past, Selene, a young woman of irresistible charm and preternatural intelligence, will capture your heart.

My Review:

Wow, I knew I wanted to read this, but did not realize I would be so sucked into it. It's an amazing story of a time I know very little about. Not only did I learn of the history, I also learned of the cultural aspects of this time in Rome. It was very fascinating, and Ms. Moran does a wonderful job with her research and her writing.

Following the death of her parents, Cleopatra's Daughter follows Selene and her brother to Rome where they live in Octavian's palace with his sister Octavia who Selene's father Marc Anthony left for Cleopatra. It's an amazing tale of this child's life for the years between being captured and turning 15.

Selene's character is strong, yet typical of a tween/teenager. She's unsure of some things and very sure of others. She holds onto strong beliefs, never wanting to lose herself to the Roman culture and wanting to stay true to her Greek heritage. She hates slavery and will even give up something precious to help someone yet she is jealous of Julia who is to wed Marcellus. She loves her brother and loves to read. And as all of these typical teenage things are going on she still has to fear a forced marriage for her and also for her brother at the age of 15.

I can't do justice in a review to this story. I enjoyed every minute and I immediately got her backlist books from the library. Cleopatra's Daughter taught me some history while entertaining me. It also made for interesting discussion with my husband, the history buff.

Thank you to Michelle Moran and her publisher for sending me a copy of this to read and review and also for the giveaway they hosted. I cannot part with my copy of this book as I see me reading this again in the future.

Binding: Hardcover
On-sale Date: September 15, 2009
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Pages: 464