Book: Babylonia

 Book: Babylonia

Author: Costanza Casati

Pages: 448

This is my 36th read for the year

What Amazon says:

Babylonia across the centuries has become the embodiment of lust, excess, and dissolute power that ruled Ancient Assyria.  In this world you had to kill to be king.  Or, in the case of Semiramis, an orphan raised on the outskirts of an empire:  Queen.  Nothing about Semiramis's upbringing could have foretold her legacy.  But when she meets a young representative of the new ASsyrian king, a prophecy unfolds before her, one that puts her in the center of a brutal wrld and in the hearts of two men - one who happens to be king.  Now a risen lady in a court of vipers, Semiramis becomes caught in the politics and viciousness of ancient Assyria.  Instead of bartering with fate, Semiramis trains in war and diplomacy.  And with each move, she rises in rank, embroiled in a game of power, desire, love, and betrayal, until she can ascend to the only position that will ever keep her safe. 

This was another excellent book from Casati.  It is well written and a well developed story.  Great character development.  Her books are not hard reads, but her story lines are captivating.  There are a lot of characters, and they all have complicated names, but it did not distract from the story.  I liked it ALMOST as well as Clytemnestra.  It is a close second.

Stars: 4.5