This book is a vivid reimagining of ancient Assyria and the legend of Semiramis. The writing is rich with historical detail, though it sometimes teeters on overwhelming. The characters are compelling, but there was something that prevented me from fully connecting with the main character. I could never quite find myself rooting for her - instead I was more invested in the secondary characters. If you’re into mythology, power struggles, and a dash of poetic flair, this book is a fascinating, if slightly dense, escape.

SEMIRAMIS. This book had me in such a choke hold once I actually felt brave enough to read it. Readers of Clytemnestra know that Casati does not hold back any punches relating to heartache and violent loss- and this was no exception.

I profoundly believe that Greek mythology needs to MOVE ASIDE and we need more global mythologies being told. Babylonia is about the ancient Assyrian Empire - and the rise of Queen Semiramis, who was a real key historical figure immortalized in mythological retellings. Through her mythical origins, her defying the odds as an orphan and resilience, to eventual rise in the kingdom as a governor's wife, etc. Semiramis has a story worth knowing and being a part of our own mythos.

The book highly focuses on Semiramis and switches POV to Onnes (the Governor and intimate friend of the king), Ribat (the main slave of Semiramis) and Ninus (the current king of Assyria). Cosati portrays the Assyrian Empire as merciless and brutal- for that is how history has remembered it by. I found it lush, full of many interesting people and events thanks to Cosati.

My only real complaint is that I wish I had felt better connected with Semiramis- she was confident and was also at times very kind, looking out for those like her. She was prideful and overall was a good character. The story focused a lot on Ninus so that took away a bit from Semiramis- but I came to love and admire Ninus and was glad for the multiple POV.

Highly recommend for friends who love Greek spin-offs and A Song to Drown Rivers.

Published 1/14/2025

Thank you to NetGalley and to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for my ARC of this book.

*Review will be shared via goodreads and Instagram.

A re-telling of the story of Semiramis, the only recorded queen of Assyria, as she rises from an orphan and gains power through marriage and her own wits. I have only inklings of knowledge on Mesopotamia, so in that sense this was refreshing, as it covered mythology that I’m not all that familiar with.

It’s not mythology and leans more historical, so there’s no “real” magic, but it does talk about magic and spirits and divination and gods because of the time period, and uses real historical characters as well as original ones, with many different POVs, though Semiramis is the main one. She was a compelling character, not afraid to be brutal but also having a heart. The author’s note at the end was interesting, and I did like how she included how such a brutal society and violent wars could impact someone’s mind and cause PTSD, which wasn’t a really defined in ancient times. The very complicated character relationships were dramatic and wild, really, but added an interesting twist.

This is probably just an issue with mythology retellings in general, but sometimes people’s choices feel a little confusing or lacking explanation, but it has to go that direction because that’s how the original story goes. I don’t think this novel was always successful at filling in those gaps for me, so I did question some characters’ decisions and how their relationships seemed to shift suddenly. I didn’t come to care for the characters as much as I wanted, though, and the story didn’t totally stay with me.

Otherwise, I did enjoy this read. The writing isn’t too complicated but it was effective, and it was a really compelling story from a lesser-known historical figure!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!

It has been a while since I read much YA fiction, and this book, for me, read as YA and not as in-depth and I would have liked. I felt like all the characters were underdeveloped, more caricatures than people. However, I did enjoy this book. Semiramis, a legendary Assyrian queen, is mentioned in all sorts of texts, including one of Shakespeare's plays, but it is hard to imagine how a woman, in a culture so misogynist as that could have had a woman take charge as a queen,, especially a woman not born into a wealthy elite Assyrian family. So, this book provides a story for how that came about. It fits much closer to the mythological Semiramis's life, rather than to the real life woman Semiramis's various legends are based around. So, this book fits in well with the many retellings that have been coming out over the past few years centered around Greek and Roman gods (Circe, Stone Blind, Song of Achilles, etc) and will probably appeal to readers who enjoyed these books..

3.5 ⭐️ rounded down.

I was SO excited to get a novel in this era and geographic location. Assyria and Babylon are empires that I don't see very often in historical fiction novels--I'm not sure if it's because of how jarring the experiences are for people in the modern western world to read or if it's just because novelists aren't interested in researching that portion of history when they're preparing to write a new book. Either way, I appreciated the dive Casati took into this world with Babylonia!!

This book moved fast in the beginning for me, slowed down some in the middle, and then never picked up too much again. There were a few things in the plot that threw me for a loop, but considering the culture in that time and place, maybe shouldn't have been so unexpected. The various romances that existed within these pages were CRAZY. Overall, I liked Semiramis as a character and admire her for all she accomplished as a woman in ancient Assyria, but Ninus was for sure my favorite!

This novel was very good and well-written, but the content isn't for everyone, so if you are interested, proceed with caution and maybe read a few more reviews before moving forward, hahaha. I'm honestly not sure how to say much more without spoilers so I'm going to have to stop here!!

An EPIC tale of ancient Mesopotamia revealing history that not many of us know about. We follow the story of a common orphan and her ascension to power and royalty. This is also an exploration of grief and loyalty, and how they interplay with ambition and desire.
While I can tell that this was heavily researched and historically accurate, it felt a little long and the writing fell a little flat. I loved this author’s novel Clytemnestra and will continue to reach her rich, feminine, ambitious novels!

This books is such a gem. I enjoyed every single page of it. It tells the story of Semiramis, the only woman who ruled Assyria. From orphan to powerful queen, this reimagined story of real life Sammuramat is not only well researched, the writing is flawless and the pace is perfect. It also delves into the Epic of Gilgamesh and the relationship between two brothers and all that happens when one of them (Enkidu) dies. Both stories intertwined impeccably.

Babylonia
By Costanza Casati

This is a novel based on records of ancient history. It takes place in Assyria, located in what is today Iraq. The time period was one of wars and slavery and cruelty, and the Assyrians stood out, especially when it came to barbaric deeds done on friends and foe alike.

It was a time of empire building. Kings exercised unfettered power and their brutality was considered a sign of strength. Within royal families, plotting and jockeying for position were expected.

But what wasn't recognized was the emergence of women in positions of power, even as queens. Not having brute strength, these women resorted to using beauty and brains to survive and get ahead in a man's world.

While a fascinating story in itself, the most interesting thing about this book is the parallels that still exist in the modern world.

I’ve been trying to articulate my thoughts on this book for the past two weeks, but honestly what’s the point - I just need EVERYONE to read this.

Babylonia is a historical fantasy of epic proportions, telling the tale of deeply complex characters in a persistently evolving world. There’s an empire with a new king on the throne, a love triangle between the most unlikely three, and obviously, a girlboss MC. The books follows Semiramis’ journey from commoner woman to queen, and let me be the first to tell you that it’s QUITE the journey.

What I love about Semiramis is that she is utterly human. She is a woman that dreams, and she won’t let anyone take that away from her. She knows she’s meant for more than a life as an orphaned village girl, and she will do anything attain the future she’s meant to achieve. She grabs her fate by the throat and refuses to submit, neither to the gods nor to men. But when she loves, she loves with her whole heart. She’s incredibly strong in some ways yet vulnerable in others, and this is what makes her such a compelling character.

A lot of the story involves discourse on what true power is and who it is that wields it. There’s also a constant struggle between the pursuit of life & immortality vs being claimed by death. These are themes that are prevalent given the historical and cultural context of the story, which made the reading experience all the more emotional and thought-provoking.

I don’t have enough space to get into Ninus’ and Onnes’ characters but know that I have so much love for them. There was only one extremely minor critique I had for Babylonia, and it was that there was a section in the second half where I wish there was more focus on Onnes given what he was going through. However, considering where the plot was going at that point, I also understand the reason he may have been needed to be removed from the spotlight for a while.

tl;dr PLEASE read this book 🥺 The character and world development was incredible and the writing was simply STUNNING ❤️ When I started reading my eARC, I knew I’d have to get my hands on a physical copy to annotate (and I did just that when I saw it was one of the January picks for BOTM 😅). I truly loved this book so much and I’m so glad it was one of my first reads of 2025. This was my first Constanza Casati read, and I’ll definitely be picking up her other books.

DNF at 45%

Babylonia is written with extravagant, vivid details that leap off the page. Despite these strengths, the novel just isn’t for me. At 45% of the way through, I still don’t feel a strong connection to Semiramis or a clear understanding of her ambitions and motivations. While I wanted to enjoy this story, reading it has started to feel more like a school assignment than a personal escape.

That said, readers who love richly detailed historical fiction inspired by ancient myths may find much to appreciate here.

When kings fall, queens rise.
Costanza Casati, the author of the bestselling Clytemnestra, brings us another story from history, this time about the only woman who ascended to the throne of Assyria: Semiramis, a woman who, being an orphan from an insignificant and remote village, would become the first and only one to occupy the throne of Hammurabi.
A very detailed and excellently documented book, with vivid scenes, historical characters brought to the 21st century, once again demonstrates the quality of Casati's work.
If you like classic history, this book is for you.
I thank the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
The opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think and feel about this book.

Babylonia by Costanza Casati ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I waited for my hardcover copy to arrive before sharing my review because look 👏 at 👏 this 👏 book. The cover is gorgeous and the sprayed edges are everything.

If you haven’t read Casati, here’s your encouragement. I fell in love with her writing after Clytemnestra, and this one was a fantastic follow up.

Babylonia was about fear, rage, and power. Again, a strong female character stole the show, and I loved everything about her journey. This book spanned a lifetime, and the character journey within that exuded strength and strategy.

If you’re looking for a book that has a descriptive setting, cunning characters, and represents female power and strategy, check this one out. If you’re just looking for a beautifully written story that can transport you to a different time and place, this one also fits that description. Basically, just read it. 🐆

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for an ARC of Babylonia in exchange for my honest review. (I meant to have this out before publication day, but as luck would have it I had jury duty. 🥴)

"When kings fall, queens rise."

Babylonia tells the story of Semiramis, the legendary queen of the ruthless Assyrian empire. Casati is a masterful weaver when it comes to mythological storytelling, and details Semiramis rise from extremely humble beginnings to the throne itself.

I love mythology, but had no knowledge of any Mesopotamian mythology. I've heard the name Gilgamesh before, but certainly never Semiramis. The character was well written, and I enjoyed her feministic views, especially in a brutal, patriarchal society.

Overall, I didn't love this novel. Some parts were excellent, while others dragged on or were repetitive. However, I absolutely adore Clytemnestra by Casati, so I'll definitely be picking up anything she writes in the future.

3⭐️

Never have I ever thought about the Assyrian empire, the queen of it or anything at all about the 900-800 BC era. Yet I still applied for an arc of this, due to the intriguing blurb. And god, I fell in love. The prose in this book is beautiful and lyrical, drawing you in. The characters are even more intriguing. Nisat, a woman who wed two kings, mother of a king, conniving, scheming, daughter of a cupbearer, intrigued me. All she did for power and to ascend was heartbreaking and dangerous. Onnes and Ninus, lovers, brothers, allies, friends, betrayal— they were the most intriguing. The relationship between Onnes, Ninus and Semiramis was like Challengers but BC Assyrian empire. Ribat was the most profound voice. He stood out. His act of vengeance for his mother by allowing Ninus to die and sacrificing his love for Semiramis to do so was beautiful. He was loyal to her and to his mother, and he chose family first. The end of him becoming the one to put her down in history was such a creative ending. And finally, the star of the show, the queen herself— Semiramis. Calculating, kind, wise, clever. She made the world her own. Born to a mother who killed herself and a father who abandoned her, raised by a cruel shepherd and spending her youth proving herself, tricking and lying and framing her father to gain a governor’s attention and hand in marriage, helping to capture a kingdom, falling in love with a king, watching her husband kill himself and wedding a king, watching her husband fall and becoming the ruler of the strongest empire on the planet. I adored this and I need to read Clytemnestra as soon as possible.

A smash hit. Epic in scope and impossible to put down, Casati writes another dazzling female character from ancient history into legend. Sharp, and unyielding, her writing transports us to an ancient civilization with a taste for brutality and conquest. Focusing on a common woman with little to lose, Semiramis is willing to do anything to make her destiny come true. She's brilliantly written and her story unfolds as fascinatingly as Casati's Clytemnestra.

Casati is an author not to be missed!

Go purchase this gorgeous book (I mean look at those sprayed edges)!

This was an incredible book, I haven’t read anything like it! Semiramis was such a strong FMC and all her scheming with as frustrating as it was addictive to watch unfold. I love how the author write about a strong woman without making you hate them.

This was an extremely fascinating book. There were several points in time where I completely forgot it was based on a true story because the story line was so interesting. I love historical fiction, and this was a completely different point in history than any book I had ever read. I would definitely recommend to any lovers of history and strong female leads.

Thanks to Net Galley, the publisher and the author for the ARC.

I just love this authors writing, this was a really interesting story that takes place in Mesopotamia. To be honest I was hoping for another Greek Mythology retelling but I’m not mad about this

In her newly-published novel Babylonia, the author Constanza Casati chronicles a world in which the Epic of Gilgamesh’s date of composition lay far closer to the present than today. She writes about the Assyrian Empire, and, in particular, the legendary Queen Semiramis.
Casati nimbly weaves the story of Gilgamesh and his friend Enkidu into the novel, both through quotations from characters and through her carefully drawn portrait of the friendship between the cold-hearted general Onnes and the idealistic King Ninus. That friendship is first threatened, then, briefly, expanded when Onnes marries Semiramis—here depicted as an impoverished-yet-ambitious orphan with a flinty courage, a quick mind, and a kind heart to boot. At her most skillful, Casati manages to provoke genuine questions through these three characters about what it means to love someone else in a world where love is seen as a weakness.
Alas, Casati never quite breaches the full consequences of that question, a failure most obvious with regards to her protagonist. Casati seems determined to present Semiramis as likable even when the plot makes that questionable. A story arc in the latter half of the novel, which sets Onnes and Ninus at odds for Semiramis’ affections, is presented as a fight over true love—rather than what seems more probable from the outside, and would frankly be more interesting: namely, a ruthless attempt by Semiramis to grab power even at the cost of shattering the brief, beautiful companionship the three have formed prior to that point.
Framed by the glossy ornateness of Semiramis’ perfection, Babylonia is an enjoyable read—but unlike the ancient epic which recurs in its pages, it is regrettably a forgettable tale.

4.15!

"Madness breeds Madness."

I literally have no idea how to feel about this. It was a really enjoyable book but I think I'm gonna settle with this rating for a while because I actually enjoyed this book and the unpredictable nature of this book because like you would read the scene look at your screen and be like ??? but then it would start to make sense and you would actually start seeing it through. The main conflicting part of the book was the writing style...like I actually don't know if I liked it or not but it sure as hell made this book interesting and enjoyable. It read like a coming of age story and I love those so I really enjoyed this and I think it was done very well.

"Immortality doesn't mean living for ever. It means surviving even after your heart stops beating and your body is burned. It means living in myth, in stories."

The characters were very well written and when I read mythologies I expect characters to be like this so I was prepared for it in advance and it helped. The book itself though was so interesting!! like I loved the concept and how everything was executed. Honestly, it that kind of a book where you dont know if you love it or hate it until you sleep on it for a bit.

I think that to take one's darkness inside yourself can be dangerous. If you have to suffer, at least let it be because of your own shadows."

The characters while interesting were so frustrating. Our main character Semiramis absolutely ate. Like she knew what she wanted to be and she became that person like she was so clever and cunning and the way she thought and crafted her plans and was always ahead was so good like honestly it was so mind-blowing at times and like when you read the final chapters and look back at her characters decisions throughout the book everything hits so much better. Ninus and Onnes Ahahahaha these two were the messiest characters in this book like I would love them for a minute and hate them the other like honestly I had no idea what to make for them but I just know that they would've worked best as a throuple!! Onnes was such a complex character with his dark past and self sabotaging guilt , he was doomed from the start and Ninus manipulated from the start, his life was literally a lie so they both were broken and it worked perfectly for Semiramis lmaoo

"Power is a game that is played in palaces in only," she said "Do not fear Spymaster, I know how to play too."

The romance was the messiest, toxicest shit that I have ever read like what the fuck was that I dont even think I can talk about it because I think it would be spoilery but I shipped her with whoever she ended up with whenever she was with the person like Casati just made it work somehow??? It was amazing and concerning at the same time...also the whole relationship and marriage for power thing in here disgusts me so bad at time like wdym Ninus's mother married her son after her husband died?? ewwwww. Thank god this was not the case for the main love interest. Say what you want the romance was quite literally a tragedy in the making because of how it was everyone was just so twisted and broken and messed up. I dont think anything would've worked maybe one of them under bettcer circumstances or all of them together lol

The ending though was perfect like I really, really, liked the ending of this book and it made the whole experience worth it!!

Overall, I do think that this book isn't for everyone but I would definitely recommend it!!