Babylonia covers the rise and fall of individuals in the Assyrian empire: a commoner, a slave, a governor, and a king. The main character, Semiranis, knows that power is the difference between life and death in her world, and she makes it her life’s work to reach a level of power to protect herself. Based on historical events of real people in the 9th century BC, this was a fascinating historical lesson.

It took me a minute to get into this book; there is a lot of world-building, and it was generally unfamiliar to me. I’m very appreciative of the character list in the front, as I referenced it throughout. It’s easy to get bogged down in the world and the sheer number of people to keep up with, let alone their relationships to each other (which are extremely complicated to say the least). That said, the multiple-POV structure worked extremely well for this story, and my favorite POV was that of Ribat, Semiramis’ slave. Servants always know what’s really going on in royal houses, and I’m so glad the author chose to give voice to that perspective.

It was a little gorey for me, and I didn’t expect that from the outset. However, it is perfectly in line with the historical context and heightened the stakes of the book. In between battle scenes, there’s a lot of sitting around, eating dates and figs, and speculating on each other’s love lives under the guise of geopolitical strategy for a decent chunk of the book. These two paces played more in tandem than in harmony with one another.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fantastic retelling, pieced together history of Semiramis, the only female ruler of the Assyrian empire. We follow her as she ascends from commoner to royalty through her wit, wiles, and relationships.

I knew nothing about this time period before reading this. Luckily, this is more of a character driven story with plot points pulled from history. Semiramis is written with such grit, power, cunning, and flaws. She makes for such a compelling character - morally gray but still endearing. I thoroughly enjoyed this read.

I would recommend this for fans of Madeline Miller, Natalie Haynes, Jennifer Saint. The writing here is incredible and honestly on par with the beauty of Miller’s writing.

4.5

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review!

damn. she did it again. this book is even better than Clytemnestra.

Casati's prose is gorgeous and really fits these whole antiquity retellings she's done so far. everything feels real, sumptuous and rich but also incredibly dangerous at once. but where this book really shines is with the characters. Semiramis, Ninus, and Onnes, plus the rest of the cast, are super flawed but also utterly fascinating. the dynamic between them was so fucked up but also I could not wait for the next turn at pretty much all times.

as one of the other reviews I saw said, Casati does a great job of not pulling punches with how difficult it was for many different groups of people in ancient times - but she also imbues her work with a lot of characters who refuse to give up in the face of such odds, and also a lot of hope. the character writing is just so damn good.

this author absolutely rules and I will be checking out anything she writes. I have been really disappointed by a lot of retellings of ancient mythology and history, but both her books were excellent. you should definitely put this on your calendars for an early 2025 read.

An enjoyable read. I liked that this was a different sort of mythology than all the other retellings that have been coming out lately. I did find the writing to be a bit juvenile, and would have liked more insight into the characters’ motivations toward the end of the book, which felt a bit rushed. Not quite as good as her previous book, but I will definitely read future ones.

Thank you to Net Galley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC. I was really excited when I was approved because I loved the author's previous book: Clytemnestra. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this one, I couldn't really get invested in the story or care about the characters. Maybe the timing was not right because I currently don't feel interested in heavy books due to being so busy.

I loved this book! Costanza Casati is such a gifted writer and storyteller. I loved following Semiramis’ journey from her village to a wife and then ruler. Casati does a brilliant job making Semiramis both incredibly flawed, but also so easy to love and admire. What a phenomenal character and story. Highly recommend!

If I could rate 6 stars, I would...

“Babylonia” follows the rise of Semiramis, the one and only female ruler of the ancient Assyrian empire. This book weaves emotions, culture, and history into a breathtaking story that focuses on themes of resilience, love, and ambition (with a sprinkle of mythology of course). “Babylonia” instantly pulled me in; I was fully invested before the prologue even ended! Casati’s writing style is exceptionally vivid and lyrical and flows naturally.

I knew absolutely nothing about Assyrian culture or history going into this, and everything was explained perfectly in line with the story. I really enjoyed the character list at the beginning of the book too, it was super helpful in figuring out who’s who. I found every character to be well thought out, with their own development and dilemmas. At the heart of it, “Babylonia” is just downright inspiring. I wouldn’t consider myself well-versed in historical fiction at all, but this book is going to have me coming back for more – I can’t wait to see what else Casati writes! I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for providing this book.

Babylonia is the tale of the Assyrian Empire's only female ruler, Semiramis. Abandoned by a mother who ends her own life and raised as a stepdaughter of a shepherd, Semiramis desires power and freedom and she navigates the courts of the Assyrian Kings and advisors by marrying Onnes, a governor. It's a tale weaved with myth and historical fact giving a voice to the one woman whose reputation should rival Alexander the Great.

I am always a a fan of myths and giving them a new voice in the modern age especially the women of myth. Constanza Casati brings life and magic into the world of Semiramis, a queen I knew nothing about since she had faded from history. Though slower paced, Casati should be regarded as a wonderful storyteller to rival Madeline Miller with ancient tales.

Semiramis is a queen who rises from nothing and becomes powerful and ambitious. the cast of characters is fantastic and the descriptions of the world allows you to dive right in.

Thank you Sourcebooks for inviting me to read an eARC of Babylonia for an honest review and thank you to NetGalley for providing the title.

Costanza Casati establishes herself as a titan of the mythological retelling genre with Babylonia. She expertly weaves together multiple POVS and complex characters and an engrossing plot. Just a year since the publication of Clytemnestra and Casati’s writing has progressed leaps and bounds from what was already impressive. TikTok review to come and recommendations to follow.

"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."

From the start, I knew this story was going to be special. I knew I had to request the retelling of Queen Semiramis from Mesopamain legend and myth. The story went above and beyond what I imagined. Constantza delivered on this story and then some.

I cannot recommend this story enough. An easy five stars.

I’ll admit I often judge books by their covers, but in the case of Constanza Casati, both her writing and the artwork are breathtaking. I dove into *Babylonia* with little prior knowledge of Ancient Mesopotamia, having only skimmed some tales and the legendary gardens that may or may not have existed. However, I was immediately captivated.

From the outset, I was transported into a world so vividly imagined that I felt as if I were witnessing it unfold before me—like an epic HBO series I’d binge-watch for eight seasons. The characters are deeply complex and richly developed, showcasing a remarkable journey from humble beginnings to power, juxtaposed against those at the top spiraling into madness.

The fighting and war scenes are particularly visceral and brutal, pulling no punches in their depiction of the chaos and violence of battle.

Casati masterfully portrays fierce female warriors who have historically been labeled as demons or witches, challenging the male-centric narratives. I was fascinated to learn that this story is inspired by the real-life Queen Semiramis, and I’m eager to explore more about her, especially the intriguing detail of her rumored pet leopard.

I can’t wait to see what Casati will create next; her storytelling is truly exceptional. Thank you to NetGalley for providing this advanced copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Costanza Casati is becoming on of my new favorite authors! I really enjoyed Clytemnestra. Babylonia did fall just a little short for me, but only because I had really high expectations. This book was still really interesting and entertaining and I could not put it down! I can’t wait to read more from Casati!

Babylonia by Constanza Casati completely blew me away, and it builds on everything I loved about Clytemnestra while still feeling fresh and unique. Casati’s writing is as beautiful as ever—seriously, her writing style reads like poetry, which is what I loved most about Clytemnestra as well. Every sentence pulls you deeper into the world she’s created. The way she brings ancient Assyria to life is incredible, with rich details that make you feel like you’re part of it.

I had never heard of Semiramis before reading this, and I was hooked from the start. Just like with Clytemnestra, Casati gives us a powerful, complex woman who feels real, with all her strengths and flaws. Semiramis’s story is full of ambition, love, and betrayal, and I found myself rooting for her even when she made tough or questionable choices. The dynamics between Semiramis, Onnes, and Ninus is full of tension, passion, and heartbreak. It’s messy and emotional, adding even more depth to the characters and their relationships.

I’m really grateful to have gotten an ARC of Babylonia. This is my first ARC ever and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Having loved Clytemnestra, I was excited to see what Casati would do next, and this book totally delivered. I’m excited for everyone to get to read it!

I really enjoyed Clytemnestra, so I was so excited with I was approved for the ARC from Net Galley!

It was a fun historical fiction, mixed with tragedy and romance, and Costanza Casati is very good at portraying complicated relationships on a visceral level. However, the book did suffer from the slow build up, and it felt like the book was written in design for the reader to identify with the main character, rather than letting the main character be a unique character on its own. That being said, it was quite immersive and it was fun to be in ancient Mesopotamia. The central love triangle was so angsty, but the most intriguing relationship in the book for me was, without a doubt, Onnes and Ninus.

It was a little bit of a disappointing follow up to Clytemnestra, because the themes and tone of the book was very similar. Clytemnestra and Semiramis essentially felt like the same character, except perhaps the former was more cruel and the latter was more sentimental. The prose feels a little bit like a "young adult novel" that graduated to being adult content.

It actually reminded me a lot of the manga Red River/Anatolia Story, which also featured ancient Mesopotamia and angsty romance so for people who enjoyed Babylonia and want to stay in that world for a little longer, that would be a fun series to delve into afterwards.

3.5 ☆
Thank you, netgalley, for the early access.
I was excited to read this because I loved the novel Clytemnestra! Unfortunately, it fell a little short of what i was expecting. I was somewhat disappointed in the depth and feel of the main characters. It is well written, but I didn't fall in love with this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I went into this book knowing nothing of Semiramis and now I can only wonder where her story has been hiding all my life?

Babylonia is an incredible tale of transformation, love, and ambition. A perfect book for lovers of ancient history and mythology retellings. Casati is officially a must-read author for me, and I can’t recommend this one enough!

What else can I say other than the fact that I love this book? Babylonia isn't your typical mythology retelling; set in the ancient Assyrian empire in the ninth century, Babylonia tells the story of Semiramis and her ascent to power. She is one of the most prominent and legendary leaders of the Assyrian empire being the only female ruler in history. This story is often a heavy read but it's beautifully written.

Once again, Costanza Casati has proven herself to be an excellent storyteller of historical fiction and mythology retellings. Despite my lack of knowledge when it comes to Mesopotamia and the ancient Assyrian empire, I never felt lost with the story. Casati does any amazing job of introducing historical figures and settings without overloading the reader with information. Her prose is intricate and distinct, yet somewhat mystifying in the way it grips the reader. I found this to be an incredibly addicting story due to the excellent pacing and structure.

At the heart of the book is the triangular relationship between Semiramis, Onnes, and King Ninus. Their dynamic is fascinating to follow, particularly as relations between one another grow tense, and the shifting POV's lend an interesting view into each of their minds. Each character has a love/hate relationship with the other two, so it's intriguing to see how the dynamics shift throughout the course of the book.

I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone interested in ancient historical fiction or someone looking for a mythology retelling that isn't Greek. This is a very well-researched story that serves as a great basis for a formative time in ancient Assyrian history.

I didn’t enjoy it as much as her previous novel CLYTEMNESTRA, but it was still a historical fiction page turner! Casati knows how to draw the reader in and immerse them in the story, time period, and setting of the book. I enjoy her strong female protagonist characters and epic sweeping sagas. She’s definitely a writer to watch and read again and again.

An excellent mythology retelling. The book was very well paced and I couldn't put the book down. I plan to reread this one day once I have more knowledge of this particular time period. I feel like I would have loved even more had I personally been more familiar with the original material. Which is totally a me thing, not this book thing. Definitely read this book.

A beautifully written historical fiction story, with complex characters to fall in love with. Everything Costanza Casati writes, I will read happily.