This historical fiction book follows the life and legend of Semiramis, a woman of no significant background who rises in the ranks when she stumbles across a general and brother to the Assyrian king who falls in love with her. Through their marriage she rises as a notable woman in the kingdom, always aware of her enemies, and always planning her next move to keep her place in the kingdom or rise to the top, but never fall back down.

Her confidence and strategy don’t cause her to lack love nor empathy. Semiramis is a natural born leader, showing her ability to navigate between betrayal, family, and power dynamics. Her strength and beauty draw many to her while pushing others away, making her path to safety even more treacherous.

The author’s note at the end details how Casati brought this myth to life, full of vibrant characters and suspenseful interactions. The plot was so developed in each part that Semiramis’ evolution is clear and feels inevitable. The changes in her life, though literally predicted, remain uncertain in how they’ll occur or what obstacles will lie in her path. The adventure is simultaneously daunting and entertaining at every turn.

The audiobook is phenomenal and the story is encapsulating. This is one that will stick with me all year, sure to be a top read of 2025!

The narrator is wonderful in this audiobook, but this is definitely one of those audiobooks that works better with "subtitles." I found it much more enyoyable to have the e-book to refer to while listening. This would be a perfect read with audio narration.

I listened to the audio book version of this book, and The narrator did an excellent job bringing life to the book. I fell in love with this book. The way it was written was inspiring. The author has an amazing ability of story telling that kept me enthrall all the way through to the last page. The story was a historical fictional tale of Seramis, a commoner who rose through power to the top with some high costs. The way the characters and story was written made the reading a very vivid experience. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

Thank you Net Galley, RB Media, and Costanza Casati

The sudio is how to consume this book... I will die on this hill... something about the production just delivers and makes me feel like I'm being told and pulled into the story at the same time

WOW WOW WOW!!! I was so nervous and hesitant about this one living up to Clytemnestra and, unbelievably, this one actually far surpassed it! An incredible masterpiece of narrative, I was transported into this entrancing, luscious world! The magnetic, emotional depth that the characters and relationships have! The fascinating, tension-fueled political intrigue! This story is truly a feat of epic proportions and this author is cementing herself as an absolutely magical storyteller alongside authors like Jennifer Saint and Madeline Miller. I can't tell you how excited I am to have such a stunning first edition of this one. As soon as I finished it, I knew I was going to have to re-read and annotate it again in the future. I'll probably buy a paperback edition when it releases so I can write in it without messing up my beautiful one. It'll be one of the very few books I own multiple copies of. FINALLY, a story like this centered around a new and fresh place, peoples, and time-period! (Instead of the same Greek stories/characters that have been done, redone, and overdone by now in recent years' publishing trends.) This story has something for everyone and I will definitely be telling anyone and everyone to read it! This has been the most captivating historical/mythology that I think I've ever read and I will be thinking about it for a long time to come. I really hope it gets the hype it deserves. It would also make a fantastic book club pick and would lend itself well to discussions. The audio was done so well! Perfect tone/voice for the story and characters.

Babylonia is a fascinating mythology retelling set in 9th century Assyria, focusing on the Assyrian empire’s only female ruler, Semiramis. From her humble beginnings as a common girl adopted by a shepherd after her mother’s death, Semiramis’s journey is full of challenges—battles, politics, and the raw power of the Assyrian empire.

What I loved most is how strong and determined Semiramis is. She’s proof that you shouldn’t send a man to do a woman’s job! Her character shines as she navigates a male dominated world with ambition and resilience. The way the book weaves history and myth is impressive, though it might get confusing if you’re not familiar with mythology.

If you’re into ancient history and love stories about powerful women carving out their own legacy, this one’s for you. It’s captivating, intense, and a true deep dive into the world of Assyria.


Thank you NetGalley for the arc❤️

Babylonia is a unique and engaging work of historical fiction. It is a glad change from the typical historical fiction (World War II comes to mind) but also has a different tone than other mythological retellings. Semiramis is someone I had never heard of, and never given a thought to. I had no idea there were any female rules back in the BCs, and that was really my loss. The fictionalized journey of this character really opened my mind to researching who she really was, and that is a great testament to a book such as this. i enjoyed the book and loved the characters.

This was a slow start for me, but it got more interesting later on with all the political intrigue.
Maybe the way I struggle to get into it blurred my judgment thus the 3⭐ rating

The authors writing style and story telling is beautiful. The narration was great. It was a little slow for my taste but I can recognize the talent that went into this one.

Thank you so much for this ALC opportunity

This was a great historical fiction even if a bit long and slow-pacing to my taste. I prefer reading myth-based stories in an audiobook format, and it was a good choice with this book as well. Ayesha Antoine's narration was superb.

I will read anything Costanza Casati writes. Her writing and storytelling is captivating, powerful, and intense. She highlights these powerful badass women in mythology and gives them the justice they deserve. I loved the political games and betrayal in this story and the way that everything played out. Costanza really gave emotional depth to each and every character so you felt each emotion in each stage of this story. You saw each of them evolve and say the dynamics between characters change based on scenarios (not spoiling!!) haha. I cannot wait for her next masterpiece!! please keep delivering on these amazing women!!

I did not like this one. I was really confused and by chapter 20 I still had no idea what the plot was.

After reading and enjoying Clytemnestra I knew I needed to read this one. If you enjoyed Circe, the Song of Achilles, and Clytemnestra then you will absolutely enjoy this novel.
This was better than Clytemnestra and followed Semiramis and her path from ruin to “riches.”

I thoroughly enjoyed it and Costanza Casati is an automatic buy / read from here on out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Babylonia

A historical fiction about what may have occurred in Babylon? Say less.

Told in multiple POVs which keep you coming back for more, this story has so many layers to it. Layers woven with madness, violence, betrayal, lust, scheming. There is so much going on, it keeps you guessing of what came next.

While I enjoyed the narrator, I do wish it had been a full cast. I think that could have helped me buy into the characters more.

Incredibly interesting and well written. Casati weaves a beautiful story based on the myth of Semiramis, the only female ruler of the Assyrian empire, and the famous love triangle that made her queen. Characters were all well developed and she provides a lush landscape for them.

Ayesha Antoine has a voice like velvet and made this an absolute joy to listen to.

Semiramis’s journey is full of challenges with stunning battles, intricate politics, and the raw power of the Assyrian empire. This book gave me everything I wanted from it. I got my mythology fix as well as some romantic nods. The quotes were amazing and I am beyond thrilled I got to read this exquisite work of art.

"She knows that they will meet again in the house of dust: The common woman who became queen, The governor she married, And the king who loved them both."

"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."

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Semiramis, cast aside and orphaned at birth, has a chance encounter with the governor and from there she goes from orphan all the way to queen -- the only female ruler of the Assyrian empire. But how did she get there? This is her story.

Casati does a fantastic job bringing to life Semiramis. From the moment we see her taking the rings to when she finally ascends the throne, there is a lot to unpack. The raw emotions and the violence of the time bleeds into this book. There were a lot of moments I was rooting for her, especially when she fights back against a society that wants to keep her down because of her gender, and there were moments I wanted her to stop pushing aside any happiness just because she was afraid of being trapped into a life she never wanted -- I understood where she was coming from, but like also take a moment and chill. Mixed with mythology and historical moments, the story of Semiramis was beautiful and cruel and heartbreaking and I absolutely loved it.

Actual Rating: 4.5 stars

An unlikely female underdog is determined to rise above her lowly station and change her future. Born cursed by her mother’s choices, taken in by an abusive, adoptive father, and born for more, Semiramis will use her pain and heartache to rewrite her destiny and become the Assyrian Empire’s only female ruler. This is a fantastic reimaging of Babylonian history. It is a political drama full of lies, deceit, determination and stubbornness that fueled a new empire. Creatively blending myth and ancient history, Casati weaves a timeless tale of rise to power. I enjoyed this historical escape immensely and will be reading more from this author. Babylonia is a January 2025 new release and I highly recommend it for fans of mythology, political intrigue, and historical fiction. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for my ALC in exchange for an honest review.

4.25/5 ⭐
1/5 🌶️

An imaginative combination of legend and fiction come together to tell the tale of a fierce warrior woman who fought from infancy all the way to queen. A very enjoyable read in which the only downside was it left me wanting more of her story all the way to her death. A true rags-to-riches story of an orphaned girl who earned the ire of everyone in her farming village for no other reason than existing. She did not just luck her way up the social and political ladder, she clawed and bled at every rung while trying to keep her head above water. This book definitely takes you on an emotional roller coaster with some dark twists to be had. This book is a great example of multi PoV done well.

The narrator, Ayesha Antoine, was such a joy to listen to. I really enjoyed the voices she used for different characters and felt they fit the image my mind was painting of the various players in Semiramis' life. Her flow was enthralling like a great waterfall all the way through the book and even through the ending author's notes. This audiobook is for anyone who enjoys strong women in times when they were not supposed to be seen as strong. Fans of truly ancient legends and Mesopotamian mythos should enjoy this fictional take adorned with excerpts from the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Thank you to RBmedia via NetGalley for an ALC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you, NetGalley for a copy of this eARC.
It's been a few days since I finished listening to the audiobook, and let me tell you, it was an experience that left me at a loss for words.
Firstly, the choice of narrator could not have been more spot-on than Ayesha Antoine; her voice was magical and a perfect fit for Semiramis' strong personality. I felt fully immersed in the story, seriously it was hypnotizing.
Secondly, this story and how it was written is magnificent; I LOVE a strong, powerful woman. It was enticing how ambiguous relationships were until the end of the book it made me want to devour it whole; I needed to know every heartbreaking detail.
This book is perfect for anyone obsessed with historical/mythical retelling; I highly recommend listening to the audiobook, it enhances the atmosphere astronomically!