luckystard's review against another edition
4.0
Good guess on why Arsinoë became who she became in her life – “ruthless woman who became one of history’s greatest survivors”
It was a bit short to my liking and predictable in almost every way. Emotional arch that you’re going through with Arsinoë is good though so I wouldn’t complain
It was a bit short to my liking and predictable in almost every way. Emotional arch that you’re going through with Arsinoë is good though so I wouldn’t complain
zinokato's review against another edition
4.0
Who is this princess Arsinoe? And why am I only hearing about her now?
While reading this, I thought she was a made up character but reading the authors note at the end, I see she had a lot of history behind her. I enjoyed this short story, but when it ended I wanted more, because all this revenge talk was so different to the sweet girl I'd been reading about.
And it's such a tragic love story, things happened that I didn't see coming, at all.
It's definitely worth checking out, I got mine free on the iBookstore and I think I'll be checking out the Cleopatra's daughter series because I definitely need to start reading more books set in ancient Egypt
While reading this, I thought she was a made up character but reading the authors note at the end, I see she had a lot of history behind her. I enjoyed this short story, but when it ended I wanted more, because all this revenge talk was so different to the sweet girl I'd been reading about.
And it's such a tragic love story, things happened that I didn't see coming, at all.
It's definitely worth checking out, I got mine free on the iBookstore and I think I'll be checking out the Cleopatra's daughter series because I definitely need to start reading more books set in ancient Egypt
the_coriolis_effect's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
I enjoyed this story. I actually think I would have really liked it if it had been a full length novel. Nothing was able to be fleshed out because it was only 50 or so pages, but I would have loved to see Arsinoe's relationship with Cassander really develop. I would have liked to see her really develop a relationship with Bunny.
Queen Arsinoe II is an interesting historical figure, so this was an interesting origin tale. I enjoyed it. Could have been better. But I'm definitely looking forward to seeing more of Dray's work.
I enjoyed this story. I actually think I would have really liked it if it had been a full length novel. Nothing was able to be fleshed out because it was only 50 or so pages, but I would have loved to see Arsinoe's relationship with Cassander really develop. I would have liked to see her really develop a relationship with Bunny.
Queen Arsinoe II is an interesting historical figure, so this was an interesting origin tale. I enjoyed it. Could have been better. But I'm definitely looking forward to seeing more of Dray's work.
alexlcriddle's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
This was an engaging short story. I know that it was just a hypothetical backdrop for Arsinoe as a young woman, but I still found myself drawn into the story by the characters. The writing was abrupt at times and could have flowed more smoothly. The novella also ended rather quickly and I would have liked to read more about the author's take on Arisnoe's next steps to becoming Pharaoh. Dray did mention in the author's note that she would like to write a full length novel about Arsinoe, and I say, make it happen!
This was an engaging short story. I know that it was just a hypothetical backdrop for Arsinoe as a young woman, but I still found myself drawn into the story by the characters. The writing was abrupt at times and could have flowed more smoothly. The novella also ended rather quickly and I would have liked to read more about the author's take on Arisnoe's next steps to becoming Pharaoh. Dray did mention in the author's note that she would like to write a full length novel about Arsinoe, and I say, make it happen!
onyxspider's review against another edition
4.0
Firstly this is a very small historical fiction novelette. I'm not accustomed to reading such short stories but I was drawn into this story despite the fast paced storyline. I would absolutely LOVE to read this story in novel form, but even as a novelette I enjoyed it. The author did a fantastic job of making readers crave more of her stories and finishes this book with the beginning of her full novel Lilly of the Nile. For being a free kindle book, its a fantastic hook and I will certainly read more of her works
ryokua1's review against another edition
3.0
The Princess of Egypt Must Die by Stephanie Dray This is a really REALLY short story. In E book form it's very misleading, it has an exerp of Lily of the Nile at the end.
The story isn't particularly happy but it is filled with romance and forbidden love. It also has a very abrupt ending and it left me wanting more. I think I would have liked it a little more if it was a full novel but overall rather enjoyable.
The story isn't particularly happy but it is filled with romance and forbidden love. It also has a very abrupt ending and it left me wanting more. I think I would have liked it a little more if it was a full novel but overall rather enjoyable.
amyetherington's review against another edition
3.0
This was a nice short little read I downloaded to my Kindle ages ago, and I stumbled upon it again whilst browsing for something to read. At 55 pages, it sure wasn’t one of the longest reads of my life seeing as I finished it within a half hour, but it was entertaining, if a little tragic.
As a child I loved Ancient Egyptian history, since it was one of the few historical periods they actually teach you in primary school. (Seriously, the national curriculum in English schools for teaching history is limited to the Tudors and the Ancient Egyptians. That’s pretty much your lot.) With the exception of my numerous re-watching’s of The Mummy, my interest in those groovy Egyptian’s wavered a little after my teen years. But it’s never too late for a comeback, and considering this is a novelette, it did pretty well at rekindling my curiosity.
The short story follows Arisone, the Egyptian Princess of the title, and the somewhat neglected daughter of Ptolemy I. Arisone seems to be your standard ancient world Royal princess – pushed to the back of the family circle by competitive siblings, married off to some old dude whilst still in her teens, and so really it seems her life is all set to be a miserable cycle of producing babies for the next 20 years. I mean, being a novelette you don’t get to see how things pan out for her in the long run, but in Dray’s story she gets it kinda rough from the get go.
She’s shipped off, back-stabbed, betrayed, and all round shit upon before she even turns eighteen. I mean, seriously, aside from the fancy clothes and generally life of luxury, royal women had a fucking hard time back then. All this watching your enemies-behind-your-back thing must have been exhausting and a complete overall mind-fuck. But hey, Arisone takes it as a life lesson and manages to go from downtrodden child-bride to fiery badass within the novelette’s short pages.
I only wish it were longer, since Arisone’s badassery doesn’t come in to full swing until the final pages and I need to read about powerful women lusting for revenge, dammit. I know this can’t be helped because I think Stephanie Dray wrote this as part of an anthology or something, but apparently she's planning to write a full novel about Arisone’s life sometime in the future so hey, swings and roundabouts.
Despite it leaving me lusting for more, this was a good little read, and at less than 100 pages it’s a handy way to spend a half an hour on a rainy afternoon.
This reviews was originally posted on my blog: Chapters by Amy
As a child I loved Ancient Egyptian history, since it was one of the few historical periods they actually teach you in primary school. (Seriously, the national curriculum in English schools for teaching history is limited to the Tudors and the Ancient Egyptians. That’s pretty much your lot.) With the exception of my numerous re-watching’s of The Mummy, my interest in those groovy Egyptian’s wavered a little after my teen years. But it’s never too late for a comeback, and considering this is a novelette, it did pretty well at rekindling my curiosity.
The short story follows Arisone, the Egyptian Princess of the title, and the somewhat neglected daughter of Ptolemy I. Arisone seems to be your standard ancient world Royal princess – pushed to the back of the family circle by competitive siblings, married off to some old dude whilst still in her teens, and so really it seems her life is all set to be a miserable cycle of producing babies for the next 20 years. I mean, being a novelette you don’t get to see how things pan out for her in the long run, but in Dray’s story she gets it kinda rough from the get go.
She’s shipped off, back-stabbed, betrayed, and all round shit upon before she even turns eighteen. I mean, seriously, aside from the fancy clothes and generally life of luxury, royal women had a fucking hard time back then. All this watching your enemies-behind-your-back thing must have been exhausting and a complete overall mind-fuck. But hey, Arisone takes it as a life lesson and manages to go from downtrodden child-bride to fiery badass within the novelette’s short pages.
I only wish it were longer, since Arisone’s badassery doesn’t come in to full swing until the final pages and I need to read about powerful women lusting for revenge, dammit. I know this can’t be helped because I think Stephanie Dray wrote this as part of an anthology or something, but apparently she's planning to write a full novel about Arisone’s life sometime in the future so hey, swings and roundabouts.
Despite it leaving me lusting for more, this was a good little read, and at less than 100 pages it’s a handy way to spend a half an hour on a rainy afternoon.
This reviews was originally posted on my blog: Chapters by Amy
unabridgedchick's review against another edition
5.0
This is another juicy slice of historical awesomeness from Stephanie Dray. I've fallen hard for Dray's Cleopatra's Daughter series, a kind of magical historical trilogy that is dark, unapologetic, epic, and fun. So when I saw this short story, I did grabby hands and got started.
I know nothing of the historical Arsinoe II, but being aware of Dray's dedication to historical accuracy, I sat back and let the story unfold.
Arsinoe is one of the pharaoh's daughters, sweet and eager to be loved, teased mercilessly by her older, ambitious half-sister. When contracted into marriage to the King of Thrace, she finds some measure of happiness in her new home among her friendly in-laws. But good things rarely happen to royalty, and Arsinoe has some pretty awful things happen.
This is a short story -- which was too bad because I seriously wanted more! This story is more straight-up historical (rather than magical historical or historical fantasy), for those who care, and is a great intro to Stephanie Dray if you're new to her.
I know nothing of the historical Arsinoe II, but being aware of Dray's dedication to historical accuracy, I sat back and let the story unfold.
Arsinoe is one of the pharaoh's daughters, sweet and eager to be loved, teased mercilessly by her older, ambitious half-sister. When contracted into marriage to the King of Thrace, she finds some measure of happiness in her new home among her friendly in-laws. But good things rarely happen to royalty, and Arsinoe has some pretty awful things happen.
This is a short story -- which was too bad because I seriously wanted more! This story is more straight-up historical (rather than magical historical or historical fantasy), for those who care, and is a great intro to Stephanie Dray if you're new to her.
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't like this book. Sadly, under the new TOS, I can't tell you that Stephanie Dray seems to be an intelligent woman with great taste in reading which is why you should try this book.
tammidesta's review against another edition
4.0
By rights, I shouldn't have enjoyed this as much as I did. One, it's the most cliched story of forbidden love, where you know every beat of the story before you read it. Two, it's so short, there isn't much time available for character development. Three, the author explains in the afterword that she wanted to develop a backstory for what made the real, historical Arsinoe such a cruel and bloodthirsty ruler and I couldn't help but think - the reason you came up with was a boy? Really?
And yet, despite all these things...I was totally into this. The only thing I can put it down to is the writing. Somehow, the author made me care about the characters, root for them, and even though I knew what was coming, be gripped by the story until the end. By the last page, I was practically yelling, "Kill them all, Arsinoe! Get your revenge, girl!" There are books that are 300+ pages that never work for me, yet in just a handful of pages, this clicked. It did its job as a free and easy introduction to Stephanie Dray's work and it sold me - I have already ordered the first 2 books in her Cleopatra Selene series. Nicely played, Ms. Dray; you have won yourself a reader.
And yet, despite all these things...I was totally into this. The only thing I can put it down to is the writing. Somehow, the author made me care about the characters, root for them, and even though I knew what was coming, be gripped by the story until the end. By the last page, I was practically yelling, "Kill them all, Arsinoe! Get your revenge, girl!" There are books that are 300+ pages that never work for me, yet in just a handful of pages, this clicked. It did its job as a free and easy introduction to Stephanie Dray's work and it sold me - I have already ordered the first 2 books in her Cleopatra Selene series. Nicely played, Ms. Dray; you have won yourself a reader.