therapybard2021's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Note: I read this book a while ago and did not have proper access to a computer until now, so I can't be as detailed in this review as I would like to be. If any of the details seem off, that is why. I still remember my feelings very well and my review will accurately reflex them.
I really don't know what to say besides I wish more people would read this series. Selene is one of my favorite protagonists as she is the perfect mix of power and vulnerability. Her relationship with Juba should be incredibly toxic. Everyone rational part of my brain, fueled by modern sensibilities, wants to scream at Selene to get out. But she's also had such a terrible life and it's so nice to see her actually be happy. Despite everything, they love each other and I can't help but root for them. It helps a lot that Selene never backs down and forgets what Juba did to her in the past. She just loves him anyway and I am so relieved to see her happy with him.
I cannot under sell how beautiful of a writer Dray is. She's one of my favorites for a reason. She knows when to be flowery and well to hold back, let the emotions of the scene speak for themselves. It's a balance I rarely see an author reach. She manages to take me to this distant time period so completely that I can fall into it's foreign beliefs and morality easily. Dray is to historical fiction as N.K. Jemisin is to fantasy. I highly recommend both of their work despite their very different genres and writing styles.
I really don't know what to say besides I wish more people would read this series. Selene is one of my favorite protagonists as she is the perfect mix of power and vulnerability. Her relationship with Juba should be incredibly toxic. Everyone rational part of my brain, fueled by modern sensibilities, wants to scream at Selene to get out. But she's also had such a terrible life and it's so nice to see her actually be happy. Despite everything, they love each other and I can't help but root for them. It helps a lot that Selene never backs down and forgets what Juba did to her in the past. She just loves him anyway and I am so relieved to see her happy with him.
I cannot under sell how beautiful of a writer Dray is. She's one of my favorites for a reason. She knows when to be flowery and well to hold back, let the emotions of the scene speak for themselves. It's a balance I rarely see an author reach. She manages to take me to this distant time period so completely that I can fall into it's foreign beliefs and morality easily. Dray is to historical fiction as N.K. Jemisin is to fantasy. I highly recommend both of their work despite their very different genres and writing styles.
rowan21's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
tanyarobinson's review against another edition
4.0
I just took a moment before writing this review to read what I wrote about the first two books in the series, and was surprised to find I never read the second book! This accounts for the times I didn't remember events that were being referred to, which I just attributed to the passage of time - oops! Honestly, though, I enjoyed this book a lot and didn't feel I missed anything much, and based on other readers' reviews, the second book in the series was more dark and graphic, which I am fine without.
I liked that Selene came to really understand herself, recognize what was of greatest value, and find a contented life amidst her tribulations.
I liked that Selene came to really understand herself, recognize what was of greatest value, and find a contented life amidst her tribulations.
wellington299's review against another edition
4.0
This is the final book in an excellent trilogy of Cleopatra's daughter. This daunting book of 576 pages tries to tell of a story of a dauntless queen who lived in the turbulent and twisted early period of the Roman Empire.
Most people are at least vaguely aware of Caesar, Marc Anthony, Cleopatra, and Augustus. They were giants and legends in history. Selene was a byproduct of that age .... and a byproduct of Anthony and Cleopatra love. No one remembers her and I applaud Stephanie Dray for telling a remarkable story about Selene.
My main grievances with the book are the length and complications of Selene's family tree. I wonder if this book could have been broken in two? Not much can be done about the bewildering family tree.
It's a long read. There were times I thought about putting it down and moving on to another book. But I'm glad to have stuck around to read about this Daughter of the Nile.
samantha_randolph's review against another edition
5.0
"For years, Cleopatra Selene has been a victim of her emperor, Augustus Caesar. Now, at twenty years old, Selene has finally managed to semi-escape him in the kingdom that she is now queen over with her husband, Juba. But as her power grows, Augustus draws her back into Rome and back into the plots that might leave her loved ones dead. For once and for all, Selene will have to protect her family and face the emperor's madness." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=42852
unabridgedchick's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. Wow. It's been a few days since I've finished this one, and I'm still struggling with how to articulate just how much I adored this book. Loved it so much I want to just yell at everyone in all caps to convey my deep passion for it!
Daughters of the Nile is the final volume in Dray's trilogy about Cleopatra's daughter, Cleopatra Selene. (I've reviewed both the previous volumes, Lily of the Nile and Song of the Nile.)
At this point in Selene's journey, she's begun openly resisting Roman emperor Caesar Augustus in her endeavor to fully own her life. After struggling with the heavy weight of her family's name and legacy, the lure of ruling Egypt always tempting her, Selene has paid for her ambitions -- and what was just her burden is now affecting others: her husband, King Juba, her daughter, Isadora, her niece, Phythodorida. But pursuing her own dream isn't easy nor gifted to her by Augustus, and as with the previous novels, Dray doesn't coddle the reader nor hold back on the brutality, cruelty, and gutting reality of life for women in this era.
This is a historical fantasy, technically, but Dray's use of magic in this series is subtle and understated and felt so natural that I never noticed it. The characters aren't using magic to enchant people or get work done; like everything else in this series, using magic comes at a considerable cost, and the decision to evoke magic is weighed carefully.
Dray's storytelling skill is just marvelous, and seen not only in this book but in the trilogy over all. Selene's life is one of tragedy, and yet, as a heroine she is dynamic, determined, and dedicated toward getting what is hers. Dray artfully conveys Selene's growth, from a young prisoner of war in Lily of the Nile to a teenaged monarch and mother struggling with demons and her desperate desire to win at all costs in Song of the Nile to, finally, a woman fully realizing what must be sacrificed to save what she loves in Daughters of the Nile.
There are no static characters in these books; everyone changes, grows, develops, and their actions make complete sense. Even the twisted, torturous Augustus -- a monster -- had moments of humanity, and had characters who loved him as much as they loathed him.
And oh, how I loved these characters. Dray is as hard on everyone else as she is on Selene and to say Dray gutted me is an understatement. As I was finishing this book, my wife woke to find me sobbing -- shoulder-shaking sobs! -- at 3am. I had my heart broken about ten times in this book, and the way Dray built up, drew out, and brought all that pain and pathos to life was just astounding. I loved every agonizing minute.
Here's the bottom line: Daughters of the Nile might be one of the best concluding volumes in a series I've ever read, and Dray's Cleopatra Selene trilogy among the best historical fiction trilogies out there. It has everything for hungry readers of historical fiction: rich and atmospheric details that evoke a foreign time and place, a standout cast of characters that live and breath, resonant themes and deep emotional interactions that are impossible to shake off, and some deliciously disturbing soap opera-y elements in case you were feeling safe.
Daughters of the Nile is the final volume in Dray's trilogy about Cleopatra's daughter, Cleopatra Selene. (I've reviewed both the previous volumes, Lily of the Nile and Song of the Nile.)
At this point in Selene's journey, she's begun openly resisting Roman emperor Caesar Augustus in her endeavor to fully own her life. After struggling with the heavy weight of her family's name and legacy, the lure of ruling Egypt always tempting her, Selene has paid for her ambitions -- and what was just her burden is now affecting others: her husband, King Juba, her daughter, Isadora, her niece, Phythodorida. But pursuing her own dream isn't easy nor gifted to her by Augustus, and as with the previous novels, Dray doesn't coddle the reader nor hold back on the brutality, cruelty, and gutting reality of life for women in this era.
This is a historical fantasy, technically, but Dray's use of magic in this series is subtle and understated and felt so natural that I never noticed it. The characters aren't using magic to enchant people or get work done; like everything else in this series, using magic comes at a considerable cost, and the decision to evoke magic is weighed carefully.
Dray's storytelling skill is just marvelous, and seen not only in this book but in the trilogy over all. Selene's life is one of tragedy, and yet, as a heroine she is dynamic, determined, and dedicated toward getting what is hers. Dray artfully conveys Selene's growth, from a young prisoner of war in Lily of the Nile to a teenaged monarch and mother struggling with demons and her desperate desire to win at all costs in Song of the Nile to, finally, a woman fully realizing what must be sacrificed to save what she loves in Daughters of the Nile.
There are no static characters in these books; everyone changes, grows, develops, and their actions make complete sense. Even the twisted, torturous Augustus -- a monster -- had moments of humanity, and had characters who loved him as much as they loathed him.
And oh, how I loved these characters. Dray is as hard on everyone else as she is on Selene and to say Dray gutted me is an understatement. As I was finishing this book, my wife woke to find me sobbing -- shoulder-shaking sobs! -- at 3am. I had my heart broken about ten times in this book, and the way Dray built up, drew out, and brought all that pain and pathos to life was just astounding. I loved every agonizing minute.
Here's the bottom line: Daughters of the Nile might be one of the best concluding volumes in a series I've ever read, and Dray's Cleopatra Selene trilogy among the best historical fiction trilogies out there. It has everything for hungry readers of historical fiction: rich and atmospheric details that evoke a foreign time and place, a standout cast of characters that live and breath, resonant themes and deep emotional interactions that are impossible to shake off, and some deliciously disturbing soap opera-y elements in case you were feeling safe.
dmdeacon's review
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5