abandonlakes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-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
3.0
_groovyginger_'s review against another edition
5.0
This book means so much to me and I count it among my absolute favorites. I recently reread it and had to share a review.
Song of the Nile by the incredible Stephanie Dray is the second book in a trilogy focusing on Cleopatra Selene. This may be my favorite of the entire series. I savor every word of this series and this book in particular. The prose is so beautiful and lyrical. It’s powerful writing and Dray at her finest.
Cleopatra Selene, daughter of the infamous Queen Cleopatra VII, is one of the most fascinating historical figures and I can’t imagine any other book or series bringing her more to life or imagining her life better than this one. It may not be every reader’s cup of tea, but I also enjoy the magical/historical fantasy moments of this series. It’s central to Selene and her story and is written realistically.
After suffering so much loss in her life, Selene is nothing if not resilient. She always remembers her dead and often chooses them over the living/her own life. This book sees her grappling with her lost legacy of the rightful Queen of Egypt and following a new path of Queen of Mauretania. This is an opportunity to try and be free of Rome and emperor Augustus, though in truth theirs is a relationship that will never truly end.
This book does a wonderful job of explaining gaps in the historical record with a little more hope regarding her brothers, or at the very least gives Selene closure. So much is packed into this one book. I love the setting, especially Selene’s court in Mauretania. Dray brings this little known part of the ancient world to life, and it’s bustling with colorful people and atmosphere. I’ve never seen it depicted in another book, certainly not one about Selene. That’s another thing I appreciate about this series: it follows Selene’s entire life.
I appreciate that Selene is an imperfect character who holds onto the past in a way that is almost frustrating, yet compelling. She’s experienced so much loss and is still so resilient. She’s my favorite literary character and historical figure.
Check trigger warnings before reading, but please add to your TBR. This is the ultimate ancient historical fiction book.
Song of the Nile by the incredible Stephanie Dray is the second book in a trilogy focusing on Cleopatra Selene. This may be my favorite of the entire series. I savor every word of this series and this book in particular. The prose is so beautiful and lyrical. It’s powerful writing and Dray at her finest.
Cleopatra Selene, daughter of the infamous Queen Cleopatra VII, is one of the most fascinating historical figures and I can’t imagine any other book or series bringing her more to life or imagining her life better than this one. It may not be every reader’s cup of tea, but I also enjoy the magical/historical fantasy moments of this series. It’s central to Selene and her story and is written realistically.
After suffering so much loss in her life, Selene is nothing if not resilient. She always remembers her dead and often chooses them over the living/her own life. This book sees her grappling with her lost legacy of the rightful Queen of Egypt and following a new path of Queen of Mauretania. This is an opportunity to try and be free of Rome and emperor Augustus, though in truth theirs is a relationship that will never truly end.
This book does a wonderful job of explaining gaps in the historical record with a little more hope regarding her brothers, or at the very least gives Selene closure. So much is packed into this one book. I love the setting, especially Selene’s court in Mauretania. Dray brings this little known part of the ancient world to life, and it’s bustling with colorful people and atmosphere. I’ve never seen it depicted in another book, certainly not one about Selene. That’s another thing I appreciate about this series: it follows Selene’s entire life.
I appreciate that Selene is an imperfect character who holds onto the past in a way that is almost frustrating, yet compelling. She’s experienced so much loss and is still so resilient. She’s my favorite literary character and historical figure.
Check trigger warnings before reading, but please add to your TBR. This is the ultimate ancient historical fiction book.
caradurnin's review against another edition
4.0
I initially enjoyed this book as a light, somewhat fictitious account of Cleopatra's daughter, the last of the Ptolemies. It wasn't until I read the first question at the back of the book, "is Helios alive, or is he a manifestation of the part of Selene's soul that helps her to survive?" that I really considered the duality of the text.
I loved Helios' character, and now I'm sitting here tying to convince myself he was real in the first place.
I loved Helios' character, and now I'm sitting here tying to convince myself he was real in the first place.
kriff08's review against another edition
4.0
Cleopatra's Daughter round two, where Selene plays the emperor's game. I found the first book in this series to be strongly about Selene's faith and I admired it extremely. The second book in the series plays more to the political angle with a dash of that faith in between. We start with Selene's marriage to Juba and her decision to play Cleopatra to Augustus's Caesar. This decision shapes the rest of the book and influences the majority of Selene's actions from this point on. It's a thin line she walks between the past and paving her own road. Respecting and remembering the past is far different than trying to be it. However, being called the Resurrection at a young age certainly put a confusing weight on Selene's shoulders in the regards to her own identity. I think you can definitely see the struggle this causes Selene; she wants to honor her past and regain Egypt, but at the same time she has been assigned a new land with new people of her own. The question becomes what will she choose and whose life will she live?
I love that this series has inspired me to look these characters up, I always love when I can learn something new from historical fiction. It's like non-nonfiction haha. I'd recommend this if you liked the first because it definitely holds its own and I do find this to be a great historical fiction that could appeal to fans of other genres. The mystical twists in this could definitely be enough to pull in some interest where otherwise there might not have been. Basically I really love this series and am looking forward to starting book 3 and finding out where Selene ends up.
I love that this series has inspired me to look these characters up, I always love when I can learn something new from historical fiction. It's like non-nonfiction haha. I'd recommend this if you liked the first because it definitely holds its own and I do find this to be a great historical fiction that could appeal to fans of other genres. The mystical twists in this could definitely be enough to pull in some interest where otherwise there might not have been. Basically I really love this series and am looking forward to starting book 3 and finding out where Selene ends up.
cakeswithpatty's review against another edition
4.0
...There was a lot of sex in this book....but the history portion was awesome. Nice read! :)
nica2006's review against another edition
3.0
This second installment in the series was definitely an emotional roller coaster for me. There were times that I became angry and almost immediately became sad or filled with passion for the characters. I do have to say that an event occured within the first 10 chapters that almost made me shelve the book and not return to it, but I felt that decision was too hasty. I am glad that I continued the book and look forward to the next.
alexa_ayana's review against another edition
4.0
This sequelgive me more sparks from the first one. Selene is growing mature as princess, queen, wife, and mom. Even when she trying to imitate some of her mom's charm and strength she is growing her own beautifully.
What I like from her in this book are she is smart, persistent, witty and brave. And she grow stronger from each trial she got since childhood. I am appreciate her political bargain powers and how she take her own strength in rules without use her "family talent as seductress".
A little bit concern about this books is about how she really into her Goddess and give this book so much paranormal/religious scene to solve some of her problems.
What I like from her in this book are she is smart, persistent, witty and brave. And she grow stronger from each trial she got since childhood. I am appreciate her political bargain powers and how she take her own strength in rules without use her "family talent as seductress".
A little bit concern about this books is about how she really into her Goddess and give this book so much paranormal/religious scene to solve some of her problems.
myrandamondry's review against another edition
4.0
For some reason the first book in this series took me forever to get through, it wasn't that I didn't like it or was bored by it, I just didn't have the motivation to read it. For that reason I was reluctant to pick up the second one. However, my unrealistic desire to read all the books ever written eventually won over and I'm glad it did. Song of the Nile was such a good book. I love reading egyptian historical fiction and this book was somehow so much better than the first. Stephanie Dray is no Kate Quinn but if there is a third installment of this series I'll be sure to read it.
rowan21's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
wellington299's review against another edition
4.0
Why is that people are fascinated with Cleopatra? Her daughter was quite a remarkable woman herself. This is a historical fiction book mixed with lots of supernatural elements. So much over the top things happened to Selene that it almost read like a soap opera. But a lot of crazy things did really happen with Selene.
The words and prose seem to be for a younger audience .. but the events require a mature mind and an iron-stomach. The reader may also want to take notes to keep track of the bewildering amount of characters in the story.
Mostly, I did like the book. It was often confusing but I charged ahead wanting to know how the book would turn out.