Review: Cleopatra's Daughter

Cleopatra's Daughter

By Michelle Moran

Publication date: July 2, 2009

My review:

After Octavian conquers Egypt in the name of Rome, Queen Kleopatra and Mark Antony commit suicide. Their children, ten year old fraternal twins Alexander Helios and Kleopatra Selene are taken to Rome to be raised by Octavian's sister. They are treated with kindness but remain frightened about their fate only hoping they will someday return to Egypt. The story of their life in this strange new world is told through the eyes of Selene.

Selene is a likeable character and I truly came to care about her and Alexander. I was pulled into the story from the beginning and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen. Selene is an intelligent and brave young woman who experiences a lot of loss but she still doesn't give up hope. She finds a way to make a life for herself in Rome and she does her best to fight the injustice that she sees. I found Selene to be a strong and admirable character.

I loved the historical details in this book. A lot of important people and events are included but for me the most interesting thing was the focus on the lives of women in Rome at this time. We learn about what life is like for the daughters of the patricians as they grow up, marry, and become mothers. Of course at the time even if a woman had been married for fifteen years her father could force her to divorce her husband and marry someone else if it was profitable. I found this to be surprising and deplorable. The horrors of slavery in its various forms was also described. Cleopatra's Daughter is a well written and deeply researched novel. Michelle Moran has made the characters come alive through her writing style. I look forward to reading her other historical novels.

Readalikes: A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers, Karen Harper's historical novels, Philippa Gregory, Margaret Campbell Barnes, Diane Haeger, Robin Maxwell