Some queens throughout history surpass the history of their own countries and create legacies that would transcend centuries. One such queen was Cleopatra, Pharaoh of Egypt, who loved both Julius Caesar and Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony). She fought against her siblings and even Rome for the right to rule Egypt. There have been accusations of witchcraft and Cleopatra being a seductress, but is this a fair assessment of this Queen of Egypt? Saara El-Arifi tells her own version of Cleopatra’s story, from the queen herself, in her latest novel, “Cleopatra.”

I would like to thank Ballantine Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. As the name of my blog suggests, ancient Egypt is not something I normally read about, but when I was younger, I remember reading a Royal Diaries series book on Cleopatra, so I know elements of her story. When I saw this particular book with such a stunning cover, I decided to dive back into the world of ancient Egypt and give this novel a try.

Unlike many novels about infamous queens, this one is told by Cleopatra in the afterlife. By setting her novel in such a way, El-Arifi gives Cleopatra a chance to address the sources against her directly. It creates a semi-memoir type of novel, which is quite a unique approach to such a legendary figure. El-Arifi has decided to break down her novel into three sections after the three labels that Cleopatra is most known for: the Witch, the Whore, and the Villain.

We begin with the story of how Cleopatra, after the death of her father, Ptolemy XII, became co-ruler with her brother, Ptolemy XIII, also known as Mikro Theos, or Little god. Cleopatra had a loyal friend and servant named Charmion. In ancient Egypt, the Ptolemys were seen as chosen by the gods and were granted gifts to show their powers, but even though Cleopatra was blessed by the goddess Isis, she was granted no gift. Instead, Cleopatra had a love of learning, especially from the Library of Alexandria and practicing the medicinal arts. But Cleopatra knew that to stay in power as a Ptolemy, she had to fight for it, even if it meant taking down her siblings, Mikro Theos and her sister, Arsinoe, who believed she was the rightful queen. We also get to see Cleopatra’s relationship with Rome, primarily with Julius Caesar and Marcus Antonius. Finally, we get to witness Cleopatra and Marcus’ death from her perspective.

This was such a gripping read. I found myself falling in love with Cleopatra’s story and blending fact with Egyptian mythology, which was prevalent in the society of ancient Egypt. The actual ending of this novel was different, and I am not sure if I liked it or not. Overall, I think this was a well-researched novel trying to revive Cleopatra’s legacy. If you are a fan of Egyptian history and this infamous queen, you should check out “Cleopatra” by Saara El-Arifi.