It took me a while to get round to reading Babylonia but having seen the reviews I was expecting a rich historical retelling. I kid you not, I came out of it completely obsessed. This book was bold, brutal, and utterly addictive storytelling at its finest – I genuinely could not put it down.
Set in the heart of the Assyrian Empire, we follow Semiramis, an orphan with absolutely nothing to her name, as she claws her way to power in a world where survival is brutal and power is everything. What unfolds is a story of ambition, love, betrayal, and sheer determination. I was hooked from a couple of chapters in.
What I Loved
- A Heroine You Can’t Look Away From
Semiramis is not your typical “likeable” protagonist, and that’s exactly why she works. She’s ambitious, ruthless at times, and fiercely determined to never be powerless again. Watching her rise from nothing to becoming the only female ruler of Assyria is completely gripping, especially because she has to take power rather than be given it. - The World-Building Is Immersive
The book does not romanticise history, it throws you straight into the brutality of the Assyrian Empire. War, violence, political scheming…it’s all there, and it feels incredibly vivid and real. The stakes feel so much higher because of how stark and graphic the depiction of the era is. - The Relationships are Messy
At the centre of the story is this intense, complicated love triangle between Semiramis, her husband Onnes, and King Ninus. The ever-shifting loyalties, power dynamics, and emotional tension kept me fully invested. It’s definitely not a fluffy romance, but it adds so much depth to the story.
My Thoughts
This felt like one of those books where everything just works – the writing, the pacing and the characterisation. Casati blends myth and history so seamlessly that it almost feels like you’re reading a legend unfold in real time.
It’s definitely darker than I expected, but that’s what makes it so compelling. There’s no clean hero or villain here, just people trying to survive and rise in a ruthless world. If this is a representation of Casati’s writing, I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of her other book Clytmenestra!
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