July 6, 2009
Moran’s latest foray into the world of classical history (after The Heretic Queen
) centers upon the children of Marc Antony and Cleopatra . After the death of their parents, twins Alexander and Selene and younger brother Ptolemy are in a dangerous position, left to the mercy of their father’s greatest rival, Octavian Caesar. However, Caesar does not kill them as expected, but takes the trio to Rome to be paraded as part of his triumphant return and to demonstrate his solidified power. As the twins adapt to life in Rome in the inner circle of Caesar’s family, they grow into adulthood ensconced in a web of secrecy, intrigue and constant danger. Told from Selene’s perspective, the tale draws readers into the fascinating world of ancient Rome and into the court of Rome’s first and most famous emperor. Deftly encompassing enough political history to provide context, Moran never clutters her narrative with extraneous facts. Readers may be frustrated that Selene is more observer than actor, despite the action taking place around her, but historical fiction enthusiasts will delight in this solid installment from a talented name in the genre.
Starred review from August 15, 2009
Thanks to William Shakespeare, Richard Burton, and Elizabeth Taylor, nearly everyone in the Western world is familiar with the tragic tale of Marc Antony and Cleopatra. But the story of their children is less well known. In Moran's third historical novel (after "Nefertiti" and "The Heretic Queen"), narrator Kleopatra Selene and her twin brother, Alexander, are just ten years old when Egypt falls to the armies of Octavian and their parents commit suicide rather than submit to the humiliation of Roman rule. The surviving three children, Selene, Alexander, and Ptolemy, are taken to Rome to prevent them from ever rising to power and challenging Rome. Though Ptolemy doesn't survive the sea voyage, his older siblings are adopted into the household of Octavia, Octavian's sister. Here, amid the turmoil of Rome torn apart by external warfare and internal conflict and living under the cloud of their parentage, the children learn to navigate the political and societal eddies into which they have been tossed. VERDICT Dramatic, engrossing, and beautifully written, this is essential reading, and Moran is definitely an author to watch.Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage P.L., AK
Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
February 1, 2010
Adult/High School-Readers who know their ancient history are aware that both Cleopatra and Marc Anthony committed suicide when they realized that they had lost the Egyptian empire to Octavian of Rome. In one evening, 10-year-old twins Selene and Alexander lost their parents and their two older siblings, and became Octavian's prisoners. This is a fictionalized account of what happens to them after they are taken in chains by ship to Rome. Moran has done a terrific job of placing readers in the center of life in ancient Rome, letting them see the world of both the privileged and the enslaved. Her historical accuracy and detailed descriptions allow readers to experience the children's fate along with them. The additional bonus to this story is the grown twins' love interests and the political intrigue, woven throughout, that will impact them. For those who think that ancient history is dull, this is a great way to explore the world of the ancients and to connect through the lives of teenagers who, even though they lived thousands of years ago, have the same desires and interests of today's youth."Janet Melikian, Central High School East, Fresno, CA"
Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
September 1, 2009
The current trend among writers of historical fiction is to rescue minor historical characters from virtual oblivion, reinvigorating their sketchy legends with an irresistible blend of drama, passion, and intrigue. In her latest fictional biography, Moran (Nefertiti (2007) and The Heretic Queen (2009) jumps firmly on the bandwagon with a fictional biography of a second-tier subject: Cleopatra and Marc Antonys daughter, Selene. Taken to Rome in chains by Octavian Caesar, Selene, together with her twin, Alexander, and her younger brother Ptolemy, must adapt to Roman customs and culture in order to survive in a court rife with rivalries and political conspiracies. As Selene narrates the times and the tenor of her new life, one of the headiest and most intoxicating eras in ancient history is authentically and vividly brought to life.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)