Babylonia

Costanza Casati has taken the fragments of stories about this extraordinary woman and recreated her world with a vivid panache * The Times * A wonderfully sweeping epic, Babylonia, not only recreates the ancient world with an extraordinarily tactile vividness, but gives us a portrait of a remarkable woman. Semiramis may be ruthless in her pursuit of power but her courage and passion, rendered in Casati’s supremely confident and fluent style, make her a compelling heroine for our times. I was utterly captivated. * Elizabeth Fremantle, author of Disobedient * Babylonia is an astounding achievement, one of the most vivid, powerful works of historical fiction I have ever read. Semiramis herself is an extraordinary creation - a woman whose rise makes for a thrilling, epic journey, while she also remains deeply human. I was utterly swept up in the world of this novel, in the passions and power struggles of its fascinating protagonists, all of whom completely captured my heart * Elodie Harper, author of The Wolf Den * A stirring, addictive and intoxicating tale with a deft weaving of myth and history. Emotionally rich and lyrically genius, Casati’s Babylonia has cemented her as one of the most skilled and exciting writers of historical fiction, bringing an incomparable vibrance to the genre * Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen * There is an entrancing quality to Costanza Casati’s writing that transports us to other worlds and past times, then holds us there – willingly enmeshed in story – until the final page is turned. Reading Babylonia is like reading an enchantment on the page, in which the unfathomable heroines of legend and history become living people, who suffer, bleed, dare, and love; and carve out their space in our hearts, and in our shared humanity * Annie Garthwaite, author of Cecily * To read Babylonia is to witness something special. Incredibly richly drawn, sensuous in its imagery of clay pressed images and shadow, it's superbly done. Semiramis herself is a brilliant character - one you will care for very much Babylonia had me hooked from its very opening lines. Casati’s prose is arrestingly beautiful, breathing life into the stunning yet brutal world of the Assyrian empire. This is a tale of love, power, and survival, focusing on three central protagonists who are crafted with such depth and nuance, making this an utterly captivating read. Through Babylonia, Casati has proven, once again, why she is one of the most exciting new voices within the historical fiction genre. * Rosie Hewlett *