HISTORICAL
FICTION
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Debbie
Wiley
Book Reviews |
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The Battle of
Actium, by Lorenzo Castro, 1672, National Maritime Museum, London
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A 1684 depiction
of Vitruvius (right) presenting De Architectura to Augustus
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BOOK
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From Debbie Wiley Book Reviews
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Cleopatra’s Daughter
by Michelle Moran
Selene’s
life changes in an instant. Her father, Marc Antony, has lost the war
with Octavian and Rome. Her mother, Kleopatra VII and Queen of Egypt,
commits suicide, leaving Selene and her two brothers, Alexander and
Ptolemy, at the mercy of Rome. Selene is suspicious of Octavian’s
motivations, particularly once she finds herself in the household of
his sister and Antony’s spurned first wife, Octavia. The atmosphere of
Rome itself is uneasy with the appearance of Red Eagle, a crusader
fighting for the freedom of the slaves of Rome. Will Selene learn to
navigate the complicated loyalties of Rome while remaining true to her
Egyptian heritage?
CLEOPATRA’S DAUGHTER is told from the perspective of Selene as she
matures into adulthood. Selene is a complex character, one born to be a
queen and yet sympathetic to the plight of the slaves. Her experiences
are molding her worldview as Michelle Moran gives an interesting
portrait of the forces shaping her. At times, Selene seems helpless and
yet women, especially one in her precarious position, had very little
power or influence. However, Selene’s inner strength shines through as
she finds tiny ways of rebelling.
The story of Red Eagle, while fictional, adds a fascinating component
to the character of Selene. Selene is herself a virtual prisoner,
subject to the whims of Octavian and his mean-spirited wife, Livia. It
would only be natural for her to sympathize with the slave rebellions
during that time period. The relationships she develops with Octavia,
Julia, and Gallia each have their own flavor but it is the way she
inserts herself into the world of men through her love of architecture
and drawing that really defines her as a person in her own right.
CLEOPATRA’S DAUGHTER is both a captivating tale of Rome but is also has
a moral component. Slavery of any sort is evil and Michelle Moran
exposes these evils quite deftly. From the horror tales involving mass
executions, rape, and torturous murder of slaves to the more subtle
subjugation of entire peoples, CLEOPATRA’S DAUGHTER provides a mirror
to reflect upon the damage this repulsive institution causes. Bravo to
Michelle Moran for writing such a thought provoking tale!
Publisher: Crown
(September 2009)
Reviewed
by Debbie, Debbie Wiley Book Reviews
Review Courtesy of Amazon Vine
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