Saara El-Arifi pens a mellifluous ode to the sweeping tale of Cleopatra - temptress, pharoah, witch and siren. Narrated in first person, the tale meanders, luxuriating in the Egyptian cities and finding truth, in the elusive politics that make an empress. In a city where the pharaoh is considered God-akin, Cleopatra contends with powerful siblings, her own scholarship of healing, despite not being blessed by Isis, her God Blessed, and the scheming machinations of a young Roman empire.
Throughout the tale, her ruminations and unapologetic frankness for her actions and behavior were brilliant in building the facade of ruthlessness while instilling the guilt of victory over siblings, how every action, every move she made was tied to a male - her living as her own true self made a mockery of by the populace who felt cowed in her confidence and strong sense of self.
Imbued with strong leadership skills and an innate facility to impress audiences, Cleopatra walks a lonely path, where she is scorned and her brilliance never finding the succor it requisites.
"You will never define me, and that is the purest form of freedom I can hope to find in this life I've been cursed to endure."
My heartfelt thanks to Ballantine and Netgalley for providing me with the unique opportunity to peruse the arc! Looking forward to more feminist forward richness from Saara!
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