Book Review: DAUGHTERS OF THE NILE by Stephanie Dray

Cleopatra Selene, Queen of Mauretania co-ruled with her husband Juba II over their exotic lands. Named the resurrection by her mother Cleopatra magic had always been a part of their lives. Her mother had magical abilities and so did her little brother and her twin Helios. Cleopatra’s children had met death and destruction at the hands of their Roman captor Augustus Caesar.  Augustus’ obsession with Selene was deranged and she had fought him off in the previous two novels in this series but she could never truly be free of him because she now had a daughter forced upon her by him. Isidora was wholly accepted by Juba as his daughter but it was an unspoken truth behind her conception and paternity that was all done by the hand of the Emperor of Rome.

In this third installment of the “Cleopatra’s Daughter” series we pick up where the last novel left off. Selene is once more free of the emperor for a period of time. Juba and her are still at odds but we find them growing closer together through their past shred struggles. Selene opens her heart to Juba and they welcome a new prince to Mauretania. Name Ptolemy for his Egyptian heritage he is the light of his parents lives until the fateful day when Augustus called them back to Rome to ruin their family bliss back in Mauretania.

Never able to leave Selene alone for too long the Emperor does not just summon her to Rome he commands it and one does not just ignore the emperor of Rome before the common era. Forced to return to the land she stolen away to as a child Selene realizes his obsession with her will never end. Reaching a new height of disillusionment the emperor now has the audacity to think that her sweet little Ptolemy is his son. This is too far for Selene but she is already fighting off her mother enemy King Herod on one front and the disillusioned Caesar with his vile wife working against her in a dangerous struggle for power. Liva has already proved that she is capable of murder and if she were given the chance she would murder Selene in a heartbeat.

Selene had an edge against them all she had magic, the power of Isis and also a gifted daughter to help her navigate the treachery that now surrounded her whole family. Years of fighting had taken a toll on Selene and her son’s birth had its price she was getting older and she found herself more distant from Juba.  Juba was not just any man he was a scholar, a long time favorite of Caesar, and deep down inside he knew he had made mistakes with Selene yet he still loved her. Drawn together the couple could be unstoppable against Rome and anything else that came their way yet they found the hardest obstacle to conquer was the ocean between them.  Selene found she was still not ready to admit how much she truly loved this man she married and instead she chose to fight her battles alone like she always has. Fighting his way into her heart and her battles Selene cannot deny Juba forever.

4/5  I HATE HATE HATE HATE the Emperor; he is the vilest man ever to grace historical fiction. He is like the enemy that cannot die. It sure makes for good reads though. I fell in love with Selene’s daughter Isidora; she was like a combination of her mother and famous grandmother Cleopatra. I would recommend this to historical fiction lovers that do not mind a bit of fantasy in their history. I however would not recommend reading this as a stand-alone novel because you will miss too much of the history behind it all.

• FTC ~ this novel was sent to me by the publisher for review. I received no compensation for this review.
• PG-13 Rating for mild violence and sexual references.
• Amazon: Daughters of the Nile by Stephanie Dray

~Lizzie~

Celebrate DAUGHTERS OF THE NILE with authour Stephanie Dray

Daughters of the Nile by Stephanie Dray

"Based on the true story of Cleopatra’s daughter…

After years of abuse as the emperor’s captive in Rome, Cleopatra Selene has found a safe harbor. No longer the pitiful orphaned daughter of the despised Egyptian Whore, the twenty year old is now the most powerful queen in the empire, ruling over the kingdom of Mauretania—an exotic land of enchanting possibility where she intends to revive her dynasty.

With her husband, King Juba II and the magic of Isis that is her birthright, Selene brings prosperity and peace to a kingdom thirsty for both. But when Augustus Caesar jealously demands that Selene’s children be given over to him to be fostered in Rome, she’s drawn back into the web of imperial plots and intrigues that she vowed to leave behind.

Determined and resourceful, Selene must shield her loved ones from the emperor’s wrath, all while vying with ruthless rivals like King Herod. Can she find a way to overcome the threat to her marriage, her kingdom, her family, and her faith? Or will she be the last of her line"?


"In commemoration of the opening of the Ara Pacis on January 30, 9 BC and in celebration of Daughters of the Nile, I'm hosting a mega-event for history and book lovers to talk about ancient Rome, Augustus, and win goodies just for showing up from some of the genre's hottest authors.

Stephanie Dray 12pm-10pm

Jeannie Lin at 12pm

M.m. Bennetts at 12:30pm

Kate Quinn at 1pm

Erika Shephard Robuck at 1:15pm

Heather Webb at 1:30pm

Vicky Alvear Shecter at 1:45pm

J.F. Ridgley at 2pm

Kristina McMorris at 2:15pm

Donna Russo Morin at 3pm

Amy Phillips Bruno at 3:30pm

Eliza Knight at 4pm

Gillian Bagwell at 4:15pm

Sophie Perinot at 4:30pm

Kathryn Kimball Johnson (aka Mary Hart Perry) at 5pm

Audra Friend at 6pm

Helen Hollick at 6:15pm

Alma Katsu at 7pm

Roberta Oliver Trahan at 8pm

Marci McGuire Jefferson at 8:15pm

Stephanie Thornton at 8:30pm

Stephanie Cowell at 9pm

Sabrina Darby at 9:45pm

To participate, just join the event now, and pop intomorrow at your convenience.

Also Stephanie will be signing books at Turn the Page bookstore in Boonsboro, Maryland this February 15th, 12-2pm. People come out from all over the country for this particular signing, so if you're in the area, you've got no excuse not to come on out and join the fun!

~LIZZIE~

Book Review: FOUR SISTERS, ALL QUEENS by Sherry Jones

Famously beautiful the house of Savoy was renowned for their lovely qualities. Four beautiful sisters from the house of Savoy each different in their own ways snared me into their stories from the beginning of this novel. This was a delightful read that I related to so much. I also have four sisters and each one is unique just like the Savoy sisters. The tile of this novel is pretty self explanatory "Four Sister’s all Queen’s" yet I found what really mattered was how they got there.

Marguerite, the eldest of the siblings was the arrogant one yet at heart she was a hopeless romantic. Eleonore second in line was very close with her elder sister and both matched each other in ambition and wit. Sanchia was next and was born pious through and through. She loved her elder sisters but was a constant ball of anxiety that was filled with self-doubt. She was said to be the most beautiful of the girls yet it did nothing for her personality. Last but not least is Beatrice, the baby of the family. She was also a daddies little girl. Beatrice had a nasty mean streak in her but she too still loved her sisters. Growing up the girls lived in beautiful Provence. Their family lands were coveted for their rich salt mines. With four girls born to the Duke of Provence there was only one solution and that was to marry all the girls off and marry them off well.

The girls were all married off one by one as they came of age until only little Beatrice was left home. Marguerite married Louis IX of France and became Queen of France. Eleonore married Henry III of England and became England’s Queen. Then the two queen’s conspired together and married younger Sanchia to Henry III’s brother Richard of Cornwall and later King of Germany making Sanchia Queen of Germany. The three older sisters were pretty close and it really surprised me that they all spent so much time together in this novel. I can honestly say I have never read about any other Queens that traveled so much together. It made for exciting reads set in amazing locations.

Marguerite’s marriage was rocky from the beginning. Her new mother in law Blanche dubbed “the white queen” for all her white face paint held all the real power over her marriage. Blanche exerted her power over Marguerite every minute of every day. Marguerite really was queen only in name she had no real authority. Eleonore also had her own problems with her “aged” husband. Though he had a heart of gold she had no desire for him. In time she did grow to love him but her real struggles lay with the English court. They were not exactly keen to having a new foreign queen. They took every possible swipe they could at her. Yet she found security in her relationship with her husband because he truly loved her and she returned that loved whole-heartedly.

Sanchia was not really an arranged marriage yet her two older sisters defiantly played a hand in its fourth coming. The sisters needed a way to have an “in” with the Earl of Cornwall. Since Sanchia was the “fairest” of all the sisters and a devout woman they knew Richard would not be able to resist her. All Sanchia ever wanted was to enter a nunnery but her mama had always said “family” first and the family needed her to marry well. Over sensitive she was and Richard can be best descried as a pig headed man they started out good but the bad began to out weigh the good and Sanchia was very unhappy.

When the sisters sadly lost their father before Beatrice was married it became time for her to join her big sisters in the courts of the world. This was a huge turning point in the novel because when their father died Beatrice was named in his most recent will to be the now unwed Countess of Provence. He left Beatrice everything. This created some big problems because their father still had yet to pay Marguerite's dowry to France. It was this that wholly tore the sisters apart. Mama always said “family first” and Beatrice was a brat making everything very unpleasant. Beatrice chose a husband and her husband of choice was none other than the King of France’s little brother the Count of Anjou. Marguerite had a few run in’s with him through the years and he was a brat too. The new couple was so much alike, they both were bratty younger siblings and they both had a nasty mean streak.

Over the years these courageous sisters that were raised with “the hearts of boys” grew into women that possessed hearts of men. They never backed down, not during the Holy War, Civil War, or even when conquering new lands. These sisters were warrior queens of the 13th century.

5+/5 one would think that reading a novel with four protagonists would be a hard to follow read. Author Sherry Jones broke this novel down into chapters that were one person at a time and I was not in the dark every chapter because it picked right back up where it left off before. I really made use of the full family trees of all the different houses and most importantly everyone’s titles. The map also was a great resource because these sisters really went everywhere. I loved this novel it made me think of my own sisters and their unique qualities. I would highly recommend this novel to who has not heard of these dramatic sisters lives.

R-Rating for sexual content.
FTC-I received this novel by the author for review.
Amazon - Four Sisters, all Queens, Sherry Jones
~Lizzie~

Book Review: SONG OF THE NILE by Stephanie Dray

Time for round two in the Cleopatra’s Daughters series, “Song of the Nile” follows Cleopatra’s daughter Selene through her struggle to wrest Egypt away from the greedy Imperator of Rome Augustus. Selene survived being a royal captive in Rome only to be married off to the newly named King Juba of Mauretania. He once was her teacher yet he was not her choice for husband but when you live under the Imperator’s roof you automatically loose all your rights especially if you are a woman. Selene’s feelings became no longer of import. Augustus did whatever he pleased because he literally ruled the entire known world at the time. He knew he had Selene trapped, holding her little brother as a royal hostage in Rome. He had power over her and he planned on keeping it that way. With one brother a hostage and her twin Helios’s circumstances unknown, Selene constantly fretted that she would never see Helios’s again.

After Selene was married it was time to go to her new kingdom Mauretania to take her place as Queen. She would never be the same after that horrible voyage to Mauretania. The creepy Imperator Augustus would take full advantage of Selene’s venerability on this trip. The Imperator’s vicious wife Livia set up Selene. She waited for her chance to strike at Selene and the time was now before Selene made it to her new kingdom. Liva set Selene up to be attacked by Augustus and he always got what he wanted. I cried for Selene, it was awful and rape is never ever a pretty thing. I truly was heartbroken for Selene because he had taken from her the only thing that was truly hers. Eventually my heartbroken feelings were replace with anger and then it evolved into this feeling that she deserved revenge against the man who took everything she ever had and more.

Upon her arrival in Mauretania Selene was traumatized by the previous events. I think she went into a state of shock. She also took a vow to never let another man touch her again and that included her new husband Juba. Heartbroken and once again sick of the cruelties of life she gets word that her rebellious brother Helios was dead. Her heart would never let her believe it and she would have to endure the trials the Imperator would put her through. The only thing that held Selene together at this point was her ambitious need to get Egypt back. Everything was in her way on the road to get Egypt. Friends, family and even her own husband she might have to sacrifice everything she ever had for Egypt. Her heart always belonged in Egypt but making a new home in Mauretania had begun to change everything for her. She had to find her own way in this life and Caesar be damned nothing was going to stop her.

5/5 I found this novel way more dark and mysterious compared to “Lilly of the Nile”. I really enjoyed it but I wish I had read them closer together. I seemed to have forgotten a lot of the important details from the first one. This novel goes deeper with Selene’s mystical side and I found like “Lilly of the Nile” that Dray perfectly blended the right amount of historical fiction with fantasy. There really was just enough magic where it was not overwhelming. I feel I must note a couple points about this novel that might be a turn off to some readers. First Selene is rapped and it is brutally graphic and the other issue is incest. As many of you know in Egypt’s history it was common for royal siblings to marry each other. Some readers might find Selene’s relationship with Helios a little much in this novel. It did not bother me but it might bother others just like the rape. I just wanted to bring that to light so readers do not expect something else out of this novel. I would highly recommended this novel for mature historical fiction readers who are looking for a unique novel that is off the beaten historical fiction path.

FTC-this book was sent to me by the publisher.
R-Rating for sexual violence.

Amazon

• Stephanie Dray
• Lily of the Nile 
• Song of the Nile
• Daughters of the Nile set to be released 12.3.13

~Lizzie~

"Daughters of the Nile" by Stephanie Dray

Posted Amazon Release Date of December 3rd 2013
From Stephanie's Newsletter:

"I get regular emails from readers asking if there will be a third book in the Nile series and when it will be released. So here's the scoop. Yes, there will be a third book in theNile trilogy and it will be out by the end of this year. This one will follow Selene's life as a mother, a magician, and Mauretanian queen. While in the first two books, Selene was desperate to reclaim her mother's lost throne of Egypt. Now she is desperate to keep her children out of the emperor's clutches and she will stop at nothing to defend her new kingdom and the spark of love that has finally kindled in the former ruins of her marriage to Juba II.

I've just finished turning in the first draft to my editor and I can't wait to hear what she thinks. This one is much happier than the previous books but Selene still has some dark struggles to overcome. A fitting tribute, I hope, to the woman who has consumed about a decade of my life. Since I can't give readers an exact date, I thought I'd give them a little peek at the cover--which is still being fine-tuned. (See above.)

And in the meantime, I'll keep sharing snippets and excerpts on my Facebook page where I love to chat with readers".
Find it on Amazon
"Daughters of the Nile" on Goodreads
~Lizzie~

Author Stephanie Dray On The Ancient Magic of Henna Tattoos

 The Ancient Magic of Henna Tattoos by Stephanie Dray The heroine of my novels, Cleopatra Selene, was the Queen of Mauretania and she ruled over the ancient Berbers, the descendants of whom still live in North Africa. For my first novel, Lily of the Nile, I researched the magic of ancient Egypt because I wanted to know the spiritual traditions with which Selene would have been familiar. But for Song of the Nile, I wanted to learn all I could about the life of the people who called Selene their queen. What I learned is that ancient Mauretania was every bit as exotic and sensual as Egypt, and that the women who lived there had a rich and colorful spirituality that expressed itself in their arts. We’ve all heard of Berber carpets. Perhaps we even own a piece of Berber jewelry. But the art of henna is largely associated with Indian culture now, even though it’s believed to have been of Berber origin. Henna is a plant that, when dried, crushed to a powder, and mixed with oil to form a paste, can safely dye the skin--and the color will remain for weeks. Because of this and other medicinal properties, henna became an important part of Berber culture. Like the Egyptians, the Berbers believed in a kind of sympathetic magic, whereby symbols could take the place and power of actual things. For example, whereas the Egyptians might carve a cobra or a jackal-headed god at the entrance of a tomb to guard it, the Berbers might paint a sharp object on a pregnant woman’s belly as if to pierce the evil eye. Whereas the Egyptians spent a great deal of time ornamenting tombs and creating magical amulets to be worn, the Berbers retreated to a more personal, more sensual connection to the supernatural world. By painting protective symbols on the body, the skin becomes its own talisman and magical protection. A manifestation of spirituality that is visible to anyone who might look upon the tattoos. It’s interesting to me that while I used bloody hieroglyphs on my heroine’s arms and hands as a way of the divine world speaking through her, I hadn’t considered the use of symbols on her arms and hands as a way for her to speak back. At least, not until I learned more about the Berbers among whom Selene built a new life for herself. While not exclusively reserved for women, Berber henna tattoos are inextricably entwined with women’s rituals. Henna tattoos are most often applied before a wedding, before and after birth, and before death. At all life’s thresholds, and, incidentally, all the times that a woman might need the comfort of others near her, rubbing her, pampering her, and seeing to it that she has adequate rest. The henna paste can be made with oils--sandalwood is a popular one--so that the long process of painting intricate designs on the skin can give aromatic pleasure to all those involved. Berber women couldn’t easily tattoo themselves, so it become a bonding experience, and one of giving over the body to others in trust. And if that’s not magic, what is?

More on Stephanie Dray...
Stephanie graduated from Smith, a small women’s college in Massachusetts where–to the consternation of her devoted professors–she was unable to master Latin. However, her focus on Middle Eastern Studies gave her a deeper understanding of the consequences of Egypt’s ancient clash with Rome, both in terms of the still-extant tensions between East and West as well as the worldwide decline of female-oriented religion.

Before she wrote novels, Stephanie was a lawyer, a game designer, and a teacher. Now she uses the transformative power of magic realism to illuminate the stories of women in history and inspire the young women of today. She remains fascinated by all things Roman or Egyptian and has–to the consternation of her devoted husband–collected a house full of cats and ancient artifacts.

"Sorceress. Seductress. Schemer. Cleopatra’s daughter has become the emperor’s most unlikely apprentice and the one woman who can destroy his empire… Having survived her perilous childhood as a royal captive of Rome, Selene pledged her loyalty to Augustus and swore she would become his very own Cleopatra. Now the young queen faces an uncertain destiny in a foreign land. Forced to marry a man of the emperor’s choosing, Selene will not allow her new husband to rule in her name. She quickly establishes herself as a capable leader in her own right and as a religious icon. Beginning the hard work of building a new nation, she wins the love of her new subjects and makes herself vital to Rome by bringing forth bountiful harvests. But it’s the magic of Isis flowing through her veins that makes her indispensable to the emperor. Against a backdrop of imperial politics and religious persecution, Cleopatra’s daughter beguiles her way to the very precipice of power. She has never forgotten her birthright, but will the price of her mother’s throne be more than she’s willing to pay"?

Berkley Trade in October 2011 (Trade Paperback)
# ISBN-10: 0425243044 and # ISBN-13: 9780425243046

B&N
IndieBound
Borders
Constellation Books
Powell's
Amazon
~Lizzie~

The Fashion World of Cleopatra Selene and the Augustan Age, guest post by Author Stephanie Dray

 Please give a warm welcome to author Stephanie Dray!!! Historically Obsessed is very proud to be a part of Stephanie's blog tour for "Lily of the Nile". You can check out the rocking giveaway going on or take a peek at my review. But first check out this amazing guest post by Stephanie on "The Fashion World of Cleopatra Selene and the Augustan Age".

Lily of the Nile

"Heiress of one empire and prisoner of another, it is up to the daughter of Cleopatra to save her brothers and reclaim what is rightfully hers... 

To Isis worshippers, Princess Selene and her twin brother Helios embody the divine celestial pair who will bring about a Golden Age. But when Selene's parents are vanquished by Rome, her auspicious birth becomes a curse. Trapped in an empire that reviles her heritage and suspects her faith, the young messianic princess struggles for survival in a Roman court of intrigue. She can't hide the hieroglyphics that carve themselves into her hands, nor can she stop the emperor from using her powers for his own ends. But faced with a new and ruthless Caesar who is obsessed with having a Cleopatra of his very own, Selene is determined to resurrect her mother's dreams. Can she succeed where her mother failed? And what will it cost her in a political game where the only rule is win-or die"?

The Fashion World of Cleopatra Selene and the Augustan Age

by

Stephanie Dray

Cleopatra VII was the most fashionable woman in the ancient world. Like a modern day celebrity, she set the trends. During her visit to Rome, she made such a sensation that Roman matrons hurried to copy her distinctive hairstyles. It’s hard to believe that her daughter didn’t inherit just a touch of Cleopatra’s sense of style.

Cleopatra’s daughter is the heroine of my forthcoming debut novel, Lily of the Nile. One of the most enjoyable things about writing this book was researching the clothes, cosmetics, jewelry and hairstyles of the period. But whereas Cleopatra was a trendsetter who ushered in an era of extravagance, such lavish indulgence went out of style after the famous queen’s suicide.

Her ten year old daughter, Cleopatra Selene, was captured by the Romans, then dragged through the streets as a chained captive. In the hopes that Selene might one day be useful to him, Augustus spared her life, so she grew up in the imperial household.

As if to define himself as the very opposite of the defeated Queen Cleopatra, Augustus preached of simple virtues, wearing homespun clothing and encouraging the women of his family to dress as modestly as possible. His wife, Livia, owned expensive jewelry (some of them having belonged to Cleopatra) but she seldom wore them in public, claiming that her children were her jewels. In official statuary, Livia and the other women of the imperial family are always portrayed in frumpy swaths of cloth, practically mummified in the name of virtue.

  A Roman lady adorning herself in the latest fashion

However, the emperor’s daughter, Julia Caesaris, is known for having worn fashion-forward clothing in public, in spite of her father’s complaints. During the Augustan Age, transparent Coan cloth was very popular, and it is thought to have been a form of silk. If dyed in expensive colors like purple or indigo, such a garment could have funded a small army. A woman’s gown always fell to her feet--only prostitutes wore anything short enough to show off ankles and knees. However, it’s almost certain that even well-bred ladies gave a flash of leg because the Romans didn’t have buttons or zippers or other modern fastenings. They used pins and clasps to keep their clothes fastened and for wealthy women, this was the way to show off expensive jeweled brooches.

Parthian earrings, a style that shows up on many portraits of women in the era.

And oh, how ancient Roman women loved to show off their jewelry and gems. Cleopatra Selene is known to have worn her mother’s amethyst ring, the famous one with which Cleopatra was said to have bewitched Mark Antony. It’s likely that she inherited some of her mother’s other famous adornments--perhaps some of the giant pearls and emeralds. I absolutely love the cover of Michelle Moran’s Cleopatra’s Daughter on which Selene is depicted with a serpentine armlet, but I often wonder if the historical Selene would have wanted to raise that spectre of her mother’s apparent suicide by snake.

A serpentine armlet such as in Michelle Moran’s cover

Women of the upper classes in Augustan Age Rome plucked all the hair from their bodies and used cosmetics. Given Selene’s Egyptian heritage, she may have lined her eyes with kohl, but given her strict upbringing in the emperor’s household, she’s unlikely to have painted her face until after she became queen in her own right.

Roman Cosmetic pots

Given her adherence to Isis, she may have worn her gown knotted between her breasts, and of course, when she became Queen of Mauretania, imperial purple was one of her biggest exports, so she undoubtedly draped herself in imperial purple!

Thank you Stephanie for the intriguing article on Selene's fashion world and stunning pictures of jewelry. I would kill for the armlet!

BIO

Stephanie Dray is the author of a forthcoming trilogy of historical fiction novels set in the Augustan Age, starting with Lily of the Nile: A Novel of Cleopatra's Daughter. Before she wrote novels, Stephanie was a lawyer, a game designer, and a teacher. Now she uses the transformative power of magic realism to illuminate the stories of women in history and inspire the young women of today. She remains fascinated by all things Roman or Egyptian and has–to the consternation of her devoted husband–collected a house full of cats and ancient artifacts.

She is currently sponsoring the Cleopatra Literary Contest for Young Women, the deadline for which is March 1, 2011, but join her newsletter now for updates and a chance to win a free copy of Lily of the Nile and additional prizes.

Amazon

Book Review: LILY OF THE NILE by Stephanie Dray

First we need to cover the fact that Michelle Moran released “Cleopatra’s Daughter” in the not so distant past. Michelle’s novel and Cleopatra’s daughter Selene was more of a traditional historical fiction novel. I know everyone is thinking that two books on the same person; how the heck is that going to work? In my mind ever since I saw a real mummy in an exhibit in the art museum, I have always felt that ancient Egypt holds a mystical power that is deeply etched in to the culture. I have to admit this is the perfect book for anyone who has ever day dreamed of the secrets that Egypt has hidden beneath the desert sands. Covertly Dray sets the stage for Cleopatra’s children to find the magic within them and find the strength to move on in a future full of hostile enemies.

Cleopatra Selene was the daughter of one of Egypt’s most alluring queens Cleopatra and Rome’s most gallant warriors. Her father Mark Antony as most know was a Roman and a high ranking one at that. Rome turned its back on Mark Anthony when he chose Cleopatra over his own birth city. Selene was about 10 or so when the political fight with Rome came to a standoff of emotional and physical warfare. Mark Antony was led to believe Cleopatra was dead and he ultimately committed suicide letting the flood gates open to the Romans. The Romans would waste no time and go in for the kill, they took over Cleopatra’s Egyptian city Alexandria and ultimately she lived up to the family motto “Win or Die”. She chose death and Selene was the one that brought her the snake. Carrying the deadly basket she went to her mother who was hidden away in her sanctuary. Before her mother sent the children away she gave each child a gift; the gift of her magic and a necklace with each child’s own proclamation inscribed in it. Selene’s necklace and gift changed her instantly and forever, her mother stated she was “The Resurrection”. When Selene left her mother’s presence with her twin brother Helios and younger brother Philadelphus they all knew it would be the last time they ever saw her again.

With both of her parents gone and her older half-brother by the great Julius Caesar; Caesarion on the run there was no hope of rescue. The Roman captors locked the children up in their mother’s room. It was only when the brutish Roman general Agrippa came to interrogate the children about their mothers death, Agrippa boasted that the children were to be shipped off to Rome by the orders of Caesar.

Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus the imperator and victor of Actium in other words he was Caesar and also known as Octavian. He marched the children into Rome as war trophy’s and it was gratifying for him to march Cleopatra’s children in such a degrading way because he could not have their mother Cleopatra she was already dead. Selene and her two brothers struggled under their golden gilded collars and chains that were pulled by Octavian’s chariot. The crowds of Romans were viciously infested with rage at Cleopatra. The people pelted the children with things and cursed fiercely at them. The people of Rome hated the children because of their mother “the great whore” who stole Julius Caesar and Mark Antony from Rome.  Selene put on a brave face and with what little dignity she had left. She made it part of the way through Emperor Caesar’s great deliverance when out of sheer fear Selene begged for her life and the lives of her brothers. It took a lot out of her pride to beg but she felt she must beg or die trying. Just as Octavian had planned she begged and Octavian’s sister who was also her father’s ex-wife Octavia pledged with Caesar to spare the children's lives.

Stripped of everything she ever loved including her right to worship her beloved goddess Isis Selene found herself trapped in Octavia’s house of “lamentable embassy of royal orphans” with her unwanted numerous half brothers and sisters. Rome was nothing like Egypt it was painfully brought to light in everything even down to the way the houses were built. The beauty of Egypt was incomparable and Selene tried to console her-self but when the first message appeared it scared even her the first time. It was suddenly that magical hieroglyphics scrolled themselves all the way up her arms and down her hands. It had never happened before in Egypt. The messages hurt and bleed profusely which meant she could not hide it. The messages scared her because she had no idea where they were coming from and why they were happening to her. The messages would led her on a perilous task of protecting her beloved Isis and saving herself from being devoured by her new forced home the barbaric Rome.

4.5/5 Wow that was a good read! I cannot wait for the next one. This was the perfect blend of historical fiction and magic. Typically I am not magic kind of girl unless it is Disney. I guess the fact that it is Egyptian magic made it different in my mind like it was more mystically enticing. The next book “Song of the Nile” is going to be amazing and I am really looking forward to following this new trilogy. I can guarantee if you love anything Egyptian like me you will love this new take on one of history’s most monumental Queen’s. Recommended highly for historical fiction lovers who day dreamed Egypt held magical secrets.

FTC-Sent to me by author.

R-Rating for violence.

For more on Stephanie Dray:

Historically Obsessed's post on "Lily of the Nile" and "Song of the Nile"

She is currently sponsoring the Cleopatra Literary Contest for Young Women, the deadline for which is March 1, 2011, but join her newsletter now for updates and a chance to win a free copy of Lily of the Nile and additional prizes.

Amazon

LILY OF THE NILE and SORCERESS OF THE NILE by Stephanie Dray Releasing 2011

This has really peeked my interest, since I did enjoy Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran I just have a good feeling about this one. Here is what the publisher had to say:

"Now your next thought might be but Michelle Moran wrote about Cleopatra's Daughter already. And this is when I'd say with much amusement, that Stephanie submitted her story with no knowledge about Moran's book. How's /that/ for an intriguing segway for a blog post? Not only that, the two books split off into two entirely different directions".

Hum very interesting same person but completely different story lines.

Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray  Releasing 

January 4th 2011

"With her parents dead, the daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony is left at the mercy of her Roman captors. Heir to one empire and prisoner of another, it falls to Princess Selene to save her brothers and reclaim what’s rightfully hers…In the aftermath of Alexandria’s tragic fall, Princess Selene is taken from Egypt, the only home she’s ever known. Along with her two surviving brothers, she’s put on display as a war trophy in Rome. Selene’s captors mock her royalty and drag her through the streets in chains, but on the brink of death, the children are spared as a favor to the emperor’s sister, who takes them to live as hostages in the so-called lamentable embassy of royal orphans…

Now trapped in a Roman court of intrigue that reviles her heritage and suspects her faith, Selene can’t hide the hieroglyphics that carve themselves into her flesh. Nor can she stop the emperor from using her for his own political ends. But faced with a new and ruthless Caesar who is obsessed with having a Cleopatra of his very own, Selene is determined honor her mother’s lost legacy. The magic of Egypt and Isis remain within her. But can she succeed where her mother failed? And what will it cost her in a political game where the only rule is win or die"?

After "Lily of the Nile" releases there will be a sequel coming out sometime in 2011. Here is more on it below.

Sorceress of the Nile

Update: the title has now been changed to Song  

"Pledged to an emperor who abuses her burgeoning sexuality, and wed to a man who means to rule in her name, a courageous fifteen-year-old queen learns to harness the magic that will protect her kingdom and bring her enemies to their knees…

Cleopatra’s daughter struck a dangerous bargain to win a throne. Now the young queen must face the perverse consequences of her promise to become Octavian’s own Cleopatra. To protect her faith, her brothers, and her people, the teenager upends a world ruled exclusively by men. But while Selene uses her powers to bring forth bountiful harvests that make her indispensable to Rome as a capable leader and religious icon, her rebellious twin brother Helios thwarts the Romans across the African continent, reviving the legend of Horus the Avenger".

Here is some more interesting information about author Stephanie Dray.

"Author Stephanie Dray beat the odds this year, signing contracts with two major New York publishing houses. In a two-book contract, she sold her debut novel, a historical fantasy about the life of Cleopatra’s daughter, to Berkley Books. Under the pen name Stephanie Draven, she also sold a paranormal romance series to Harlequin’s Nocturne line, for a total of six works sold in one year.

The author’s Mythica series, which has been described as “Percy Jackson for grown-up girls,” is based on the premise that Greek mythology is real and that ancient gods still walk among us. In October 2010, Harlequin publishes the first full-length novel of the series: Poisoned Kisses, a sassy but emotional tale for anyone who wonders what kind of daddy issues a girl has when her father is Ares, Greek God of War.

In January 2011, the author releases her first book for Berkley Books, an imprint of Penguin Group.  Titled Lily of the Nile, this historical drama takes readers to ancient Rome and into the life of Cleopatra Selene, daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, who was captured by the Romans and forced to struggle for survival in the home of her parents’ worst enemy.

The author kicked off her paranormal romance series with two novellas--Midnight Medusa and Wild Tethered Bound--both of which received glowing reviews. Both works have already been issued in electronic form in anticipation of their appearance in paperback later this year".

I can not wait for this one to be featured on Historically Obsessed. I am hoping to have a guest post and a giveaway for all the readers around the release day which is quite a way off. One more to look forward to in 2011.

Amazon
 

Sundays Art:The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Great Pyramid of Giza
Egyptians built as the tomb of fourth dynasty Egyptian pharaoh Khufu. Still standing

Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Babylonians Diodorus Siculus described multi-levelled gardens reaching 22 metres (75 feet) high, complete with machinery for circulating water. Large trees grew on the roof. Built by Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife Amytis of Media.

Statue of Zeus at Olympia
Greeks Occupied the whole width of the aisle of the temple that was built to house it, and was 12 metres (40 feet) tall.

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
Dedicated to the Greek goddess Artemis, it took 120 years to build. Herostratus burned it down to achieve lasting fame. Rebuilt by Alexander the Great only to be destroyed again by the Goths. It was rebuilt once again after, only to be closed in 391 and destroyed by a mob led by St John Chrysostom in 401.

Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
Carians, Persians, Greeks Stood approximately 45 metres (135 feet) tall with each of the four sides adorned with sculptural reliefs. Origin of the word mausoleum, a tomb built for Mausolus, a satrap in the Persian Empire

Colossus of Rhodes

Greeks

A giant statue of the Greek god Helios, c. 35m (110 ft) tall.

Lighthouse of Alexandria
Hellenistic Egypt Between 115 and 135 metres (383 - 440 ft) it was among the tallest structures on Earth for many centuries. The island that it was built on, Pharaohs, eventually spawned the Latin word for lighthouse, again Pharaohs.

Book Review: CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER by Michelle Moran

I have come to notice that many people do not know that Cleopatra had children. Queen Cleopatra's dramatic exit from this life is more well remembered than her children. Cleopatra has always been a favorite historical figure of mine. The mother that committed suicide rather than bend to Romes rule a true Queen of Egypt. Forgetting that she left behind children that lost everything including their country by the hands of the Romans. What uncertain path lay before them? Would they survive being taken to Rome or really would they survive the game of being involved in the roman elite circle?

Selene and her brothers were taken to Rome after her mother death. As part of the Roman take over of Egypt. She went physically willing but not mentally. She was a gifted artist who shared a passion with her father Marc Anthony of architecture. She was educated in Egypt and would continue her education in Rome. Her education gave her an advantage in Rome. She knew that things were not right in Rome politically speaking and it made her uneasy. The part I think she was most uncomfortable with was the slavery and corruption with in the city. Living in a world that was not her own feeling heartbreak after heartbreak. I felt complete sympathy for her. Losing not just her mother but her father then her little brother on the way to Rome. She deserved happiness but there was none to be had in Rome.

A glimmer of hope arrived in the form of a "rebel" know only as the Red Eagle. He was like the Robin Hood of Rome, freeing slaves, and standing up for to the injustices the government had pulled off. He called to the people to stand up for what is right. He even saved Selene herself at one point from a mad bull who would have stomped her to death. Selene's curiosity would lead her to suspect everyone including the man she loved that did not love her in return. In a world that was dramatically ever changing would Selene ever find her place or would she be lost in the corruption like so many others had? Or would the red eagle change everything for better or worse?

5/5 Muse rating. Michelle wove a tragic story of a child's loss into a story of finding ones own self. I loved this book with it's vivid story of what it meant to be a Roman and live a Roman life. The best part for me was the detailed descriptions of the buildings in Rome and Egypt.

I Won! Michelle Moran Treasure Hunt

Become a Literary Archaeologist For A Day!

I have been waiting for this for some time now and it has finally happened. Today on Michelle Moran's Site she posted Literary Clues that go with a specific bookstore that is participating. If you can figure out the clue it leads you to a book in the store. If you find the right book you find a ribbon that say "Digging for Cleopatra's Daughter You've Won". After you take the ribbon the the cashier then you get a "goodies" bag. In the goodies is A signed copy of Cleopatra's Daughter, An authentic Roman artifact (each one is unique), Cleopatra earrings, and other Cleopatra goodies!

There is still many locations across the nation that now one has found yet. Be sure to check out Michelle's site for the clue.

I drove an hour and a half to the bookstore closest to me, which was at the beach. Dragging the kids the whole way. The funny part is when I got there they had been only open for less than an hour and I could not find the book. I told the nice lady "you probably know why I am here" and I handed her the note with the book information on it. She could not find it. So we went to the cash register and she was going to search for it when I noticed right next to the computer was the book with the ribbon barely hanging out. I squealed "That is it, right there"! They were so nice at the Cannon Beach Book Company, I even took a picture for you all. Thank You Michelle for doing such a fun promotion, by far one of the coolest Treasure Hunts Ever! I am wearing the Cleopatra earrings right now.

A Rewind To Nefertiti by Michelle Moran

I know what you are thinking this was Michelle's break out novel but Nefertiti is constantly in my thoughts and I can not wait to read this novel.

"The sweeping story of a powerful Egyptian family, Nefertiti: A Novel tells the tale of two sisters, the first of whom is destined to rule as one of history’s most fascinating queens.

Beautiful Nefertiti and her sister, Mutnodjmet, have been raised far from the court of their aunt, the Queen of Egypt. But when the Pharaoh of Egypt dies, their father’s power play makes Nefertiti wife to the new and impetuous king. It is hoped she will temper King Amunhotep’s desire to overturn Egypt’s religion, but the ambitious Nefertiti encourages Amunhotep’s outrageous plans instead, winning the adoration of the people while making powerful enemies at court. Younger yet more prudent, Mutnodjmet is her sister’s sole confidant, and only she knows to what lengths Nefertiti will go for a child to replace the son of Amunhotep’s first wife.

As King Amunhotep’s commands become more extravagant, he and Nefertiti ostracize the army, clergy, and Egypt’s most powerful allies. Then, when Mutnodjmet begins a dangerous affair with a general, she sees how tenuous her situation is at her own sister’s court. An epic story that resurrects ancient Egypt in vivid detail, Nefertiti: A Novel:

“Brings ancient Egypt to life as two royal sisters struggle to find fulfillment and happiness—one craving ultimate political power, the other desiring only to follow her heart.” India Edghill, author of Wisdom’s Daughter

“There haven’t been two more fascinating or outrageous siblings since the Boleyn sisters burst onto the pages of historical fiction. Nefertiti is totally obsessive reading.” Robin Maxwell, author of The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn"

The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran

September 16, 2008

"In ancient Egypt, a forgotten princess must overcome her family’s past, and remake history.

The winds of change are blowing through Thebes. A devastating palace fire has killed the 18Th dynasty’s royal family—all with the exception of Nefertari, niece of the reviled former queen Nefertiti. The girl’s deceased family has been branded as heretical, and no one in Egypt will speak their names. A relic of a previous reign, Nefertari is pushed aside, an unimportant princess left to run wild in the palace. But all of this changes when she is taken under the wing of pharaoh’s aunt, and brought to the Temple of Hathor where she is educated in a manner befitting a future queen.

Soon Nefertari catches the eye of the crown prince, and despite her family’s history, they fall in love and wish to marry. Yet all of Egypt opposes this union between the rising star of a new dynasty and the fading star of an old, heretical one. While political adversity sets the country on edge, Nefertari becomes the wife of Ramesses the Great. Destined to be the most powerful pharaoh in Egypt, he is also the man who must confront the most famous exodus in history."

Cleopatra's Daughter Excerpt by Michelle Moran

C H A P T E R O N E, ALEXANDRIA, August 12, 30 BC

WHILE WE waited for the news to arrive, we played dice. I
felt the small ivory cubes stick in my palms as I rolled a pair of ones.
“Snake eyes,” I said, fanning myself with my hand. Even the stir of a
sea breeze through the marble halls of our palace did little to relieve
the searing heat that had settled across the city.

“It’s your turn,” Alexander said. When our mother didn’t respond,
he repeated, “Mother, it’s your turn.”

But she wasn’t listening. Her face was turned in the direction of
the sea, where the lighthouse of our ancestors had been built on the
island of Pharos to the east. We were the greatest family in the
world, and could trace our lineage all the way back to Alexander of
Macedon. If our father’s battle against Octavian went well, the
Ptolemies might rule for another three hundred years. But if his
losses continued. . . .

“Selene,” my brother complained to me, as if I could get our
mother to pay attention.

“Ptolemy, take the dice,” I said sharply.

Ptolemy, who was only six, grinned. “It’s my turn?”

“Yes,” I lied, and when he laughed, his voice echoed in the silent
halls. I glanced at Alexander, and perhaps because we were twins, I
knew what he was thinking. “I’m sure they haven’t abandoned us,” I
whispered.

“What would you do if you were a servant and knew that Octavian’s
army was coming?”

“We don’t know that it is!,” I snapped, but when the sound of sandals
slapped through the halls, my mother finally looked in our direction.

“Selene, Alexander, Ptolemy, get back!”

We abandoned our game and huddled on the bed, but it was only
her servants, Iras and Charmion.

“What? What is it?” my mother demanded.

“A group of soldiers!”

“Whose men?”

“Your husband’s,” Charmion cried. She had been with our family
for twenty years, and I had never seen her weep. But as she shut the
door, I saw that her cheeks were wet. “They are coming with news,
Your Highness, and I’m afraid—”

“Don’t say it!” My mother closed her eyes briefly. “Just tell me. Has
the mausoleum been prepared?”

Iras blinked away her tears and nodded. “The last of the palace’s
treasures are being moved inside. And . . . and the pyre has been
built exactly as you wanted.”

I reached for Alexander’s hand. “There’s no reason our father won’t
beat them back. He has everything to fight for.”

Alexander studied the dice in his palms. “So does Octavian.”

Guest Post with Michelle Moran, Cleopatra's Daughter

Thank you Michelle Moran for being gracious enough to give a guest post featuring her upcoming new release Cleopatra's Daughter. Which is due to hit book stores September 15Th 2009. This Q and A struck me so close to my heart because her experience is one of my biggest secret dreams I have ever harbored.

Q: Why Cleopatra’s daughter?

A:"It began with a dive. Not the kind of dive that people take into swimming pools, but the kind where you squeeze yourself into a wetsuit and wonder just how tasty your rump must appear to passing sharks now that it looks exactly like an elephant seal. My husband and I had taken a trip to Egypt, and at the suggestion of a friend, we decided to go to Alexandria and do a dive to see the remains of Cleopatra’s underwater city. Let it be known that I had never done an underwater dive before, so after four days with an instructor (and countless questions like, Will there be sharks? How about jellyfish? If there is an earthquake, what happens underwater?) we were ready for the real thing.

We drove to the Eastern Harbor in Alexandria. Dozens of other divers were already there, waiting to see what sort of magic lay beneath the waves. I wondered if the real thing could possibly live up to all of the guides and brochures selling this underwater city, lost for thousands of years until now. Then we did the dive, and it was every bit as magical as everyone had promised. You can see the rocks which once formed Marc Antony’s summer palace, come face to face with Cleopatra’s towering sphinx, and take your time floating above ten thousand ancient artifacts, including obelisks, statues, and countless amphorae. By the time we had surfaced, I was Cleopatra-obsessed. I wanted to know what had happened to her city once she and Marc Antony had committed suicide. Where did all of its people go? Were they allowed to remain or were they killed by the Romans? What about her four children?

It was this last question which surprised me the most. I had always believed that all of Cleopatra’s children had been murdered. But the Roman conqueror Octavian had actually spared the three she bore to Marc Antony: her six-year-old son, Ptolemy, and her ten-year-old twins, Alexander and Selene. As soon as I learned that Octavian had taken the three of them for his Triumph in Rome, I knew at once I had my next book. This is how all of my novels seem to begin – with a journey, then an adventure, and finally, enormous amounts of research for what I hope is an exciting story"