I feel very honored to have been picked as a reviewer for this book! “Stephanie Dray is a graduate of Smith College, a small women’s college in Massachusetts, where—to the consternation of her devoted professors—she was unable to master Latin. However, her concentration in 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-centric religions.
Using the stories of women in history to inspire the young women of today, Stephanie remains fascinated by all things ancient and has—to the consternation of her devoted husband—collected a houseful of cats and Egyptian artifacts.”
I have had the pleasure to meet Stephanie Dray in person and she was so kind, supportive of other writers, and informed about history. She is just a person that stands out and brightens any room. If you have read her books and like to stalk writers then you should friend her facebook page as she is very witty and fun to read! —–> Stephanie Dray Facebook Page
Review – Daughters Of The Nile
This is the third and final book in the trilogy about the life of Cleopatra Selene, the daughter of The Great Cleopatra that many of us know a bit about. While this is a work of fiction, Stephanie has clearly gone to great effort to put as much factual known history into the story and the rest is magic! She wove a world that one can hardly imagine into something near tangible and then added an ancient religion to it in a way that I believe has done it honor. This is telling of who she is as a person and writer as the religion is not her own and she showed it great respect in her novels.
I don’t wish for this review to be a spoiler at all so please excuse my vagueness when it comes to the gushing over how exquisite this book is. From the first book to this one, it has played the song of my heart, that of a woman, a mother, and one just wanting the best for all those around her. I can picture now the juggling it must have been for the real Selene to keep her family alive, deal with her ambition, and live among some of the most powerful men of all time.
As a reader I was so happy with the way part 1 ended. It felt right, everything…. I should have known though, nothing can go smoothly, specially not for Selene. The story took my breath away at times, had me sobbing at times, and have be cheering at times. This story has it all. There is a bit of magic in it, but that isn’t what makes the story. Some stories will use a good idea to carry it, interesting facts to keep the reader reading. This story though, it is all in the telling of it, there is magic in that!
Don’t take my word for it though. I normally read supernatural fiction and not historical fiction. I can be picky about what I love to read, as I do love to read and there are just far too many books and not enough life times for them. So when I say you might love these three books, and specially this one, I mean it. It is worth your time, even if you don’t normally read historical novels. This one is more than that. No matter what Stephanie Dray writes in the future, I know I will read it!
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From critically acclaimed historical fantasy author, Stephanie Dray comes the long-awaited new tale 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?
Read the Reviews
“A stirring story of a proud, beautiful, intelligent woman whom a 21st century reader can empathize with. Dray’s crisp, lush prose brings Selene and her world to life.” ~RT Book Reviews
“The boldest, and most brilliant story arc Dray has penned…” ~Modge Podge Reviews
“If you love historical fiction and magical realism, these books are for you.” ~A Bookish Affair
Read an Excerpt
Below me, six black Egyptian cobras dance on their tails, swaying. I watch their scaled hoods spread wide like the uraeus on the crown of Egypt. Even from this height, I’m paralyzed by the sight of the asps, their forked tongues flickering out between deadly fangs. I don’t notice that I’m gripping the balustrade until my knuckles have gone white, all my effort concentrated upon not swooning and falling to my death.
And I would swoon if I were not so filled with rage. Someone has arranged for this. Someone who knows what haunts me. Someone who wants to send me a message and make this occasion a moment of dread. My husband, the king must know it, for he calls down, “That’s enough. We’ve seen enough of the snake charmer!”
There is commotion below, some upset at having displeased us. Then Chryssa hisses, “Who could think it a good idea to honor the daughter of Cleopatra by coaxing asps from baskets of figs?”
The story the world tells of my mother’s suicide is that she cheated the emperor of his conquest by plunging her hand into a basket where a venomous serpent lay in wait. A legend only, some say, for the serpent was never found. But I was there. I brought her that basket. She was the one bitten but the poison lingers in my blood to this day. I can still remember the scent of figs in my nostrils, lush and sweet. The dark god Anubis was embroidered into the woven reeds of the basket, the weight of death heavy in my arms. I can still see my mother reach her hand into that basket, surrendering her life so that her children might go on without her. And I have gone on without her.
I have survived too much to be terrorized by the emperor’s agents or whoever else is responsible for this.
If it is a message, a warning from my enemies, I have already allowed them too much of a victory by showing any reaction at all. So I adopt as serene a mask as possible. My daughter blinks her big blue eyes, seeing past my facade. “Are you frightened, Mother? They cannot bite us from there. The snakes are very far away.”
I get my legs under me, bitterness on my tongue. “Oh, but they’re never far enough away.”
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Available now in print and e-book!
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Powells | IndieBound | Goodreads
Available now in print and e-book!
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Powells | IndieBound | Goodreads
STEPHANIE DRAY is a bestselling, multi-published, award-winning author of historical women’s fiction and fantasy set in the ancient world. Her critically acclaimed historical series about Cleopatra’s daughter has been translated into more than six different languages, was nominated for a RITA Award and won the Golden Leaf. Her focus on Ptolemaic Egypt and Augustan Age Rome has given her a unique perspective on 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.
