Daughter of the Crocodile

Ptolemies Quartet #2

by Duncan Sprott

This title is set in Egypt, 279 BC. Ptolemy II Philandelphus, unconcerned with stately affairs, prefers to think about science, concubines and feasting. His reptilian sister returns to Egypt with her life in ruins. She wants to oust her brother's wife, marry him herself and be the saviour of Egypt, but his wife has other plans. Berenike Beta murders her husband and marries Patlemy III Eurgetes instead. But with the glory of the Ptolemies at its height after Egypt wins victories at Syria, it is the turn of the murderess to be murdered. Ptolemy IV Philopator, who thinks of nothing but wine and dancing, plans to murder his father. Agathokles of Samos wants to murder the King and have the throne of Egypt for himself; and Agatholeia, his sister, wants to murder the Queen and marry her brother. Meanwhile, the people of Egypt are thinking about revolution. Seshat, the Egyptian goddess of writing, the lady in the leopardskin dress, must write down their bloody history.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Egypt, Egyptian Literature

496 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Duncan Sprott is the author of The Clopton Hercules and Our Lady of the Potatoes, both historical reconstructions, published in the United Kingdom. He lives in Ireland.

Reviews

[Iset · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF on this one. I tried to read this sequel all the way through, but I give way at the 30% mark (though I skimmed the rest to see if there was some revelatory shift in writing style – there isn’t). This book is just such a slog to read and I have some really great books I could be getting on with instead.

My review of the first book (this is the second in an unfinished quartet), covers most of the points. Find it here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

There are some new things to note, however. The narrator has changed, from Thoth to Seshat. Seshat is less condescending that Thoth in the first book, but as a reader you’re still treated to having information spoon-fed to you, your knowledge being questioned, and Seshat’s insistence that she knows the complete truth about the Ptolemies, better than any mere mortal. There’s more “not-dialogue” than there was previously, which is a good thing as dialogue was woefully lacking in the previous book, but it still lacks context in defined scenes, and as such I still felt incredibly distant from these characters, and the story lacked immediacy or tension. Some of the Ptolemies’ achievements are actually praised here, another welcome shift, but somehow the author manages to praise their achievements (for example, building temples), whilst still describing them as thoroughly nasty people and filling in historical gaps with just the worst possible motives and actions. The author even confidently asserts that they all hate each other and there’s no love in this family at all – in relationships about which we know very little and what we do know suggests that they were at the very least amicable. It makes it so incredibly hard to empathise with the characters or care about what happens to them. Overall there’s very little improvement on the previous book – still plagued by a lack of compelling plot and a strange Wikipedia still of summarising everything. I was just so disinterested, reading this book, and there were other, better books beckoning me. Honestly, I’m not surprised that the planned quartet was never finished.

3 out of 10

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book is set in Ptolemic Egypt, which isn't a period I know much about.

The book was interesting and absorbing. Took a while to get into as the writing style was a little odd.

Excellent read.

[Dustincecil · Rating 4 out of 5]

i liked the first book better, as it felt like a fresh intro to the ptols. alexandria... but this incredibly researches book was eye opening for a few more of this family.

amazing that they could hold Egypt for so long,

i loved the crocodiles with jewels! and all the agathokles stuff towards the end... what a total mess!

[Dan (Reader&Writer) · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the worst books I’ve read, almost all the characters are dislikeable, I couldn’t wait for it to end.

[Dayle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really hard going, 2nd in the series and I don't remember the first being like this. Not going to bother with the rest of the series.

[Carlos Miguel Zapata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esta es una novela de narrativa historica que traslada al lector al periodo oscuro, y poco coonocida, de la historia de la antigüa Alejandria y los faraones griegos de Egipto, la dinastia mas extravagante y violenta que jamás haya exixtido, la que se extendio por mas de doce generaciones: desde la muerte de Alejandro Magno hasta la Caida de Cleopatra.

En esta narracion, el autor como los Ptolomeos iniciaron una etapa de decadencia politica, social y cultural , que dió al traste con la esaearicion de los faraones y la cada de Cleopatra por parte de los romanos . Ptolomeo II, (llamado Ptolomeo Filadelfo ( el que ama a su hermana), hijo de Ptolomeo I, Ptolomeo Soter; llega a ser faraon tras la muerte de su padre, se casa con Arsinoe Alfa, con quien tiene un hijo ( Ptolomeo Eurgetes ),; se casa con su hermana Arsinoe Beta despeues de que esta, mediante artimañas y malebolas esrtrategias, haga que su hermano, el faraon, repudie a su esposa desterrandola y renegando de sus hijo, para de esta forma conseguir que Ptolomeo II dejara en sus manos las cuestiones militeres; iniciando asi una cadena de guerras y muertes para mostrar y mantener su poder.

Luego de la muerte de Arsinoe Beta y Ptolomeo II, asciende al trono Ptolomeo Euergetes, (PtolomeoIII), quien se casa con Berenice Cirene, quien estaba dada en casamienqto como acuerdo de paz entre las t,ieras de alejandria y cirenea, la cual vive atormentada por el fantasma de su primer esposo Demetrio Kalos, el cual ella habia asecinado al encontrarlo en el lecho junto a su madre. Ptolomeo III parte hacia Siria a vengar la muerte de su hermana Berenice Sira, en esta campaña conquista todo el imperio sirio.

Despúes ee la muerte de Ptolomeo III, asciende su hijo , quien esta mas interesado en las bebidas y el baile, que en gobernar, dejando sus funciones a cargo de manos aidas de poder, los cuales asesinan a su hermano, casandose este con su hermana mas pequeña Arsinoe Gamma.

Es una Novela muy Amplia que aborda una dinastia poco estudiada en la historia. Esta es la segunda entrega de una saga de Cuatro libros, iniciada por la novela titulada " La Casa del Aguila" (2005). Duncan Sprott, es un autor cuenta historia atraves de las novelas histiricas.

me gusto mucho

[Rob Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume two -- and the last to date -- of the "Ptolemies Quartet" is still a real pleasure, if not as strong as the first entry in the series. Narrated by Seshat, Egyptian Goddess of History and Architecture (and also wife of Thoth, the God who narrated "The Ptolemies: House of the Eagle"), this novel details the lurid history of the Greek Ptolemaic dynasty of Pharaohs from the incestuous marriage of Ptolemy II to his scheming sister Arsinoe Beta through the ignominious reign and death of the fourth Ptolemy, a Pharoah given to cross-dressing, dancing, and drinking. Again we end on something on a cliff hanger as power devolves upon his 6 year old Son Ptolemy V after the failure of a palace coup.

This novel offers plenty of murder, melodrama, back-stabbing, and sex of literally every conceivable variety; it generally makes for entertaining, sometimes even jaw-dropping reading, especially when one remembers the plot is essentially based upon historical fact. Memorable characters abound, particularly the Queens Arsinoe Beta and Berenike Beta, remarkable women who wielded great power and often proved better (and more ruthless) rulers then their husbands.

Sprott's storytelling only falters a bit in a few instances where the historical record is scanty or nonexistant, particularly in the middle section covering the reign of Ptolemy III, where the narration can be repetitive at times. Seshat even apologizes to the reader in a few instances for her lack of certainty/detail, though certainly one must sympathize with the author in tackling such an ambitious story, covering hundreds of years in the years B.C.E., and his powers of invention still generally succeed in extrapolating a vivid story from what little is known.

"Daughter of the Crocodile" was published back in 2006, so we can hope that volume III will be forthcoming shortly; I for one look forward to reading it with great anticipation.

[Wes Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second in a planned quartet of historical novels about the Ptolemies, and like the first one, it was a great read, leaving me wanting the rest of the promised four volumes. Will Mr. Sprott finish volume three at least?

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though it is the second book out of four, and I have not read any of the others, it was not terribly confusing to follow. Great depiction of history in a fictional manor. Thank you Annika!