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Cleo #1
Cleo: Book 1
Her precious mother is dead - and it isn't an accident! The young Cleopatra - Pharaoh's illegitimate daughter - must flee the royal palace at Alexandria or die too. As her evil half-sisters usurp the throne, Cleo finds sanctuary at the sacred temple of Isis, where years later she becomes initiated into the secret Sisters of the Living Knot. But now Isis's power is failing, Egypt is in danger, and Cleo must prove her loyalty to her goddess by returning to the Alexandria she hates. She must seek out the hidden map which is the key to returning Isis's power - on pain of death. But will she be able to evade her horrible sisters? And will she find dreamy Khai, the über-hot Librarian boy she met as she fled Alexandria years before? Cleo's powerful destiny is about to unfold... Gorgeous and evocative, this captivating new YA novel imagines the life of the teenage Cleopatra before she became the icon we think we know.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2015
6 people are currently reading
511 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Coats
64 books49 followersIn 2015 I have 6 upcoming titles, 4 books in the brand-new Beasts of Olympus series from Piccadilly Press (Grosset and Dunlap/Penguin Young Readers in the USA), an early reader called The Little Green Drum from Orion and my first proper YA novel, Cleo, from Orchard. Cleo is a mixture of historical and paranormal, and follows the teenage Cleopatra on her journey to become pharaoh. I'm very excited about it indeed!
I was born in a small village in Hampshire, England. I loved reading from an early age, and was never found without some kind of book in my hand from the time I could turn and page and make sense of what was written there. My first job was as an editor of children's books, but I soon jumped the fence and started writing my own. My first picture book was published in 1992, and now I write for all ages (two to teen). Atticus the Storyteller's 100 Greek Myths was shortlisted for the BBC Blue Peter Book Award in 2004. It is the most comprehensive collection of Greek myths ever written for children. My first novel, Hootcat Hill which was described as “A lyrical fantasy full of old, dark magic entertainingly bound up with ordinary life.” by the Sunday Times.
The book I would take to a desert island is The Lord of the Rings. I've lost count of how many times I've read it, and I am still finding new things to marvel at in it.
I was born in a small village in Hampshire, England. I loved reading from an early age, and was never found without some kind of book in my hand from the time I could turn and page and make sense of what was written there. My first job was as an editor of children's books, but I soon jumped the fence and started writing my own. My first picture book was published in 1992, and now I write for all ages (two to teen). Atticus the Storyteller's 100 Greek Myths was shortlisted for the BBC Blue Peter Book Award in 2004. It is the most comprehensive collection of Greek myths ever written for children. My first novel, Hootcat Hill which was described as “A lyrical fantasy full of old, dark magic entertainingly bound up with ordinary life.” by the Sunday Times.
The book I would take to a desert island is The Lord of the Rings. I've lost count of how many times I've read it, and I am still finding new things to marvel at in it.
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December 10, 2015
Cleo by Lucy Coats DNF at 11%
The language was way too modern for the era that the story takes place in and the story failed to pull me in.
The language was way too modern for the era that the story takes place in and the story failed to pull me in.
July 15, 2015
5 Words: Egypt, gods, royalty, religion, family.
Why couldn't this have been a standalone? It would have been so much more powerful! I feel as if I know just about enough to be content. But no, rather than write one or two chapters more there's going to be a next book! I just want a freaking standalone so I know the story now and don't have to wait :(
This was a bit of a mixed book for me. At times I really enjoyed it. And then at other times Cleo would open her big, nasty mouth and let us know how much she hated her Evil Sow Sisters. This whole book, she calls them pigs. Amongst other names. But mostly pigs. I just wanted to tell her to shut up and be nice, to be the bigger, better person.
I'm not all that good with my knowledge of Ancient Egypt. I know that I studied it in year three or four at school when I was about 8, because I remember going to the museum and seeing the mummy, but honestly? I'm not that knowledgeable. Give me the Romans or Anglo-Saxons any day. But despite that I quite liked this. I liked that I was learning as I read.
But lets get back to Cleo. Because there's one other little thing that annoyed me.
I know she's the Chosen One and all that, but her special-snowflake-ness did get a little tiring and eye roll worthy. I just wanted her to have some other flaw than that insta-love stupidity and her refusal to listen to anyone.
The end was my favourite part of the book, right up until "End of Book One". Because, why? I wanted more! I felt that by the end I could stand Cleo a little better and I actually wanted to know what happened.
A note about the copy:
I had a review copy of this, provided by the publisher via NetGalley and there were a few problems with missing letters. Just about every "f" was missing, usually with the letter before/after so things like lifted became lied. I got used to this pretty quickly, it's a common eARC quirk to have occasional missing letters, but it probably did impact my reading enjoyment as sometimes it could have been lots of different words. And I'm pretty a lot of the names were affected by this too.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
Why couldn't this have been a standalone? It would have been so much more powerful! I feel as if I know just about enough to be content. But no, rather than write one or two chapters more there's going to be a next book! I just want a freaking standalone so I know the story now and don't have to wait :(
This was a bit of a mixed book for me. At times I really enjoyed it. And then at other times Cleo would open her big, nasty mouth and let us know how much she hated her Evil Sow Sisters. This whole book, she calls them pigs. Amongst other names. But mostly pigs. I just wanted to tell her to shut up and be nice, to be the bigger, better person.
I'm not all that good with my knowledge of Ancient Egypt. I know that I studied it in year three or four at school when I was about 8, because I remember going to the museum and seeing the mummy, but honestly? I'm not that knowledgeable. Give me the Romans or Anglo-Saxons any day. But despite that I quite liked this. I liked that I was learning as I read.
But lets get back to Cleo. Because there's one other little thing that annoyed me.
I know she's the Chosen One and all that, but her special-snowflake-ness did get a little tiring and eye roll worthy. I just wanted her to have some other flaw than that insta-love stupidity and her refusal to listen to anyone.
The end was my favourite part of the book, right up until "End of Book One". Because, why? I wanted more! I felt that by the end I could stand Cleo a little better and I actually wanted to know what happened.
A note about the copy:
I had a review copy of this, provided by the publisher via NetGalley and there were a few problems with missing letters. Just about every "f" was missing, usually with the letter before/after so things like lifted became lied. I got used to this pretty quickly, it's a common eARC quirk to have occasional missing letters, but it probably did impact my reading enjoyment as sometimes it could have been lots of different words. And I'm pretty a lot of the names were affected by this too.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
July 17, 2015
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Cleo instantly grabbed me with its cover. I saw, Cleo and Cleopatras face with a cartoonish design and immediately gleamed it was a middle grade historical fiction book. Keeping with my historical fiction frenzy I decided to request it, and I’m so glad I did. Although I have kind of taken a break from my middle grade frenzy these past few months, I do still love the genre (and always will). In fact, reading Cleo has helped me remember why I love middle grade books so much when they’re done well. Cleo definitely did a hard thing, in my opinion. That is in the sense that to I felt like I really was reading a great historical fiction novel…but more importantly, I just felt I was reading a story. A story of Cleopatra and how she had to flee the palace in fear for her life just minutes after her mother was pronounced dead. Talk about exciting!
The pacing of this book was excellent. Pacing has been so important to me lately due to my busy schedule. I don’t really give every book 100 pages to “warm up” to anymore like I used to. If I do it just sits there and collects dust and builds guilt in my stomach for not finishing another book. Which is why I can’t skip the fact that this book had me pretty much glued to my kindle as the events unfolded. Another thing rarely accomplished in middle grade to a seasoned middle grade reader like myself aka old. KEEP ME GUESSING UNTIL THE END.
And boy, did this book do that. Almost infuriatingly so, to be honest. Why do I say infuriating? Well, probably because I thought things would be tied up with a nice big fat bow on the top at the end. NOT SO! There’s not so much a cliffhanger, as a what the heck moment at the end that I seriously did NOT see coming. It makes me so happy though when this happens in MG books though because I always feel like I know what is going to come. Especially with an adventure story such as this.
Then again, Cleo is so much more than just an adventure story. It’s the story of Cleopatra and her best friend/slave and her survival traveling across the land to finally become a priestess of the goddess. There is some magical elements n the book, that are really really freaking cool!! For instance, the gods and goddess can show their favor openly to anyone/everyone. So some random girl can walk into a room and maybe, if she’s in danger or something, a god can show that they favor her by having a brightly lit symbol of said god glow above her! I thought that was really cool. Besides these little nuances, the ancient Egyptian world was extremely close to our own, in history. I felt it was very believable from the historical aspect. In fact, a little too believable [see interview below].
While Cleo can “see” gods / goddesses, it’s not something anyone knows. She hides this vey rare and valuable gift, although it doesn’t really come to play more than in a cursory sense, same as her being favorited by the goddess is more like a burden to be honest, and Cleo doesn’t hold herself above others (much). In case like me you kind of are bored by these heroines/heroes born with special magical powers that just save them from everything while they do literally nothing of accomplishment and at the end reap all benefit and priase. *eye roll* THIS is NOT that type of book.
While there is a love interest, Khai isn’t in a lot of the story until the end. I actually really really liked it because (another tricky feat) it felt like a genuine middle grade love blossoming. It didn’t feel too advanced or too juvenile. It really seemed natural and cute and there were tons of “awww!” moments that I just loved (especially since Khai’s a librarian!!!!)
The “villains” AKA “Evil Sow Sisters” are Cleopatra’s two half sisters who take the throne after her mother passes away (her father, the Pharaoh is in Rome). Those two…wow, what can I say? I’ll keep it short by saying they were excellent villians. They had depth (one more likable than the other), personality, evil geniuses, and I could see why they decided to turn to evil. Sometimes characters are just “evil” for the sake of “evil” and I always think “why? what enticed them to this lifestyle?” I really am anxious to see what happens in the next book with the whole family situation.
Oh did I not mention? THERE IS A SEQUEL. Yes, as I mentioned earlier, the ending really had me surprised. Not only due to the plot twist, but because I had NO idea there was going to be a second book! That kind of bummed me out, because I felt like I was purposefully manipulated. Although, obviously, that is far from the truth! lol. I just didn’t know. So it took me totally off guard and yeah, now I am pretty much in hives dying trying to figure out what will happen with Cleo and Co. in the next book, Chosen!
I really recommend this book. I heard some reviewers saying it didn’t have enough “historical language” and I have to disagree. I’ve read adult historical fiction books with less historically accurate language than Cleo (ahem, MJ Rose, I love you …but..yeah). I never once felt like, oh, are we back in the 21st century now? That is my biggest thing. If the language sucks me out of the time period and morphs me back into my living room glancing at my gadgets like what? Well, then we have a problem with the language. If the language, however, is subtle enough to keep me in the past engrossed fully with the story, characters, setting, plot, and atmosphere. Well, then, that is a success in my eyes. Cleo did that 100% and it was heavenly to get lost in a book again. It’s been awhile.
I recommend this book to those who love historical fantasy books and strong, flawed, female heroines who don’t have an easy way of things. There is strong mythology and the setting is amazing. If you love imagining how Egypt was during the time of the Pharaohs (plus some magic mixed in), then you need to read Cleo!
Cleo instantly grabbed me with its cover. I saw, Cleo and Cleopatras face with a cartoonish design and immediately gleamed it was a middle grade historical fiction book. Keeping with my historical fiction frenzy I decided to request it, and I’m so glad I did. Although I have kind of taken a break from my middle grade frenzy these past few months, I do still love the genre (and always will). In fact, reading Cleo has helped me remember why I love middle grade books so much when they’re done well. Cleo definitely did a hard thing, in my opinion. That is in the sense that to I felt like I really was reading a great historical fiction novel…but more importantly, I just felt I was reading a story. A story of Cleopatra and how she had to flee the palace in fear for her life just minutes after her mother was pronounced dead. Talk about exciting!
The pacing of this book was excellent. Pacing has been so important to me lately due to my busy schedule. I don’t really give every book 100 pages to “warm up” to anymore like I used to. If I do it just sits there and collects dust and builds guilt in my stomach for not finishing another book. Which is why I can’t skip the fact that this book had me pretty much glued to my kindle as the events unfolded. Another thing rarely accomplished in middle grade to a seasoned middle grade reader like myself aka old. KEEP ME GUESSING UNTIL THE END.
And boy, did this book do that. Almost infuriatingly so, to be honest. Why do I say infuriating? Well, probably because I thought things would be tied up with a nice big fat bow on the top at the end. NOT SO! There’s not so much a cliffhanger, as a what the heck moment at the end that I seriously did NOT see coming. It makes me so happy though when this happens in MG books though because I always feel like I know what is going to come. Especially with an adventure story such as this.
Then again, Cleo is so much more than just an adventure story. It’s the story of Cleopatra and her best friend/slave and her survival traveling across the land to finally become a priestess of the goddess. There is some magical elements n the book, that are really really freaking cool!! For instance, the gods and goddess can show their favor openly to anyone/everyone. So some random girl can walk into a room and maybe, if she’s in danger or something, a god can show that they favor her by having a brightly lit symbol of said god glow above her! I thought that was really cool. Besides these little nuances, the ancient Egyptian world was extremely close to our own, in history. I felt it was very believable from the historical aspect. In fact, a little too believable [see interview below].
While Cleo can “see” gods / goddesses, it’s not something anyone knows. She hides this vey rare and valuable gift, although it doesn’t really come to play more than in a cursory sense, same as her being favorited by the goddess is more like a burden to be honest, and Cleo doesn’t hold herself above others (much). In case like me you kind of are bored by these heroines/heroes born with special magical powers that just save them from everything while they do literally nothing of accomplishment and at the end reap all benefit and priase. *eye roll* THIS is NOT that type of book.
While there is a love interest, Khai isn’t in a lot of the story until the end. I actually really really liked it because (another tricky feat) it felt like a genuine middle grade love blossoming. It didn’t feel too advanced or too juvenile. It really seemed natural and cute and there were tons of “awww!” moments that I just loved (especially since Khai’s a librarian!!!!)
The “villains” AKA “Evil Sow Sisters” are Cleopatra’s two half sisters who take the throne after her mother passes away (her father, the Pharaoh is in Rome). Those two…wow, what can I say? I’ll keep it short by saying they were excellent villians. They had depth (one more likable than the other), personality, evil geniuses, and I could see why they decided to turn to evil. Sometimes characters are just “evil” for the sake of “evil” and I always think “why? what enticed them to this lifestyle?” I really am anxious to see what happens in the next book with the whole family situation.
Oh did I not mention? THERE IS A SEQUEL. Yes, as I mentioned earlier, the ending really had me surprised. Not only due to the plot twist, but because I had NO idea there was going to be a second book! That kind of bummed me out, because I felt like I was purposefully manipulated. Although, obviously, that is far from the truth! lol. I just didn’t know. So it took me totally off guard and yeah, now I am pretty much in hives dying trying to figure out what will happen with Cleo and Co. in the next book, Chosen!
I really recommend this book. I heard some reviewers saying it didn’t have enough “historical language” and I have to disagree. I’ve read adult historical fiction books with less historically accurate language than Cleo (ahem, MJ Rose, I love you …but..yeah). I never once felt like, oh, are we back in the 21st century now? That is my biggest thing. If the language sucks me out of the time period and morphs me back into my living room glancing at my gadgets like what? Well, then we have a problem with the language. If the language, however, is subtle enough to keep me in the past engrossed fully with the story, characters, setting, plot, and atmosphere. Well, then, that is a success in my eyes. Cleo did that 100% and it was heavenly to get lost in a book again. It’s been awhile.
I recommend this book to those who love historical fantasy books and strong, flawed, female heroines who don’t have an easy way of things. There is strong mythology and the setting is amazing. If you love imagining how Egypt was during the time of the Pharaohs (plus some magic mixed in), then you need to read Cleo!
February 19, 2015
Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley. (It is a read now option). Please note I DNFed because Cleo's voice made me want to smack her and throw my kindle across the room. I'm also not a teen.
Coats gets credit for using Cleopatra’s relationship or belief in Isis as well as for looking at the question of her mother. There is enough reference in the book to give credence to the belief that Coats knows her history.
However, writing Cleo using the voice of a modern teen really doesn’t work. Despite Cleo’s claims of not being a spoiled brat, this is exactly what she sounds like. Furthermore, there is no sense of place. It really could be the school across the street instead of Ancient Egypt. Furthermore, Cleo is far too modern in her language. She forgets about her mother too quickly. She also is the one everyone hates and wants. True, most the above is a given in much YA (or New Adult) work today, but if you are writing about the great Cleopatra, you don’t really have to resort to it.
I will say, however, if teens love this and it makes them want to know more about the real Cleaopatra, then that is great.
February 9, 2015
I received a free digital copy from the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest feedback.
I wanted to like this book so bad! After all, it's ancient Egypt and it's Cleopatra! Unfortunately, all I could settle for is 2.5 stars.
I want to start off by congratulating the author for such a wonderful idea of retelling Cleo's life. The cover looks awesome and catchy. I also loved all the references to ancient Egypt (and Greece) incorporated in the story - the gods, the pharaoh, even the embalming process! After all, Egyptians are well-known for embalming the dead and mummification. That list located at the end was helpful because Egyptians names and terms weren't easy to remember.
The characters were a different story. Maybe they were destined to be interesting characters but there was nothing striking about them that would make them unforgettable. Cleo was a bit whiny. Yes, she put a lot of trust into the goddess Iris through her silent pleas for help, she was stubborn and childish. She claimed that she wanted to serve Iris, but when told of what was expected of her, she wasn't willing. I did like the portrayals of loyalty. It was a very admirable trait for those who wanted to protect Cleo.
The major hurdle for me was the copy I received. It somehow omitted some letters, e.g. finger became nger, the was e, left was ft, and it was harder to read! I would have given up at some point but decided against it since the book deserved a chance and it wasn't the author's fault. I hope this gets fixed.
I wanted to like this book so bad! After all, it's ancient Egypt and it's Cleopatra! Unfortunately, all I could settle for is 2.5 stars.
I want to start off by congratulating the author for such a wonderful idea of retelling Cleo's life. The cover looks awesome and catchy. I also loved all the references to ancient Egypt (and Greece) incorporated in the story - the gods, the pharaoh, even the embalming process! After all, Egyptians are well-known for embalming the dead and mummification. That list located at the end was helpful because Egyptians names and terms weren't easy to remember.
The characters were a different story. Maybe they were destined to be interesting characters but there was nothing striking about them that would make them unforgettable. Cleo was a bit whiny. Yes, she put a lot of trust into the goddess Iris through her silent pleas for help, she was stubborn and childish. She claimed that she wanted to serve Iris, but when told of what was expected of her, she wasn't willing. I did like the portrayals of loyalty. It was a very admirable trait for those who wanted to protect Cleo.
The major hurdle for me was the copy I received. It somehow omitted some letters, e.g. finger became nger, the was e, left was ft, and it was harder to read! I would have given up at some point but decided against it since the book deserved a chance and it wasn't the author's fault. I hope this gets fixed.
February 19, 2015
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review*
Cleo had a really interesting premise. Who doesn’t want to read a story about one of history’s greatest figures before she became the icon we all know and admire? That said Cleo missed the mark completely. It seemed that Coats was trying too hard to lend intrigue, excitement, and romance to a story that is sorely lacking in other areas.
When we first meet Cleo she is twelve years old and her mother has just died. At no point during her funeral did I feel any remorse as a reader. Cleo’s voice is juvenile at best, which I was willing to forgive when she was only twelve but when the novel jumps four years into the future and her voice showed no maturity I was frustrated.
None of the characters, Cleopatra included, were developed beyond their names. Everybody was one-dimensional which is more than okay in a children’s book when you want to teach the difference between right and wrong but it’s almost insulting to the reader in a YA novel. The best stories are those that show the shades of grey and Cleo did none of that.
The language was also stifled. I understand that this is supposed to be ancient Egypt but the language is much too modern. I don’t believe that Cleopatra would refer to anyone as “Captain Cautious”. When Cleo did switch languages it sounded as though she had taken a really terrible Shakespeare class and it became a distraction from what she was actually trying to say. There were also far too many similes in the text that it became laughable. I don’t need something compared to a camel’s ass or a scarab beetle fifty times over to remind me that I am reading about Egypt.
The inclusion of the gods could have been interesting but it was not handled well and read more like a bad horror movie. The supernatural element of this novel could have been scratched completely and the story would still stand on its own.
When I got to the end of the book and realized that this is just the first in possibly two or three books I was shocked. This book alone could have been divided into three separate books with more time being taken with each stage in Cleo’s life.
In conclusion I would not recommend this book AT ALL. The romance was forced, I felt for none of the characters, and when Cleo suddenly had the power to SPOILER fly out of her body and talk to people telepathically END OF SPOILER I was afraid my eyes would roll right out of my head.
Cleo had a really interesting premise. Who doesn’t want to read a story about one of history’s greatest figures before she became the icon we all know and admire? That said Cleo missed the mark completely. It seemed that Coats was trying too hard to lend intrigue, excitement, and romance to a story that is sorely lacking in other areas.
When we first meet Cleo she is twelve years old and her mother has just died. At no point during her funeral did I feel any remorse as a reader. Cleo’s voice is juvenile at best, which I was willing to forgive when she was only twelve but when the novel jumps four years into the future and her voice showed no maturity I was frustrated.
None of the characters, Cleopatra included, were developed beyond their names. Everybody was one-dimensional which is more than okay in a children’s book when you want to teach the difference between right and wrong but it’s almost insulting to the reader in a YA novel. The best stories are those that show the shades of grey and Cleo did none of that.
The language was also stifled. I understand that this is supposed to be ancient Egypt but the language is much too modern. I don’t believe that Cleopatra would refer to anyone as “Captain Cautious”. When Cleo did switch languages it sounded as though she had taken a really terrible Shakespeare class and it became a distraction from what she was actually trying to say. There were also far too many similes in the text that it became laughable. I don’t need something compared to a camel’s ass or a scarab beetle fifty times over to remind me that I am reading about Egypt.
The inclusion of the gods could have been interesting but it was not handled well and read more like a bad horror movie. The supernatural element of this novel could have been scratched completely and the story would still stand on its own.
When I got to the end of the book and realized that this is just the first in possibly two or three books I was shocked. This book alone could have been divided into three separate books with more time being taken with each stage in Cleo’s life.
In conclusion I would not recommend this book AT ALL. The romance was forced, I felt for none of the characters, and when Cleo suddenly had the power to SPOILER fly out of her body and talk to people telepathically END OF SPOILER I was afraid my eyes would roll right out of my head.
August 19, 2015
This book was boring. It was just - there wasn't anything about the characters, the writing or the plot that really captured my attention.
I originally wanted to read it because of the cover - which is beautiful - and because I never read anything about ancient Egypt or any sort of retelling of Cleopatra's life. Though I have to say, this book did spark my interest to research more about these subjects, because I don't think everything was told in the best way ot could have been.
I didn't really get a feel for the place and time period - the ambiance just wasn't there. This could have been a story set in a modern day high school and not much would change. There isn't much description of settings and the characters don't really feel different than modern people. I'm not sure I' explaining this right - but that's how it is.
Regarding Cleo, the main character: she was just such an annoying brat. She wanted everything done her way or she would just scream about it. She also did a lot of stupid things and didn't really seemed like she deseverd all the credit that was given to her. I did not find her very sympathetic or real at all.
The plot was slow and boring and I didn't really care about how things would turn out. It could have been made more interesting if the writing style had been more appealing, but it was just flat. For a story told in ancient Egypt with lots of references to gods and goddesses actually existing and directly influencing people's lives - there just wasn't any magic.
*to top it off - this isn't even a stand alone, well rounded story. There might be more books, but I don't think I'll be reading those...
I originally wanted to read it because of the cover - which is beautiful - and because I never read anything about ancient Egypt or any sort of retelling of Cleopatra's life. Though I have to say, this book did spark my interest to research more about these subjects, because I don't think everything was told in the best way ot could have been.
I didn't really get a feel for the place and time period - the ambiance just wasn't there. This could have been a story set in a modern day high school and not much would change. There isn't much description of settings and the characters don't really feel different than modern people. I'm not sure I' explaining this right - but that's how it is.
Regarding Cleo, the main character: she was just such an annoying brat. She wanted everything done her way or she would just scream about it. She also did a lot of stupid things and didn't really seemed like she deseverd all the credit that was given to her. I did not find her very sympathetic or real at all.
The plot was slow and boring and I didn't really care about how things would turn out. It could have been made more interesting if the writing style had been more appealing, but it was just flat. For a story told in ancient Egypt with lots of references to gods and goddesses actually existing and directly influencing people's lives - there just wasn't any magic.
*to top it off - this isn't even a stand alone, well rounded story. There might be more books, but I don't think I'll be reading those...
April 15, 2015
DNF at 10 %.
No, I can't do this anymore. I have barely read thirty pages, but I think I've had enough. I hate to say it, but this book is badly written. I just couldn't get my head wrapped around the amateurish writing. It was full of exaggerations and did not deliver the overall feel of the beautiful ancient Egyptian empire. I'm very sensitive when it comes to Egyptian mythology and history novels, and I don't like it when a book does not do both of them justice.
Cleopatra herself was the most typical young-adult protagonist you'd ever encounter. I expected to see a queen who fights for what she wants, not a weak girl who lets people walk on her and is a bitch all the way through. I also didn't like how she was modernized. Some historical figures are in my opinion better left with a voice that suits their time period.
A few pages later, I encountered many YA clichés, other flat characters and mistakes in the ebook. Some letters were omitted and formed quite the weird words. This happened several times on a single page. It resulted in another reason why I chose to not continue in Lucy Coat's Cleo, despite the amazing premise and a story I thought I'd like.
No, I can't do this anymore. I have barely read thirty pages, but I think I've had enough. I hate to say it, but this book is badly written. I just couldn't get my head wrapped around the amateurish writing. It was full of exaggerations and did not deliver the overall feel of the beautiful ancient Egyptian empire. I'm very sensitive when it comes to Egyptian mythology and history novels, and I don't like it when a book does not do both of them justice.
Cleopatra herself was the most typical young-adult protagonist you'd ever encounter. I expected to see a queen who fights for what she wants, not a weak girl who lets people walk on her and is a bitch all the way through. I also didn't like how she was modernized. Some historical figures are in my opinion better left with a voice that suits their time period.
A few pages later, I encountered many YA clichés, other flat characters and mistakes in the ebook. Some letters were omitted and formed quite the weird words. This happened several times on a single page. It resulted in another reason why I chose to not continue in Lucy Coat's Cleo, despite the amazing premise and a story I thought I'd like.
May 11, 2015
When I first heard about Cleo by Lucy Coats, I was really excited. The idea of a book telling the adventures of a young Cleopatra? That's pretty exciting. And I think there is a lot of possibility in this idea as well, especially as very little is known of young Cleopatra's life.
It took me awhile but once I worked out where things were different to my expectations, and to separate my expectations from this book, I was able to enjoy it a lot more. This book's main character, Cleo, is a young Egyptian royal growing up in the Pharaoh's court. Her voice and character and whole demeanor isn't quite what I had in mind for a young Cleopatra. Teenage Cleo in this book is a little bit whingey and sulky and she drags her feet a little bit with the tasks she has been assigned. She seems a rather reluctant hero but I think this was mostly to balance out the 'chosen one' pressure that surrounds Cleo. I also had problems with the fact that book is set in a particular time period and yet feels like the main character is very modern in the way that she speaks. She isn't quite the person I imagine her, in my head, to be because I'm stuck on her being a young Cleopatra but this Cleo is years from being the grown-up, put-together woman from history. And that's okay.
I quite liked Cleo. We begin this story with a big loss: Cleo's mother dies at the beginning and that puts Cleo into a very vulnerable position with her sisters who are set on taking over as joint Pharaohs and Cleo knows that she must survive. In order to do so, her and her body slave (and best friend) Charm flee to another part of Egypt and take up in a Temple of Isis before returning many years later to do Isis' will.
One of the major themes running throughout Cleo is the idea of faith and a belief in gods and goddesses of this time period. I really enjoyed Cleo's questioning of her faith and of this religion and the ways in which this plays a huge part in her life. I think religion plays a part in many young people's lives and it is quite interesting to see it fully explored in this book.
At its heart, I think of Cleo as an action adventure story. Cleo is tasked with retrieving an artifact in order to restore the goddess Isis as a major presence in Egypt and to restore the balance of power and goodness in the Pharaoh's court. Cleo does this in opposition to her two Evil sisters and under great danger. But she does have the support of her best friend, Charm, some loyal guards and the help of super-spy and hot Librarian boy, Khai. While Cleo and Khai's relationship is slightly in the insta-love domain, I loved that he is a librarian and has a great love of books. It's always nice to see two people falling in love over a shared love of books. And I also really liked Cleo and Charm's relationship. Theirs is a relationship that I fully felt invested in throughout the story and I'd love to see more of them in future books in this series.
While I did have some issues with this book, I also really enjoyed it. I flew threw it pretty quickly and not only did I want to know more about Cleo's story, I also wanted to know more about the actual Cleopatra and also the environment and situations that she might have faced in her actual life. Cleo was a fun book!
It took me awhile but once I worked out where things were different to my expectations, and to separate my expectations from this book, I was able to enjoy it a lot more. This book's main character, Cleo, is a young Egyptian royal growing up in the Pharaoh's court. Her voice and character and whole demeanor isn't quite what I had in mind for a young Cleopatra. Teenage Cleo in this book is a little bit whingey and sulky and she drags her feet a little bit with the tasks she has been assigned. She seems a rather reluctant hero but I think this was mostly to balance out the 'chosen one' pressure that surrounds Cleo. I also had problems with the fact that book is set in a particular time period and yet feels like the main character is very modern in the way that she speaks. She isn't quite the person I imagine her, in my head, to be because I'm stuck on her being a young Cleopatra but this Cleo is years from being the grown-up, put-together woman from history. And that's okay.
I quite liked Cleo. We begin this story with a big loss: Cleo's mother dies at the beginning and that puts Cleo into a very vulnerable position with her sisters who are set on taking over as joint Pharaohs and Cleo knows that she must survive. In order to do so, her and her body slave (and best friend) Charm flee to another part of Egypt and take up in a Temple of Isis before returning many years later to do Isis' will.
One of the major themes running throughout Cleo is the idea of faith and a belief in gods and goddesses of this time period. I really enjoyed Cleo's questioning of her faith and of this religion and the ways in which this plays a huge part in her life. I think religion plays a part in many young people's lives and it is quite interesting to see it fully explored in this book.
At its heart, I think of Cleo as an action adventure story. Cleo is tasked with retrieving an artifact in order to restore the goddess Isis as a major presence in Egypt and to restore the balance of power and goodness in the Pharaoh's court. Cleo does this in opposition to her two Evil sisters and under great danger. But she does have the support of her best friend, Charm, some loyal guards and the help of super-spy and hot Librarian boy, Khai. While Cleo and Khai's relationship is slightly in the insta-love domain, I loved that he is a librarian and has a great love of books. It's always nice to see two people falling in love over a shared love of books. And I also really liked Cleo and Charm's relationship. Theirs is a relationship that I fully felt invested in throughout the story and I'd love to see more of them in future books in this series.
While I did have some issues with this book, I also really enjoyed it. I flew threw it pretty quickly and not only did I want to know more about Cleo's story, I also wanted to know more about the actual Cleopatra and also the environment and situations that she might have faced in her actual life. Cleo was a fun book!
February 25, 2015
Recommend: Fans of ancient Egypt who can persist through a shaky start.
Firstly, I am grateful for the review copy, but it contained missing letter pairs. I’ll try and not let it affect my review.
At the start, I didn’t like it very much. I thought Cleo was a bit of a whiner, the scene was poorly set, and although a lot of Egyptian terms were dropped in here and there, it didn’t feel like the characters were in Egypt. At the start, sometimes the narrative became very general, sweeping over details like a diary extract. The evil sisters also begin rather one dimensional, ‘bad because they’re evil and want to rule’ and might as well have been the same person.
It got better. The plot spices up. Cleo is under constant threat and those closest to her are far from safe. Her relationship with Charm, her slave, also made me warm up to her over time. Even the one dimensional badies developed a little and started to separate out. And without the setting jumping around so much, the Egyptian charm came through.
Most of all, I felt that Cleo grew as a character. She stops asking ‘why’ and starts taking action. The scenes where she faces her sisters in political power struggles were among my favourite in the book, as we got to see Cleo take a few risks and stand up against evil. Some parts reminded me of the House of Night series, especially when Cleo asks for her goddess, Isis, to help in times of need. I hope that as the series goes on, Cleo will depends less and less on her Goddess and will learn to just act her will.
There’s something about the writing that feels very weak in places. Even for a review copy, there was a lot of word repetition, (for example, prostrate, soft, and fingers drove me insane), and yet other times Coats displays originality and flare.
My main issue was that, whilst a lot of the descriptions are colourful and creative, not much care has been put into the setting. This is an Egyptian tale and I wanted to feel like I was in the middle of a great Egyptian palace, and it just didn’t feel like that. However, it's clear that the author knows her stuff, and I enjoyed the references to the gods and symbolism. The info in the back was great to sift through, and I'm glad it was extra detail rather than necessary information needed in order to understand the story.
For a début author, this is alright. Not bad. The thought of hearing about teen Cleopatra is such a great concept that it might have set up false expectations of the book. I still enjoyed it.
Available: May
Source: NetGalley.com
Blog:ScookieReviews
Firstly, I am grateful for the review copy, but it contained missing letter pairs. I’ll try and not let it affect my review.
At the start, I didn’t like it very much. I thought Cleo was a bit of a whiner, the scene was poorly set, and although a lot of Egyptian terms were dropped in here and there, it didn’t feel like the characters were in Egypt. At the start, sometimes the narrative became very general, sweeping over details like a diary extract. The evil sisters also begin rather one dimensional, ‘bad because they’re evil and want to rule’ and might as well have been the same person.
It got better. The plot spices up. Cleo is under constant threat and those closest to her are far from safe. Her relationship with Charm, her slave, also made me warm up to her over time. Even the one dimensional badies developed a little and started to separate out. And without the setting jumping around so much, the Egyptian charm came through.
Most of all, I felt that Cleo grew as a character. She stops asking ‘why’ and starts taking action. The scenes where she faces her sisters in political power struggles were among my favourite in the book, as we got to see Cleo take a few risks and stand up against evil. Some parts reminded me of the House of Night series, especially when Cleo asks for her goddess, Isis, to help in times of need. I hope that as the series goes on, Cleo will depends less and less on her Goddess and will learn to just act her will.
There’s something about the writing that feels very weak in places. Even for a review copy, there was a lot of word repetition, (for example, prostrate, soft, and fingers drove me insane), and yet other times Coats displays originality and flare.
My main issue was that, whilst a lot of the descriptions are colourful and creative, not much care has been put into the setting. This is an Egyptian tale and I wanted to feel like I was in the middle of a great Egyptian palace, and it just didn’t feel like that. However, it's clear that the author knows her stuff, and I enjoyed the references to the gods and symbolism. The info in the back was great to sift through, and I'm glad it was extra detail rather than necessary information needed in order to understand the story.
For a début author, this is alright. Not bad. The thought of hearing about teen Cleopatra is such a great concept that it might have set up false expectations of the book. I still enjoyed it.
Available: May
Source: NetGalley.com
Blog:ScookieReviews
April 23, 2015
I received a copy of Cleo in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Hachette Children’s Books and Netgalley. A copy of this review is also on my blog: www.bookblogbird.weebly.com
Cleo tells the story of the young Cleopatra. Yes, that Cleopatra. Her father, the Pharoah, has just fled Egypt and her mother has been murdered. Fleeing for her life, Cleo takes refuge in a sacred temple of Isis, a goddess of whom Cleo is the Chosen representative, but as time passes Isis’s power wanes and Cleo is forced to return to Alexandria.
Lucy Coats has obviously done her research into this topic. Just Wikipedia-ing Cleopatra show that so much of what we know about Egypt during this period is open for interpretation and I think Coats did a good job of using the facts we know and building a back story from them. I especially enjoyed the detail she included about the gods and life in Egypt.
The plot moves quite slowly and there’s a lot of description but there was still enough going on to keep me interested, especially in the political manoeuvring between Cleo and her sisters. The romance between Cleo and Khai was very sweet and didn’t overwhelm the rest of the story. Khai was an okay character - he was nice enough but at times it did feel like he was just inserted to provide romantic interest. I actually preferred the relationship between Cleo and Charm - it was very sweet and gave a lot of depth to Cleo’s personality.
I liked Cleo’s voice in this book. She was very relatable and yeah, I know that she wouldn’t have used phrases like ‘boy toy’ and so on, but guess what? She wouldn’t have used any of the words in this book, because she spoke Ancient Greek, not Modern English, so I think it’s okay that Coats used a bit of poetic licence. She made some odd choices at times, like risking everything by kissing her boyfriend where they could be seen, but on the whole I liked her. She did, however, come across as a bit docile. I didn’t really connect the Cleo in this book to the Cleopatra who was a powerful ruler and who seduced Mark Anthony and Julius Caesar.
Also, Cleo being the Chosen of Isis became a little bit off-putting after a while. It seemed like every time she was in a sticky situation, Isis would send a sign, like a flock of ibis, and everything would be okay. Cleo was an intelligent girl, so I’d have liked to have seen her use her brains to get out of difficult situations, rather than relying on a deus ex machina.
All in all, I thought Cleo was an okay book. It didn’t knock my socks off, but it was a nice enough read.
Cleo tells the story of the young Cleopatra. Yes, that Cleopatra. Her father, the Pharoah, has just fled Egypt and her mother has been murdered. Fleeing for her life, Cleo takes refuge in a sacred temple of Isis, a goddess of whom Cleo is the Chosen representative, but as time passes Isis’s power wanes and Cleo is forced to return to Alexandria.
Lucy Coats has obviously done her research into this topic. Just Wikipedia-ing Cleopatra show that so much of what we know about Egypt during this period is open for interpretation and I think Coats did a good job of using the facts we know and building a back story from them. I especially enjoyed the detail she included about the gods and life in Egypt.
The plot moves quite slowly and there’s a lot of description but there was still enough going on to keep me interested, especially in the political manoeuvring between Cleo and her sisters. The romance between Cleo and Khai was very sweet and didn’t overwhelm the rest of the story. Khai was an okay character - he was nice enough but at times it did feel like he was just inserted to provide romantic interest. I actually preferred the relationship between Cleo and Charm - it was very sweet and gave a lot of depth to Cleo’s personality.
I liked Cleo’s voice in this book. She was very relatable and yeah, I know that she wouldn’t have used phrases like ‘boy toy’ and so on, but guess what? She wouldn’t have used any of the words in this book, because she spoke Ancient Greek, not Modern English, so I think it’s okay that Coats used a bit of poetic licence. She made some odd choices at times, like risking everything by kissing her boyfriend where they could be seen, but on the whole I liked her. She did, however, come across as a bit docile. I didn’t really connect the Cleo in this book to the Cleopatra who was a powerful ruler and who seduced Mark Anthony and Julius Caesar.
Also, Cleo being the Chosen of Isis became a little bit off-putting after a while. It seemed like every time she was in a sticky situation, Isis would send a sign, like a flock of ibis, and everything would be okay. Cleo was an intelligent girl, so I’d have liked to have seen her use her brains to get out of difficult situations, rather than relying on a deus ex machina.
All in all, I thought Cleo was an okay book. It didn’t knock my socks off, but it was a nice enough read.
December 31, 2015
I received an advance copy of this novel through NetGalley in Exchange for an honest review.
I am so disappointed. The story could have been such a blast, with a teenage Cleopatra, powerful gods and a plot to take over Egypt. Instead, we have the most petulant child there is. Obnoxious much?
Cleo is a selfish, egocentric teenager who wants to get what she wants. After the death of her mother and her flight to Philae, she suddenly decides she wants to be the youngest priestess of Isis there is. Of course, when she does accomplish this, she doesn't want to do anything a priestess is meant to do. She says she is the chosen (and marked! Always Chosen and Marked!) of Isis, but then kicks and screams when she's asked to actually do anything. "I won't do it, you can't make me!" is a common sentence. Let's remember she's 16.
Her obsession with a man she had only a few times before was unhealthy and inexplicable. Khai's only attribute is that he is a hottie. She spends years fantasizing about him ("And doing... well, that." I'm not kidding, that line is used three or four times. We get you have needs, Cleo. You don't have to try to make it subtle. You don't know how to make it subtle.) and then freaks out when she discovers he's her step sister's boy toy. But of course he hasn't stopped dreaming about her either. Her need for him makes no sense, and gets both of them in trouble so, so many times. Keep it in your pants, sister!
Imagine you're a 16 year old, blessed by a goddess who actually stands by you, responds to pretty much every one of your prayers, sending sings in the air and visions to your allies. Sounds like a good gig. Honestly, this book would have been done in half the time if only Cleo had kept her ego down and listened to those around her.
The ending stretches out, then stops. Yup, you have to read the next one if you want to find out what happens next! Lovely. This book could have been so much better if it had been condensed and sold as a standalone novel.
I am so disappointed. The story could have been such a blast, with a teenage Cleopatra, powerful gods and a plot to take over Egypt. Instead, we have the most petulant child there is. Obnoxious much?
Cleo is a selfish, egocentric teenager who wants to get what she wants. After the death of her mother and her flight to Philae, she suddenly decides she wants to be the youngest priestess of Isis there is. Of course, when she does accomplish this, she doesn't want to do anything a priestess is meant to do. She says she is the chosen (and marked! Always Chosen and Marked!) of Isis, but then kicks and screams when she's asked to actually do anything. "I won't do it, you can't make me!" is a common sentence. Let's remember she's 16.
Her obsession with a man she had only a few times before was unhealthy and inexplicable. Khai's only attribute is that he is a hottie. She spends years fantasizing about him ("And doing... well, that." I'm not kidding, that line is used three or four times. We get you have needs, Cleo. You don't have to try to make it subtle. You don't know how to make it subtle.) and then freaks out when she discovers he's her step sister's boy toy. But of course he hasn't stopped dreaming about her either. Her need for him makes no sense, and gets both of them in trouble so, so many times. Keep it in your pants, sister!
Imagine you're a 16 year old, blessed by a goddess who actually stands by you, responds to pretty much every one of your prayers, sending sings in the air and visions to your allies. Sounds like a good gig. Honestly, this book would have been done in half the time if only Cleo had kept her ego down and listened to those around her.
The ending stretches out, then stops. Yup, you have to read the next one if you want to find out what happens next! Lovely. This book could have been so much better if it had been condensed and sold as a standalone novel.
February 20, 2016
I wanted to love it but in just couldn't connect with it.
I actually hated cleo as a character. Was like a modern day chav in ancient egyptian setting which just didn't work mostly because I know I couldn't give it to one of my students without worrying that they'd get huge misconceptions.
Good idea executed so poorly
I actually hated cleo as a character. Was like a modern day chav in ancient egyptian setting which just didn't work mostly because I know I couldn't give it to one of my students without worrying that they'd get huge misconceptions.
Good idea executed so poorly
December 23, 2018
Full review to come!
July 23, 2023
Babes why did you have to leave me hanging like that?? 😭
July 7, 2015
IT CAN'T END LIKE THIS! I NEED PART 2 NOW!!!
Review:
I'm finally getting through my TBR-pile and trust me readers, this one is a goodie! I got Cleo by Lucy Coats originally from Netgalley, but the file was almost unreadable. Luckily, Lucy is one of the nicest authors I know and send me a gorgeous paperback version of the book in a customised Cleo envelope! Of course, I'm super grateful for her kindness, but it doesn't influence my review in any way.
CLEO
Now I've been looking at the Goodreads page of this book a little bit and saw lots of comments about the maturity of Cleo. The maturity of YA narrators is something I always focus on and when a 16 year old acts 14 (in Goose for example) or acts older (the reason why I hated Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe), I immediately dislike the book.
However, I do not agree with all the other Goodreads reviews: I liked Cleo's maturity. Is she bratty, naive and demanding? Yes, she is, but then again she's also a Pharaoh's daughter who always, even when she flees the castle, has people doing her every beckoning. Being raised like that would make anyone bratty and demanding and her lack of experience completely explains her naive nature in my eyes. I will say that if you want a sarcastic, cynical Cleopatra that has maturity beyond her age, especially because she's so special, you're better off picking up another historical novel about Cleopatra.
FANTASY ELEMENTS
When I talked to Lucy, she told me she loved the Grave Mercy series and reading this book I can definitely see the influences. (Lucy just informed me that she read GM AFTER writing Cleo! So I guess it's just not influence but just a very happy coincidence!) Cleo is clearly mostly a historical fiction book, with the emphasis on Cleopatra's youth and her life in Egypt. However that's not the only thing in this book; Cleo can communicate with the Gods. With communicating I don't mean Percy Jackson-style communication with the Gods, but more visions and voices inside Cleo's head. This adds an element of originality to the story which means that even hardcore Egyptian history lovers can be surprised by this book.
The only small downside to the fantasy elements, and to the book overall for me, was the role it plays in the love story. Cleo sees a boy named Khai right before she flees the palace. She doesn't see him for four years, yet she has these dreams in which she can communicate with him. This seemed odd to me and her extreme fixation on these dreams and Khai annoyed me. She's the chosen one, she has to save Egypt, I'm sure she could think of more important things than a boy (but then again, she's a teenager so maybe she can't).
RATING
This book is a solid four out of five stars for me. Besides my annoyance with the paranormal romance, this story was nearly flawless. Cleo was a realistic royal teenager and I loved seeing her grow throughout the story. I think this book is a great read for anyone who enjoys Grave Mercy or the Percy Jackson books.
Review:
I'm finally getting through my TBR-pile and trust me readers, this one is a goodie! I got Cleo by Lucy Coats originally from Netgalley, but the file was almost unreadable. Luckily, Lucy is one of the nicest authors I know and send me a gorgeous paperback version of the book in a customised Cleo envelope! Of course, I'm super grateful for her kindness, but it doesn't influence my review in any way.
CLEO
Now I've been looking at the Goodreads page of this book a little bit and saw lots of comments about the maturity of Cleo. The maturity of YA narrators is something I always focus on and when a 16 year old acts 14 (in Goose for example) or acts older (the reason why I hated Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe), I immediately dislike the book.
However, I do not agree with all the other Goodreads reviews: I liked Cleo's maturity. Is she bratty, naive and demanding? Yes, she is, but then again she's also a Pharaoh's daughter who always, even when she flees the castle, has people doing her every beckoning. Being raised like that would make anyone bratty and demanding and her lack of experience completely explains her naive nature in my eyes. I will say that if you want a sarcastic, cynical Cleopatra that has maturity beyond her age, especially because she's so special, you're better off picking up another historical novel about Cleopatra.
FANTASY ELEMENTS
When I talked to Lucy, she told me she loved the Grave Mercy series and reading this book I can definitely see the influences. (Lucy just informed me that she read GM AFTER writing Cleo! So I guess it's just not influence but just a very happy coincidence!) Cleo is clearly mostly a historical fiction book, with the emphasis on Cleopatra's youth and her life in Egypt. However that's not the only thing in this book; Cleo can communicate with the Gods. With communicating I don't mean Percy Jackson-style communication with the Gods, but more visions and voices inside Cleo's head. This adds an element of originality to the story which means that even hardcore Egyptian history lovers can be surprised by this book.
The only small downside to the fantasy elements, and to the book overall for me, was the role it plays in the love story. Cleo sees a boy named Khai right before she flees the palace. She doesn't see him for four years, yet she has these dreams in which she can communicate with him. This seemed odd to me and her extreme fixation on these dreams and Khai annoyed me. She's the chosen one, she has to save Egypt, I'm sure she could think of more important things than a boy (but then again, she's a teenager so maybe she can't).
RATING
This book is a solid four out of five stars for me. Besides my annoyance with the paranormal romance, this story was nearly flawless. Cleo was a realistic royal teenager and I loved seeing her grow throughout the story. I think this book is a great read for anyone who enjoys Grave Mercy or the Percy Jackson books.
December 31, 2015
Also reviewed on Sophie Reads YA
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This is no way impacted in my view.
When I first saw this book on NetGalley, I was really intrigued. As you may know, I'm a Ancient History and History student, and this time period (late 1st century BC) is right in there as one of my favourite eras. Cleopatra has always fascinated me, though all I'd really known was from a Roman perspective, vis a vis her involvement with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, to the Battle of Actium in 31 BC. To read about a child Cleopatra was just an opportunity I couldn't miss, especially when it was available as a 'Read Now' option.
Not much is known about Cleopatra before she became Pharaoh, as Coats says in her Author's note. I felt as if what was in this book was a reasonable amount of fiction to fact, though a tad clichéd at times. I really enjoyed the mythical aspects of the novel, such as the Cult of Isis and how Cleo could interact and actually see the gods. All of the characters were rememberable, in their own little ways, especially Berenice and Tryphena, who definitely lived up to their 'Evil Sow Sisters' moniker. Out of these two, Berenice was definitely the most evil one, as Tryphena somewhat redeemed herself towards the end of book.
One thing that I felt really let this book down was Cleo herself. I understand that she suffered a great lot throughout her entire life, and the events of the beginning of the novel show that it wasn't just whilst she was Pharaoh. However, she was a bit too 'whiny' for me. The romance between herself and Khai felt like a case of 'insta-love', though it was written off as such due to the dreams they'd both been having.
I'd initially thought that Cleo was a stand alone novel, but I'm guessing with the ending it isn't, though I haven't seen anything either proving or disproving this. If it is stand alone, then it was left very open-endedly, and left more questions than it answered. Personally, I'm hoping for more instalments, as, although I didn't love it, it was definitely enjoyable, and a nice read to relax between stressful exam revision.
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This is no way impacted in my view.
When I first saw this book on NetGalley, I was really intrigued. As you may know, I'm a Ancient History and History student, and this time period (late 1st century BC) is right in there as one of my favourite eras. Cleopatra has always fascinated me, though all I'd really known was from a Roman perspective, vis a vis her involvement with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, to the Battle of Actium in 31 BC. To read about a child Cleopatra was just an opportunity I couldn't miss, especially when it was available as a 'Read Now' option.
Not much is known about Cleopatra before she became Pharaoh, as Coats says in her Author's note. I felt as if what was in this book was a reasonable amount of fiction to fact, though a tad clichéd at times. I really enjoyed the mythical aspects of the novel, such as the Cult of Isis and how Cleo could interact and actually see the gods. All of the characters were rememberable, in their own little ways, especially Berenice and Tryphena, who definitely lived up to their 'Evil Sow Sisters' moniker. Out of these two, Berenice was definitely the most evil one, as Tryphena somewhat redeemed herself towards the end of book.
One thing that I felt really let this book down was Cleo herself. I understand that she suffered a great lot throughout her entire life, and the events of the beginning of the novel show that it wasn't just whilst she was Pharaoh. However, she was a bit too 'whiny' for me. The romance between herself and Khai felt like a case of 'insta-love', though it was written off as such due to the dreams they'd both been having.
I'd initially thought that Cleo was a stand alone novel, but I'm guessing with the ending it isn't, though I haven't seen anything either proving or disproving this. If it is stand alone, then it was left very open-endedly, and left more questions than it answered. Personally, I'm hoping for more instalments, as, although I didn't love it, it was definitely enjoyable, and a nice read to relax between stressful exam revision.
February 21, 2015
Cleo is a fresh take on an old legend.
After her mother dies Cleopatra is forced to flee before she is killed by her evil step-sisters. With the help of her body servant, and best friend, Charmian (Charm) Cleopatra flee far from Alexandria to the Temple of Isis in Philae. It is her time here that shows that she is chosen by Isis to save Egypt and teaches her the path she needs to take. This dangerous path will lead her back to Alexandria to take on her sisters and the evil gods gaining more and more power over Egypt.
I couldn't stop reading this book! I was intrigued because of it's mix of history and mythology. I've taught both subjects for the past six years and am always looking for new materials to help students get into mythology. This book is a GREAT tool to help here! The story is engaging and I loved the way Lucy Coats interwined gods and goddesses the daily fabric of life in Ancient Egypt. This was the first book by Coats I have read and I am very impressed. I will be adding this book to my classroom library and look forward to the next book in this series!
Note: I received a free digital copy from the author/publisher in exchange for honest feedback.
After her mother dies Cleopatra is forced to flee before she is killed by her evil step-sisters. With the help of her body servant, and best friend, Charmian (Charm) Cleopatra flee far from Alexandria to the Temple of Isis in Philae. It is her time here that shows that she is chosen by Isis to save Egypt and teaches her the path she needs to take. This dangerous path will lead her back to Alexandria to take on her sisters and the evil gods gaining more and more power over Egypt.
I couldn't stop reading this book! I was intrigued because of it's mix of history and mythology. I've taught both subjects for the past six years and am always looking for new materials to help students get into mythology. This book is a GREAT tool to help here! The story is engaging and I loved the way Lucy Coats interwined gods and goddesses the daily fabric of life in Ancient Egypt. This was the first book by Coats I have read and I am very impressed. I will be adding this book to my classroom library and look forward to the next book in this series!
Note: I received a free digital copy from the author/publisher in exchange for honest feedback.
July 16, 2015
This is a retelling of the early life of Cleopatra,the Cleo of the story who, after her mother's murder, is forced to flee Egypt as her life is now in danger from her two evil half-sisters who have taken over the Pharaohship. With her maidservant and best friend, Charm, she becomes a priestess of Isis and is then given the quest of returning to save Egypt, something she is reluctant to do but undertakes due to loyalty.
The story is full of details about life in Ancient Egypt and Greece and yet is told in quite a modern voice. This took me a while to get used to but I think it will appeal to teenage readers. They will see Cleo as the teenager she is, despite being a Pharaoh's daughter, and expect her to behave appropriately; spoilt, used to having her own way and yet still with the usual teenage angst. After all, they are unlikely to have the picture in their heads of Elizabeth Taylor playing Cleopatra against Richard Burton's "Mark Antony"!
A story of loyalty, friendship and faith interwoven with gods and rituals and a love-interest in the form of Khai, the librarian. Plus a rather good cover which states "1 throne, 3 sisters, this is war"!
The story is full of details about life in Ancient Egypt and Greece and yet is told in quite a modern voice. This took me a while to get used to but I think it will appeal to teenage readers. They will see Cleo as the teenager she is, despite being a Pharaoh's daughter, and expect her to behave appropriately; spoilt, used to having her own way and yet still with the usual teenage angst. After all, they are unlikely to have the picture in their heads of Elizabeth Taylor playing Cleopatra against Richard Burton's "Mark Antony"!
A story of loyalty, friendship and faith interwoven with gods and rituals and a love-interest in the form of Khai, the librarian. Plus a rather good cover which states "1 throne, 3 sisters, this is war"!
April 28, 2015
** thanks to Netgalley and the author and publishers for providing a copy of this book for me to read and review.**
The only and I mean the ONLY problem I had with this copy was that their were missing letter pairs throughout the book which meant that it didn't flow as well as it could have done.
However apart from that it was a very good book about a young woman called Cleopatra, her best friend Charm and her love interest Khai. And of course her god Isis. The relationship between Cleo and Charm was heart warming and without a doubt my favourite relationship in the whole of the book. I really enjoyed getting to know Cleo and her world and cannot wait for the second book to be released.
Overall an amazing read.
The only and I mean the ONLY problem I had with this copy was that their were missing letter pairs throughout the book which meant that it didn't flow as well as it could have done.
However apart from that it was a very good book about a young woman called Cleopatra, her best friend Charm and her love interest Khai. And of course her god Isis. The relationship between Cleo and Charm was heart warming and without a doubt my favourite relationship in the whole of the book. I really enjoyed getting to know Cleo and her world and cannot wait for the second book to be released.
Overall an amazing read.
Read
July 26, 2015DNF. I just wasn't excited to read anymore and every time I sat down to read it I ended up doing something else. Not a good sign! Such a good concept that I really wanted to love but it just wasn't executed that well I don't think, sadly! :(
to-review
February 13, 2015**I received a ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
September 14, 2024
🧠 psychological commentary/perspective
📣 if ur confused why this review is soo recent, i’m trying to read my tbr’s :))
Cleo is a teenager who’ll do teenage things so i don’t understand the negative comments abt her being a bratty snowflake. Ur THE CHOSEN one since birth by a goddess, the greatest goddess of ur country nonetheless, who isn’t going to be entitled?? I don’t condone her negative attributes and actions but SHE’S A TEENAGER. She literally left her home when she was a child cuz she was so scared her sisters are gonna feed her to crocs. She was literallyyyy traumatizeddd.
Though, i was always nervous when she kept on having this rude tone to the gods and goddesses. I get it, u can see them but the amount of rude tone that u’ve given to them??!! Girl, that was not needed.
OP btw, she can SEE THE GODS. It was so cute, the fact she was able to see them enjoying the festivities for them. Especially the Nefertem… Lotus event… basically she saw 2 gods dancing in the moonlight soooo cute. Then she can ASTRAL PROJECT. Not like in Sabrina (the teenage witch), but stillll. And she’s backed up with the 2 most powerful goddesses… ur kidding right?!?!
I also like how she already feels the guilt after every bad action she did. She may did a bad thing on reflex or she had to, but the amount of guilt she’s carrying the whole plot is sooo good writing. Or that’s just me, me having an IQ of a 3rd grader.
I love every character honestly. But in the back of my mind, its Cleo x Charm. They both have nicknames — CLEOpatra, CHARMion. They have this cute 3-yr gap. They are slave x master trope turned into best friends and possibly lovers typa thang. They’re ALWAYS together or HAS TO BE together. They know each other soooo well. Everything they do is cute and cunty really. I do like that Cleo x Khai was mid-plot; how Khai is vry handsome and Cleo being a teen, falling head-over-heels for him already. Then they have dreams of each other. It was basic romance with traumatizing backgrounds and looming death every corner. But Khai was just not giving it for me. But i do understand that it was published during 2015 so there was no LGBTQIA+ openness/fluidness at all.
I love the modern storytelling though, it was refreshing. I’m sorry, but i get tired of historical writing every now and then. I feel like modern writing styles fully exhibits how a teenager thinks and acts, since this is a book about a teenager.
📣 if ur confused why this review is soo recent, i’m trying to read my tbr’s :))
Cleo is a teenager who’ll do teenage things so i don’t understand the negative comments abt her being a bratty snowflake. Ur THE CHOSEN one since birth by a goddess, the greatest goddess of ur country nonetheless, who isn’t going to be entitled?? I don’t condone her negative attributes and actions but SHE’S A TEENAGER. She literally left her home when she was a child cuz she was so scared her sisters are gonna feed her to crocs. She was literallyyyy traumatizeddd.
Though, i was always nervous when she kept on having this rude tone to the gods and goddesses. I get it, u can see them but the amount of rude tone that u’ve given to them??!! Girl, that was not needed.
OP btw, she can SEE THE GODS. It was so cute, the fact she was able to see them enjoying the festivities for them. Especially the Nefertem… Lotus event… basically she saw 2 gods dancing in the moonlight soooo cute. Then she can ASTRAL PROJECT. Not like in Sabrina (the teenage witch), but stillll. And she’s backed up with the 2 most powerful goddesses… ur kidding right?!?!
I also like how she already feels the guilt after every bad action she did. She may did a bad thing on reflex or she had to, but the amount of guilt she’s carrying the whole plot is sooo good writing. Or that’s just me, me having an IQ of a 3rd grader.
I love every character honestly. But in the back of my mind, its Cleo x Charm. They both have nicknames — CLEOpatra, CHARMion. They have this cute 3-yr gap. They are slave x master trope turned into best friends and possibly lovers typa thang. They’re ALWAYS together or HAS TO BE together. They know each other soooo well. Everything they do is cute and cunty really. I do like that Cleo x Khai was mid-plot; how Khai is vry handsome and Cleo being a teen, falling head-over-heels for him already. Then they have dreams of each other. It was basic romance with traumatizing backgrounds and looming death every corner. But Khai was just not giving it for me. But i do understand that it was published during 2015 so there was no LGBTQIA+ openness/fluidness at all.
I love the modern storytelling though, it was refreshing. I’m sorry, but i get tired of historical writing every now and then. I feel like modern writing styles fully exhibits how a teenager thinks and acts, since this is a book about a teenager.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2017
The cover has the tagline "1 THRONE 3 SISTERS" but......... it's a double throne...............
In this fanciful re-imagining of a real-life historical figure, there are glimpses of fact, but most of it is just sheer ridiculousness. Despite being given very specific instructions by the goddess Isis, Cleo still manages to stuff up on numerous occasions. (YOU HAD ONE JOB, CLEO!) Instead of making her more relatable, it's just frustrating. She whines a lot and makes terrible decisions, like kissing Khai in front of a known spy and then being surprised when he's later dragged off to the dungeons. And while we're on the topic of Khai, the romance between him and Cleo only occurs because Isis sends ~sexy dreams~ to Cleo and Khai for four years, because apparently she doesn't have anything better to do while she's waiting for Cleo to grow up. Is fate supposed to be sexier than free will? Because it's boring as hell to read about.
I can kind of understand the author choosing to write Cleo's voice as that of a modern teenager to make her more relatable. Since Cleo would have been speaking Ancient Greek anyway, it's easy enough to pretend that modern phrases were used in the ~translation~. But there were phrases like "I had my impassive princess mask firmly welded in place" when welding wasn't invented until the 19th century...
In this fanciful re-imagining of a real-life historical figure, there are glimpses of fact, but most of it is just sheer ridiculousness. Despite being given very specific instructions by the goddess Isis, Cleo still manages to stuff up on numerous occasions. (YOU HAD ONE JOB, CLEO!) Instead of making her more relatable, it's just frustrating. She whines a lot and makes terrible decisions, like kissing Khai in front of a known spy and then being surprised when he's later dragged off to the dungeons. And while we're on the topic of Khai, the romance between him and Cleo only occurs because Isis sends ~sexy dreams~ to Cleo and Khai for four years, because apparently she doesn't have anything better to do while she's waiting for Cleo to grow up. Is fate supposed to be sexier than free will? Because it's boring as hell to read about.
I can kind of understand the author choosing to write Cleo's voice as that of a modern teenager to make her more relatable. Since Cleo would have been speaking Ancient Greek anyway, it's easy enough to pretend that modern phrases were used in the ~translation~. But there were phrases like "I had my impassive princess mask firmly welded in place" when welding wasn't invented until the 19th century...
December 11, 2019
I don't enjoy reading historical fiction ALL the time, but sometimes it can be pretty interesting, and I happen to be very intrigued by Ancient Egypt and Egyptian mythology and all that. Therefore, when I spotted this book, it seemed to me like a very appealing read.
Of course, I did check the Goodreads ratings, which were unfortunately fairly poor, but I was determined to read it and enjoy it. Then, two of my friends both said that they couldn't even finish it, but I was still not deterred.
And the premise of this book was so good- it sounded so promising, and I so wanted to love it, and race through it, and feel as though I could not get through life without pre-ordering the sequel. Sadly, that was not the case.
As is obvious from the cover and the title, 'Cleo' is a retelling of the story of Cleopatra. Yes, THAT Cleopatra. The novel follows her teenage years, and her rise to power- or at least, how the author imagined her teenagerhood and her ascension to the throne to be, since there is next to nothing known about Cleopatra before she became the ruler of Egypt.
Cleo is blessed- given the gift of The Sight by the goddess Isis at birth. She is The Chosen One.
But there is unrest in Egypt. Cleo's father, the Pharaoh flees to Rome, and a tragic accident takes her mother to the afterlife. But was it an accident?
Cleo's evil sisters take over the double throne and Cleo is forced to escape to Isis' temple in Philae. Four years later, she is summoned by Isis and The Sisterhood of The Living Knot, and is obliged to return to Alexandria- the jewel of Egypt, and residence of the twin Pharaohs, Tryphena and Berenice.
Back at the palace, living as The Chosen of Isis, Cleo has a mission: to find the Seth-cursed map, and bring it back to Philae.
But it isn't going to be easy. For, behind the marble palace walls lies a mess of curses, betrayal, and romance...
Now, I'm the kind of person who finds it really difficult to give up on a book, no matter how much I hate it, so I forced myself to reach the end of this novel, even though it took me over a month.
Firstly, I didn't much like Cleo as a protagonist. Despite her numerous protestations that she was anything but a spoilt, bratty princess, that's exactly how she came across. Aside from this, she didn't really have much in the way of a personality. She kept going on about being 'The Chosen One', seemingly taking her status for granted, which wasn't surprising really, considering that, every time she was in a fix, Isis would swoop in with her mighty goddess powers, saving the day. It would've been nice if, just once, Cleo could've saved her own skin.
Also, she did some really stupid things, that no teenager with even a scrap of intelligence would ever dream of doing, such as kissing her boyfriend in public, even though it was forbidden for them to even be together in the first place.
Speaking of her boyfriend....why? Just why? Why was Khai even involved in the story at all? There was absolutely no point in his being there, and the relationship between he and Cleo was once of the worst cases of insta-love I've ever seen. I mean, she met him once, when she was ten- they didn't even speak. Then, she has dreams about him every night for the next four years, and he dreams about Cleo, and upon her return to Alexandria, they are magnetically attracted to one another, and fall in love. To be honest, the story would've been better if Cleo had carried out her mission alongside Charm, rather than Khai.
I didn't think much of Charm either, though, and I thought her and Cleo's nicknames for one another ('Princess of Pain', 'Sovereign of Scrubbing', etc.) were a little bit childish and immature.
Another thing I disliked about this book was the general ambience of it. It could've been set in a modern day high school, and not much would be different. All the characters speak exactly as they would today, calling people 'bitches' and using the term 'boy toy', and their speech just wasn't fitting for the time period.
Also, I never really felt like the story was set in Ancient Egypt- there weren't many descriptions, or setting-of-the-scenes, which made me feel very detached from the narrative.
Overall, I just found myself bored and disinterested in the story, and had to make myself pick it up and get it finished. I didn't identify with any of the characters, the plot was slow, and the atmosphere was non-existent.
So saying, it's clear that Lucy Coats has researched the topic extensively, which did enhance the reading experience, because I did actually learn a bit more about Ancient Egyptian history and mythology, and I have been inspired to pursue to subject further.
And the actual writing wasn't too bad, though there was a distinct lack of detail that I wanted, and certain phrases/words were repeated over and over ('prostrate', 'I used my most imperious princess voice', etc.)
There was also a helpful list included at the back of the book, which I loved, listing all the gods and goddesses, and characters and general Ancient Egyptian vocabulary. It kept me informed throughout the book, and made sure that I knew what was going on.
Unfortunately though, I didn't really enjoy this book at all, aside from the educational aspect, so I feel unable to award it a high rating.
I'd rate this book....
4.5 stars out of 10
'Never show anger, fear or grief, my little pusscat. Never let them see you're weak'- Ptolemy Auletes
Of course, I did check the Goodreads ratings, which were unfortunately fairly poor, but I was determined to read it and enjoy it. Then, two of my friends both said that they couldn't even finish it, but I was still not deterred.
And the premise of this book was so good- it sounded so promising, and I so wanted to love it, and race through it, and feel as though I could not get through life without pre-ordering the sequel. Sadly, that was not the case.
As is obvious from the cover and the title, 'Cleo' is a retelling of the story of Cleopatra. Yes, THAT Cleopatra. The novel follows her teenage years, and her rise to power- or at least, how the author imagined her teenagerhood and her ascension to the throne to be, since there is next to nothing known about Cleopatra before she became the ruler of Egypt.
Cleo is blessed- given the gift of The Sight by the goddess Isis at birth. She is The Chosen One.
But there is unrest in Egypt. Cleo's father, the Pharaoh flees to Rome, and a tragic accident takes her mother to the afterlife. But was it an accident?
Cleo's evil sisters take over the double throne and Cleo is forced to escape to Isis' temple in Philae. Four years later, she is summoned by Isis and The Sisterhood of The Living Knot, and is obliged to return to Alexandria- the jewel of Egypt, and residence of the twin Pharaohs, Tryphena and Berenice.
Back at the palace, living as The Chosen of Isis, Cleo has a mission: to find the Seth-cursed map, and bring it back to Philae.
But it isn't going to be easy. For, behind the marble palace walls lies a mess of curses, betrayal, and romance...
Now, I'm the kind of person who finds it really difficult to give up on a book, no matter how much I hate it, so I forced myself to reach the end of this novel, even though it took me over a month.
Firstly, I didn't much like Cleo as a protagonist. Despite her numerous protestations that she was anything but a spoilt, bratty princess, that's exactly how she came across. Aside from this, she didn't really have much in the way of a personality. She kept going on about being 'The Chosen One', seemingly taking her status for granted, which wasn't surprising really, considering that, every time she was in a fix, Isis would swoop in with her mighty goddess powers, saving the day. It would've been nice if, just once, Cleo could've saved her own skin.
Also, she did some really stupid things, that no teenager with even a scrap of intelligence would ever dream of doing, such as kissing her boyfriend in public, even though it was forbidden for them to even be together in the first place.
Speaking of her boyfriend....why? Just why? Why was Khai even involved in the story at all? There was absolutely no point in his being there, and the relationship between he and Cleo was once of the worst cases of insta-love I've ever seen. I mean, she met him once, when she was ten- they didn't even speak. Then, she has dreams about him every night for the next four years, and he dreams about Cleo, and upon her return to Alexandria, they are magnetically attracted to one another, and fall in love. To be honest, the story would've been better if Cleo had carried out her mission alongside Charm, rather than Khai.
I didn't think much of Charm either, though, and I thought her and Cleo's nicknames for one another ('Princess of Pain', 'Sovereign of Scrubbing', etc.) were a little bit childish and immature.
Another thing I disliked about this book was the general ambience of it. It could've been set in a modern day high school, and not much would be different. All the characters speak exactly as they would today, calling people 'bitches' and using the term 'boy toy', and their speech just wasn't fitting for the time period.
Also, I never really felt like the story was set in Ancient Egypt- there weren't many descriptions, or setting-of-the-scenes, which made me feel very detached from the narrative.
Overall, I just found myself bored and disinterested in the story, and had to make myself pick it up and get it finished. I didn't identify with any of the characters, the plot was slow, and the atmosphere was non-existent.
So saying, it's clear that Lucy Coats has researched the topic extensively, which did enhance the reading experience, because I did actually learn a bit more about Ancient Egyptian history and mythology, and I have been inspired to pursue to subject further.
And the actual writing wasn't too bad, though there was a distinct lack of detail that I wanted, and certain phrases/words were repeated over and over ('prostrate', 'I used my most imperious princess voice', etc.)
There was also a helpful list included at the back of the book, which I loved, listing all the gods and goddesses, and characters and general Ancient Egyptian vocabulary. It kept me informed throughout the book, and made sure that I knew what was going on.
Unfortunately though, I didn't really enjoy this book at all, aside from the educational aspect, so I feel unable to award it a high rating.
I'd rate this book....
4.5 stars out of 10
'Never show anger, fear or grief, my little pusscat. Never let them see you're weak'- Ptolemy Auletes
February 18, 2023
I will be honest - going in, I thought this was going to be a frivolous story about a teenage Cleopatra, but I was wrong. It was suspenseful and engaging with interesting characters and a good storyline. I thought the writing could have been tightened up a little bit, but overall I enjoyed it. Recommended.
4/5 stars.
4/5 stars.
December 4, 2020
Oh wow that was boring as hell.
A story about Cleopatra before she became powerful, added with the literal gods as side characters.
That sounded AMAzing. I love Egyptian gods and their mythology.
But this was too "Deus ex Machina". Literally. well, not the "ex Machina" I guess.
I couldn't care less about the characters, who happen to be good or evil. (I like morally ambiguous characters.)
I couldn't care less about romance.
The whole dream stuff and "god speaking to Cleo" thing didn't make any sense. (I want some rules that make sense.)
Ugh.
Since I bought the second book, I will read the conclusion of this duology, but I'm not happy about it.
Thank god it wasn't a trilogy.
A story about Cleopatra before she became powerful, added with the literal gods as side characters.
That sounded AMAzing. I love Egyptian gods and their mythology.
But this was too "Deus ex Machina". Literally. well, not the "ex Machina" I guess.
I couldn't care less about the characters, who happen to be good or evil. (I like morally ambiguous characters.)
I couldn't care less about romance.
The whole dream stuff and "god speaking to Cleo" thing didn't make any sense. (I want some rules that make sense.)
Ugh.
Since I bought the second book, I will read the conclusion of this duology, but I'm not happy about it.
Thank god it wasn't a trilogy.
June 24, 2018
A good skim
May 10, 2019
Honestly. Just the worst. My only DNF in my history of reading.
Read
September 28, 2020I remember reading this when I was around 11 years old and I thought it was the best book I had ever read. Re-reading it now, I still think it's a good book.
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