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Fall of Egypt #1
Cleopatra's Shadows
Page-turning historical fiction that reimagines the beginnings of Cleopatra's epic saga through the eyes of her younger sister.
Before Caesar and the carpet, before Antony and Actium, before Octavian and the asp, there was Arsinoe.
Abandoned by her beloved Cleopatra and an indifferent father, young Arsinoe must fight for her survival in the bloodthirsty royal court when her half-sister Berenice seizes Egypt's throne. Even as the quick-witted girl wins Berenice's favor, a new specter haunts her days-dark dreams that have a habit of coming true.
To survive, she escapes the palace for the war-torn streets of Alexandria. Meanwhile, Berenice confronts her own demons as she fights to maintain power. When their deposed father Ptolemy marches on the city with a Roman army, both daughters must decide where their allegiances truly lie, and Arsinoe grapples with the truth, that the only way to survive her dynasty is to rule it.
Before Caesar and the carpet, before Antony and Actium, before Octavian and the asp, there was Arsinoe.
Abandoned by her beloved Cleopatra and an indifferent father, young Arsinoe must fight for her survival in the bloodthirsty royal court when her half-sister Berenice seizes Egypt's throne. Even as the quick-witted girl wins Berenice's favor, a new specter haunts her days-dark dreams that have a habit of coming true.
To survive, she escapes the palace for the war-torn streets of Alexandria. Meanwhile, Berenice confronts her own demons as she fights to maintain power. When their deposed father Ptolemy marches on the city with a Roman army, both daughters must decide where their allegiances truly lie, and Arsinoe grapples with the truth, that the only way to survive her dynasty is to rule it.
432 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2015
115 people are currently reading
4883 people want to read
About the author
Emily Holleman
3 books163 followersEmily Holleman is a Brooklyn-based writer. After a two-year editing stint at Salon.com where she had to worry a lot about politics, celebrities and memes, she returned to her true passion: fiction. She’s currently working on a set of historical novels that reimagines the saga of Cleopatra from the perspective of her younger sister, Arsinoe. The first of these, Cleopatra’s Shadows, will be published by Little, Brown in October 2015.
Like Arsinoe, Emily is also a younger sister.
Like Arsinoe, Emily is also a younger sister.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 271 reviews
March 11, 2020
“I don't think that being unafraid is the same as being brave. I think bravery is when you go on even though you are frightened. -Alexander tells Arsinoe”
Cleopatra's Shadows (Fall of Egypt #1)
by Emily Holleman
Anyone who knows me well knows that I have always adored books on Cleopatra. I also love literature on Egypt in general.
Through the years I have read so many books on Cleopatra, with "I Cleopatra" by William Bostwick being one of my all time favorite reads.
This book, Cleopatra's Shadows, is a bit different. It concentrates, not on Cleopatra, but on two of her sisters, Berenice and Arsinoe.
King Ptolemy, their father, has been forced into exile, along with Cleopatra. Berenice, the elder daughter, has seized the thrown. Arsinoe has been left behind and is struggling to make sense of these new circumstances in which she finds herself .
I should also note that this is reimagined fiction. Many of the things that occur in this book did not actually take place or are questionable. For example, in reality there was a fourth sister, Cleopatra Tryphaena.
The book alternates between the two sisters and is told from both their POVS. It should be noted that Cleopatra herself is barely in it.
It was interesting reading about the two sisters because there is so much literature about Cleopatra herself and less about the sisters.
I LOVED Cleopatra's Shadow. I found the writing incredible, the characters wholly fleshed out and human and I loved reading this book.
You know a book is good..or great..when you are sad that it ends. I wish Cleopatra's Shadows could have been longer. I have heard this is part of a series and I hope that is true.
SPOILERS:
Although I liked reading about both sisters, I did prefer the POV of Berenice. With Arsinoe, it did get a little tedious, with her continued visions, tutoring with Ganymedes and friendship with Alexander.
Berenice on the other hand..I did not tire of reading about her as she was written so well. Kudos to the writer for that. She was such a compelling character in all her raw loneliness and desire for love and tenderness. She was so virtually bereft of self awareness that it was almost touching. I found her to be a multi faceted complex character.
The characters are many but they are all unique. I loved reading about all the palace intrigue. This is an outstanding piece of writing that I would recommend for any lover of Historical Fiction and especially any fan of Cleopatra or Egyptian History. There is so much here to enjoy and I would give this book 45. stars.
Cleopatra's Shadows (Fall of Egypt #1)
by Emily Holleman
Anyone who knows me well knows that I have always adored books on Cleopatra. I also love literature on Egypt in general.
Through the years I have read so many books on Cleopatra, with "I Cleopatra" by William Bostwick being one of my all time favorite reads.
This book, Cleopatra's Shadows, is a bit different. It concentrates, not on Cleopatra, but on two of her sisters, Berenice and Arsinoe.
King Ptolemy, their father, has been forced into exile, along with Cleopatra. Berenice, the elder daughter, has seized the thrown. Arsinoe has been left behind and is struggling to make sense of these new circumstances in which she finds herself .
I should also note that this is reimagined fiction. Many of the things that occur in this book did not actually take place or are questionable. For example, in reality there was a fourth sister, Cleopatra Tryphaena.
The book alternates between the two sisters and is told from both their POVS. It should be noted that Cleopatra herself is barely in it.
It was interesting reading about the two sisters because there is so much literature about Cleopatra herself and less about the sisters.
I LOVED Cleopatra's Shadow. I found the writing incredible, the characters wholly fleshed out and human and I loved reading this book.
You know a book is good..or great..when you are sad that it ends. I wish Cleopatra's Shadows could have been longer. I have heard this is part of a series and I hope that is true.
SPOILERS:
Although I liked reading about both sisters, I did prefer the POV of Berenice. With Arsinoe, it did get a little tedious, with her continued visions, tutoring with Ganymedes and friendship with Alexander.
Berenice on the other hand..I did not tire of reading about her as she was written so well. Kudos to the writer for that. She was such a compelling character in all her raw loneliness and desire for love and tenderness. She was so virtually bereft of self awareness that it was almost touching. I found her to be a multi faceted complex character.
The characters are many but they are all unique. I loved reading about all the palace intrigue. This is an outstanding piece of writing that I would recommend for any lover of Historical Fiction and especially any fan of Cleopatra or Egyptian History. There is so much here to enjoy and I would give this book 45. stars.
June 22, 2020
That was an enjoyable read. In the blurb it compares it to an Egyptian The Other Boleyn Girl but there wasn’t enough of Cleopatra for that comparison. In fact, the title is very misleading. This is just about Cleo’s two sisters, nothing much about Cleo at all. It sagged a bit in the middle and I think she could have widen the scope and covered more time but I enjoyed it and it left me wanting more. 👍
April 15, 2017
A big thank you to Back Bay Books, Emily Holleman, and Goodreads for the free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Maybe a 3.5? A great new perspective! No one typically takes the time to study Berenice. Or to describe Arsinoe's childhood . These women lived in Cleopatra's shadow. Cleopatra was her father's favorite and his acknowledged heir. Alexandria was a jewel in the Egyptian crown. It needed a strong ruler. In Ptolemy it had a drunken, licentious fool. But Rome backed up his claim because he was pliable. The two young ladies we learn about in this book are headstrong and independent. They don't always follow the best advice, but they are inexperienced.
The author weaves an engaging tale based on what is known of the time period. It's a promising beginning to a series. I look forward to book two.
Maybe a 3.5? A great new perspective! No one typically takes the time to study Berenice. Or to describe Arsinoe's childhood . These women lived in Cleopatra's shadow. Cleopatra was her father's favorite and his acknowledged heir. Alexandria was a jewel in the Egyptian crown. It needed a strong ruler. In Ptolemy it had a drunken, licentious fool. But Rome backed up his claim because he was pliable. The two young ladies we learn about in this book are headstrong and independent. They don't always follow the best advice, but they are inexperienced.
The author weaves an engaging tale based on what is known of the time period. It's a promising beginning to a series. I look forward to book two.
October 19, 2015
Great book. I know little about Cleopatra besides the obvious so I was interested in finding out more about the two sisters. I especially liked Berenice who seemed to be caught up in more than she could handle. Impressive first book. Looking forward to more in this series.
June 25, 2015
This is definitely a 4.5 star book for me. It would've been higher, but the beginning didn't capture my attention enough. I considered putting it down to read something else a few times, but Im glad I stuck with it. The last half or so more than made up for the beginning. I think my favorite aspect of the book was learning about the Egyptian culture. We learned about their gods and their customs. Sure, the Ptolemies were Greek and Macedonian so it's not like we're learning about the pharaohs (unfortunately). But I still really enjoyed the characters, especially the double POV of Berenice and Arsinoe. I'm hoping there will be similarly themed books in this authors future. I'd love to know if Arsinoe and Alexander end up together :D I also wanna know how Cleopatra charmed two roman generals and how Egypt fell to Rome even though I read a book which discussed it last summer. All in all I really enjoyed this book especially towards the end. I liked the similarities in the two narrators and how much they evolved. I could barely stop reading towards the end. There are many shocking deaths and some still need to be addressed. Hope to read more about ancient Egypt and more from this author! :) I received this book at BookCon and met the author there who was super nice.
December 16, 2015
Ptolemy XII Auletes (ca. 112-51 BCE) "The Piper," in this marvelously historical novel, was pharoah, ruler of upper and lower and all that and very much disliked in Alexandria. He was a dilettante and not very politically astute, got himself coup d'etat-ed out of power. This novel launches along with his round ship, crimson sails furled against the rising sun as he blows town along with his daughter Cleopatra (yep, that Cleopatra). Left on the dock in her nightgown is Cleopatra's half-sister Arsinoe, youngest daughter of The Concubine Ptolemy elevated to the throne, replacing the true queen Tryphaena (wonder if she was at all upset about that?) and her daughter, Berenice. Arsinoe has to return to the palace. Imagine yourself a 9 year old girl who just watched your beloved sister sail off along with your only protector in the universe. Berenice is now queen. At 12. How the half-sisters find their way in this realm of murder behind tapestries and around columns, omens interpreted by priests who may have somebody else's best interest in mind, advisors with several agendas, a late-rising Nile, Cyprus fallen to Rome, the Upper Nile a strange and suspicious land and everyone around you knows how to use poison, knives, coin, willing enemy ears, and soldiers. And, oh yes, the royal food taster was killed in the coup. Holleman's research is excellent, her prose good. While Tryphaena was producing stillborn sons (I didn't look up if we know how many miscarriages the concubine suffered before she delivered the Ptolemy brother who Cleopatra would marry and assassinate) how are we to believe that the girls who survived were so incredibly smart, savvy and skilled? They also were the product of generations of sister/brother pairings. Relying on advisors whose loyalty must be in question at every turning makes this a remarkable read on that treacherous period. With luck, there are more books to follow. McCullough's Rome series brought that realm gloriously to life - we could relish a look around the region at the women who ruled in the same time period. I would love a book like this with Hatshepsut in the lead.
August 11, 2017
I really wanted to like this and it had some nice moments. The main problem for me was that the main characters Arsinoe and Berenice just remained so passive and yes I know that there are historical figures and limited scope but that time period is hugely up for interpretation. A bit disappointed.
February 23, 2020
I love reading historical fiction books, especially ones about or related to Egypt.
I came across this book at my local library and I'm so glad I found it.
This book is a fantastic read! Set at the youth of Cleopatra, the tale is about her lesser sister Berenice who is to the same father (The King) but a different mother, and their younger sister Arsinoe who is abandoned by both her father and mother but allowed to remain at the palace at Berenices reign.
Cleopatra isn't in this book until at the very end and the book focuses on the two lesser, overshadowed sisters of Cleopatra.
I found the book a great read and it had game of throne vibes about it too.
Definitely a book to read!
I came across this book at my local library and I'm so glad I found it.
This book is a fantastic read! Set at the youth of Cleopatra, the tale is about her lesser sister Berenice who is to the same father (The King) but a different mother, and their younger sister Arsinoe who is abandoned by both her father and mother but allowed to remain at the palace at Berenices reign.
Cleopatra isn't in this book until at the very end and the book focuses on the two lesser, overshadowed sisters of Cleopatra.
I found the book a great read and it had game of throne vibes about it too.
Definitely a book to read!
January 3, 2016
Everybody more or less knows the story of Cleopatra, the charismatic last queen of Egypt, but few know that she had two sisters who reigned as well, even if briefly. Those women, named Berenice and Arsinoe, take center stage in Cleopatra's Shadows, Emily Holleman's debut.
I know almost nothing about Egypt history, but I had heard about Arsinoe before and was very intrigued by her. So when I first heard about this book I was terribly excited, and in the end... the book was even better than what I hoped! Yes, I had very high expectations, and yet this novel exceeded them. Cleopatra's Shadows is definitely in my top three reads of 2015.
The story is told through the point of views of Berenice and Arsinoe (Cleopatra only appears briefly at the end of the novel). They have two very different voices, and they are dissimilar because of their ages and circumstances, but I loved them both to pieces. If I had to choose a favourite maybe it would be Berenice, but it is hard because Arsinoe was fantastic too, and I just loved her evolution. They are really strong women, who have to face many challenges during the novel and constantly have to prove their worth. They have to face their worst fears, and yet they always prove themselves to be strong and admirable. So yes, Berenice and Arsinoe were definitely the thing I liked the most about this novel. If you like realistic women characters, you will love them.
The plot is well constructed and gripping. I never found it boring; indeed, I would have finished the book in just a couple of days, but this was one of the rare cases when a story is so good that you don't want it to end, and so I took my time with it. The story starts quickly, and you are captivated right from the first chapter. As I said, Berenice and Arsinoe face very different challenges and so we get to see many different events through their eyes, and this was very interesting. I also liked the setting, it felt rich and believable to me, and made me want to read more about these particular and fascinating places.
Apparently, Cleopatra's Shadows is only the first book in a series about Cleopatra and her sisters, and I so cannot wait for the next one! After this novel, Emily Holleman has become an auto-buy author for me. I seriously can't recommend this book enough: don't miss it if you like historical novels and fantastic female characters!
I know almost nothing about Egypt history, but I had heard about Arsinoe before and was very intrigued by her. So when I first heard about this book I was terribly excited, and in the end... the book was even better than what I hoped! Yes, I had very high expectations, and yet this novel exceeded them. Cleopatra's Shadows is definitely in my top three reads of 2015.
The story is told through the point of views of Berenice and Arsinoe (Cleopatra only appears briefly at the end of the novel). They have two very different voices, and they are dissimilar because of their ages and circumstances, but I loved them both to pieces. If I had to choose a favourite maybe it would be Berenice, but it is hard because Arsinoe was fantastic too, and I just loved her evolution. They are really strong women, who have to face many challenges during the novel and constantly have to prove their worth. They have to face their worst fears, and yet they always prove themselves to be strong and admirable. So yes, Berenice and Arsinoe were definitely the thing I liked the most about this novel. If you like realistic women characters, you will love them.
The plot is well constructed and gripping. I never found it boring; indeed, I would have finished the book in just a couple of days, but this was one of the rare cases when a story is so good that you don't want it to end, and so I took my time with it. The story starts quickly, and you are captivated right from the first chapter. As I said, Berenice and Arsinoe face very different challenges and so we get to see many different events through their eyes, and this was very interesting. I also liked the setting, it felt rich and believable to me, and made me want to read more about these particular and fascinating places.
Apparently, Cleopatra's Shadows is only the first book in a series about Cleopatra and her sisters, and I so cannot wait for the next one! After this novel, Emily Holleman has become an auto-buy author for me. I seriously can't recommend this book enough: don't miss it if you like historical novels and fantastic female characters!
April 10, 2017
I was intrigued by the idea of this book mainly because there is an abundance of material on the famous Cleopatra, but you don't see much in the way of stories that deal with her sisters, Arsinoe and Berenice. Unfortunately, this one was a bit of a letdown for me. Too much extraneous melodrama used as fluff, and I just found it to be uninteresting. It wasn't riveting or engaging enough for me to really care about any of the characters at all.
Apparently this is the first of a series, but I don't think I will be reading the next one.
Apparently this is the first of a series, but I don't think I will be reading the next one.
September 20, 2015
Managed to pick up an ARC given to my library.
There's always a lot of debate about what happened to Cleopatra in the three years in which her father appealed to Rome for help, her sister Berenice took the throne, and no one's really sure what happened to Cleopatra, Arsinoe, and their two younger brothers. But in this touching tale of what happened to the young Princess Arsinoe, left behind in Alexandria, we are left with Holleman's logic. Would Ptolemy have left Cleopatra and Arsinoe behind? Possibly. Would he have left his sons and heirs behind? Probably not. In this story, Cleopatra is brought along as Ptolemy's chosen heir - but the young Arsinoe is left behind to fend for herself, against adults who would eagerly see her dead, and with a father who cares not a jot for her survival.
The narrative is split between Arsinoe's childlike attempts to understand the power plays in Alexandria and her older half-sister Berenice's attempts to control them. Seizing the throne from the father who abandoned her and her mother for a concubine, Berenice attempts to keep Egypt clear of Rome and to solidify her rule. Yet it's a difficult prospect - her advisors have plans of their own, and no recorded queen since Hatshepsut has held the throne by herself in Egypt. Berenice learns the hard way how to solidify her power and how to make alliances - and whom to trust.
There are hiccups here and there - Arsinoe's prophetic dreams bog down the plot and occasionally make no sense. The eunuch leaving a princess and his charge to fend for herself for several weeks among the street children of Alexandria makes even less sense. Berenice's story remains consistently strong, right to the bitter end, and Arsinoe is left sadder and wiser. Excellent first novel - I hope there are sequels chronicling the eventual rivalry between Cleopatra and Arsinoe!
There's always a lot of debate about what happened to Cleopatra in the three years in which her father appealed to Rome for help, her sister Berenice took the throne, and no one's really sure what happened to Cleopatra, Arsinoe, and their two younger brothers. But in this touching tale of what happened to the young Princess Arsinoe, left behind in Alexandria, we are left with Holleman's logic. Would Ptolemy have left Cleopatra and Arsinoe behind? Possibly. Would he have left his sons and heirs behind? Probably not. In this story, Cleopatra is brought along as Ptolemy's chosen heir - but the young Arsinoe is left behind to fend for herself, against adults who would eagerly see her dead, and with a father who cares not a jot for her survival.
The narrative is split between Arsinoe's childlike attempts to understand the power plays in Alexandria and her older half-sister Berenice's attempts to control them. Seizing the throne from the father who abandoned her and her mother for a concubine, Berenice attempts to keep Egypt clear of Rome and to solidify her rule. Yet it's a difficult prospect - her advisors have plans of their own, and no recorded queen since Hatshepsut has held the throne by herself in Egypt. Berenice learns the hard way how to solidify her power and how to make alliances - and whom to trust.
There are hiccups here and there - Arsinoe's prophetic dreams bog down the plot and occasionally make no sense. The eunuch leaving a princess and his charge to fend for herself for several weeks among the street children of Alexandria makes even less sense. Berenice's story remains consistently strong, right to the bitter end, and Arsinoe is left sadder and wiser. Excellent first novel - I hope there are sequels chronicling the eventual rivalry between Cleopatra and Arsinoe!
February 5, 2019
Eski Mısır'ı anlatan kitapları seviyorum. Yazarın anlatım tarzını ve kurguyu da çok sevdim.
https://kozmokitap.blogspot.com/2019/...
https://kozmokitap.blogspot.com/2019/...
November 26, 2015
I have to thank a good friend for turning me on to this book. Like most people, I know little of Cleopatra’s life beyond her relationship with Caesar. I knew even less about her family, so I didn’t know what was factual, and what was made up, though I’ve read that the story is soundly based in fact. Either way, that’s okay, because the book is highly readable and entertaining. Both sisters are well-rounded characters that you come to know and like, no matter that both, especially Berenice, are flawed and troubled people. The same can be said for the “minor” characters. The eunuchs that each sister has, teacher, confidant, guardian, have their own stories, stories just as interesting as those of their charges.
I’d say my only complaint is that I want to know what happens next. The book only covers three years, so there’s plenty left to write about. I know a sequel is in the works. I can only hope that it doesn’t take too long to be published.
I’d say my only complaint is that I want to know what happens next. The book only covers three years, so there’s plenty left to write about. I know a sequel is in the works. I can only hope that it doesn’t take too long to be published.
January 29, 2022
The writing style was tough to get into. The story wasn’t action packed but focused on Cleopatra’s two sisters and their characterizations. Content warning for sexual assault and incest. The chapters were long and I found myself preferring one narrator over the other. I felt the limited options both girls had in their lives to be cruel but realistic for their depictions. I found myself wishing I had read from Cleopatra’s POV, even though this book is about her sisters living in her shadow. I think that if you aren’t interested in Ancient Egypt or that time period then this book will not be of interest to you. The setting was what got me through the most boring parts of the story. I would have ranked this book two stars if it weren’t for the setting and my love for the concept of the book itself. I’m not sure if I’ll be continuing on to the second book in the series.
January 3, 2018
From the moment I heard of this book, I was desperate to read it and it exceeded all my high expectations. I absolutely adored it, particularly the character of Berenice. A mesmerising read.
May 4, 2022
Beautifully written ! This books is told through the point of view of both Arsinoe IV and Berenice IV. The story is captivating and it seems as if something is always happening , the book is never at a stand-still. 4.5 stars
February 4, 2022
Ancient Egypt never fails to fascinate.
June 9, 2020
I’m not one for historical based novels but this one is intriguing and good. Very enjoyable and hope there is a follow up!
August 18, 2016
I have been fascinated with Cleopatra for most of my life, but it wasn't until the past few years that I learned about Cleopatra's sisters. My interest in Arsinoe runs very deep, and I knew very little of Berenice until I read this book.
Holleman has woven quite a tale, with chapters alternating perspectives between Arsinoe and Berenice. The novel opens with their father Ptolemy the Piper and the famed Cleopatra fleeing Alexandria, where Berenice has taken her father's throne to become Berenice the Shining One along with her mother, the Piper's cast off sister wife Tryphanea. Everyone has left Arsinoe behind, her own mother having fled with her two little brothers.
I had picked up the book to learn more about Arsinoe, and I liked the author's take on her. There is not a lot of information on her, especially her younger years, and Holleman gives Arsinoe a voice and depth and adds more to what I feel is already a fascinating character.
What surprised me was how captivated I was by Berenice and her mother's story. Berenice was strong and tough but vulnerable at the same time, human and exquisitely written.
I had heard that this is.supposed to be a trilogy and I sincerely hope it is. I cannot wait to see Holleman's further exploration into Arsinoe.
I would recommend this to historical fiction lovers, and those who are interested in Cleopatra's world.
Holleman has woven quite a tale, with chapters alternating perspectives between Arsinoe and Berenice. The novel opens with their father Ptolemy the Piper and the famed Cleopatra fleeing Alexandria, where Berenice has taken her father's throne to become Berenice the Shining One along with her mother, the Piper's cast off sister wife Tryphanea. Everyone has left Arsinoe behind, her own mother having fled with her two little brothers.
I had picked up the book to learn more about Arsinoe, and I liked the author's take on her. There is not a lot of information on her, especially her younger years, and Holleman gives Arsinoe a voice and depth and adds more to what I feel is already a fascinating character.
What surprised me was how captivated I was by Berenice and her mother's story. Berenice was strong and tough but vulnerable at the same time, human and exquisitely written.
I had heard that this is.supposed to be a trilogy and I sincerely hope it is. I cannot wait to see Holleman's further exploration into Arsinoe.
I would recommend this to historical fiction lovers, and those who are interested in Cleopatra's world.
July 8, 2022
I have always been interested in Cleopatra and ancient Egypt so I thought this book would be right up my alley. I have not read anything else by this author before
This book is about Cleopatras sisters and she didn’t make much of an appearance in it herself. I do wish they had a bit more interaction with her. Cleopatras was the father’s favorite so the sisters did instead belong in Her shadow.
This is actually the first time I have read or even learned that Cleo had sisters.
This book is about Cleopatras sisters and she didn’t make much of an appearance in it herself. I do wish they had a bit more interaction with her. Cleopatras was the father’s favorite so the sisters did instead belong in Her shadow.
This is actually the first time I have read or even learned that Cleo had sisters.
January 22, 2019
Great start to the series. This was exactly was I was looking for to start my new reading year out. The novel focuses on the Ptolemaic Dynasty during the time of Cleopatra but is told from her sister's point of view. There are a lot of Cleopatra books out there, so it was refreshing to get a different perspective. I look forward to more.
January 28, 2016
Fiction is full of stories about Cleopatra , but there's very little about her sisters Berenice and Arsinoe. Until now. Lots of palace intrigue and a more sympathetic rendering of the other Ptolemy daughters.
July 12, 2025
When her father, pharaoh Ptolemy XII, flees with his favorite daughter Cleopatra to find support with the Romans, young Arsinoe is left alone in the palace. Her half-sister Berenice took power in a bloodless coup and must now rely on advisors she’s not sure are loyal to her to hold off the Romans. Arsinoe also has few friends – her mentor Ganymedes and a childhood companion named Alexander – and is trying to survive in the Egyptian court.
Although this novel bears Cleopatra’s name, ‘Cleopatra’s shadows‘ is about her two sisters. The eldest, Berenice, is the only child from her parents’ legal marriage, in addition, there are Cleopatra and Arsinoe who, along with their two brothers, are the children of a concubine. History mentions a third sister who would have ruled next to Berenice, but this is not quite clear from the records. And Holleman left her out of this story.
When Berenice grabs the throne and both her father and mother abandon her, Arsinoe tries to survive while she awaits what happens next. At the same time, Berenice struggles with ruling as a women – her advisors want her to marry -, her ambition to take back Cyprus, while trying to keep her father and his Romans far away.
I found the story really engaging. We know very little about Egyptian times and everyone has heard of Cleopatra as the last pharaoh. But the house of Ptolemy has a very bloody and incestuous history, as this novel proves. The book alternates between the perspectives of Berenice and Arsinoe.
However, the writing style was not that much to my liking. It was a bit distant at times, especially with Berenice – while I actually found her story the most engaging. Arsinoe’s was more varied though, and you feel that she will still be at the center of the next book – her story is not over yet.
I must admit I got into the novel and the writing more during the second half of the book, so let that not stop you to take on this novel. I will be reading the second part ‘The drowning king’ as well because I am eager to know how it continues. I would recommend this novel for those who want to know something about the period just before Cleopatra met Caesar.
Dutch review:
Wanneer haar vader, pharaoh Ptolemaeus XII, vlucht met zijn favoriete dochter Cleopatra, blijft de jonge Arsinoe alleen achter in het paleis. Haar halfzus Berenice nam de macht en moet nu beroep doen op adviseurs waarvan ze niet zeker weet dat ze haar trouw zijn om de Romeinen af te houden. Ook Arsinoe heeft weinig vrienden en probeert te overleven aan het Egyptische Hof.
Hoewel dit boek Cleopatra's naam draagt, gaat het over haar twee zussen: de oudste Berenice is het enige kind uit het wettelijke huwelijk van haar ouders, daarnaast zijn er Cleopatra en Arsinoe die samen met hun twee broers de kinderen zijn van een concubine. Maar wanneer Arsinoe's beide ouders haar alleen achterlaten.
Ik vond het verhaal echt boeiend. We weten soms heel weinig over de Egyptische tijd en iedereen kent Cleopatra als de laatste pharaoh. Maar het huis Ptolemaeus heeft een zeer bloederige en incestueuze geschiedenis, dat bewijst dit boek maar weer. Het boek brengt afwisselend de perspectieven van Berenice en Arsinoe.
Alleen vond ik de schrijfstijl dus echt wat minder. Het was met momenten wat afstandelijk, vooral bij Berenice - terwijl ik haar verhaal eigenlijk het boeiendst vond. Dat van Arsinoe was wel gevarieerder en je voelt dat zij in het volgende boek nog steeds centraal staat - haar verhaal is nog niet ten einde.
Ik ga het tweede deel dus ook nog wel lezen omdat ik graag wil weten hoe het verder gaat. Zeker de moeite voor wie iets wil weten over de periode, maar nu ook niet meteen het meest verrassende boek ofzo.
Although this novel bears Cleopatra’s name, ‘Cleopatra’s shadows‘ is about her two sisters. The eldest, Berenice, is the only child from her parents’ legal marriage, in addition, there are Cleopatra and Arsinoe who, along with their two brothers, are the children of a concubine. History mentions a third sister who would have ruled next to Berenice, but this is not quite clear from the records. And Holleman left her out of this story.
When Berenice grabs the throne and both her father and mother abandon her, Arsinoe tries to survive while she awaits what happens next. At the same time, Berenice struggles with ruling as a women – her advisors want her to marry -, her ambition to take back Cyprus, while trying to keep her father and his Romans far away.
I found the story really engaging. We know very little about Egyptian times and everyone has heard of Cleopatra as the last pharaoh. But the house of Ptolemy has a very bloody and incestuous history, as this novel proves. The book alternates between the perspectives of Berenice and Arsinoe.
However, the writing style was not that much to my liking. It was a bit distant at times, especially with Berenice – while I actually found her story the most engaging. Arsinoe’s was more varied though, and you feel that she will still be at the center of the next book – her story is not over yet.
I must admit I got into the novel and the writing more during the second half of the book, so let that not stop you to take on this novel. I will be reading the second part ‘The drowning king’ as well because I am eager to know how it continues. I would recommend this novel for those who want to know something about the period just before Cleopatra met Caesar.
Dutch review:
Wanneer haar vader, pharaoh Ptolemaeus XII, vlucht met zijn favoriete dochter Cleopatra, blijft de jonge Arsinoe alleen achter in het paleis. Haar halfzus Berenice nam de macht en moet nu beroep doen op adviseurs waarvan ze niet zeker weet dat ze haar trouw zijn om de Romeinen af te houden. Ook Arsinoe heeft weinig vrienden en probeert te overleven aan het Egyptische Hof.
Hoewel dit boek Cleopatra's naam draagt, gaat het over haar twee zussen: de oudste Berenice is het enige kind uit het wettelijke huwelijk van haar ouders, daarnaast zijn er Cleopatra en Arsinoe die samen met hun twee broers de kinderen zijn van een concubine. Maar wanneer Arsinoe's beide ouders haar alleen achterlaten.
Ik vond het verhaal echt boeiend. We weten soms heel weinig over de Egyptische tijd en iedereen kent Cleopatra als de laatste pharaoh. Maar het huis Ptolemaeus heeft een zeer bloederige en incestueuze geschiedenis, dat bewijst dit boek maar weer. Het boek brengt afwisselend de perspectieven van Berenice en Arsinoe.
Alleen vond ik de schrijfstijl dus echt wat minder. Het was met momenten wat afstandelijk, vooral bij Berenice - terwijl ik haar verhaal eigenlijk het boeiendst vond. Dat van Arsinoe was wel gevarieerder en je voelt dat zij in het volgende boek nog steeds centraal staat - haar verhaal is nog niet ten einde.
Ik ga het tweede deel dus ook nog wel lezen omdat ik graag wil weten hoe het verder gaat. Zeker de moeite voor wie iets wil weten over de periode, maar nu ook niet meteen het meest verrassende boek ofzo.
June 11, 2019
She soared over the city, parched and desolate.
Arsinoe is the younger sister of Cleopatra who is left behind when their father Ptolemy flees Egypt with his favored daughter, Cleopatra. She returns to the palace and finds servants slain and everything in chaos.
This is a very interesting account of Cleopatra's sisters. Berenice is her older half sister and Arsinoe is her younger sister. Berenice is determined to take over the kingdom her father left behind. Arsinoe must overcome her hero worship of Cleopatra to survive.
There is a lot of information about the betrayals and cutthroat behavior of those in power. Realizing that Berenice is just out of her teens when she becomes Queen is mind bobbling. Little Arsinoe is just nine which makes Cleopatra 12 or so.
The story is told from each of the sisters' POV. Cleopatra has a very small role in this first book in the series.
I need to read up in my Egyptian history. I need to wrap my head around the House of Ptolemy. Power was everything to them. Blood and family stood for little.
A very interesting book that I might not have read had I not need it for this challenge.
I look forward to reading the next book. I think I would like to listen to it as well to catch some of the nuances I may have missed.
3.75 stars
Arsinoe is the younger sister of Cleopatra who is left behind when their father Ptolemy flees Egypt with his favored daughter, Cleopatra. She returns to the palace and finds servants slain and everything in chaos.
This is a very interesting account of Cleopatra's sisters. Berenice is her older half sister and Arsinoe is her younger sister. Berenice is determined to take over the kingdom her father left behind. Arsinoe must overcome her hero worship of Cleopatra to survive.
There is a lot of information about the betrayals and cutthroat behavior of those in power. Realizing that Berenice is just out of her teens when she becomes Queen is mind bobbling. Little Arsinoe is just nine which makes Cleopatra 12 or so.
The story is told from each of the sisters' POV. Cleopatra has a very small role in this first book in the series.
I need to read up in my Egyptian history. I need to wrap my head around the House of Ptolemy. Power was everything to them. Blood and family stood for little.
A very interesting book that I might not have read had I not need it for this challenge.
I look forward to reading the next book. I think I would like to listen to it as well to catch some of the nuances I may have missed.
3.75 stars
June 24, 2022
I absolutely loved this book. I didn't want to put it down, even though I had to to go on a trip. Berenice and Arsinoe were enjoyable characters and you feel so much for each of them. I thought I would hate Berenice in the beginning, but I grew to love her and feel much sympathy for her and the impossible situation she really was faced with. I was constantly astounded by Arsinoe, remembering that she was only 8 when this story began and knowing she has so far to go makes me anxious to begin book 2. These kinds of historic and familial conflicts are so tragic and intense, real "lose-lose" situations from almost any way you look at them.
I thought Holleman did an excellent job of making me feel as though I was in Egypt alongside these girls, and it became overwhelming to decide what I believed in each scene. An excellent read, well-paced, and absolutely engrossing. Your heart swells and it breaks, which I think is a sign of both the setting and times, and of a very capable author.
I thought Holleman did an excellent job of making me feel as though I was in Egypt alongside these girls, and it became overwhelming to decide what I believed in each scene. An excellent read, well-paced, and absolutely engrossing. Your heart swells and it breaks, which I think is a sign of both the setting and times, and of a very capable author.
January 17, 2018
This wasn’t anything ground moving.
The novel takes the structure of the eldest and the youngest daughters version of events - a chapter per daughter .
I liked the take on the time period - but oddly found it strange that as this was during the Ptolemy ruling there would of been Egyptians worshipping Egyptian gods and not Zeus etc- there was no reference to the Egyptian faith at all throughout the book only the gods left by Alexander the Great. I think it might of been more true to history to reflect the struggle at the time of those rulers to encompass he Egyptians in their Ptolemy bubble.
Otherwise average .
The novel takes the structure of the eldest and the youngest daughters version of events - a chapter per daughter .
I liked the take on the time period - but oddly found it strange that as this was during the Ptolemy ruling there would of been Egyptians worshipping Egyptian gods and not Zeus etc- there was no reference to the Egyptian faith at all throughout the book only the gods left by Alexander the Great. I think it might of been more true to history to reflect the struggle at the time of those rulers to encompass he Egyptians in their Ptolemy bubble.
Otherwise average .
December 10, 2020
Visi žino gražuolės Egipto valdovės Kleopatros (Kleopators VII)vardą ir valdymo bei meilės istorijas. Šios knygos pavadinime paminėtas šios valdovės vardas, tačiau pasakojama Ptolemėjų dinastijos istorijos dalis ir apie dvi jos seseris - Berenikę ir Arsinoję. Berenikė atėmusi Egipto sostą iš tėvo ir tapusi Egipto karaliene, grumiasi su savais demonais – negailestinga motina, klastingais patarėjais ir vis augančia grėsme, kad iš tremties atsikovoti karūnos sugrįš tėvas. O jaunėlė Arsinoja, palikta tėvo ir mylimos sesers Kleopatros, priversta pamiršti vaikiškus žaidimus ir stoti į kovą dėl išlikimo žiauriame, dėl valdžios kovojančiame pasaulyje.
July 18, 2017
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I didn't know much about the end of the Ptolemy line beyond the Cleopatra story but found the story of her siblings fascinating. I really enjoyed the shifts in perspective between the two half-sisters (Berenice and Arsinoe) as their stories played out concurrently and found the characters likeable and interesting with good character development. I would definitely read more by this author.
June 7, 2021
reading this and being sad about it is the same thing as rewatching a movie and thinking to yourself “maybe that character won’t die this time”
July 23, 2021
This was an interesting take, since it delves into the story of Cleopatra's sisters, Berenice and Arsinoe. It kept my interest the entire time and I'm intrigued by where she goes next.
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