Cleopatra's Shadows by Emily Holleman | Rating: ★★★★☆ As a note, a printed galley of this novel was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.
Ah, yes. Historical fiction. It’s a tricky genre to tackle, even amongst the most seasoned authors. Mostly there are two ways that historical fiction can go, as I see it. There’s no real black and white between the two; either it’s a hit or it’s a miss.
In this genre, it can take the past we know from textbooks and other forms of history and bend it into an intriguing thrill ride that is equal parts fiction and nonfiction. Or they can trip all over themselves and create something that is nothing more than a rewrite of history to fit their needs and their needs alone.
Emily Holleman’s spin on history in Cleopatra’s Shadows is fun, dramatic, fascinating and shines light on a time in history that is often forgotten. Holleman’s writing is a blast to study and she really put in a great deal of effort to bring this story to life, this much is obvious from the start. It isn’t easy to capture history and spin it into something such as this, but Cleopatra’s Shadows is an exception and an absolute delight.
It’s also the first historical fiction that I’ve enjoyed in ages–I hope you agree, too!
