This book does an excellent job portraying Cleopatra in her shrewd intelligence and ambition. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the novel that explored her childhood and early adolescence, but I found that this book fell into the trap of most Cleopatra retellings in the second half: focusing almost exclusively on her relationship with Julius Caesar. 

I think the book was well written and researched, and overall, I enjoyed it. Despite focusing heavily on Cleopatra's relationship with Caesar, the author does a good job of portraying it not as a romance but a political alliance. Although Cleopatra is portrayed as being fond of Caesar, it is clear that it is not a love story between them. For most of the book, I found myself feeling pity for Cleopatra: she is impressive, intelligent, and intimidating, but she is lonely and deprived of the simple luxuries of friendship and genuine love. Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone with an interest in historical fiction. 

Thank you Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK for the chance to read an advanced copy of this book.