Sign up for our newsletters to receive our Most Anticipated Books of 2025!

Book Summary and Reviews of Babylonia by Costanza Casati

Babylonia by Costanza Casati

Babylonia

A Novel

by Costanza Casati

  • Critics' Consensus (9):
  • Readers' Rating (2):
  • Published:
  • Jan 2025, 448 pages
  • Rate this book

About this book

Book Summary

From the author of the bestselling Clytemnestra comes another intoxicating excursion into ancient history, painting the brutal and captivating empire of gods and men, and the one queen destined to rule them all.

A common woman. The governor she married. The king who loved them both.

Babylonia across the centuries has become the embodiment of lust, excess, and dissolute power that ruled Ancient Assyria. In this world you had to kill to be king. Or, in the case of Semiramis, an orphan raised on the outskirts of an empire: 

Queen.

Nothing about Semiramis's upbringing could have foretold her legacy. But when she meets a young representative of the new Assyrian king, a prophecy unfolds before her, one that puts her in the center of a brutal world and in the hearts of two men - one who happens to be king.

Now a risen lady in a court of vipers, Semiramis becomes caught in the politics and viciousness of ancient Assyria. Instead of bartering with fate, Semiramis trains in war and diplomacy. And with each move, she rises in rank, embroiled in a game of power, desire, love, and betrayal, until she can ascend to the only position that will ever keep her safe.

In her second novel, Costanza Casati brilliantly weaves myth and ancient history together to give Semiramis, the only female ruler of the Assyrian Empire, a voice, charting her captivating ascent to a throne no one promised her.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
These are original discussion questions written for BookBrowse

  1. At the beginning of Babylonia, Semiramis tries to rescue the area's governor (for a fee). She fails, and the man is impaled in the center of her village. When the square is empty, she approaches the body and carefully cleans the blood from its face. Why do you suppose she takes this action? How do you think this scene set the stage for the rest of the novel?
  2. Semiramis's successes are minimized from childhood. She's called a witch and a whore, manipulative and power-hungry, among other things. Are there any characters, in your opinion, who truly see her accomplishments? Why do you believe women's contributions have generally been undervalued throughout history? Has this changed...
Please be aware that this discussion may contain spoilers!

See what our members are saying about this book in our Community Forum.

Ribat believes that “The gods bestow different gifts on different people.” What gifts do you think Semiramis, Ninus and Onnes possess? What gifts do you think you have?
What @Patricia_Williams wrote is the same conclusion I came to. We all have positive attributes and attributes we struggle with, yet we all have equal worth. In this country, which is all I have experienced, we tend to elevate athletes, performers, and other celebrities to hero status. Yet, if lo...
-Lana_Maskus


Ninus quotes his father: “A woman’s love and a man’s duty…There comes a point in our lives when every one of us must choose. And there is only one right choice to make.” Which characters choose love over duty? Do they make the right choice?
I felt that Ninus placed love over duty in his love for his mother even though they had a somewhat adversarial relationship, his love on Onnes, and his love for Semiramis. At first I thought he was weak, but I saw his strength by the end of the novel.
-Lana_Maskus


Semiramis tries to rescue the area’s governor, but the man is impaled. When the square is empty, she cleans the blood from the body. Why do you suppose she takes this action? How do you think this scene set the stage for the rest of the novel?
For me it demonstrated that although she lived a brutal time she still had a moral core. She could not do anything to prevent his death or ease his suffering, but she could help him through his death.
-Lana_Maskus


What audience would you recommend Babylonia to? Is there another book or author you feel has a similar theme or style?
I think I answered this question in my answer to what I thought of Babylonia overall.
-Lana_Maskus


Ninus thinks, “Desire is a strange thing. What makes us want one person over another?” Do you think Onnes, Ninus and Semiramis exhibit desire, and if so, what do you think makes them want one person over another? How would you answer his question?
If I could answer this question I could make millions.
-Lana_Maskus


Semiramis’s successes are minimized from childhood. Are there any characters who truly see her accomplishments? Why do you believe women’s contributions have generally been undervalued throughout history? Has this changed over time, in your opinion?
Women, especially common women, were seen as baby bearers and subservient to men in ancient times. This was reinforced in Judeo-Christian doctrine. I think when women had to come out of their homes to work the farms, in factories in order to maintain economies while men fought in wars, their soci...
-Lana_Maskus


Semiramis asks Ribat, “What do you do when you want something you know you can’t have?” He says he thinks of the consequences that will ensue. What did you think of this advice? Why do you suppose it didn’t help Semiramis? What advice would you give her?
I thought Ribat's advice was excellent. But Semiramis' emotional makeup was such that she couldn't follow it. Desire for power was her overriding personality trait.
-Lana_Maskus


Onnes, Ninus & Semiramis play “truth or dare” and ask what each fears; Onnes responds “madness,” while Semiramis replies “helplessness.” How were their characters illuminated by their answers, and how did this play out in the rest of the novel?
I agree with @Linda_Monaco . Both Semiramis were fearful of what they experienced in childhood
-Lana_Maskus


Sasi tells Semiramis that he believes she loved Onnes, “But do you think that in our world, love can ever be a strength?” How would you answer him? Do any of the characters truly experience love, in your opinion?
True love of one's fellow human beings, no matter how despicable they are, if they are not known to you, if they have wronged you is probably the most difficult, but purest love there is behind, if you are a Christian, love of God.
-Lana_Maskus


While Babylonia is based on ancient histories very little is truly known about Semiramis’s life and reign. What do you think of the way the author filled in the gaps, and how she depicted her heroine and those around her?
Because so little is known about Semiramis, this gave author to flesh her out into just about way the author saw fit without compromising fact.
-Lana_Maskus


In an exchange between Semiramis and Nisat, Nisat states she finds that “the less people have been given in life, the more eager they are to prove themselves.” Does Nisat’s statement hold true? Which characters are trying to prove themselves and to whom?
Yes and no. I know individuals for whom adversity in their childhood drove them to achieve their dreams and sometimes to be overachievers. And I know individuals whose childhoods were something they could not rise above even with the support of others. In Babylonia, there several who strove might...
-Lana_Maskus


The author writes, “Can we grasp the instant when our fate turns? Or can we understand it only later, once the moment grows into a memory?” What do you think? Do you have a moment when your fate turned, and did you know it at the time?
@Sonya_M Your "story" and mine are almost parallel. Was it fate or was it simply decisions I had based on where I was in life at the time and/or the information I had on which to base those decisions? I'm inclined to think for me, it was the latter. But that is not to say that it couldn't be fate...
-Lana_Maskus


Did anyone find it puzzling that there was never a return to Semiramis' village?
I didn't find it puzzling. She left a place where she was treated poorly and lived in a palace. Why go back?
-Vicky_Sargent


Which minor character intrigued you the most, and why?
I enjoyed Sasi - he was funny and I wasn't quite sure where his loyalties were at times.
-Vicky_Sargent


Had you heard of Semiramis before reading Babylonia? What did you learn about the time period from the novel?
I knew nothing of Semiramis before reading this book. This depiction certainly showed the places and time to be dangerous and difficult. I also learned about the governmental structure of the area.
-Vicky_Sargent


Nisat tells Ninus, “People usually believe that wisdom and knowledge can be learned...It is strength that can be learned. One has understanding or one doesn’t.” What do you think she means by this statement? Do you agree with her assessment?
Indeed, Kim! Which is why I appreciate these historical novels that reveal how much power and influence women wielded behind the thrones, because it's a fact that many women used the power available to them in their spheres to influence the men around them. Would we call that "soft power" in poli...
-Peggy_Kurkowski


When questioned, Sasi says he believes that fate “always leads us where we are meant to be.” What do you think of this statement? Do you agree? How much control do the characters have over their fates?
To say that fate leads us to where we are meant to be implies that we have no control over our fates. This is, to me, the same as the Christian doctrine of predestination promoted by some theologians; i.e. that God foreordains all that will happen, including the salvation of some and not others. ...
-Lana_Maskus


Semiramis tells Sasi that an ally’s greatest quality is loyalty, but he disagrees, saying it’s honesty instead. What did you think of his reply? With which character would you agree and why?
Definitely agree with Sasi, and definitely do not agree with Semiramis, especially given the current political partisanship in our country. When politicians demand unwavering loyalty over truth and threaten and take revenge against those who speak and act with honesty, our democracy is in dire st...
-Lana_Maskus


Overall, what did you think of Babylonia? (no spoilers, please!)
I really liked parts of it, but would have preferred less gore and violent details. I will really have to think about how I'd rate this one.
-Rebecca_R


What were Semiramis true feelings for Onnes and Ninus? I was left wondering were there true feelings or just lust? As I questioned if she truly loved anyone
You know, Semiramis was very young when she met Onnes. She probably did fall for not only his ability to rescue her, but his strength and certainty as well. (Reminds me of my first marriage, LOL.)
-kim.kovacs


If you read the author’s previous novel, Clytemnestra, how did the two compare?
I have not read Clytemnestra, but will be doing so. The only comparable book to Babylonia that I have read is Ariadne by Jennifer Saint. I did find Babylonia to be a more engaging story. Perhaps that is because Semiramis was a "warrior" who did not allow others to manipulate her, but instead cont...
-Lana_Maskus


Is there a quote or scene in Babylonia that stood out for you? Why do you suppose it resonated?
Laura, Great quote. I do think desire is fascinating. Not just for relationships, but for physical things. In my opinion, there seems to be greater appreciation if the attainment is delayed or there was an effort in obtaining in the desire.
-Dee_Driscole


About the Babylonia by Costanza Casati Discussion category
Please join us in our book club discussion of Babylonia by Costanza Casati.
-nick


What are your reading this week? (12-12-2024)
I finished Babylonia, by Costanza Casati yesterday for the upcoming BookBrowse discussion. I thought it was much stronger than her previous book, Clytemnestra , and I'm looking forward to having a chance to talk about it with others. Next up is Let's Call Her Barbie, also for a BookBrowse discuss...
-kim.kovacs


Which authors should we interview?
I just finished Babylonia for the BookBrowse discussion (it was excellent, BTW). I'd love to hear more from the author, Costanza Casati, for starters, how she stumbled on this historical figure & what made her want to write about her.
-kim.kovacs

Membership Advantages
  • Reviews
  • "Beyond the Book" articles
  • Free books to read and review (US only)
  • Find books by time period, setting & theme
  • Read-alike suggestions by book and author
  • Book club discussions
  • and much more!
  • Just $50 for 12 months or $18 for 3 months.
  • More about membership!

Reviews

Media Reviews

"Casati chronicles the ruthless rise of Assyrian queen Semiramis in this masterful saga...No matter how much cruelty Semiramis dispenses, Casati never loses sight of what drives her heroine to achieve a status where she need not obey anyone else. Admirers of Robert Graves's Claudius novels will be riveted." ―Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Casati renders the ancient world Semiramis inhabits in vivid detail, bringing in the perspective of a slave in her household, and together, the pair illustrates the influence even the most unlikely actors can have on history. Casati's compelling second outing portraying the Assyrian empire's only queen is another triumph." ―Booklist

"Mesmerizingly intricate…Captivating and historically insightful...A resonant page turner." ―BookPage

"There is an entrancing quality to Costanza Casati's writing that transports us to other worlds and past times, then holds us there―willingly enmeshed in story―until the final page is turned. Reading Babylonia is like reading an enchantment on the page, in which the unfathomable heroines of legend and history become living people, who suffer, bleed, dare, and love; they carve out their space in our hearts, and in our shared humanity." ―Annie Garthwaite, author of Cecily

"A stirring, addictive and intoxicating tale with a deft weaving of myth and history. Emotionally rich and lyrically genius, Babylonia cements Costanza Casati as one of the most skilled and exciting writers of historical fiction, bringing an incomparable vibrance to the genre. An incredible novel." ―Bea Fitzgerald, bestselling author of Girl, Goddess, Queen

"Babylonia was, in short, a vicious delight. With the resplendent prose that truly distinguishes her work, Casati plunges us into an untapped age of antiquity. In doing so, she also draws us into a world of intrigue, beauty, and necessary ruthlessness in the name of power. Readers will revel in the tale of the enigmatic Semiramis from its first page to its last. This is a story richly rendered and utterly captivating." ―Ayana Gray, New York Times bestselling author

This information about Babylonia was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

Reader Reviews

Write your own reviewwrite your own review

Maureen C

Captivating
This is a beautifully written story of Semiramis, a motherless child who becomes Queen of the Assyrian Empire. Semiramis becomes an orphan, when her mother takes her own life. She is adopted by a shepherd, Simmas, but is mistreated. Eventually Semiramis grows into a young woman and decides to leave the village, before she is forced into marriage.

Semiramis meets Onnes and finds a way for a better life. Onnes is the illegitimate half brother of King Ninus .She quickly marries Onnes. Semiramis convinces Onnes to train her as a warrior. This is unheard of, but she must fight for what she wants.
The writing of this book was breathtaking, with vivid descriptions of time and place.
I was transported to another world.

The characters were well developed. I loved Semiramis love hate relationships with Onnes and King Ninus. There was love, loyalty and betrayal. This book was intriguingly woven with facts and myths. It is a captivating read you won’t be able to put down, Don’t miss it.

Labmom55

Excellent world building
With Babylonia, Costanza Casati has once again conjured to life an ancient queen and the empire she ruled, Assyria. She’s taken the bare bones of history and myth and fleshed them out. Semiramis was an orphan living in an outpost of the kingdom, raised by a shepherd. She attracts the attention of Onnes, a general and half-brother to the king and marries him. Through sheer force of will, intelligence and bravery, she rises to the ultimate seat of power.

Casati excels at world making. I felt I got a real sense of historical Assyria in 9th Century BC. It’s a graphic story, and not just the battle scenes. The story focuses on Semiramis, Onnes and the king, Ninus. All three main characters are fascinating. Complex, by turns ruthless and caring. Their relationships to each other kept shape shifting, which kept me engrossed. Even the secondary characters were well defined and I liked how Casati mixes historical figures with fictional ones.

I listened to this and Ayesha Antoine’s voice had the perfect tone, almost majestic in her telling. My thanks to Netgalley and RBMedia for an advance copy of this audiobook.

Membership Advantages
  • Reviews
  • "Beyond the Book" articles
  • Free books to read and review (US only)
  • Find books by time period, setting & theme
  • Read-alike suggestions by book and author
  • Book club discussions
  • and much more!
  • Just $50 for 12 months or $18 for 3 months.
  • More about membership!

Author Information

Costanza Casati Author Biography

Arianna Genghini

Costanza Casati was born in Texas and grew up in a village in Northern Italy, where she studied Ancient Greek, and Ancient Greek literature, under one of the country's most rigorous academic programmes. She is a graduate of the prestigious Warwick Writing MA in the UK, and has worked as a screenwriter and journalist. Her debut novel, Clytemnestra, was a Saturday Times bestseller and shortlisted for the HWA Debut Crown Award. Babylonia, set in the fierce world of the Assyrian Empire, is her second novel.

Author Interview

Name Pronunciation
Costanza Casati: koh-STAN-zuh kuh-ZAH-tee

Other books by Costanza Casati at BookBrowse
  • Clytemnestra jacket
Membership Advantages
  • Reviews
  • "Beyond the Book" articles
  • Free books to read and review (US only)
  • Find books by time period, setting & theme
  • Read-alike suggestions by book and author
  • Book club discussions
  • and much more!
  • Just $50 for 12 months or $18 for 3 months.
  • More about membership!

More Recommendations

Readers Also Browsed . . .

more historical fiction...

Membership Advantages
  • Reviews
  • "Beyond the Book" articles
  • Free books to read and review (US only)
  • Find books by time period, setting & theme
  • Read-alike suggestions by book and author
  • Book club discussions
  • and much more!
  • Just $50 for 12 months or $18 for 3 months.
  • More about membership!

BookBrowse Book Club

  • Book Jacket
    The Wager
    by David Grann
    From the bestselling author of Killers of the Flower Moon, a gripping story of shipwreck, survival, and savagery, culminating in a court martial that reveals a shocking truth.
  • Book Jacket
    The Bluest Eye
    by Toni Morrison
    The story of a black girl in America whose love for its blond, blue-eyed children can devastate all others. First published 1970; won the 1993 Nobel Prize.
  • Book Jacket
    The Frozen River
    by Ariel Lawhon
    From the bestselling author of I Was Anastasia comes a historical mystery inspired by 18th-century midwife Martha Ballard, who investigates a shocking murder.
Who Said...

At times, our own light goes out, and is rekindled by a spark from another person.

Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes!

Members Recommend

  • Book Jacket

    Three Days in June
    by Anne Tyler

    A new Anne Tyler novel destined to be an instant classic: a socially awkward mother of the bride navigates the days before and after her daughter's wedding.

  • Book Jacket

    Harlem Rhapsody
    by Victoria Christopher Murray

    The extraordinary story of the woman who ignited the Harlem Renaissance.

  • Book Jacket

    Beast of the North Woods
    by Annelise Ryan

    When a local fisherman is mauled to death, it seems like the only possible cause is a mythical creature.

Wordplay

Solve this clue:

T the L

and be entered to win..

Your guide toexceptional          books

BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.