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Cleopatra's Shadows (A Fall of Egypt Novel) by [Emily Holleman]

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Emily Holleman

Cleopatra's Shadows (A Fall of Egypt Novel) Kindle Edition

by Emily Holleman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

84 ratings

Book 1 of 2: Fall of Egypt 2

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.

Print length

353 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Little, Brown and Company
Publication date

October 6, 2015
File size

2635 KB
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Books In This Series (2 Books)

Complete Series

Fall of Egypt 2

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1
Cleopatra's Shadows (Fall of Egypt 1)
Emily Holleman

(84)

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2
The Drowning King (Fall of Egypt 2)
Emily Holleman

(49)

Kindle Edition

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"We forget that Cleopatra was a Macedonian, her royal house a relic of the career of Alexander the Great. Where Cleopatra went to bed with Rome, her half-sister Berenice, at nineteen, tried to hold the Egyptian throne against it, while her sister Arsinoe, still a child, fought to hang on in the margins. Prophetic dreams, fraying family bonds, and desperate development of strength in crisis define this affecting work of historical fiction."

―Zachary Mason, author of The Lost Books of the Odyssey

"A colorful tale full of the sights and smells of ancient Egypt, with palace intrigues populated by eunuchs, learned tutors, and slaves of every stripe."

―Enid Shomer, author of The Twelve Rooms of the Nile

"Holleman richly resuscitates this ancient world of danger, illuminating the lives of the women of one extraordinary lineage and their audacious, overt scrambles towards power."

―Kara Cooney, author of The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut's Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt

"The rich, exotic world created by Emily Holleman in her debut novel,CLEOPATRA'S SHADOWS, is mesmerizing. Intrigue, betrayal and the near-destruction of a dynasty follow in the footsteps of Cleopatra's little-known, but ambitious sisters, Arsinoe and Berenice. A perfect marriage of dedicated research and passionately inventive story telling."―Kathleen Kent, author of The Outcasts

"These characters lived and breathed their lives beyond the page and I could feel them in the room with me. Evocative, immersive and engrossing. I truly loved it."

―Elizabeth Chadwick, author of The Summer Queen

"Readers will sympathize with Berenice as she battles formidable odds.... Holleman succeeds in teasing vivid throughlines from an incredibly complex period.... Her language, anachronism-free, artfully captures the matrix of myth and epic which nurtures and inspires her characters. A high-stakes family drama."

―Kirkus Reviews

"Women have, throughout history, been secondary-often recorded (if at all) as complementary, or as muse to man's genius. But now, as modern societies are re-appraising the value of women, so too are books evolving to match. Readers are pulled into worlds previously closed off-full of tenacity, adventure, and scandal-page-turning, yes, but real.Cleopatra's Shadows reimagines Cleopatra's history through the perspective of her younger sister Arsinoe. We want these stories more than ever."―Meredith Turits, Vanity Fair

"An outstanding debut novel.... Some writers seem destined to unearth the truth of a time and a place and a set of people: Mary Renault and Alexander, Hilary Mantel and Thomas Cromwell and now Emily Holleman and the last generation of Ptolemies. The vivacity, the verve, the sense of bone deep truth of the writing-all are superb. There's a freshness to the prose that is truly captivating, and a dynamism to the narrative that gives life to the people whose names are otherwise a footnote in history."

―Manda Scott, author of The Crystal Skull

"Breathing new life into these historical personalities.... Holleman offers a fresh take on the Ptolemy dynasty and has delivered what promises to be just the first in an exciting series about Arsinoe, youngest sister of Cleopatra."

―Jane Henriksen Baird, Library Journal (starred review)

"Holleman artfully depicts real women of the ancient world, who used their own wits and wiles to maneuver among the most brilliant men of their age.... A triumphantly fresh tale for historians and casual fans alike."―Carly Silver, ancienthistory.com --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From AudioFile

Evocative, immersive and engrossing. These characters lived and breathed their lives beyond the page and I could feel them in the room with me. The historical setting was excellent too and an integral part of the story. As a story of women each vibrant in her own way, it was also a case of damned if you did and damned if you didn't, but I loved seeing how they worked through their circumstances. The author conveyed a real sense of the knife-edge on which they lived. I truly loved it. (Elizabeth Chadwick)

Magnificent... The vivacity, the verve, the sense of bone deep truth of the writing - all are superb. Some writers seem destined to unearth the truth of a time and a place and a set of people: Mary Renault and Alexander, Hilary Mantel and Thomas Cromwell and now Emily Holleman and the last generation of Ptolemies. There's a freshness to the prose that is truly captivating, and a dynamism to the narrative that gives life to the people whose names are otherwise a footnote in history. (Manda Scott) --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

ASIN : B00T3E78WM
Publisher : Little, Brown and Company (October 6, 2015)
Publication date : October 6, 2015
Language : English
File size : 2635 KB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Not Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 353 pages
Lending : Not Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #742,078 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #752 in Biographical Literary Fiction
- #1,419 in Historical Biographical Fiction
- #1,560 in Biographical Fiction (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
84 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		54%
4 star		25%
3 star		8%
2 star		14%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Elizabeth Armet

A fantastic work of historical fiction

Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2015

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When more than one friend raves about a book, you are inclined to give it a try even if it's not in your typical genre. While I am not normally a historical fiction fan (though I did love the Red Tent which this book reminded me of both in terms of bringing a period of history back into light as well as the powerful character development), I am very glad I gave Cleopatra's Shadows a chance.

This is a story of Cleopatra's two sisters: Arsinoe ("younger") and Berenice ("elder'). The story begins when Berenice overthrows her father's kingdom and then spins the tale of the aftermath of this coup. Holleman brings to life not just the lead characters - the two sisters - but the various Eunuchs and advisors and even friends who cross these sisters' paths.

Often when a book is told from more than one point of view, you find yourself liking one voice better, or at least eagerly awaiting the sections told from that voice's point of view. The magic of this novel is that I actually found myself a little sad when each section ended, whether it was the elder or younger's voice. At first I favored one sister, then the other....and ultimately Holleman does an excellent job of making both characters not just likable but human and flawed enough to care about their futures. Through careful word choice, much research and an eye for detail, Holleman manages to have each side of the story bring forth its own twists, its own unraveling, its own shadows.

A more subtle brilliance of this book is that it made me want to learn more about a time period about whichI knew (and frankly cared) very little. For a non-historical fiction kind of gal, that is saying a lot.

Finally, I must disagree with the reviewer who claims that the title of this book is misleading as it suggests the book is about Cleopatra herself (which it is not). Personally, I found the title to be a spot-on summary of what is to come in the book itself: Mystery, a little-known supporting cast and ultimately the shadowy story behind the more well-known sister's rise.

17 people found this helpful

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doglover

The Ptolemys make the Tudors look like the Waltons!

Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2020

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The historical background of the Ptolemy royal court is fabulously detailed as are the characters. Arsinoe, Cleopatra's little sister, and the half-sister of the eldest Ptolemy princess, Berenice, is abandoned by her own family when Egypt is invaded by Rome. She was rank last in the line of succession, so she was, by this perverse family, easy to overlook. The brilliant and ambitious Berenice, is fond of her baby sister, fond of her as if she were a pet at best. Plus, Berenice is preoccupied with finding a suitable husband to establish HER royal line before her father can stage a coup d'etat against her. The whole of Egypt has been thrown off its axis and the average Egyptian is in turmoil. Arsinoe, barely a teenager, has to rely on the wisdom of a eunuch to learn about her country and its problems. She is unaware that this eunuch, an Egyptian patriot, can clearly see a path through the bloody political upheaval. He believes Berenice, and even Cleopatra, cannot battle the Roman Empire. Arsinoe, the last in the Ptolemy line, the political "dark horse", needs to be to be groomed and hardened by direct, real-world experience to claim the Egyptian throne and keep it.

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S. Douglass

Rich in history and intrigue, I could not put this book down

Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2020

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Holleman’s book will draw you in from the first page.
Her telling of an empire we think we know from two unique viewpoints is an entertaining read, rich in history and intrigue. I could not put it down. Set in Egypt before Cleopatra’s rule, Holleman tells the story of Cleopatra’s little sister and her step-sister, both who are neglected by their father. I won’t share more because I don’t want to spoil the story but I highly recommend this book.

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Leah Franqui

A riveting view from the front lines of the death of an empire

Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2016

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It's always so wonderful to enjoy the first of a series, because not only do you have that experience, but you get to look forward to the rest of them! This fascinating glimpse into the world Cleopatra's family puts the reader right in the center of the death throws of the Ptolemaic Empire through the eyes of Arsinoe, whose own turbulent life and family relationships are a reflection of the times themselves. Strongly paced, beautifully described and absorbing, this novel highlights characters who peak out from the margins of history books, the many people, specifically Arsinoe and her siblings, who watched and lived and ruled as Cleopatra became a legend but whose names are rarely mentioned now. An excellent read, and I look forward to the next book!

4 people found this helpful

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Betsy

Illuminating the Shadows

Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2015

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Excellent first effort about Cleopatra's two sisters. I know little about this period in Egyptian history, and the author helped it come to life for me. Looking forward to more.

3 people found this helpful

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CL_Harrison

Engaging enjoyable read

Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2016

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Interesting time period. Engaging, enjoyable read.

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BCaccamisi

Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2015

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Emily Holleman brings the opulence and mystery of ancient Alexandria surrounding the Ptolemy rein beyond the well known stories of Cleopatra and her lovers. A must read for fans of historical fiction.

2 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Abi Robins

An unexpected beauty!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2021

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This book is a 5 star read, it was absolutely fantastic and I was thinking about it long after I put it down and had read lots of other books! We follow two points of view within this book, young Arsinoe and her older half-sister Berenice. The two sisters of Cleopatra. Cleo stole the limelight both throughout their lives and afterwards. This is their story.

I was fully captivated by this book and was barely able to put it down, I have always loved Ancient Egypt as a child and was excited to pick this up. I will say that the title is simultaneously misleading and accurate. It makes the reader believe that there is going to be more of Cleopatra in this book than there is. It is, however, accurate in saying that we are focusing on her sisters that history has overlooked.

The two points of view were, in my opinion, handled incredibly well. Just as I was starting to tire of one girls story and may have possibly taken a break and set the book down the POV was switched to the other sister and I was drawn straight back into the story! The plot was never quite secure enough for me to know what was going on and this kept me on my toes and meant that I was constantly surprised by what was going on.

Through the younger sister Arsinoe we got to learn a little more about Cleopatra as a child, about how Arsinoe was ignored and overlooked, and also about how her education would have been handled and what it was like to be a female child in the royal family. Through the older half-sister Berenice we learn more about how power functioned in the ancient world and about the lack of power women were perceived to have. They are both incredibly strong women and I appreciated how they bounced off of each other.

In terms of accuracy, Emily Holleman states at the end of the book that this story was based on the fragments of knowledge that have been discovered about these two women. So although it is obviously fictionalised the setting itself is as accurate as possible. I always love when fiction works do this because as well as getting a feel for a story you get to learn at the same time! (I’m a massive nerd and I’m happy with it hahaha)

lil

Average

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 3, 2018

Verified Purchase

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 .

Hannah Lawrence

Enchanting

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 26, 2018

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Loved this interesting take on the last of the Ptolemy dynasty, seen from perspectives I'd never read, giving such a fresh spin on the internet filled period. I loved both POV characters and their voices, and had to buy the second book immediately after finishing this.
Would recommend to anyone who loves fiction centred around Egyptian culture, especially the Ptolemies

topaz

Well-written

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 18, 2017

Verified Purchase

Very good book it brings to life Egypt under the rule of the Macedonians well researched it would interest anybody who likes ancient Greek history

Themis222

Loved how both characters were depicted - Arsinoe and Berenice ...

Reviewed in Canada on December 29, 2016

Verified Purchase

Loved how both characters were depicted - Arsinoe and Berenice are such strong female leads - the pacing sometimes was a bit too slow In my opinion, but I loved the writing nevertheless. And I learned a lot about that historical period as well!

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