Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

Title: Cleopatra's Daughter
Author: Michelle Moran
Published: September 2009 by Crown Publishing Group
Pages: 431
ISBN: 9780307409126
Source: Library

Description: The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s revengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome; only two– the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander–survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian’s sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts.

I Give This Book 4 Stars!

I have to admit, I didn't have a lot of background information going into this story.  Of course I knew who Cleopatra and Marc Anthony wear, but that's about it.  I was immediately pulled into this story.  It's told through Selene's point of view (whose age is 12 through 15 in this story), so it's almost young adult.  But, Selene's thoughts and ambitions are entirely those of a women torn from her family and the country she loves.  It is powerful to watch her refuse to give up what she knows and bend to the rules of a country keeping her captive.  Michelle Moran has a gift for capturing into words the world Selena lived in.  The ending was bittersweet.  I would love to see a sequel following the rest of her life.