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Cleopatra's Daughter: A Novel Audiobook
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(4.00) - 10,393 listener ratings
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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 vengeful 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.
The fateful tale of Selene and Alexander is brought brilliantly to life in Cleopatra's Daughter. Recounted in Selene's youthful and engaging voice, it introduces a compelling cast of historical characters: Octavia, the emperor Octavian's kind and compassionate sister, abandoned by Marc Antony for Cleopatra; Livia, Octavian's bitter and jealous wife; Marcellus, Octavian's handsome, flirtatious nephew and heir apparent; Tiberius, Livia's sardonic son and Marcellus's great rival for power; and Juba, Octavian's watchful aide, whose honored position at court has far-reaching effects on the lives of the young Egyptian royals.
Selene's narrative is animated by the concerns of a young girl in any time and place—the possibility of finding love, the pull of friendship and family, and the pursuit of her unique interests and talents. While coping with the loss of both her family and her ancestral kingdom, Selene must find a path around the dangers of a foreign land. Her accounts of life in Rome are filled with historical details that vividly capture both the glories and horrors of the times. She dines with the empire's most illustrious poets and politicians, witnesses the creation of the Pantheon, and navigates the colorful, crowded marketplaces of the city where Roman-style justice is meted out with merciless authority.
Based on meticulous research, Cleopatra's Daughter is a fascinating portrait of imperial Rome and of the people and events of this glorious and most tumultuous period in human history. Emerging from the shadows of the past, Selene, a young woman of irresistible charm and preternatural intelligence, will capture your heart.
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"I read this while I was visiting Rome, and it really brought the city to life for me. I think that if I had read it under different circumstances, I wouldn't rate it quite so high. On its own, it is a decent read, but not outstanding. As a substitute for reading a history textbook, it is perfect! "
— Jill (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Dramatic, engrossing, and beautifully written.”
— Library Journal (starred review) -
Dramatic, engrossing, and beautifully written.
— Library Journal Starred Review -
“Historical fiction enthusiasts will delight in this solid installment from a talented name in the genre.”
— Publishers Weekly
Cleopatra's Daughter Listener Reviews
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Lauren Whelan, 6/21/2016
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" Excellent story telling. I loved Madame Tussaud and wanted to read more historical fiction- Michelle Moran is excellent!!! "
— StarvingScientist, 2/14/2014 -
" If historically accurate, she was a very accomplished young girl. "
— Hank, 2/14/2014 -
" Moran does a wonderful job of drawing the reader into her book with colorful descriptions and enjoyable and admirable characters. Granted after I completed the book I had the feeling that not much really happened but nonetheless it was an enjoyable read. "
— Maiyako, 2/13/2014 -
" I really enjoyed this. I can't say how accurate it was historically, but the story and characters were good. It was an interesting read. I couldn't decide if it fit better with a young adult or adult audience. "
— Libby, 2/12/2014 -
" So I would really give this 2.5 stars. It was really interesting to read about this time period but I didn't feel any real attachment to the characters and didn't feel like they were very well-developed. I also felt like the ending was really rushed and anti-climatic. Everything seemed to wrap up a little too nicely and quickly. "
— Jennie, 2/11/2014 -
" A local author, from one of the high schools in my district no less. Moran has made a career out of researching and then writing about this time period. She always manages to capture my attention and keep it throughout the whole book. (And that takes some doing lately.) "
— Macjest, 1/14/2014 -
" The writing of this book was amazing. The details and descriptions put me right in Rome. Will definately watch for my books from this author. "
— Lesli, 1/12/2014 -
" A very interesting book, painted such a complete picture of life during that time. "
— Teri, 12/25/2013 -
" So far it is amazing!!!!! Right now in school my social studies teacher has been teaching us about egypt and cleopatra and to start to reconize that they are the same is awesomely awesome!:p i love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "
— Brynn, 12/22/2013 -
" So happy to find more historical fiction on par with The Other Boleyn Girl! "
— Christy, 11/25/2013 -
" Another great Michelle Moran book! Looking forward to her next novel! "
— Rosie, 10/23/2013 -
" This is one of the best books I've ever read! I can't wait to read Michelle Moran's other works!! "
— Molly, 7/21/2013 -
" i enjoyed this much more than madame tussaud. although that may have been because i was prepared for moran's style this time around. it definitely had my interest the last half...i didn't want to put it down! "
— Emelro, 1/27/2013 -
" Awesome book! I love the history of Ancient Rome. "
— Paula, 9/26/2012 -
" I loved this book! I felt like I learned about the time period and loved the characterization! "
— Christena, 9/18/2012 -
" Really really interesting, even though I'm not hugely into Roman history, however the book turned into more of a young adult dramatic book than I would have liked towards the end. "
— Bryanne, 8/19/2012 -
" Fun read and interesting. Liked her writing looking forward to her other books. "
— Tracy, 8/7/2012 -
" Really enjoyed the story and the historical look at Roman times. "
— Lauren, 3/6/2012 -
" Loved this book! This is the second book I've read of Michelle Moran and I really love her writing. Great historical fiction writer! "
— Cindi, 2/27/2012 -
" Love this book, just like all her others! It is slow going at first, but the end is just what you want it to be! "
— Lindsey, 1/29/2012 -
" This was a great book! If you like history and fantasy, it's perfect. "
— Sophie, 10/11/2011 -
" This book was wonderful....A definite must read!!!! "
— Zsanna, 5/19/2011 -
" I really liked the book. Great descriptions on how life was in the old Rome. I cried towards the end - when you read it, you will know the spot. "
— Wendy, 5/17/2011 -
" Loved it so much, it was so interesting and heart breaking at times. "
— Rachel, 5/12/2011 -
" one of the best books Ive ever read "
— Kristine, 5/11/2011 -
" its pretty good so far i just hope there isnt any romance with selene (frankly i dont like romance with the main charaters)selene remindes me of my book character in the book im writing right now and is probly why i like it so much other then its about egypt. "
— Emily, 5/9/2011 -
" Plot lines very similar (acknowledged) to an old Barbara Michaels book, Wings of the Falcon and Andrea Ashton's "Cleopatra's Daughter" (unacknowledged). "
— Joyce, 5/9/2011 -
" Interesting, but I would have loved it more if it had shown Selene as an adult. The afterword explains that she did great work as Queen of Mauretania, and I would have liked too see that. "
— Melissa, 5/8/2011
About Michelle Moran
Michelle Moran was born in southern California. After attending Pomona College, she earned a master’s degree from the Claremont Graduate University. She is the international bestselling author of Nefertiti, The Heretic Queen, Cleopatra’s Daughter, Madame Tussaud, and The Second Empress. Her novels have been translated into more than twenty languages.
About Wanda McCaddon
Wanda McCaddon (d. 2023) narrated well over six hundred titles for major audiobook publishers, sometimes with the pseudonym Nadia May or Donada Peters. She earned the prestigious Audio Award for best narration and numerous Earphones Awards. She was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine.