Date - 28th August 2026
Book Title - Cleopatra’s Daughter
Author - Michelle Moran
I first read Cleopatra's Daughter around 2012, when I had my sights set on studying archaeology at university. I had found memories of the novel, so when I saw a copy in a charity shop a few months ago, I jumped at the chance to read it again. And I can honestly say that I enjoyed it just as much on the second read as I did the first. Even remembering the plot twist at the end didn't spoil the story for me, which is a testament to Michelle Moran's skillful writing.
Genre - Historical Fiction (Ancient Rome)
Length - 414 pages
Series or Standalone - Standalone
How I Read - Paperback
Other Adaptations - None that I know of
After the fall of Egypt at Octavian’s hands, Princess Selene and her brothers are taken as prisoners of war to Rome. The novel follows her childhood in the capital of the ever growing Roman Empire, at a time when Rome is not yet stable. Ultimately, Selene must adjust to the harsh new world that she’s been thrust into, whilst at the constant mercy of Octavian and his family.
Perspective - First Person (Selene), Past Tense
Tropes - Changing Era, Coming of Age, Corrupt Institutions, Courtly Intrigue, Forced Marriage
Triggers - Attempted Sexual Assault, Death (loved one, child), Murder, Rape (implied), Slavery, Suicide
Review
Setting and Atmosphere
Cleopatra’s Daughter is first set in the city of Alexandria, Egypt. Moran's descriptions of the city are beautifully written and are perfect for creating the image in your head as you read. The temples, streets and rooms that they visit are all well detailed and create an immersive world. Moran then takes the reader across the ocean to the city of Rome and, as the story is written from Selene’s perspective, you get the real sense of betrayal and juxtaposition as she enters a Rome that’s a far cry from her Egyptian homeland. The locations described throughout the novel feel real and emotive, and it’s easy to picture yourself in Ancient Rome with the characters.
The political structure and cultural shift is portrayed in a subtle way, and Moran is an expert at 'show-don't-tell'. Seeing the Roman Empire through Selene's eyes mean that you don't feel confused by the actions of the people of Rome; the technicalities and reasons are explained to Selene and the reader simultaneously, allowing for a seamless read.
Moran doesn't shy away from the gritty nature of Rome. Especially when it comes to slavery and Triumphs, and the (lack of) rights of women. She does so in a way that doesn't gloss over the Roman Empire's atrocities, whilst expertly using them to develop the story's plot.
Characters and Development
The characters throughout the novel are certainly far from two-dimensional.
As Selene ages, we see her priorities shift, and her perceptions on the world around her transform as she grows from a child to a teenager. As the novel is written from Selene’s perspective, we meet the characters through her eyes, allowing for detailed descriptions each time a new character is introduced. Throughout the novel, Moran has done a brilliant job at showing the gradual change of Selene’s opinions on the characters.
The characters are all unique and all have their own flaws which Moran doesn’t shy away from. The dynamics between the characters are realistic and thoroughly enjoyable, from the friction between Livia and Octavia, to the camaraderie between Marcellus and Alexander.
The deplorable actions of certain characters and events are very emotive, creating a brutal world filled with realistic, flawed figures. There are moments throughout the book where all characters can be disliked or feared, and when you feel pity for them (except maybe two rather spiteful characters who I just couldn’t feel anything but disgust for).
Pacing and Plot Development
The story takes place over around five years, from when Selene is 10 years old to when she is 15 years old. Within this, there are a few quiet moments due to the nature of life. However, Moran’s pacing is excellent and there was no point during the story when I was bored and wanted to skip sections. The book has descriptive details of the world constantly interwoven into all aspects of the novel, making every part feel crucial.
Quite a few characters die within the novel (as expected of a novel set in the cruel world of Ancient Rome), but, Moran’s skillful writing makes the violence and death never feel like they exist just for a shock factor; it always seems to play a key role within the story, whether that’s Selene’s character development or progressing the plot.
Prose and Writing Style
I found Cleopatra’s Daughter a genuinely easy-to-read novel, with Moran’s writing style making the story easy to follow, even when the politics and plot were complex. Her use of historical terms interwoven within the writing helped the world to feel even more realistic, and at times it made it clear that Selene was unaccustomed to the Roman way of life without even needing to explicitly say the words.
Moran uses a mix of descriptions of the people and scenes around Selene, and conversations in a way that allows you to fully immerse yourself in both the world and the characters. She knows how to use the characters’ voices to help Selene (and the reader) in the new world of Rome, whilst also using brilliantly crafted descriptions that fully transport the reader into Selene’s life.
In terms of the darker moments of the book, such as the deaths and sexual assaults scenes, Moran deals with them delicately and respectfully. She allows the reader to experience the pain, fear and devastation of the characters involved, whilst not shying away from the harsh realities of the era. As someone with an archaeology and history background, I found these moments to be a respectful way of acknowledging the darker sides of the Roman Empire that many people love to learn about.
Historical Accuracy
Whilst no historical fiction novel is ever going to be perfectly accurate, it is clear that Michelle Moran has researched the era of Augustus in detail for Cleopatra’s Daughter. As someone who knows a decent amount about the Romans from my degree, I really appreciated the level of detail she put into making it as historically accurate as possible in terms of the clothes, language, society, and architecture of the time.
At the start of the book is a timeline, a list of key characters and two maps to help you settle into the world. For those who don’t know much about the time, there is also a short glossary at the back for specific Greek, Roman and Egyptian words that she has included. There is also a brief summary of what happened to the main characters in real life after the end of the novel’s events.
Favourite Character
I loved Galia . She's a dynamic and strong character throughout the novel despite her difficult origins.
I also really enjoyed the attitude of Juba and the subtle antagonism of his character.
Favourite Part
The final arc. It was dramatic and fast paced in a way that made me want more after.
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| The Memoirs of Cleopatra (Margaret George) |
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| Claudia, Daughter of Rome (Antoinette May) |
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