Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle MoranMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
This book starts with the victory of Octavian Caesar over Marc Anthony and Kleopatra (this is apparently the correct spelling according to the book), and their children(twin brother and sister and a younger brother) are brought to Rome while both Anthony and Kleopatra commit suicide rather than being taken alive to Rome. On the way the younger brother also dies leaving only the twins to reach Rome. The children grow up with Caesar's own children and nephews and nieces. They also had to go to school everyday (like common children) but after that they visited horseraces and placed bet on them.
The book gives a glimpse into the life of noblemen and their day to day lives in that period. It also shows how Caesar and others of his stature had to maintain the guise of living a simple life, but had a lavish life hidden from the common men or the plebeians. They both looked down upon and were intimidated by the plebeians, as they knew if the plebeians overthrew the senate, their power would go.
But during this phase, slave revolution had just started rearing its head (a long time after the Spartacus incident) and there were some people who tried to make conditions better for the slaves and educate common people about the rights of slaves.
We are also able to see through the eyes of Selena, the daughter, how Egypt did things differently than Rome and how Greeks thought themselves superior to Romans and vice versa. She keeps comparing the new life with the old life. The brother on the other hand, settles into the new life very quickly and does not question it as much. I felt the character of the brother settled into somewhat a shadow of the main character, whereas being twins, there should have been more of an attachment or communication between the two. I also felt the romantic thread developed in the story for Selena was not very realistic, neither in the crush she had, nor in the final marriage that took place.
Overall I felt that it was a nice view of the society and culture in ancient Rome and Egypt, but there was not much well structured plot that would keep you waiting in suspense. It was more like a snapshot of a part of the life of Selena - Cleopatra's daughter, and it was worth a read.
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