Blog Tour of Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and am excited to be part of the Blog Tour for Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran here today. Just a quick and heartfelt thank you to Tracee and Pump Up Your Blog Tour for this opportunity! I've always been fascinated by the stories of Ancient Rome, Cleopatra, Marc Anthony, Julius Caesar, Octavian and Livia from when I would read Asterix and Obelix cartoons. Do you remember those? Then my mother got me into the Masterpiece Classics production of Robert Graves's I, Claudius. From the series, I read the novel and was completely hooked! But enough a - here's Michelle Moran with a few words about her new novel, Cleopatra's Daughter.

Synopsis:

Cleopatra's Daughter opens in Alexandra, the capital of Egypt, just as Octavian and the Roman army conquer Egypt. With their parents defeated and dead, nine-year-old Selene, her twin Alexander and their younger brother Ptolemy are suddenly under the protection of their enemy Octavian. Selene and Alexander are brought to the home of Octavia, sister to Octavian and former wife to Marc Anthony. While Selene faces the cruelty of Octavian's wife Livia, she and Alexander are surprised by kindness and friendship offered by Octavia, her son Marcellus and Octavian's daughter Julia. Through Octavia's guidance and her own talent, Selene learns to navigate Rome's political depths. Making herself useful to Octavian while careful not offend Livia, uses the next years well. The true challenge comes when Selene and Alexander are old enough to marry and to wield power.

Review:

I found Cleopatra's Daughter thoroughly enjoyable. Michelle Moran makes Ancient Rome, and its famous inhabitants come alive. Familiar characters are depicted with the personalities and traits that they have become known for - Octavian, his daughter Julia, his second wife Livia, her son Tiberius - which makes the book even more enjoyable.

For readers who are unfamiliar with to Ancient Rome, the book is fascinating and fun on its own. In a life full of intrigue, action, and danger, Selene is sympathetic, strong, and honorable. I highly recommend Cleopatra's Daughter to those who are fascinated by Ancient Rome and those looking for well written, humorous and action-packed historical fiction.

Publisher: Crown (September 15, 2009), 448 pages.

Courtesy of the author and Pump Up Your Book Promotion Tours

About the Author, courtesy of her website: Michelle Moran was born in the San Fernando Valley, CA. She took an interest in writing from an early age, purchasing Writer's Market and submitting her stories and novellas to publishers from the time she was twelve. When she was accepted into Pomona College she took as many classes as possible in British Literature, particularly Milton, Chaucer, and the Bard. Not surprisingly, she majored in English while she was there. Following a summer in Israel where she worked as a volunteer archaeologist, she earned an MA from the Claremont Graduate University. Michelle has traveled around the world, from Zimbabwe to India, and her experiences at archaeological sites were what inspired her to write historical fiction. A public high school teacher for six years, Michelle Moran is currently a full-time writer living in California with her husband. She is the author of the bestselling historical fiction Nefertiti and its standalone sequel, The Heretic Queen. Her third novel, Cleopatra's Daughter, was released on September 15, 2009. Michelle Moran has organized a treasure hunt to celebrate the release of Cleopatra's Daughter. All over the U.S., select bookstores contain clues and prizes of books and jewelry - you can learn more on Michelle Moran's website at http://www.michellemoran.com/treasurehunt.htm

Thanks so much, Michelle, Tracee and Pump Up Your Book Promotion for this opportunity!