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Babylonia
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Ancient Assyria, ninth century BCE. Semiramis, an orphan raised beyond the imperial court, refuses the powerless future assigned to her. Her path crosses with Ninus, a reluctant prince, and Onnes, a battle-scarred commander whose loyalty has been purchased by the crown. Desire binds the three together, but military danger and palace rivalry turn their relationship into a struggle over rank, survival and succession.
As Semiramis trains in warfare and diplomacy, she learns to use the ambitions of the court against those who would control her. Casati draws upon the legend of Semiramis, traditionally associated with the historical Assyrian queen Sammu-Ramat, while freely reimagining the fragmentary record. The novel combines royal politics, battlefield violence, prophecy and betrayal to trace how a woman from the empire’s margins becomes a claimant to power.
Historical periods
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