Cleopatra's Daughter

A Novel

By: Michelle Moran

Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon

Length: 11 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

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 10-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 those times.

©2009 Michelle Moran (P)2009 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Dramatic, engrossing, and beautifully written." ( Library Journal)

Good history

If you could sum up Cleopatra's Daughter in three words, what would they be?

Interesting history lesson

Would you be willing to try another book from Michelle Moran? Why or why not?

Not sure

Have you listened to any of Wanda McCaddon’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

she was good, not sure if I remember any other of her performances

If you could take any character from Cleopatra's Daughter out to dinner, who would it be and why?

The man the daughter ended up marrying. He was a very interesting man.

Any additional comments?

This story just never grabbed me, the characters were not developed enough but the history I learned from the book was terrific. So I guess I would say, if this time in history is interesting to you, you should read the book. I hope this helps, I read this as a book for my book group and someone said the book was written for young readers which could be why it just didn't have what I would call depth.

Great Listen!

This was a great story. It is hard to create a story about real people and make it seem real when historical fact is lacking. This story accomplishes this and more. This really gives a great incite into Rome in the early years. It is a great story!

Enjoyable and Light

I liked the ending, but the story kind of meandered and it took forever to get there. Light and pretty good, but nothing spectatular. Good for a boring commute.

Accurately portrayed

Very enjoyable story that kept true to history for the most part, altering or embellishing only for the sake of clarity.
Narrator's performance was well done, giving a voice to each unique character.
If you enjoy ancient history with a human connection, this novel is highly recommended.

Not my favorite of Michelle Moran

I would have enjoyed this book more had I read it versus listening to the audio version. The main character, Selene, is a young Greek girl but the voice of the narrator was an older British woman. I found it very distracting.

A Novel Worthy of Cleopatra's Heirs

What a wonderful delight it was to discover this novel. In the opening scenes I was struck by what a different type of book I was reading. Cleopatra as proud, not wanton. Her attempted seduction of Agrippa was from desperation, not licentiousness. She loved Antony. And Antony... I was telling myself that it was stupid to cry so early in a book. I don't think I was even out of the first chapter. But so many authors focus solely on his debauchery. Yet Moran, in a few brief paragraphs, wrote a man too human to live. Who loved his drink, his game, his wife and his children. She wrote Antony exactly as I had always imagined him. A real mensch.

I could have cheered at the details inserted into the book, such as the fact that Cleopatra had only had two husbands, and was in no way the harlot who has come down to us through a 2000 year old smear campaign. I truly appreciated Moran's point that she was 'more chaste' than a Roman woman, who did not marry for love, but married far more often. And it was such a great detail to see how Alexander was a gifted horse rider and gambler, in echoes of his father.

So many authors kill off their character for effect, and never feel the need to dwell on the deaths after they've served their purpose. But with 'Cleopatra's Daughter,' I felt Antony and Cleopatra as alive in the later chapters as in the earlier, because they were carried in the hearts of their children. That is one of the things most admirable about this book.

Selene said a line that struck to my core and reverberated through the entire book: 'I don't think unhappiness is fated.' She said this to her brother, and I thought it was such a powerful message. Terrible things happen to Moran's characters, but the author always shows their will to persevere. It is both a noble and a very human trait. Not since Lord Bulwer-Lytton's 'Last Days of Pompeii,' have I cared so much about a historical novel and the fate of its protagonists.

Finally, the fate of Selene's pink pearls made me cry all over again.

A wonderful, wonderful book. So looking forward to now devouring 'Nefertiti' and 'The Heretic Queen.'

Great Story!

This was such a great introduction to Michelle Moran! I made sure to download the first 2 books in the series. Moran made Selene as real as ever a character I've read. I really hope the first 2 books are as great as this one, I may have found a new author crush!

Interesting Slices, Lacking full Arc

Michelle Moran has certainly done some research, and she integrates her bits of found historical knowledge into this story. However, this story lacks a real arc, feeling of purpose, or fulfilling conclusion.

I found the whole novel rather depressing, without an ounce of hope. While I found many of the ideas interesting, and a much different angle on Roman culture than I've ever experienced before (slave vs. freeman vs. citizen structure was really interesting) as a story I found this really lacking.

If you are interested in coming of age historical fiction, I actually quite enjoy Michelle Moran's Heretic Queen.

one of my favorite books!

I've listened & reread this book multiple times!!! I fell in love with the characters & the book flowed flawlessly. 🖒

loved it! exactly what I needed!

It was an amazing book! Absolutely choc full of historical facts along with a witty storyline.