September 2025: Babylonia (Casati)

Hi all, September's book is Babylonia by Costanza Casati. (https://bookshop.org/a/15022/9781464228216)

"Babylonia across the centuries has become the embodiment of lust, excess, and dissolute power that ruled Ancient Assyria. In this world you had to kill to be king. Or, in the case of Semiramis, an orphan raised on the outskirts of an empire: Queen.

Nothing about Semiramis's upbringing could have foretold her legacy. But when she meets a young representative of the new Assyrian king, a prophecy unfolds before her, one that puts her in the center of a brutal world and in the hearts of two men - one who happens to be king.

Now a risen lady in a court of vipers, Semiramis becomes caught in the politics and viciousness of ancient Assyria. Instead of bartering with fate, Semiramis trains in war and diplomacy. And with each move, she rises in rank, embroiled in a game of power, desire, love, and betrayal, until she can ascend to the only position that will ever keep her safe.
In her second novel, Costanza Casati brilliantly weaves myth and ancient history together to give Semiramis, the only female ruler of the Assyrian Empire, a voice, charting her captivating ascent to a throne no one promised her."

For anyone who wants to read ahead, October's book will be The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. (https://bookshop.org/a/15022/9781492670124)

Meetup charges us to host the group; contributions of $1-2/meeting to offset this cost are appreciated (Venmo = Matthew-Litke-1 or toss me a couple bucks at the meeting).