Cleopatra tells her own story in this evocative and sensuous historical epic from the bestselling and award-winning author of Faebound and The Final Strife.

“Enchanting, smart, and subversive—this is El-Arifi’s masterpiece”—RF Kuang, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Katabasis


YOU KNOW MY NAME, BUT YOU DO NOT KNOW ME.

Your historians call me seductress, but I was ever in love's thrall.

Your playwrights speak of witchcraft, but my talents came from the gods themselves.

Your poets sing of my bloodlust, but I was always protecting my children.

How wilfully they refuse to concede that a woman could be powerful, strategic, and divinely blessed to rule.

Death will silence me no longer.

This is not the story of how I died. But how I lived.
“Saara El-Arifi’s lush world-building and lyrical prose invest Cleopatra with a humanity, dignity, power, and independence that burn brightly on every page. Her deep love and vast knowledge of her subject shine through, and we see Cleopatra’s fascinating life portrayed on her own terms, as readers have never encountered her before.”—Jennifer Saint, #1 internationally bestselling author of Ariadne

“Few historical figures have been as maligned, romanticised or exoticised as Cleopatra. With this unflinching take on her life and legacy, El-Arifi raises Cleopatra from the sands of time, greets her with profound compassion, and liberates her from the judgement of men, granting her dignity and humanity. An extraordinary achievement.”—Samantha Shannon, New York Times bestselling author of The Priory of the Orange Tree

“Enchanting, smart, and subversive—this is El-Arifi’s masterpiece.”—R.F. Kuang, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Katabasis

“An evocation of the Ancient World that is so vividly immersive you feel you are physically present with Cleopatra, watching events unfold. Saara El Arifi’s passion and deep knowledge of her subject is always apparent and her Cleopatra has a wonderfully distinctive voice. I also loved how seamlessly the fantasy element was woven into the history, giving Cleopatra’s famous story a new and unique twist.”—Elodie Harper, author of The Wolf Den

“Epic in scope but fine in detail, Cleopatra is a searing, masterful depiction of this incredible queen we all think we know—but Saara shows us we’ve only ever scratched the surface. This novel establishes Saara as the voice of a generation—bringing to dazzling life stories that have been obscured by the sands of time.”—Amy McCulloch, bestselling author of Breathless

“A compassionate, beautiful and lustrous insight into Cleopatra. Saara El-Arifi is a master of her craft.”—Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne

Cleopatra is a sensational work in historical writing: Cleopatra as she is meant to be told. Saara El-Arifi is true brilliance, and this book cements here even further as one of the most prolific and important writers of the moment.”—Hannah Kaner, bestselling author of Godkiller
© Mustafa Raee
Saara El-Arifi is the internationally bestselling author of The Ending Fire Trilogy and the Faebound Trilogy inspired by her Ghanaian and Sudanese heritage. She has lived in many countries, had many jobs, and owned many more cats. After a decade of working in marketing and communications, she returned to academia to complete a master’s degree in African studies alongside her writing career. El-Arifi knew she was a storyteller from the moment she told her first lie. Over the years, she has perfected her tall tales into epic ones. She currently resides in London as a full-time procrastinator. View titles by Saara El-Arifi

About

Cleopatra tells her own story in this evocative and sensuous historical epic from the bestselling and award-winning author of Faebound and The Final Strife.

“Enchanting, smart, and subversive—this is El-Arifi’s masterpiece”—RF Kuang, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Katabasis


YOU KNOW MY NAME, BUT YOU DO NOT KNOW ME.

Your historians call me seductress, but I was ever in love's thrall.

Your playwrights speak of witchcraft, but my talents came from the gods themselves.

Your poets sing of my bloodlust, but I was always protecting my children.

How wilfully they refuse to concede that a woman could be powerful, strategic, and divinely blessed to rule.

Death will silence me no longer.

This is not the story of how I died. But how I lived.

Reviews

“Saara El-Arifi’s lush world-building and lyrical prose invest Cleopatra with a humanity, dignity, power, and independence that burn brightly on every page. Her deep love and vast knowledge of her subject shine through, and we see Cleopatra’s fascinating life portrayed on her own terms, as readers have never encountered her before.”—Jennifer Saint, #1 internationally bestselling author of Ariadne

“Few historical figures have been as maligned, romanticised or exoticised as Cleopatra. With this unflinching take on her life and legacy, El-Arifi raises Cleopatra from the sands of time, greets her with profound compassion, and liberates her from the judgement of men, granting her dignity and humanity. An extraordinary achievement.”—Samantha Shannon, New York Times bestselling author of The Priory of the Orange Tree

“Enchanting, smart, and subversive—this is El-Arifi’s masterpiece.”—R.F. Kuang, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Katabasis

“An evocation of the Ancient World that is so vividly immersive you feel you are physically present with Cleopatra, watching events unfold. Saara El Arifi’s passion and deep knowledge of her subject is always apparent and her Cleopatra has a wonderfully distinctive voice. I also loved how seamlessly the fantasy element was woven into the history, giving Cleopatra’s famous story a new and unique twist.”—Elodie Harper, author of The Wolf Den

“Epic in scope but fine in detail, Cleopatra is a searing, masterful depiction of this incredible queen we all think we know—but Saara shows us we’ve only ever scratched the surface. This novel establishes Saara as the voice of a generation—bringing to dazzling life stories that have been obscured by the sands of time.”—Amy McCulloch, bestselling author of Breathless

“A compassionate, beautiful and lustrous insight into Cleopatra. Saara El-Arifi is a master of her craft.”—Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne

Cleopatra is a sensational work in historical writing: Cleopatra as she is meant to be told. Saara El-Arifi is true brilliance, and this book cements here even further as one of the most prolific and important writers of the moment.”—Hannah Kaner, bestselling author of Godkiller

Author

© Mustafa Raee
Saara El-Arifi is the internationally bestselling author of The Ending Fire Trilogy and the Faebound Trilogy inspired by her Ghanaian and Sudanese heritage. She has lived in many countries, had many jobs, and owned many more cats. After a decade of working in marketing and communications, she returned to academia to complete a master’s degree in African studies alongside her writing career. El-Arifi knew she was a storyteller from the moment she told her first lie. Over the years, she has perfected her tall tales into epic ones. She currently resides in London as a full-time procrastinator. View titles by Saara El-Arifi
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