Cleopatra

By Saara El-Arifi

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."--R.F. Kuang, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Katabasis

This stunning edition includes designed endpapers and a custom case stamp.

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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0593875648
• ISBN13: 9780593875643
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.22 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Fascinating approach to a woman who is finally seen from a woman’s viewpoint and not a misogynistic

Beautifully written story about the journey of Cleopatra in her own words and point of view. From child to Pharaoh, queen, lover, wife, and mother. Her words to set the falsehoods and slanderous stamens and stores to rest. Well maybe not to rest, but at least have her version known. Many will always remember the biased misogynistic stories that have been around for generations, but some will realize the truth from her side. To know her burdens. I love the way this story is written. Using history to tell a more likely truth of things from her view. Not the few records from those that loathed her and only wished to demean her memory for their only benefit. It’s a short but beautiful read with a nice twist. A beautiful, beautiful read. To be a strong, intelligent woman with sense of self and to be vilified for it. Arc read