CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER by Michelle Moran, 2009.

I practically gobbled this down, it read so quickly. I am a big fan of novels about ancient Rome (I, Claudius is still my favorite), plus having enjoyed Moran's other novels set in ancient Egypt, I expected this to be good too, and I wasn't disappointed. Beginning with Rome's takeover of Alexandria and Egypt, the deaths of Antony and Cleopatra and Octavian's taking their orphaned children, Alexander, Selene, and Ptolemy to Rome, she spins a fascinating story of their lives in ancient Rome. Little Ptolemy dies en route, but ten year old twins Alexander and Selene, once in Rome, are placed under the care of Octavian's sister, the caring Octavia. Once married to the twins' father, Antony, she is a kind and compassionate woman who loves children, and she has a houseful--her own, plus assorted others at various times from former spouses and relatives. As the twins are educated and they mature in Octavia's household, they learn the ways of Roman society, its customs and attitudes and ideas, especially what is valued and not valued. I thoroughly enjoyed Moran's portrayals of the young people, with their various feelings, foibles and problems: Tiberius, Marcellus, Julia, Antonia, Claudia, and Juba, all of whom played important parts in the lives of Alexander and Selene. And the more mature and familiar characters of Octavia, Livia, Agrippa, and Octavian/Augustus are every bit as colorful and real. Especially liked the scenes between Octavia and the acidic Livia. Moran brings all these characters and others to life very vividly, as well as providing wonderfully descriptive passages of Roman life, in all its glory and horror. The whole slavery issue and the practice of disposing of unwanted children made for interesting and awful reading. Told from mostly from Selene's point of view, there is plenty of action, period detail, and enough juicy dialogue to keep the narrative moving right along. Overall, a very well told story, smoothly written, and a great read.