Cleopatra

'Enchanting, smart, and subversive – this is El-Arifi’s masterpiece' R. F. KUANG

'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

'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

‘Sensational: 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

'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

'Vividly realised and skillfully unravelled, Cleopatra is as insightful as it is engrossing. A sorely needed new light' KATHERINE DUNN

'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