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briz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
reagaaaan's review
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
motherofladybirds's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the verse form and it was witty. It did not shy away from the darker parts of Roman living and the difficult situation of women and people on the margins. It was funny and irreverent and sad.
charlottereadshistory's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Zuleika is a restless teenage bride of a rich, much older Roman businessman in 3rd century Londinium who is left in neglectful luxury as he travels the empire, until one day the Roman Emperor Severus visits Londinium and she catches his eye.
This was such a find of a book. I had never read a book written in verse before, and I was lucky enough to listen to the audiobook narrated by Sheila Atim. It was a treat for the ears and the energy and lyricality of the novel really created almost a neon-vibrancy of the characters. Zu is 17, her friend Alba is a similar age and their mutual friend Venus is a non-binary bar & brothel owner and I really enjoyed the mix of London slang mixed with Latin as it suited them all so well.
I also loved the depictions of the class system, sexuality, the complexity of women’s friendship and the history of Black women and their experiences. This book is a daring, fun, tragic whirlwind and the complete opposite of your usual academic historical fiction.
This was such a find of a book. I had never read a book written in verse before, and I was lucky enough to listen to the audiobook narrated by Sheila Atim. It was a treat for the ears and the energy and lyricality of the novel really created almost a neon-vibrancy of the characters. Zu is 17, her friend Alba is a similar age and their mutual friend Venus is a non-binary bar & brothel owner and I really enjoyed the mix of London slang mixed with Latin as it suited them all so well.
I also loved the depictions of the class system, sexuality, the complexity of women’s friendship and the history of Black women and their experiences. This book is a daring, fun, tragic whirlwind and the complete opposite of your usual academic historical fiction.
jademgreen's review
4.0
Like nothing I've ever read before, Bernardine Evaristo is a daring genius.
The story was difficult to follow at times, or maybe I read it too quickly and didn't digest it fully, but I thought it was a masterpiece.
I couldn't fully connect but I appreciated it so much, hence the 4 stars.
The story was difficult to follow at times, or maybe I read it too quickly and didn't digest it fully, but I thought it was a masterpiece.
I couldn't fully connect but I appreciated it so much, hence the 4 stars.
henderslam's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
slc's review
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
carter84's review against another edition
3.0
I admire the incredible courage that it took to write a book like this in verse with a mix of Latin and contemporary language and I do think that the books is really funny in places, but I cannot give more than 3 stars for the simple reason that I found it a bit lacking in terms of actual narrative.
greggles_93's review against another edition
5.0
This book was unlike any I have read before, in terms of both it's experimental form and daring subject matter. The whole novel is written in blank verse (the verse is mostly in lolloping four-beat accentual syllabics) which is remarkable and displays Evaristo's mastery of the form, because it really does read with complete narrative cohesion. Set in a 'Londonium' of AD211, the Emperor's Babe explores the early life of a Sudanese woman, Zuleika, who is effectively sold into marraige by her father, to an older wealthy Roman who keeps her like a bird in a gilded cage. The protagonist's journey is both highly entertaining and heartbreaking in equal measure, and would highly recommend reading it if experimental form and a nod to Ancient Roman cultures is your thing.