A review by bluestjuice
Song of the Nile by Stephanie Dray

4.0

Following on the heels of Lily of the Nile, this was a more mature book in every sense - the writing seemed more polished and immersive, and Selene's character grew up considerably over the 6+ years the story spanned and brought the story from the personal realm of a young girl to the world stage of a queen. With little historical background on the details of this extraordinary woman's life, I came to the novel with few expectations, and was struck by the richness of the setting and the way the historical record was embellished and embroidered to create a plausible tale of intrigue and politics. Dray lets Selene behave in unidealized ways without becoming irredeemable, and while the motivations of the men who want here are never perfectly understood, it seems clear that that's because Selene herself does not always understand them. She's a proud, ruthless champion for her goddess, and I was rather blown away. I can't wait to see how her story concludes.