eowynshelmet 's review for:

Hand of Isis by Jo Graham

5.0

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After enjoying [b:Black Ships|2192272|Black Ships (Numinous World, #1)|Jo Graham|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1442089577s/2192272.jpg|2198000], I was eager to see what Graham could do with the Cleopatra story. Well -- marvelous! This is a perspective on Egypt's queen I hadn't read before, through the eyes of her half-sister and hand-maiden (born to a slave or the same father, Pharoah, and pledged to Egypt's service). The writing is so accomplished but never calls attention to itself. Graham isn't a historian (good!) so I'm not commenting on what we know of the event. But the way she animates her main characters and brings us into the life of ruling a regional power is fascinating. Her female leads are spot on -- smart, capable, in control of their lives and decisions until the end. Among other things, sex (and one riveting scene of rape) are handled brilliantly. The rape victim never becomes degraded, but the pain and shock of that moment reverberate through the book. And when the main character has ho-hum sex with suitors we feel her disappointment and distance. But when she's with her lover later -- a bisexual Roman aide to Caesar's right-hand man and Cleopatra's final lover -- the heat sizzles, especially when there's a menage a trois with the aide's male lover. It's not salacious, but beautiful and the love that connects them is lovely. Highly recommended.