Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi: Characters, triggers + review
Whore. Witch. Villain. Seductress. Queen. Pharoah. Wife. Lover. Mama. Tyrant. Who was Cleopatra really?
That’s what we’ll find out in this version of Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi in a semi-biographical historical fantasy memoir, featuring one of the most famous women in classical antiquity. And if you already guessed that from the title, collect a gold star! 😉
Saara El-Arifi’s version delves into Cleo’s background and origins with her family, starting with a bit of a coming of age angle, and spanning her life, loves, regrets and more.
It’s a powerful retelling, and one that fleshes out Cleo’s story. Notably, it also highlights the interpretations of her character amassed over the decades by historians, playwrights and many other notable figures. It’s probably no surprise to hear how male historians have depicted her and it’s refreshing AF that Saara El-Arifi has deconstructed her tale so it's not tarnished by misogyny and bias.
If this version of Cleopatra sounds like something you might be interested in, I wrote a wee little blog post and Cleopatra book review covering the characters, mentioned names and gods and goddesses who may or may not appear, the synopsis and answered some FAQs.
As always, happy reading friends!
Cleopatra synopsis.
A magical, groundbreaking reimagining of an iconic queen, from the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author.
'Enchanting, smart, and subversive – this is El-Arifi’s masterpiece' R. F. Kuang
'Lush world-building and lyrical prose burn brightly on every page' JENNIFER SAINT
'An extraordinary achievement’ SAMANTHA SHANNON
YOU KNOW MY NAME.
BUT YOU DO NOT KNOW ME.
Your historians call me seductress, but I was ever in love's thrall.
Your playwrights speak of witchcraft, but my talents came from the gods themselves.
Your poets sing of my bloodlust, but I was always protecting my children.
How wilfully they refuse to concede that a woman could be powerful, strategic, divinely blessed to rule.
Death will silence me no longer.
This is not the story of how I died. But how I lived.
From one of the most remarkable and acclaimed storytellers of her generation, the #1 bestselling author of FAEBOUND and THE FINAL STRIFE, this epic and groundbreaking new novel shows us Cleopatra on her own terms.
Cleopatra characters.
Main characters.
Cleopatra is told in first-person narrative from the perspective of Cleopatra. She often breaks the fourth wall to talk directly to the reader. For example: “Do not judge me for this. Judge my other deeds in life, if you must, but not this.”
Cleopatra Thea VII / Cleopatra thea Philopator / Selene.
Cleopatra, in Saara El-Arifi’s historical fiction-biographical memoir (did I get that right?) was given many names by historians. Whore. Witch. Villain. Seductress. Queen. Pharoah. Wife. Lover. Mama. Tyrant. Who was she really? This biographical historical fantasy memoir (okay, I rearranged the words, did I get it right?) is probably the closest you’ll come to getting an unbiased account of Cleo. Yes, there are creative liberties taken too, but you know, this is probably going to be more accurate than Hollywood’s version ;)
Other supporting characters.
Charmion (Cleo’s handmaiden)
Pothinus
Arsinoe (Cleo’s sister)
Qar (Ibis)
Ptolemy I
Mikro Theos (Ptolemy XIII - Cleo’s brother)
Ahmose (leader of Cleo’s personal guard)
Julius Caesar
Marcus Antonius
Ptolemy Philopator Philometer Caesar, aka Caesarion (Cleo’s son)
Pompey
Archibios (librarian)
Nilah
Apollodorus
High Priestess Neferu
Eiras ( Cleo’s handmaiden)
Faunus
Calpurnia
Governor Serapion
Khufu
Brutus
Fulia
Cascas
Dellius
Seti
Octavian
Lepidus
Cleopatra Selene (Cleo’s daughter)
Alexander Helios (Cleo’s son)
Ptolemy Philadelphus (Cleo’s son)
Names mentioned in Cleopatra without appearance.
Berenice (Cleo’s sister)
Cleopatra V (Berenice’s mother)
Ptolemy I
Arsinoe II
Aristotle
Aristarchus
Elena of Syracuse
Julia Caesar (Caesar’s daughter)
Mithridates
Ganymedes
Pliny the Elder
Titus Livius
Cicero
Helvia
Sophocles
Gaius Scribonius Curio
Cassius
Plutarch
Tilius Cimber
Al-Masudi of Baghdad
Nicolaus
Velleius Paterculus
Lucius
Antonia
Herod
Elizabeth Taylor
Michaelangelo
Shawqi
Gods, goddesses and famous mythological beings who appear or are mentioned in Cleopatra.
A few gods, goddesses and mythological creatures are very present in Cleopatra’s story, some make cameos, and some are only mentioned in passing. Here is the full list.
Apep, Lord of Chaos
Osiris, King of Death, King of Eternity
Isis
Horus
Anubis, the guide of the dead
Serapis
Heh
Seshat, goddess of words and ink, patron of mathematics and astrology
Sobek, crocodile headed god
Serket, scorpion god, ally and protector of Isis
Montu
Seth
Bastet and Maahes, the cat-headed gods
Ptah, god of creation
The goddess Venus
Cupid
Mars, bloodthirsty god of war
Bes, god of pleasure
Dionysus
Review: Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi.
View my review and follow me on GoodReads here.
If you have ever side eyed Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights casting choices for Heathcliff and thought but “why are you white” (omg Karen you can't just ask people why they're white), then you may feel similarly about 1963 Hollywood’s expensive fanfiction of Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
But to be clear, this is so much much much more than about Cleo’s skin shade and cultural origin.
If you're seeking a more emotionally intelligent, more historically grounded account of Cleo*, I would highly recommend checking out Saara El-Arifi’s Cleopatra. Because it’s crystal clear to me that this author’s version of Cleopatra is doing a lot more than interpreting numerous historical texts to bring to us a more authentic memoir-style historical fiction-biography (with mythological fantasy elements) of one of the most famous women in classical antiquity.
It’s also dismantling and decentring the historical male gaze which has been shaped by Roman propaganda (for example Cicero or Boccaccio). In other words, just men calling a strong intelligent political leader who happens to be a woman, “seductress, witch, whore, villain.”
It's no secret that history is written by the victors but did you know that in some cases it's cultivated and cherrypicked by misogynists? Just saying. We’re all tired.
For example, Boccaccio’s account of Cleopatra’s early reign condemns her sexuality, portrays Cleopatra as a tyrant rather than a queen by birthright, and distorts her narrative to show Cleopatra gaining power by taking it from men, through seduction and tyranny. (Source)
Anyway, I can say this version of Cleopatra was a breath of fresh air, truly. El-Arifi keeps it real. She’s not framing Cleopatra as some sort of great saintly feminist icon who has been wronged by men either. She’s portrayed with flaws, guilt and regrets. She makes mistakes, she’s cunning, strategic and ambitious. She acknowledges her own ruthlessness and cruelty that shape her story and doesn’t try to sugarcoat them. But the most important thing is, this version centres her story, from her life, to her loves and her losses with nuance, without pigeonholing her into a two dimensional archetype fashioned to soothe an insecure man’s fear of a powerful woman emasculating him. (Note: IMO, men with healthy masculinity are not threatened by strong, confident women).
*You can check the author’s notes to see what creative liberties she took if that’s something you’re interested in. There is also a good dash of mythological fantasy in the sense of Egyptian mythology’s gods and goddesses. And I think it was all done beautifully.
Anyways, enough emotional spiralling. The ending of this was poignant and breathtaking and I think someone was chopping onions nearby when I finished it. I thought this was going to be a four star read but I had to upgrade it to five by the end.
Highly recommend. Could someone please turn this into a film?
Thanks so much to HarperCollins UK and Netgalley for the ARC.
View my review and follow me on GoodReads here. I chat about books a lot.
Cleopatra FAQs.
SPOILER ALERT:
⚠️ Some answers may spoil Cleopatra if you haven’t read it already. Proceed with caution. ⚠️
Here are the answers to all your common FAQs.
Is Cleopatra a series?
No, Cleopatra is a standalone semi-biographical historical fantasy memoir. (Yes, I have cobbled together that classification of genres).
Is Cleopatra spicy?
Not Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi is not spicy. It does cover her love stories though.
What are the content and trigger warnings?
Violence
Murder
Religious hypocrisy
Death
Child death
Toxic family relationships
Injury details
Classism
Nepotism
Grief
Gore
Sexual harassment
Misogyny
Animal death
Colonisation
