October marks something new for us: Babylonia by Costanza Casati is our first in house pick in the fantasy and mythology genre, and I’m genuinely excited about it. It’s a retelling of Semiramis, the only woman to rule the Assyrian Empire, and Casati takes what’s mostly myth and legend and turns it into a story about power, ambition, and the relationships that shape a person on their way to the top.
I picked it because it felt like the right way to start exploring this genre with you all: grounded in real history, but with the scope and drama of the best mythological fiction. One thing worth knowing going in: this isn’t the sprawling, invented world fantasy some of you might be picturing when you hear the genre. It’s rooted in ancient history rather than a fictional universe. We’re already planning to bring you a true world building fantasy pick early next year, so if that’s more your thing, it’s coming. For now, I hope you’ll dive into Semiramis’s story with us.
Happy reading,
Erin Woodward
