Cleopatra's Daughter

I tried, I really tried to win a copy of Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran from every blogger offering it up for grabs!  I entered every contest, completed all steps to increase my odds.  'Just would not happen.  Then I checked to see if Audible.com had it.  They did and I had credit! Yea, team! I got it.

This is the summary at Audible.com

The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony's vengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome; only two---the 10-year-old twins Selene and Alexander---survive the journey.

Delivered to the household of Octavian's sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian's family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts.

The fateful tale of Selene and Alexander is brought brilliantly to life in Cleopatra's Daughter. Recounted in Selene's youthful and engaging voice, it introduces a compelling cast of historical characters: Octavia, the emperor Octavian's kind and compassionate sister, abandoned by Marc Antony for Cleopatra; Livia, Octavian's bitter and jealous wife; Marcellus, Octavian's handsome, flirtatious nephew and heir apparent; Tiberius, Livia's sardonic son and Marcellus's great rival for power; and Juba, Octavian's watchful aide, whose honored position at court has far-reaching effects on the lives of the young Egyptian royals.

Selene's narrative is animated by the concerns of a young girl in any time and place---the possibility of finding love, the pull of friendship and family, and the pursuit of her unique interests and talents. While coping with the loss of both her family and her ancestral kingdom, Selene must find a path around the dangers of a foreign land. Her accounts of life in Rome are filled with historical details that vividly capture both the glories and horrors of those times.

One of the reasons I enjoyed this story was because it gives a possible answer to the question of "what happened to the children?"  I was familiar with most of the major characters but knew very little about the children, other than Cleopatra's oldest child with Cesar did not live long after his mother.  The story pulled me in quickly and did not let go until a satisfactory ending.  It has whetted my appetite for other stories by Michelle Moran.  

I am glad it is in my listening library as I know I will want to hear it again as the narrator, Wanda McCaddon, added much to the Ms. Moran's words. 

On a 1-5 rating, it rates a 5 with me.