“Stephanie Dray’s Lily of the Nile is a spectacular blend of history and unforgettable fiction…Lily of the Nile is a fresh and vibrant story of family, loyalty, political games, and love. It’s exquisitely written and left me begging for more. The only letdown was that it had to end.” ~ San Francisco Book Review

Also, a review from Read My Mind. This is the first review that validates my presence on twitter.

“The reader spends most of the time feeling Selene’s displacement, and her struggle to maintain herself, in the midst of a culture that seemingly does not value anything she has been brought up to cherish.” ~AliseOnLife

And a review from the lovely Lynn Spencer from All About Romance:

“The author’s vision of a very faraway time and place kept me reading. Cleopatra Selene is an intelligent narrator and watching her grow up and reinvent herself following the death of her parents and her own captivity in Rome makes for compelling reading.” ~Lynn Spencer of All About Romance

I particularly enjoyed this review because I felt like this reviewer really shared my passions and understood exactly what I was trying to accomplish:

“A stunning novel that looks at how important Cleopatra Selene was to history, how her Ptolemaic heritage would eventually shape her future kingdom of Mauretania, and a look at how the Isaic faith was the forerunner of Christianity…the blending of Isaic magic and actual history give Lily of the Nile a flavor that’s all its own and allows it to stand out amongst the other countless historical novels in the aisles of Barnes and Noble.” ~Amanda Ferris, CamelClutchBlog

And last, but certainly not least, the short and sweet…

“LILY OF THE NILE is so vivid and lyrical I felt like I was standing beside Princess Cleopatra Selene throughout her inspirational journey. Stephanie Dray’s historical debut is meticulously researched and sets the bar for Cleopatra novels.” ~Julie from That’s Swell!

“Stephanie Dray weaves a brilliantly crafted story. Rich is details, plot, and character…an amazing start of a brilliant trilogy. I simply cannot wait to read what comes next.” 5 crowns from Royal Reviews

“Nothing short of breathtaking…” Errant Dreams Reviews

“Augustus was brilliantly done by the author. His thoughts, motivations and life were so clear. I could see and understand his personality perfectly… I found myself so interested in what I did learn that I’m anxious to find many more books about this time period, culture and family. I have a couple books that I’ve put off reading that I’m anxious to read now, so this book has definitely inspired me. I am very excited for the next book, Song of the Nile! I give this one 5/5 moons.” Candace’s Book Blog

“This was the perfect blend of historical fiction and magic… I can guarantee if you love anything Egyptian like me you will love this new take on one of history’s most monumental Queens. Recommended highly for historical fiction lovers.” Historically Obsessed

“I loved this book!  I couldn’t put it down…using an analogy of fabric, fiction for me is generally a comfortable cotton weave, this book, Lily of the Nile is a strong and rich brocade. This book was dense, meaning rich with detail and story lines…I enjoyed every moment of reading this book and can’t wait for the next one in the trilogy!” Kelly’s Lucky You

“In this sparkling historical novel…the elegant use of language, fully realised characterisation, adept play of tension and conflict all combine in Lily of the Nile to create an exciting read.” Lily Azerad-Goldman, Bookpleasures.com

This is always the nail-biting time for a writer, when review copies are sent out and there’s nothing to do but wait for the reaction. So far, so good:

“Dray deftly mixes magic and history in her debut, the first of a projected trilogy set in ancient Egypt. After Octavian defeats Cleopatra and her husband, Mark Antony, in battle, Octavian takes the Egyptian queen’s three children–twins Cleopatra Selene and Alexander Helios and younger son Ptolemy Philadelphus–as spoils of war to Rome, where he makes them part of his family. While Helios rages against submitting to Octavian, Selene adopts a diplomatic path to ensure her survival and her brothers’. Selene discovers hidden powers within herself to fight for her Egyptian beliefs and proves an active, vibrant take-charge protagonist as she goes toe to toe with Octavian and staunchly defends her people. Readers will eagerly look forward to the next installment.” ~Publishers Weekly

This reviewer has read Michelle Moran’s book:

“Mindful of Michelle Moran’s delightful young adult targeted Cleopatra’s Daughter, Stephanie Dray provides a wonderful adult entry that enhances the first century BC thriller with a touch of magic.  Selene is strong as she tries to protect her siblings and her people from the wrath of Rome.  Historical armchair readers will enjoy a trip to the Mediterranean escorted by the charming Lily of the Nile.” ~Genre Go Rounds

And this review really thrills me because I always worry about readers being too hard on heroines:

“I loved the book. I found it to be extremely well written and well researched. The characters, even those who did not appear often had depth and a history all their own…[Selene] fights to protect her family, her people, her goddess, and herself. But it isn’t just about family, loyalty, faith or empowerment, though it is about those things. Its about learning who you are and what you are willing to do to achieve your dreams and protect those you love. And what you are willing to give up. In this, the author has done an excellent job. She could easily have made Selene the perfect historical figure – kind, loving, determined and without any qualms about the things she had to do to survive, or the darker sides of her personality. Instead Mrs. Dray has given us the whole person: she worries about what she’s doing, she lies, she has a temper, has a crisis of faith, and makes mistakes.” ~ 5 out of 5 Stars from Vanessa Barger of Slightly Skewed

“With clear prose, careful research, vivid detail and a dash of magic, Stephanie Dray brings true life to one of Egypt’s most intriguing princesses.”

Susan Fraser King, bestselling and award winning author of Queen Hereafter and Lady MacBeth

“Graceful history infused with subtle magic and veiled ancient mysteries, at a time of immense flux and transition. Cleopatra Selene — regal, stoic, and indomitable daughter of the legendary pharaoh-queen Cleopatra–carries on the spirit of her mother, the goddess Isis, and the soul of Egypt itself into the lair of the conquering imperial enemy. Selene, whose skin speaks the words of queen and goddess in blood, channels the dynastic pride that is her birthright, and seals the fate of the Roman Empire.  Meticulously researched, thoroughly believable, this is a different kind of book, and a true achievement.”

Vera Nazarian, two-time Nebula Award nominated author of Lords of Rainbow and Mansfield Park and Mummies

“In this account of the fate of Cleopatra’s daughter in the household of Augustus Caesar, Dray reveals the same events we’ve seen in Rome and I,Claudius from a very different perspective, that of a teen-age girl. Cleopatra Selene has unusual gifts and problems, but her struggle to understand herself and her destiny is universal. The glimpses of the cult of Isis leave one wanting to know more, and the story keeps you turning the pages until the end.”

Diana Paxson, bestselling author and collaborator on the Mists of Avalon series

“Selene is the best kind of heroine. I loved reading about her journey from orphaned child to empowered young woman in Lily of the Nile. Stephanie Dray writes brilliant and compelling stories!”

Sabrina Darby, Author of the highly acclaimed On These Silken Sheets

Taking my cue from fellow author Courtney Milan, I asked my husband to review my historical fiction debut novel, LILY OF THE NILE. His assessment?

“Sure, if you like touching stories about magic, goddess worship and powerful women who changed the course of history this book is fantastic, but where were the explosions, car chases and shoot outs?” ~ Mr. Dray