The Fierce Rivalry Between Cleopatra and Arsinoe - an Editorial Review of "The Treachery of Sisters"

Book Blurb:

"The Treachery of Sisters' is a riveting tale of ambition, betrayal, and power, reimagining the fierce rivalry between Cleopatra and Arsinoe in a way that will captivate fans of historical fiction and untold stories of ancient Egypt." – NewInBooks.com

48 BC-the Ptolemy empire is in turmoil as Cleopatra has taken up with Julius Caesar and welcomed the Roman interlopers into Egypt to ensure her place as Pharaoh. Arsinoe, her 14-year-old younger half-sister is determined to take the throne from her, and to chase the Romans...back to Rome. Can this mere girl take on the powerful Caesar and unseat Cleopatra? Or is her effort doomed from the start serving only to hasten her journey to the River Styx and through the underworld that lies beyond.

Based on a true story this is another gem by award winning author Gail Combs Oglesby author of “The Centenary Chronicles-Tales of American Women.” She continues to give us compelling stories with characters you will love, loath, and plot twists that you will never see coming.

Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/9kG7yZh

Author Bio:

Gail Combs Oglesby was born and raised in the western Detroit suburbs and lived for many years in California, and Texas. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of San Francisco in Human Resources, as well as a Doctorate in Business Administration from California Coast University. For over thirty-five years she worked in leadership roles in the Human Resources function in a variety of industries and from that experience published, “HR Confidential: An Insider’s Guide to Finding and Getting a great job” which can be found on Amazon.

When not working, the passion that has bewitched her for the last fifty years has been genealogy. Originally the spell was cast while trying to solve a family mystery, which took nearly forty-years to uncover. Through that work she developed a deep admiration for what our ancestors, especially the women, have endured so that we could be here today. It is now her mission to bring their experiences to life through her writing and to celebrate the ordinary women whose accomplishments were anything but ordinary. Her debut novel "On the Wings of the Red-Tailed Hawk" is available now. “Till I Come Home” her next novel in the series will be out November 2023.

Gail is open to book signings, speaking engagements and author panel discussions. She can be reached at GailOglesby.com

Editorial Review: “The Treachery of Sisters”

Author: Gail Combs Oglesby

““The granite was cold against my back as I leaned against the wide column, trying to catch my breath. I could hear footsteps running past me. Men shouted, “She must be found! Look everywhere!” If they found me, they would kill me. The tunnel that led out of the palace was just down the corridor. Could I make it? If I hesitated eventually the guards would return. I couldn’t stay here. I needed to go now.

“Shhhh… don’t make any noise,” said the man as he clasped his hand over my mouth. “Ganymedes! Thank the gods! You found me,” I said as I turned to embrace him.”

Sibling rivalry. Sisterly rivalry. It’s a dynamic as old as time, vividly brought to life in “The Treachery of Sisters” by Gail Combs Oglesby. The novel is subtitled “The Untold Story of Arsinoe and Cleopatra” and this reviewer, already obsessed with Ancient Egypt, was completely immersed in this tale which pits two strong women against each other. To be clear, this is not a sisterly squabble over Barbie dolls, or candy, or who gets to sit in the front seat driving with Mom to the store. This is about dynasties and destinies, about coups and royalty and exile. Lives are at stake. It’s Ancient Egypt in all of its glory, and it’s magnificent.

Yes, there are men in the story, some of them very well known to those with even the mildest interest in ancient history. Others of us will be happily checking off a roll call of famous names, and waiting for Cleopatra to burst into the storyline, instead of only being talked about. Readers will fast learn that Cleopatra does not need to be talking on the page for her power to be felt. But her half-sister, Arsinoe, is more than a match for her, sneaking through tunnels and bending men to her will. Oglesby’s depth of research is obvious, but equally significant is her ability to give two such women, and the men who surround them, personalities that are so real and credible. Somehow it seems perfectly reasonable to read of assassination attempts (successful and otherwise), and the problems one apparently faces when your half-sister catches Caesar’s eye.

““This way! They are trying to escape through the tunnel!” shouted one of the soldiers.

Most of the men went through the door into the tunnel but one remained behind, continuing to look around the room. He even began opening some of the drawers on the dressing table. Perhaps he was thinking this was an opportunity to steal something of value when it would be blamed on the intruders. We watched as he pocketed several pieces of silver.

“We must go before the rest of them return. They will surely place a watch here,” whispered Darius.

“I think we can climb over the wall at the alcove. There is a ledge there. If you stand on it, you should be able to boost me over and then climb up behind me.””

The pacing of “The Treachery of Sisters” is fantastic, and one or other of the sisters are always on the page in some form, either talking or being talked about. The Bechdel Test, which considers the representation of women in film/fiction, would receive a rather large check mark in this type of story (and to be fair, the men talked about do include Mark Antony and Ceasar!). Instead of talk only being about men, there is discussion of self-determination, ruling ancient kingdoms, politics, and rich female friendships, oh, and assassinating family members, but it is Ancient Egypt after all.

“Our preparations took only three days. We hurried to ensure we would arrive before the Senator, and we decided to go on to Klaros now even if it meant we must wait for several days. As I anticipated, Lira was less than thrilled about the idea of staying in tents, but she knew we must maintain a degree of secrecy and control. Keeping our own company was the best way to ensure both. Finally, we were ready to go, and the horses were brought into the courtyard, loaded up, and ready to go. A dappled mare would be my mount. I was glad to see a horse I was familiar with, having seen her many times. Lira mounted a black mare that was slightly smaller than my own.”

“The Treachery of Sisters” by Gail Combs Oglesby is an absorbing read that is highly recommended for all lovers of Ancient Egypt and its legendary protagonists. Arsinoe has Cleopatra for a half-sister, and while this would be daunting for most, Arsinoe more than holds her own, displaying considerable sass, leadership qualities and a strong personality that was truly fit for a Queen. And that ending…and that Author’s Note. The magic of history is that there is always more to discover and wonder about. Indeed, an untold story.

*****

“The Treachery of Sisters” by Gail Combs Oglesby receives 5 stars from The Historical Fiction Company and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence

Award:

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