Reviews

The Emperor's Babe by Bernardine Evaristo

inke410's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

alina_kolpakova's review against another edition

4.0

Miss Evaristo, you are an icon.

vrhayes08's review against another edition

dark reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

briz's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

reagaaaan's review against another edition

lighthearted sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

motherofladybirds's review

3.0

I enjoyed the verse form and it was witty. It did not shy away from the darker parts of Roman living and the difficult situation of women and people on the margins. It was funny and irreverent and sad.

charlottereadshistory's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 Zuleika is a restless teenage bride of a rich, much older Roman businessman in 3rd century Londinium who is left in neglectful luxury as he travels the empire, until one day the Roman Emperor Severus visits Londinium and she catches his eye.

This was such a find of a book. I had never read a book written in verse before, and I was lucky enough to listen to the audiobook narrated by Sheila Atim. It was a treat for the ears and the energy and lyricality of the novel really created almost a neon-vibrancy of the characters. Zu is 17, her friend Alba is a similar age and their mutual friend Venus is a non-binary bar & brothel owner and I really enjoyed the mix of London slang mixed with Latin as it suited them all so well.

I also loved the depictions of the class system, sexuality, the complexity of women’s friendship and the history of Black women and their experiences. This book is a daring, fun, tragic whirlwind and the complete opposite of your usual academic historical fiction. 

jademgreen's review against another edition

4.0

Like nothing I've ever read before, Bernardine Evaristo is a daring genius. 

The story was difficult to follow at times, or maybe I read it too quickly and didn't digest it fully, but I thought it was a masterpiece.

I couldn't fully connect but I appreciated it so much, hence the 4 stars.

henderslam's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

slc's review against another edition

dark funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0