Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your initial reaction to the Prologue in which Cleopatra’s addresses the reader directly? How did this opening shape your expectations for the rest of the novel?

2. What did you think of the novel’s blend of historical fact and high fantasy? Did you feel the addition of divine powers and curses enhanced Cleopatra’s story, or did you find it distracting from the historical elements?

3. In what ways did this story align with or challenge your previous understanding of Cleopatra? If you’ve read other revisionist works like Madeline Miller’s Circe (2018), how did this novel’s approach to reclaiming a legendary woman’s story compare?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Cleopatra constantly grapples with the enormous gap between her public role as a divine pharaoh and her private insecurities, particularly her lack of a magical gift. Think about a time you’ve felt a disconnect between a role you had to play and how you truly felt inside. How did you navigate that situation?

2. The bond between Cleopatra and Charmion is one of deep loyalty and love, serving as an anchor throughout Cleopatra’s turbulent life. Have you ever had a friendship or partnership that provided essential support during difficult times?

3. To compensate for her lack of a divine gift, Cleopatra relies on theatricality and performance, from claiming the throne while naked to staging a miraculous healing. In your own life, have you ever felt the need to project confidence or capability when you were feeling uncertain?

4. The novel explores how stories, whether true or false, have the power to shape reality and perception. Can you think of a narrative or story from your own life or culture that has had a significant impact on how you see the world or a particular group of people?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel highlights Octavian’s use of propaganda, particularly through storytellers, to frame Cleopatra as a dangerous foreign seductress and justify his war against her. Where do you see similar tactics used today in politics or media to discredit influential figures, especially women?

2. What does the novel suggest about the anxieties that arise when a powerful nation, like Ptolemaic Egypt, faces the decline of its sovereignty in the face of an expanding empire like Rome? In what ways does this historical tension resonate with global power dynamics today?

3. El-Arifi holds a master’s degree in African studies, and this expertise informs her depiction of Ptolemaic Egypt. How do you think this background shapes her revisionist approach? For those who have read her other works, like The Final Strife (2022), what similarities do you see in her world-building or thematic concerns?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The author uses the framing device of an immortal Cleopatra narrating her story across millennia. What impact did it have on you as a reader to know from the beginning that she survives her legendary death?

2. Arsinoe is a major antagonist, driven by a desperate need to be seen as worthy. In what ways does her character serve as a foil to Cleopatra, and what does their rivalry suggest about female power and ambition within the Ptolemaic Dynasty?

3. The Tension Between Personal Empathy and Political Ambition is central to Cleopatra’s journey, pushing her to commit murder to protect Caesarion’s legitimacy. How does the novel explore the idea that for a female ruler, the roles of mother and sovereign might be impossible to separate?

4. The final revelation that the Ptolemies’ divine “gifts” are actually a curse reframes the entire narrative. How did this twist alter your understanding of the family’s history of betrayal and self-destruction? Did it change how you viewed Cleopatra’s lifelong anxiety about her own lack of a power?

5. The figure of the hakawati, or storyteller, evolves across Cleopatra’s life from a cherished teacher into a political weapon. In what ways does the book explore the dual nature of storytelling as a tool for connection and a weapon for political gain?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Cleopatra dedicates immense resources to building a grand temple to Isis in the hope of finally receiving her divine gift. If you were to design this temple, what specific architectural or artistic elements would you include to reflect her devotion, her hidden insecurities, and her flair for public performance?

2. Write a short story about one of Cleopatra’s subsequent lives mentioned in the Epilogue. Which historical era or location will you place her in? What kind of life does she lead, and what new perspectives will she gain on her time as pharaoh?

3. Imagine you are a member of the court in Alexandria during the early years of Cleopatra’s reign. Based on the political maneuvering you witness, would you align yourself with Cleopatra, Arsinoe, or attempt to remain neutral? What specific event might solidify your allegiance?