Book Review: Babylonia by Costanza Casati

Costanza Casati’s Babylonia is a modern retelling that moves fluidly between the worlds of history and myth. At its heart lies Semiramis, the legendary Assyrian queen whose reputation has been maligned in centuries of ancient texts as the “whore queen.” Casati flips that narrative on its head, offering instead a nuanced and sympathetic portrayal of a woman whose power, cunning, and humanity resonate across the ages. Reframing a Legend One of the most compelling aspects of Babylonia is the way Casati re-frames Semiramis. Rather than leaning on the lurid accusations of antiquity, the book positions her as a figure of … Continue reading Book Review: Babylonia by Costanza Casati

Book Review: The Iliad, Graphic Novel

Blurb In a companion volume to his award-winning adaptation of The Odyssey, the incomparable graphic novelist Gareth Hinds masterfully adapts Homer’s classic wartime epic. More than three thousand years ago, two armies faced each other in an epic battle that rewrote history and came to be known as the Trojan War. The Iliad, Homer’s legendary account of this nine-year ordeal, is considered the greatest war story of all time and one of the most important works of Western literature. In this stunning graphic novel adaptation — a thoroughly researched and artfully rendered masterwork — renowned illustrator Gareth Hinds captures all the grim glory of … Continue reading Book Review: The Iliad, Graphic Novel

TV: Warrior Nun Review

Netflix’s algorithm does a pretty good job of spitting out recommendations for you based on previous watch habits. So, it really should not surprise anyone when it tells me to check out a show about a religious female fighting badass based on a comic book. So, it made the list. Warrior Nun is based on a comic book character created by Ben Dunn, and the Netflix series spans 10 episodes. It begins with the death of Ava Silva and then gets weird from there, following the rebirth of Silva, played by Portuguese actress Alba Baptista. Much of it is filmed … Continue reading TV: Warrior Nun Review