Cleo: Chosen

Continuing the story of Cleopatra before she became the legendary figure we think we know, this fast-paced adventure story is perfect for teen girls. Will Cleo - marked and chosen at birth by the goddess Isis - prevail against the evil forces who would gain power? Meticulously researched, Lucy Coats's CLEO books vividly evoke the drama and intrigue of Ancient Egypt.

The author explains that she has been able to use her imagination to fill in the gaps in Cleo's life, and she has done that to wonderful effect, giving us a story that illuminates the person Cleo became, Full of humour and warmth, this book will suit teenage girls who love ancient history - and introduce those who don't to a fascinating period, This is a really cool story from a thousand years ago and you can relate to the characters even though it is set so far in the past, What this book does, apart from entertain and thrill, is teach you about Egypt and to some extent Rome. No amount of reading history books at school can make up for what's in Lucy's two novels about Cleo. It might not all be true or authentic (after all, how could anyone know for certain?), but it sets the scene so well, and learning through fiction for fun means you want to know, and you want to remember it. For yourself, and not for an exam., This is a great sequel to Cleo and adds a fitting end to this part of her life, though we all know it's far from the end of her epic story. I'd love to see Coats' take on the next stage of Cleo's life too.

Lucy Coats was an editor at Orchard Books before she turned her hand to writing. She is the author of many successful books including Atticus the Storyteller's 100 Greek Myths, shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award. Lucy lives in Northamptonshire with her family.