There was a moment, just over two thousand years ago, when the whole Mediterranean world could have been ruled by a woman.

The Roman Republic was crumbling, torn apart by rivalries. Egypt was a wellspring of wealth. But its rulers had squandered their advantage and ended up hopelessly indebted to the protection racket that called itself Rome. Now a woman, as Pharaoh, had a chance to reclaim what Egypt had lost, to forge an alliance which would save both Rome and Egypt.

Ancient history, high politics, sex and power collide in this dramatic story of the Egyptian queen who confronted and contested the power of Rome. This is Cleopatra and Antonius as you’ve never seen them before, in the first novel from number one bestselling author Alice Roberts.

Professor Alice Roberts is an academic, author and broadcaster, specialising in human anatomy, physiology, evolution, archaeology and history. She is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling Ancestors, Buried, Crypt and Domination. In 2001, Alice made her television debut on Channel 4’s Time Team, and went on to write and present The Incredible Human Journey, Origins of Us and Ice Age Giants on BBC2. She is the presenter of the popular TV series, Digging for Britain.