Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read.
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Fatal Monsters: Cleopatra, Her Sister Queens and the Downfall of a Dynasty by Jane Draycott
Expected publication: November 5, 2026 by Atlantic Books
Today, Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt is the most famous woman of the ancient world. Yet she was not the only queen of her generation. She had an elder sister, Berenike, and a younger one, Arsinoe, both of whom also ruled Egypt.
The circumstances in which three sister queens each sought power for themselves were unprecedented. Women had not ruled Egypt since the time of the Pharaohs, 1,500 years earlier. But it was also anathema to the Romans, who had many vested interests in Egypt. As Republicans, the Romans despised monarchy - a monarchy controlled by women was beyond comprehension.
Acclaimed historian Jane Draycott tells the fascinating story of three powerful sisters, their rivalry and their efforts to stand up to the might of Rome.
Another book about Cleopatra (and her sisters)?
SOLD!
