Cleo: Chosen

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.

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

...although neither Cleo nor Chosen are 'true' accounts of events, they still bring the times and people vividly to life. From the shifting sands of the desert to the luxury of a Roman villa, the discomfort of camel-riding or a cunning cure for sea sickness, the sights and sounds of the times fill every page.

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.