This was such a spine-tingling, rip-roaring, What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get kind of book and I absolutely loved it! The Emperor's Babe is a satirical tragedy, written in verse and it's set in London (Londinium) during the time of Roman occupation in the second century. Enter Zuleika, our spirited protagonist, a nubian beauty who's parents migrated to Londinium from Sudan. She's captured the attention of Emperor Septimus Severus, the only African to command such a high seat of power, and is forced to become his mistress.

This book possesses that magnetic outspoken signature that commonly occurs in Evaristo's books. I thought the fusion-like writing of Cockney Pleb meets Urban Slang meets Ancient Latin was anarchistic, stylistic and to be blunt, bloody brilliant!

This book had me in hysterics i.e. poetry party goes tits up.. but I also found it to be unsettling and heartbreaking.

Also shoutout to Venus who could give Rupaul a run for her money any day!