Which minor character intrigued you the most, and why?
I wouldn’t strictly call Sasi a minor character, but he was certainly intriguing. As the palace’s eyes and ears, he seemed to know everything, playing a pivotal role in navigating the complexities of court life. His efforts to counsel Semiramis and guide her through the challenges of being first a governor’s wife and later a queen added an interesting dynamic to the story. Another standout character, though minor, was the leopard. She symbolized Semiramis’ extraordinary charisma and her ability to conquer and lead—even a wild creature like this.
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I loved Ribat. His loyalty and love for Semiramis despite his lowly position was admirable.
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I loved Ribat, his loyalty to Simarius was wonderful.
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I too was a Ribat fan. I was impressed by his loyalty to Semiramis, but also by his ambition and desire to rise above his station. His achievement of the role of scribe was a mark of his ambition and effort.
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Ribat is a great character in the manner he accesses information for the queen and his dream to become a scribe. Sassi is sly but fun to follow on his escapades.
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Ribat and Sassi are both great characters and have been developed enough that we can follow their evolution throughout the entire story. I could see Sassi appearing in a modern day sitcom. He is so witty. Ribat took the bit and ran with it for sure. Good for him!
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Ribat intrigued me, in that he was very aware of the rules for his position in life. His mother told him the only way out for him was up and that was his plan. Although he was compassionate to other slaves, in giving them water, even knowing the possible punishment, it was his loyalty to Semiramis that allowed him to become a free person. I also thought it interesting as he knew the woman who caused his mother to be killed, but he took no revenge.
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Sasi fascinated me. He was cunning, crafty and slippery. I never knew if he was the loyalist or the betrayer. Sasi was able to play both sides and come out on top of any situation unscathed.
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I was intrigued by the enuch Sasi. His job as chief spymaster gives him a unique perspective on the royal family and the members of the council. He is one character Semiramis is very careful around, although she eventually earns his trust and loyalty.
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I was most intrigued by Ribat. He knew the dangers of being a slave, how to be helpful, and how to make himself unseen. He had dreams about being a scribe which he had almost no chance of fulfilling. At the end, he acted as the others and avenged the death of his mother by disobeying Semiramis and leaving Nunus to die. It seemed that the need for revenge was felt by many in this story.
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I agree with others the Ribat was an interesting character, striving to move to a higher station in life. However, I was very upset by his betrayal of Semiramis in allowing Nunus to die. While I understand his desire for revenge, I could not comprehend his disloyalty to the women who meant so much to him, and provided such opportunity for his growth. I would have thought his loyalty would have been absolute.
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Sasi was my favorite character as well - probably because he reminded my of Varys, the spymaster in Game of Thrones, LOL. I guess I’ve always been drawn to characters who aren’t physically strong but get ahead by using the knowledge they obtain.
Sasi was so sassy so definitely my favorite! I would love to read a spin-off with more intrigues from Sasi.
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Nice job mentioning the leopard. I didn’t think of that till you said it. Such an important part of the story, as you saw how each person responded to the leopard.
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My heart was with Ribat. I was shocked at his action near the end but I did understand it. I was glad Semiramis understood, did not forgive, but understood and did not punish him.
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I would Sasi is the character I found most intriguing. I didn’t realize that eunuchs were such a big part of the Assyrian culture as well as many other ancient cultures. It was fascinating to see what their roles were and how they fit into their culture.
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Sasi was fascinating. I appreciated how he collected information but he also was so emotionally intelligent that he could “see” what others were feeling without them saying anything. Several times the author has Semiramis wondering how Sasi knew what she was thinking!
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I was intrigued by Ribat but didn’t understand his action at the end. At the same time, the leopard was really fascinated. I’m not sure that a real leopard would have been so in tune with Semiramis and those around her, but it added ti the mystery and danger of the queen.
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Probably Ribat simply because the author placed more emphasis on him. The fact that he was an orphan like Semiramis was gave them a special relationship.
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