Queen of the Nile

Cleopatra in Space #6

by Mike Maihack

The conclusion to Mike Maihack's thrilling graphic novel series starring a young Cleopatra and her adventures in space!

The time has come for Cleo to fulfill the ancient prophecy that declares her a savior and a hero, a prophecy she still struggles to accept. Cleo is joined by both old and new friends as they fight to defend the galaxy she's come to call home against the evil Xaius Octavian. The Queen of the Nile must summon the strength to face down her enemy one last time, and keep her friends – and herself – alive.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Comics, Fiction, Adventure

240 pages, Unknown Binding

First published August 4, 2020

About the author

MIKE MAIHACK is the creator of the Cleopatra in Space graphic novels published by Scholastic/Graphix. The six-book series has earned him a Florida Book Award, a YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers selection, a starred review from School Library Journal, and a wealth of sharable knowledge about sequential storytelling. Cleopatra in Space was also produced as a children’s animated series by DreamWorks Television with episodes currently airing worldwide and on both NBCUniversal’s new streaming service, Peacock and HULU. Currently he is working on a series of Spider-Man young reader books in collaboration with Marvel and Abrams Books.

Mike lives in Land O Lakes, Florida with his wife, two boys, and one extraordinarily fluffy cat. More of his work can be found online at operationspacecat.com.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slam-bang conclusion to a fun series. It covers a lot of ground, gets heavy with exposition at times, and the time travel paradoxes will give you a headache if you think about them too much, but the spunky heroine carries you past all that to moments of heroism from her and her friends that are quite exciting.

[Ryan Reveley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book to end the series! The best thing about this series is that it got better and better with each book. The worst thing about the series...it’s over! My kids and I loved every minute of Cleopatra in Space. My son Shepherd has read all the books more than once. Such a great series with a great story, characters and art!

[Rena D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this series and this book was a fitting conclusion, it handled the plot really well and tied everything up in a nice bow. And as for the ending, I was actually getting kind of sad but mike managed to turn it around with the last page.

[Veronica Precourt · Rating 5 out of 5]

i looooooovvvvvvvveeeeeeeeee it

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a satisfying end to a great series.

[Ciara (Lost at Midnight)]

The perfect ending.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Might give the whole series a reread! Felt like a very tightly plotted series, even if I’ve forgotten a lot of the details here and there.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved that ending!

[Karissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series Info/Source: This is the sixth (and final) book in the Cleopatra in Space series. I bought this book.

Story (4/5): This wraps up the graphic novel series very nicely. Cleopatra and crew are desperate to stop Octavian and it will take all of her allies both past and present to do this. You learn some more interesting history about Octavian and get to learn more history about Cleopatra’s world as well.

Characters (4/5): I enjoy all the characters in this series. There is a big focus on friendship here and all of Cleopatra’s friends help her out nicely with their own personal strengths. They are all well done. I also continue to enjoy all the cats :-)

Setting (4/5): This book is set in space and also in the past in Egypt a bit. It’s well done and I enjoyed it.

Writing/Drawing Style (4/5): The drawings are colorful and easy to follow. The writing is also easy to follow and well done. All in all this is a very good graphic novel that both kids and adults can enjoy.

My Summary (4/5): Overall this was an excellent conclusion to the Cleopatra in Space series and wrapped everything up in a very nice way. This is a high quality graphic novel series that I think both kids and adults will enjoy if you like sci-fi graphic novels about space travel and prophecies. My thirteen year old son and I both enjoyed this series. I definitely plan on checking out Maihack’s future projects.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS SERIES SO MUCH! I am so sad it's over, but it was so fun to read all these books. I had no idea the series ended this year when I started reading book 1! Book 5 was published last year and book 6 was published this year, 2020. I had no idea! The art is amazing as is the story and the characters. I love the Egyptian aspect of this series too. If you like anything about Egypt and space, this series is perfect for you. I read both book five and six in one sitting. The ending was just the perfect ending to this story. I also found this book to be a lot funnier than the past books. It has a lot of great humor which made me smile and laugh while reading.

SPOILERS AHEAD:

I AM SO HAPPY CLEO AND ANTHONY GOT TOGETHER. I shipped them and it made me so happy when he went back in time to Cleo. Same as the other couple too. So happy for them.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a fantastic conclusion to the series. It had lots of action and excitement, and it finally gave all the answers. I loved the ending, and thought it was perfect.
I love how this crazy story of Cleopatra time travelling into the future included Egyptian mythology and created a story filled with friendship and emotion.

[✨jillian✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS SERIES NEEDS TO BE MADE INTO A SHOW

[Savannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so sad this series is over, but it had an AMAZING ending!!!!

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! Just wow!!! I am so impress by the conclusion. The Doctor would be so proud on how "Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey" this last novel was. I really can't say anything directly about anything, but I will talk around things just so I can talk about what is on my mind.

I give props to how the author acknowledge actual history concerning Cleopatra's romantic history. It did not dawned on me until very end.

Concerning the prophecy and everything, how much did Yosira know about what would happen? I mean the reveal about who Yosira is and everything to me means that everything was meant to happen in part. You could say it was like The Day of the Doctor in part, except Cleo did a kind-of-sort-of rewrite, but it couldn't be too much of a rewrite, due to Yosira's existence and the whole Nile Empire.

Yeah, Antony! That was such a sweet moment at the end. Also The Doctor and Flynn Carsen would be so proud of that epilogue. I also liked it, but it yielded more questions!

Verdict: Would it be possible to have some novellas? Graphic novel novellas? I would like some of my questions answered!

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this author and his art--- and I love Cleopatra and Mihos (ok, let's be honest--- he is the reason I read these books!). This book was definitely not my favorite....I felt like I was missing something or that I had skipped a couple of books in the series....and I was a bit confused at points (right, and this is a kid's book).
I did enjoy that the character's all returned--- and fought to protect the new world that was created to protect the refugees (hmm...reality!?). I loved that Antony returned and Brian and Akila were there... I wish (of course) that there was more Mihos.
If you have not read this series, start with a different one--- but I do highly recommend (even if you are old and grumpy) grabbing a couple of the graphic novels from the series.

Read if you enjoy kick ass females protecting the world.

Popsugar 2020: A book with a made-up language

[Kathy Wallen · Rating 4 out of 5]

January 19, 2026

Rating: 3.5, but I'll be generous and round up.

I read most of this sitting in the lobby of the dentist's office. I'm in high school and I know that it's aimed at middle-schoolers, but dangit, I still think that the humor in this book is good. I laughed out loud a few times and that is good enough for me. I liked the art as well. It's not the most groundbreaking style out there, but it's pleasing to look at, and really, some of the backgrounds are gorgeous. Excellent work.

Now, to be fair, I wasn't reading with my full brain power, so I may have zoned out during some exposition dumps. But there were a few things in this book that didn't quite make sense to me. What concerns me the most is time travel.



You're telling me that Cleopatra at the end of the book is sent back to her time period and has the ability to travel forward in time via the time tablet, but she isn't able to go back in time just a little bit more to stop herself and Gozi from going into the tomb and setting off the whole plot? Here, let me word this in simpler terms: At the end of the book after Octavian (Gozi) and the evil force thing (??) are defeated, Cleopatra is sent back to her regular time period. Antony goes after her and uses the time tablet, but oh no, it's broken. And besides, she doesn't have memories of the future, which means that she doesn't remember... like... the whole plot of the series. No memories of space battles or planets or her friends. But in the last few pages of the book, Cleopatra shows back up in the future space timeline and says, "Well, what's the point of having a repaired time tablet if you can't use it?" This means that she can, in fact, travel through time. Not to mention that her friends can just write stuff down for her to remember and she can take it back with her. So why doesn't she go back in time to when she and Gozi found the tomb, not go in the tomb, and avoid the entire plot?

Hear me out. Avoiding the plot sounds like a bad thing, but consider the fact that everything only happened because 1) Cleopatra touched the time tablet and went in the future, and 2) Gozi picked up the... weapon thing and then went through all his terrible stuff and eventually turned into a galaxy-invading villain. So if we can avoid all that destruction, I think that that would be a nice direction to take.

Speaking of Gozi, I thought that he'd have at least some opportunity for redemption because it was the weapon-snake-thing possessing him or whatever, but no. He's un-possessed for the briefest of moments after Cleo fatally stabs him with said weapon, and he says "thank you" and then dies. Man. I know that he murdered countless people and utterly destroyed a number of civilizations, but I was still hoping for an ending where he'd be un-possessed and get to be a normal boy again. Never mind.

Circling back to the "things that don't make sense to me" topic, I'm still confused about the ending. Gozi dies, so now Cleo has the snake thing on her arm and she goes to confront it. It seems to me like she's just floating in the sky and is surrounded by darkness. Yosira, the Pharaoh, comes to help. They put their hands together and there's an explosion of light and then Cleo is transported back to her regular time period. That's it.

??

Oh well. Good book overall.

[Anoush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things ramp up in intensity as we approach the end. There's a traitor in their midst...and it's a very unexpected person. The highlight of this volume, however, is Octavian's background. How did he become the person he is now? Why is he this way and what has he lost along the way?

Gozi and Cleo were friends. But when Cleo disappeared (through the tablets), Gozi was there and was bit by some magical snake and possessed (?) by the snake/scimitar. After she left, their country was decimated, Gozi was burned and should have died, but survived and lives cursed, always able to be damaged, but unable to die. He wants revenge.


Cleo has her weird glowing energy power that seems to warn her when danger is coming. She can't totally control it, becomes a fugitive (again? some more?) and goes off once again to save the day because of course only she knows the whole story and thinks she has a plan to find the traitor and save the whole academy and P.Y.R.A.M.I.D.'s base. Luckily she definitely has friends to help and she let's them. Sort of. :-)

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Octavian destroys yet another planet, P.Y.R.A.M.I.D. regroups with numerous refugees on a planet Brian has figured out a way to terraform and cloak. But is any place truly safe from Octavian? Meanwhile, Cleo finds a text that reveals more about her role in the universe and why she has been time traveling.

It's bittersweet to have this series come to an end. Maihack has done a splendid job, and I've thoroughly enjoyed galavanting across space with Cleo and friends. This is a solid wrap up to the series and answered the last lingering questions. I don't want to say much more than that since most of the fun is reading it and finding things out for yourself. Highly recommended to time travel fans, space adventure fans, and fans of prophecy stories about "the one"...oh, and fans of talking cats.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond a kiss. There are space battles that do result in injuries, deaths, and entire planets getting destroyed. (On page blood and gore is kept to an extreme minimum.)

[Tirzah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was on the library waiting list for this one until I got wise on my last day before break and borrowed the school library's copy I recently cataloged (the perks of working in a school library...). I am so glad I was able to read Cleo's finale without having to suffer through weeks of suspense! It is a satisfying ending! I do have time travel questions - I always do; my mind isn't programmed for the confusing stuff. Anyway, the whole series was fun to read and I will miss the characters. I sent the first three books home with a 6th grader who asked for GN recommendations. I have yet to learn if he likes them, but I hope he will. I recommened to any young person and/or adult who enjoy the sci fi and mythology/fantasy genres.

[Favour · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been following this series since the first book came out and it's truly been a pleasure going along with Cleo and her friends on this massive space adventure. This was a very satisfying conclusion to her story and ties up all loose ends. The art is superb as always and I'd highly highly recommend this series.

One thing though: Zaid is never brought up again past the third book. That kind of hurts, since he had wonderful chemistry with Cleo and did sacrifice himself for her. I want to assume she was talking about him when she mention apologizing to "him" to the snake goddess lady, but no name drop so I'm not sure. I need closure for Zaid. This is literally my only gripe with an otherwise fantastic series.

[Mark Popovitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found that one thing this series suffered from was trying to heighten the action scenes climactically over and over again that eventually they plateau and can’t reach any higher. This final volume stuffed as many of those moments in as the other five books combined. Overall the coloring, drawings, and pace of the story were strong (as they were throughout), which made this book and series enjoyable overall, but I still felt a lack of connection to the characters for as deep and as long as the series went (Yosira being a prime example; she was ancillary to the resolution yet hardly developed throughout the entire series). It may have helped to have had the prophecy early on in its fullness and then referenced throughout. I did think the very, actual end was a nice touch.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

The conclusion to the series draws on multiple time points as well as mythology. Miss 7 got a little confused at places as the prophecy finally reveals itself but was happy with how the book finished. Her main disappointment is that there isn't a Book 7!

Miss 7 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Stacey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great series and I'm a little sad this is the last book. Cleo's fighting to close down the plasma before Octavian can harness all the power and the rest of the population is fleeing to a new land where hopefully they can be safe. Planet Thonis becomes the refuge they seek. But is it safe? Time will tell. They've come this far they aren't going to let Octavian win.
This was a great adventure with tons of fast paced action, twists and turns and close calls. I enjoyed it. Beautifully illustrated.

[LJ Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole series was so great! This book especially got pretty emotional for me, and graphic novels don’t usually give me time to get that.
The series as a whole goes from sci-fi school book to sci-fi action to a darker sci-fi action when Zaid ———————————————— and growing darker from there while still keeping the fun to ending with the universal -sized BANG that this book ends with.
As someone who enjoys history, the way Cleopatra is characterized in these books isn’t quite accurate to what I’ve read about her, but I don’t care because it’s a great story, I wouldn’t change a thing.

[Molly Lazer · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Rating by my eight-year-old. I would have given it 4.5 stars.)

We enjoyed this finale to Cleopatra in Space. There were quite a number of important reveals in this last volume, including the importance of Pharaoh Yosirah, who ended up being pretty essential to the plot. I liked how more Egyptian mythology played into the story here. While the ending was just a little bit unclear with regards to certain characters' status, I thought that overall, Maihack did a really good job of wrapping up the story.

[Corina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't bother reviewing each of the books in this series, but as a whole, it's an impressive middle grade sci-fi/fantasy adventure full of aliens, cool gadgets, time travel, action scenes, friendships, betrayals, and talking cats. The ancient Egypt lens gets stronger in the last book especially.

For fans of Zita the Spacegirl (who can handle more violence). It's similar to Amulet in scariness/violence.

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!! I was expecting Yosira to have a connection with Cleo somehow but was amazed by the slight plot twist that she is Cleo's descendant and has the same powers as Cleo. I also loved Antony and Cleo <3 So cute ughh. I also kind of liked the ending that Cleo goes back with Antony and "rewrite history" and then return back somehow. And it ends on a happy ending :))

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a little... much in places. Maybe too convoluted. But still, a satisfying ending. I felt like the big reveal could have been slowly introduced throughout the series rather than packing so much into this one, which was a whole chapter longer than every other entry. Considering that each one is only 3 chapters, an extra chapter did stretch it a little. Still enjoyed it. a fun idea.

[Tyffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for books 4-6... OMG!!! Mike Maihack does not fool around! I had to binge the last 3 books because of how intense it got. I am devastated, but also happy if that makes sense. It was so exciting, but so sad too. I didn't fully understand the lore in book 6 of how this all ties together, but I got most of it. Enough to really enjoy this series.

[LaShana Claude · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time has come for Cleo to fulfill the ancient prophecy that declares her a savior and a hero, a prophecy she still struggles to accept. Cleo is joined by old and new friends as they fight to defend the galaxy she's come to call home against the evil Xaius Octavian. The Queen of the Nile must summon the strength to face down her enemy one last time, and keep both her friends- and herself-alive