River God by Wilbur Smith

So on the blog I’m doing something exciting and slightly different. I will be working with Bonnier Books and Compulsive Readers to read and review the whole of the Ancient Egypt series by Wilbur Smith. Bonnier have decided to reissue all of his books and have a new audience experience them! I had never read a book by Wilbur Smith but I knew about him so the target audience is definitely me!

IN THE LAND OF GOLD
WHERE THE WEAK PHARAOH RULES
A NEW CIVILISATION WILL BE BORN

Taita is a humble slave; an expert in art, poetry, medicine and engineering, as well as the keeper of important secrets. He is the most treasured possession of Lord Intef. Yet when Intef's beautiful daughter Lostris is married to the Pharaoh, Taita is commanded to follow her, and swiftly finds himself deeper than he ever could have imagined in a world of deception and treachery. But outside the palace, the great kingdom of Egypt is divided, and in even greater danger. Enemies threaten on all sides, and only Taita holds the power to save them all . . .

Book 1 in the Ancient Egyptian series from the master historical adventure writer, Wilbur Smith.

About the author

Wilbur Smith was born in Central Africa in 1933. He was educated at Michaelhouse and Rhodes University. After the successful publication of WHEN THE LION FEEDS in 1964 he became a full-time writer, and has since written 30 novels, all meticulously researched on his numerous expeditions worldwide. His books have been translated into twenty-six different languages

Review

Oh my I forgot how good it can be to disappear into history when a book is as richly detailed as this is! It honestly felt as if I had stepped back into time and was experiencing it alongside the characters in the book. This is an example of historical fiction at it's best! It is full of reference points, the mythology of the culture is spread throughout the pages which gives the reader an authentic tome to devour.

This follows the story of Taita a talented slave and he is a treasured possession of Lord Intef. He is an expert in art, poetry, medicine and engineering and more importantly is the keeper of Lord Intef’s secrets. When his master's daughter, Lady Lostris is matched with the Pharoah, he is devastated as he loves her like she was his own daughter. But when Lostris is allowed to ask for one gift from her father she asks for Taita. They head for the palace and the intrigue that resides there. But Egpyt is divided as a country and Taita gets dragged into trying to solve the problems of the realm...

Is there nothing that Taita can't do?! Seriously he seems the be the most accomplished man ever created and doesn't he know it? However, he did have a heart of gold and he is completely loyal to those he loves. He is a complicated man and I ended up loving him! Such gall and determination. Scheming behind people’s backs and making sure that him and Lostris come out on top.

This is not a short book as it runs to over 600 pages but there was not a minute that I was bored. I devoured this book in two days and I instantly wanted more. There is a lot packed into this book and it is one of the best historical fiction books that I have ever read. Either Wilbur Smith had extensive inbuilt knowledge about ancient Egypt or he did an insane amount of research.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. It is a masterpiece. Roll on the next in the series.