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The Quest (Ancient Egypt #4)

3.71 of 5 stars 3.71 · rating details · 3,105 ratings · 187 reviews

Wilbur Smith returns with the eagerly awaited sequel to his thrilling Egyptian series. Following on from River God, The Seventh Scroll and Warlock. The Quest continues the story of the Warlock, Taita, wise in the lore of the ancient Gods and a master of magic and the supernatural.

Egypt is struck by a series of terrible plagues that cripple the Kingdom, and then the ultimat...more

Hardcover, 718 pages

Published April 6th 2007 by Macmillan (first published 2007)

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Jul 29, 2008 Petra Van der Wees rated it 1 of 5 stars

OK, so I loved 'River God' and the 'Seventh scroll' and I also liked 'Warlock' which are the only reasons I got lured into buying this book. The first two books of the "Egypt chronicles" were great because (I now realize) they are actually based on a true story. However, now that Taita has continued to live beyond reasonable age (200 years or so?) I think Wilbur Smith has finally lost all touch with reality in this last book, and has lost my attention along with it. Not that I'm not into Sci-fi...more

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Sep 08, 2008 Saviour rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, fiction, 2008

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Apr 11, 2013 Ilaria Tomasini rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

sono un po' incerta sul voto da dare a questo libro: da un lato la narrazione �� scorrevole e appassiona, dall'altro la storia �� diventata un po' troppo assurda rispetto al primo libro.
Taita riesce in tutto, gli bastava di avere oltre 150 anni, ma alla fine si ritrova con:
- terzo occhio aperto
- infiniti poteri e conoscenza
- corpo giovane e attraente
- �� pi�� eunuco
- �� immortale
- reincarnazione di Lostris che lo ama appassionatamente

Alla fine mi �� dispiaciuto, per�� pi�� che il seguito delle...more

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Oct 04, 2012 Kelli rated it 1 of 5 stars

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Aug 06, 2012 Katherine rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. So I really like the first and second book in the series however, warlock was a bit of a let down with this total reversal of taitas character. This fourth installment, though, was so bad I barely even finish it. Had to push myself through even though it was so ridiculous. Now taitas characters not just some supernatural Obi-Wan Kenobi wanna be, now he some weird creepy freaky sex warrior. Now for some reason the way to get knowledge is to "ginnggaff" people and your knowledge will be making str...more

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Oct 26, 2010 Benjamin Thomas rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

This is the fourth and perhaps final volume of Wilbur Smith's ancient Egyptian series, which began with the excellent "The River God" followed by "The Seventh Scroll" and "Warlock". Many folks have commented on the declining quality of this series and I see that, as well, to some extent. The first book was just so outstanding (it's in my top 10 list of all time great reads) that some deterioration was inevitable. This book seems to have received some brutal reviews though.

The book continues the...more This is the fourth and perhaps final volume of Wilbur Smith's ancient Egyptian series, which began with the excellent "The River God" followed by "The Seventh Scroll" and "Warlock". Many folks have commented on the declining quality of this series and I see that, as well, to some extent. The first book was just so outstanding (it's in my top 10 list of all time great reads) that some deterioration was inevitable. This book seems to have received some brutal reviews though.

The book continues the story of Taita, a "long-liver" sage who sets off to solve and set right a series of plagues that are hitting the Nile Valley. Turns out the source is the evil "God" Eos. The cat and mouse confrontation between these two form the basis of the novel. Another major plot thread is the reincarnation of Taita's true love from the first book in the series. Since Taita is an enoch from way back, the author finds a way to have his manhood regrown through a process akin to using stem cells. I'll admit to this whole sub plot being extremely convenient for the main characters, a bit too contrived for my taste.

I think many people have problems with this book because it is not what they are expecting. This entire series is billed as "historical fiction" and the first book certainly seemed to be so but that moniker has long since worn off. The series has transposed into fantasy, pure and simple. The title itself is indicative of the genre and there are numerous examples of true magic throughout the book: pillars turning into faces that give directions, Taita turning invisible at will or mind travelling over great distances to give messages to others. Whatever historical accuracy might exist here is beside the point. Also, this is a fairly erotic novel with numerous sexual innuendos and some downright graphic sex scenes in it. This is my 6th Wilbur Smith book and although he does put in quite a few erotic encounters I think this is his rawest novel so far of the ones I've read.

I've pointed out some of the negative aspects of this novel, but there are positive points also, particularly if you don't mind the fantasy aspects. The story itself flows well and urges the reader to keep turning pages to see what happens next. The author has a way of allowing the reader in to his characters' minds making it realistic despite the very nature of the fantasy involved. And it's a downright fun book to read. A grand adventure full of danger, excitement, pitfalls, triumphs, and a good, satisfying ending. There is a definite end but should the author wish to continue the series, there is room for it to keep going. If he does, I will continue along with him.
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Mar 15, 2013 Devon Schuster rated it 4 of 5 stars

The main charachter Taita reminds me of myself because oh his charachters spirit. There's always something to keep him busy or prepared for. This book reminded me of another book by Wilbur Smith called River God, because of the main same charachter. The book reminds me of the movie Jumper because in one scenein the movie, the jumper "Jumps" to Egypt. Which is where the book is set/based upon. This book also reminds me of History class because of when we were going over the Egypt section of geogr...more

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Jan 14, 2010 Jacob Hertlein rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Quest continued where Warlock left off, - Almost ; Yes years had passed and one or two new personalities had appeared in the plot. Taita was finally showing signs of a little aging. (It was about time what do ya reckon.) For Heaven 's sake. He had been there to help 3 generations of pharoahs find their God bird. The aknowledgement by the gods that they were worthy of being kings. This time the danger for Egypt is from a powerful magus who stops Egypts life blood, water. The Nile has stopped...more

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Aug 03, 2011 Katie Grainger rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book has really divided Wilbur Smith fans and I can see why. I have read nearly all of Smith's books and this different to this others works. It focused much more on magic and witchcraft than the historical fiction I am used to. This is why I imagine other Wilbur Smith fans have disliked the book. The storyline was rather unbelievable but then I think this was the point, the book was supposed to be fantastical rather than seriously believable. If you could look beyond this then the story wa...more

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Jun 06, 2010 Nancy rated it 2 of 5 stars

I have shocking voids in my knowledge of many areas of world hisory and civilization and was initially thrilled to discover the Egyptian novels (River God and the Seventh Scroll) of Wilbur Smith. In an effortless and captivating way he introduced me to the brilliance and sophistication of ancient Egypt.

I loved his earlier books and was excited to return to this world in The Quest. But, despite some familiar characters, the narrative and tone of this novel is totally different and far less appea...more

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Dec 06, 2008 Karolinde (Kari) rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: no one.

Shelves: fantasy, adventure

The basic plot of the novel is excellent. An ancient "goddess" has blocked the Nile, killing Egypt. An old eunuch, his faithful warrior companion, and the reincarnation of his greatest love must travel to the source of the Nile to defeat her evil plans.

The reality is that while the plot is excellent, the development is tediously slow. The book could have been half the size and done a better job of telling the story. The author also seems to have a fetish with sex and knowledge. You learn through...more

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Jun 01, 2012 Sean Wylie rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Quest was everything I love about a book. Epic historical adventure story with well-defined good vs. evil characters of an interesting time (ancient Egypt) with fascinating characters, magic, mythology, intrigue, battles, and surprises, set against an unlikely journey. You follow the adventures of the wise Taita, an old magus (wise-man / teacher / magician) who has already lived the life span of 4 generations of Egyptians, as he is sent by the Pharoah to uncover why the Nile has dried-up by...more

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Mar 22, 2010 Stuart rated it 2 of 5 stars

Hugely disappointing! After reading or re-reading each Wilbur Smith book since my retirement,this was his latest and I really looked forward to it! It is the fourth of the Egypt series and indeed leads on directly from River God and Warlock which were both gripping. So what is wrong with The Quest? I enjoy Wilbur Smith for his attention to detail both from the historical perspective and from his deep understanding of Africa - the land, the peoples and the flora/fauna. This is a story of the supe...more

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Aug 28, 2009 Phair rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

What bug got up Wilbur's *** in this one? Totally weird. The first third was nothing but philosophical ramblings about good and evil & 'inner eyes' and psychic powers. Then it turned into an Edgar Rice Burroughs adventure trek up the Nile with lots 'o fightin' and huntin' and hacking of limbs- mostly from the bestial 'lesser races'. THEN we get to the weirdest part which turns into a rant against stem cell/genetic research or something. Shades of Gorean sentence structure & description...more

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Aug 31, 2011 Charlotte Bird rated it 1 of 5 stars

Really wasn't impressed by this book. I loved Warlock, and I loved the manner with which the supernatural was dealt; it could be real, but it could also be coincidence and natural phenomena that the people of those times would interpret as real. That's fine with me. However, The Quest treats magic as totally real and goes into far fetched stuff like astral projection and talking in each others minds. If you're going to write fantasy, write fantasy; don't start a series with historical fiction an...more

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Jan 15, 2012 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it'a Taita the Inccredible armed with a lock of hair!!
One of my all-time favourite protagonists needs to save Egypt (again) from an evil presence that suffocates the Nile.

Gripping story as Taita and his band of warriors travel into the depth of Africa to solve this crises.

Smith does a fantastic job of graphically describing the procedures and encounters of the group - from the Chima cannibals to the Inner Eye every snap, gush and sinewy twist reverberates ten fol...more

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Jul 03, 2010 Tom Wolfe rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ancient-egypt, historical-fiction

Not his finest effort. I like Wilbur Smith's books, but this was a let-down. It has none of River God's beauty, nor Warlock's adventurous pace. It isn't a scratch on his earlier works. The plot meanders, seemingly assuming that Taita's popularity from the earlier books in the series would be enough to carry the story along. Smith goes down a lot of bizarre avenues in the telling of the story, and it simply doesn't work. I'm loathe to criticize more, as I am a genuine fan of Smith, but this was a...more

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Jul 05, 2010 Christina Maxfield rated it 5 of 5 stars

There are 4 books in this series and I actually started with this the last one which led me to reading the rest of them and then this one again. The first and third books of the series were books based on fact with generous fiction thrown in. Well, this one is packed to the brim with fiction with only a splattering of fact. Still a great read as I am into science fiction as well as historical based novels. This book continues main character Taita's already long life story (he's getting up to 200...more

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May 24, 2012 Andrew rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was a little disappointed with The Quest. Previous books in the series (River God & Warlock) are believable stories set in Ancient Egypt; the events in them are believable, and give a feeling of historic authenticity.

The Quest blatantly steps over the line into fantasy: Taita is now a powerful warlock, inspecting others' auras with his "inner eye", engaging in astral travel, and he's in love with the reincarnation of Queen Lostris, who died in River God. I've nothing against fantasy, but I...more

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Jan 13, 2013 Missy rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If I could've given this book a .25 I would have. It was just one awful page after another. The thing is, it looked from the cover, as though it would be epic. Usually I give up only 60 pages (minutes) of my life for a horrible book, but the book was so lengthy I thought I should give it more of a chance. Repetitive. (Let me guess, travel, talk about naked people, deal w/ flies, have surgery, deal w/ strange people, deal w/ drought, use magical powers to see if ea. character's aura is clean, tra...more

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Apr 07, 2013 Alan rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: unfinished

Probably one of only two books I've never finished. What a disappointment. I loved River God and hold that as the pinnacle of Smith's storytelling, and Seventh Scroll showed just how clever Taita was and his love for his queen and his friend. The story however began to lose its way in Warlock as there was too much mysticism and as such some of the grandeur was lost along with it. If only this had been left as a trilogy. The Quest was the final straw. A complete let down, all based around magic a...more

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Mar 13, 2013 ~ Siℓℓenyα rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-classic-e-urban, avventura, storici, erotici

Amarissima delusione..!! Non perdonerò mai Wilbur Smith per aver rovinato in questo modo il magnifico personaggio di Taita...uno dei migliori in tutti i libri che ho letto fino ad ora, uno dei miei preferiti di sempre...
In poche parole: se avete amato "Il Dio del Fiume", non leggete assolutamente questo libro!!
La storia è completamente stravolta, per non parlare dei personaggi...In poche parole Smith ha trasformato la narrazione delle splendide avventure dei suoi romanzi egizi in un fantasy ass...more Amarissima delusione..!! Non perdonerò mai Wilbur Smith per aver rovinato in questo modo il magnifico personaggio di Taita...uno dei migliori in tutti i libri che ho letto fino ad ora, uno dei miei preferiti di sempre...
In poche parole: se avete amato "Il Dio del Fiume", non leggete assolutamente questo libro!!
La storia è completamente stravolta, per non parlare dei personaggi...In poche parole Smith ha trasformato la narrazione delle splendide avventure dei suoi romanzi egizi in un fantasy assurdo! -.- E pensare che io adoro i fantasy...forse letto singolarmente non sarebbe neanche tanto male, ma vedere la fine che ha fatto in quest'ultimo capitolo (o almeno si spera che sia l'ultimo!!) una quadrilogia che nei primi 3 libri era a dir poco perfetta, è veramente scioccante.
Già ne "I Figli del Nilo" non mi era andata molto a genio l'idea della trasformazione di Taita in una specie di stregone simil-druido tutto-fare, ma nonostante questo la storia mi aveva presa molto, soprattutto grazie ai nuovi personaggi inseriti, e il libro mi era piaciuto quasi come gli altri. Ma qui si è davvero oltrepassato il limite!

(view spoiler)

A parer mio, con "Alle fonti del Nilo" Wilbur ha purtroppo rovinato quello che poteva rimanere un capolavoro...
Quindi io vi consiglierei, dopo il "Dio del Fiume", di fermarvi al secondo libro: "Il Settimo Papiro", anch'esso stupendo come il primo, che è una bella e sana avventura archeologica ambientata ai giorni nostri, e che si ricollega al geniale Taita solo per il semplice fatto che i protagonisti intraprendono una caccia al tesoro fitta di enigmi e trappole preparati 4000 anni prima dallo stesso scriba (che qui è il vero e proprio "nemico" della vicenda xD) per proteggere le ricchezze delle tombe del Faraone Mamose e della regina Lostris. E dopo di questo, STOP: fate finta che gli altri due seguiti della saga egizia non esistano!(less)

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Jun 15, 2012 Andrew rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've enjoyed Wilbur Smith books for 25 years but this one will be my last. I only managed to read the whole thing because I was traveling and didn't have any good alternatives. Also, I couldn't quite believe how bad it was. The mystical elements, while out of place, were hardly the most jarring aspects of the story. I was able to accommodate the genre shift, but couldn't abide the predictability and juvenility of the storyline. The story reads like an old man's dirty fantasy of immortality. Wher...more

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May 12, 2012 DulleNL rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure

Zo. Het heeft even geduurd maar ik heb het boek uit. De extreme traagheid bij het lezen heeft niks te maken met de kwaliteit van dit boek. Integendeel, dit was een heerlijk boek. Een perfecte balans tussen actie en periodes van, ehm, niks. Precies zoals ik het graag heb. Constante actie vind ik maar niks.

Soms was de schrijver wel wat erg expliciet in zijn beschrijvingen. En dan bedoel ik niet geweld, maar meer de lichamelijke eigenschappen en seksuele acties van dat moment. Nu is dat niet een pu...more

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Feb 01, 2012 Sofia rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, historical-romance

Bem. A primeira coisa a dizer sobre este livro é: fujam. Lido por si só, standalone, é um livro medíocre e inofensivo. Lido como a quarta parte de uma série de livros grossíssimos que definem uma longa narrativa, o livro é um insulto ao leitor que chegou até aqui. Mas eu passo a explicar.

O Egipto é assolado por uma série de terríveis pragas, as pragas, e Taita, agora um raríssimo ancião místico de cento e muitos anos, volta ao reino para partir em busca da fonte das terríveis desgraças, uma malé...more Bem. A primeira coisa a dizer sobre este livro é: fujam. Lido por si só, standalone, é um livro medíocre e inofensivo. Lido como a quarta parte de uma série de livros grossíssimos que definem uma longa narrativa, o livro é um insulto ao leitor que chegou até aqui. Mas eu passo a explicar.

O Egipto é assolado por uma série de terríveis pragas, as pragas, e Taita, agora um raríssimo ancião místico de cento e muitos anos, volta ao reino para partir em busca da fonte das terríveis desgraças, uma malévola bruxa milenar que quer conquistar o Egipto como ponto de partida para dominar todos os reinos do mundo. Durante a demanda até à nascente do Nilo, Taita e os seus companheiros encontram tribos canibais, inimigos misteriosos, terrenos traiçoeiros e alguns aliados. Encontram ainda Fenn, uma rapariga que é a reencarnação de Lostris, e uma sociedade de egípcios foragidos que não é aquilo que parece.

Defeitos, tenho muitos a apontar. O primeiro e mais evidente é a diferença no estilo de escrita. Para quem se habituou a uma narrativa rica e variada, é um choque levar com algo tão pobre, com palavras repetidas e vocabulário limitado, descrições insípidas e, francamente, um tom tão amador que faz pensar se foi realmente Wilbur Smith que escreveu isto.

Não há coerência das personagens. Taita, um homem devotado à ciência e ao conhecimento, devoto de Horus, que desprezava os magos e que mais tarde adquiriu alguns conhecimentos do oculto que utilizava parcimoniamente, agora é um homem que utiliza magia quase exclusivamente em detrimento de tudo o resto e que constantemente invoca Ahura Maasda. Também a Rainha Mintaka sai completamente da personagem que conhecemos em Warlock. Nada resta da jovem corajosa, intrépida e forte nesta mulher patética e desesperada.(view spoiler)[ A justificação é a perda de dois filhos na peste, mas ela aos 13 anos viu com os próprios olhos toda a família a ser assassinada, incluindo o pai a arder vivo e o irmão mais novo a quem amava como um filho, e não só superou isso como lhe deu forças para combater. Numa sociedade em que, no meio de muitos filhos, perder apenas dois é uma sorte, não é minimamente convincente que alguém tão forte fosse degenerar por desgosto naquela coisinha patética.(view spoiler)[ O faraó Nefer, um jovem ponderado e atencioso, tornou-se num rei, embora justo, de fusível curto até para os amigos mais próximos.

Pior que tudo são as inconsistências graves em relação a eventos dos livros anteriores, que depois têm impacto neste livro. Um deles, e o mais evidente, é Fenn, o suposto nome de criança de Lostris, que sabemos de River God ser Lanata, tão relevante que foi até o nome dado por Tanus ao seu arco favorito. Além disso, é descrita como igualzinha a Lostris, mas esta tinha cabelo negro, enquanto Fenn é descrita como tendo enorme cabelo dourado. Taita recorda-se de a ver em criança montada num cavalo que ele lhe ofereceu. Como pode isso acontecer se um dos principais pontos em River God foi a descoberta e a domesticação dos cavalos durante o exílio da adulta rainha Lostris? Como é que uma coisa destas passaria ao lado do próprio autor? Constantemente é insistido que Taita é virgem, quando em River God é precisamente o facto de Taita já não ser virgem na altura em que foi castrado que o tortura no seu amor por Lostris. Outro ponto grave é a descoberta de uma civilização de egípcios foragidos, supostamente uma legião perdida de exploradores liderados por Lord Aqer, que em River God teriam sido enviados por Lostris para explorar o rio até à nascente. Este é um plot point muito importante em The Quest, que sofre com o pequeno pormenor de nunca ter acontecido essa expedição em River God. Lord Aqer regressou de uma expedição para a frente do Nilo, e foi largamente recompensado pela rainha com terras em Tebas. Regressou ao Egipto com todos os outros.

Ainda pior são as inconsistências dentro do próprio livro. Taita detecta auras no início do livro, já o tendo feito em Warlock, mas depois declara isso ser impossível antes da abertura do inner eye. E depois, alguém sem o inner eye aberto, consegue fazê-lo na perfeição. Datas e números de anos passados não coincidem de um capítulo para outro. (view spoiler)
E, por fim, há a questão da reencarnação de Lostris. Tratado com jeitinho, ou pelo Wilbur Smith dos livros anteriores, podia até ter sido interessante. Em vez disso, é só uma ninfomaníaca que existe simplesmente para satisfazer a necessidade de Taita de ter uma Lostris só para si.

Deixo aqui dois temas de reflexão: terapia de células estaminais e fonte da juventude. Sim, isto acontece em The Quest.

Opinião final: é uma fan-fiction muito, muito rasca. (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)](less)

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Apr 21, 2011 Laura Weakley rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am intrigued and enjoyed reading The Quest, as I have enjoyed, Warlock, and River God, and look forward to reading The Seventh Scroll. I started looking into how much of this was actually in Taita's scrolls found in Egypt. Not easy information to locate! As the plagues discussed in this book resemble the famous plagues, I wonder if there is a connection to the Exodus! Taita writes about the events during Pharaoh Nefer Seti's reign.

While quite a lot which occurs in the story The Quest seems fa...more

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Aug 06, 2008 Roxanne rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I'd never heard of Wilbur Smith before, but I saw the book at the library and the cover proclaimed him to be one of the best writers of historical fiction, and the cover art was Egyptian, so I thought I'd give it a try. It was definitely an enthralling book--sucked me right in to the story. It's about Taita, an ancient Egyptian wise man who of course has mystical powers we don't have in modern times. In the first 50 pages alone we saw a kinky sex ritual and a gory surgical ritual, and that was b...more I'd never heard of Wilbur Smith before, but I saw the book at the library and the cover proclaimed him to be one of the best writers of historical fiction, and the cover art was Egyptian, so I thought I'd give it a try. It was definitely an enthralling book--sucked me right in to the story. It's about Taita, an ancient Egyptian wise man who of course has mystical powers we don't have in modern times. In the first 50 pages alone we saw a kinky sex ritual and a gory surgical ritual, and that was before our hero even got started on the titular quest. Just wait till the final confrontation with the evil witch!

As a "long liver", Taita is around 150 years old, but he falls in love with a prepubescent girl who is of course the reincarnation of the long-dead Egyptian queen he loved in the past. The reincarnation stuff is heavily emphasized, but his fantasies about how her young body will soon flower are still creepy. Way to go, Wilbur Smith, for writing about how an elderly eunuch can be transformed and land the hot teenage girl. Her character, by the way, is an entirely perfect dream woman character, with no faults except that she's inclined to rush headlong into danger to save her man. Taita's character is Clint Eastwood crossed with Gandalf the White crossed with the old ninja with the long mustaches from Kill Bill. He's what every old man wishes he was.

Other things bothered me--yes, African tribal women are renowned for their hardiness, but a woman gives birth and the next day she's got her baby strapped to her chest and she's RIDING A HORSE. Um, ow. I could see getting back out to work in the fields right away, but riding a horse all day? A book definitely written by a man. Little things, like how early in the journey the heroes are given sacks of beads for trading; later on, on several occasions, they have to flee in a hurry, taking nothing with them, but at the end of the book they still somehow have beads to give to their friends. What, were you guys just wearing them all this time?

It was definitely a rollicking good story, if you like this sort of thing. I enjoyed reading it, but I don't think I need to go read any more of Wilbur Smith's books.(less)

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Oct 15, 2008 Aaron rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fantasy/adventure fans who like history

Recommended to Aaron by: the bookseller on Khao San in Bangkok

This was my first Wilbur Smith book and it was enjoyable but nothing spectacular.
An Egyptian warlock travels South to discover the cause of the Nile's drought (and the river turning to blood and giant poisonous toads living in it). The whole biblical plague part kind of turned me off (and actually never really gets resolved fully). Nevertheless, this adventure story is a good one: 1/2 adventure, 1/3 fantasy, 1/6 history. Judging by his portrayal of the African tribes I'd guess Smith is a firm be...more

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May 12, 2012 Peter Heinrich rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, history, fantasy

These books just keep getting weirder. Taita's story has been, at times, graphic, improbable, gruesome, and fabulous, but it always remained entertaining. At least, mostly. With this installment, Smith went in a disturbing direction and I didn't much enjoy following along.

A guilty pleasure is one thing (River God: A Novel of Ancient Egypt is one of mine), but the prurient dross here totally overpowered the storytelling, at least for me. I would be embarrassed if someone read this on my recommend...more

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Sep 30, 2011 Samantha rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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I thought the Egyptian Series was fun. Do you think he will write another one?	4	17	Jul 09, 2012 05:22pm

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About Wilbur A. Smith

Wilbur Smith is the bestselling author of many novels, each meticulously researched on his numerous expeditions worldwide. His bestselling Courtney series includes Assegai, The Sound of Thunder, Birds of Prey, Monsoon, and Blue Horizon. His other books include Those in Peril, River God, Warlock, The Seventh Scroll, and The Sunbird. His books are now translated into twenty-six languages and have so...more

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Warlock: A Novel of Ancient Egypt (Ancient Egypt, #3)

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The Quest (Ancient Egypt #4)

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