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Ancient Egypt #5
Desert God
New York Times bestselling author Wilbur Smith—hailed by Stephen King as the "best historical novelist" and one of the world's biggest-selling authors—returns to Ancient Egypt in this breathtaking epic that conjures the magic, mystery, romance, and bloody intrigue of a fascinating lost world.
Game of Thrones meets Ancient Egypt in this magnificent, action-packed epic. On the gleaming banks of the Nile, the brilliant Taita—slave and advisor to the Pharaoh—finds himself at the center of a vortex of passion, intrigue, and danger. His quest to destroy the Hyksos army and form an alliance with Crete takes him on an epic journey up the Nile, through Arabia and the magical city of Babylon, and across the open seas. With the future of Egypt itself on his shoulders, Taita enters a world where the line between loyalty and betrayal shifts like the desert sands, evil enemies await in the shadows, and death lingers on the edges of darkness.
Game of Thrones meets Ancient Egypt in this magnificent, action-packed epic. On the gleaming banks of the Nile, the brilliant Taita—slave and advisor to the Pharaoh—finds himself at the center of a vortex of passion, intrigue, and danger. His quest to destroy the Hyksos army and form an alliance with Crete takes him on an epic journey up the Nile, through Arabia and the magical city of Babylon, and across the open seas. With the future of Egypt itself on his shoulders, Taita enters a world where the line between loyalty and betrayal shifts like the desert sands, evil enemies await in the shadows, and death lingers on the edges of darkness.
422 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 21, 2014
1356 people are currently reading
6860 people want to read
About the author
Wilbur Smith
319 books4,391 followersWilbur Smith was a prolific and bestselling South African novelist renowned for his sweeping adventure stories set against the backdrop of Africa’s dramatic landscapes and turbulent history. Born in 1933 in what was then Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), he grew up in South Africa, where his love for storytelling was nurtured by the rich environment and tales of African history. His early years were shaped by his experiences in the wilderness, which later became a defining element in his fiction.
After studying at Rhodes University, Smith initially worked as an accountant, but his true passion lay in writing. His breakthrough came in 1964 with When the Lion Feeds, a historical adventure novel that introduced the Courtney family saga. The book’s success led to a long-running series chronicling the exploits of multiple generations of the Courtney family, spanning centuries of African and world history. Alongside this, Smith wrote the Ballantyne series, focused on colonial Africa, and the Ancient Egypt series, which delved into historical fiction with a mythical touch.
Over his six-decade career, Smith authored more than 50 novels, selling over 140 million copies worldwide. His works were characterized by meticulous research, vivid descriptions of the African wilderness, and gripping action-packed narratives. Whether set in the colonial era, the world of pharaohs, or modern-day Africa, his books often explored themes of survival, war, power, and human ambition. He collaborated with co-authors in his later years to expand his literary universe, ensuring his stories continued to reach new audiences.
Beyond writing, Smith was an avid traveler and adventurer, drawing inspiration from his own experiences hunting, sailing, and exploring remote corners of Africa. While he was passionate about wildlife and conservation, some of his views—particularly regarding big game hunting—sparked debate. Nonetheless, his deep affection for Africa was evident in his writing, which celebrated both its beauty and its historical complexities.
Smith’s influence on adventure fiction remains significant, with his books continuing to captivate readers around the world. His legacy endures through his richly woven tales of exploration, conquest, and the enduring spirit of Africa.
After studying at Rhodes University, Smith initially worked as an accountant, but his true passion lay in writing. His breakthrough came in 1964 with When the Lion Feeds, a historical adventure novel that introduced the Courtney family saga. The book’s success led to a long-running series chronicling the exploits of multiple generations of the Courtney family, spanning centuries of African and world history. Alongside this, Smith wrote the Ballantyne series, focused on colonial Africa, and the Ancient Egypt series, which delved into historical fiction with a mythical touch.
Over his six-decade career, Smith authored more than 50 novels, selling over 140 million copies worldwide. His works were characterized by meticulous research, vivid descriptions of the African wilderness, and gripping action-packed narratives. Whether set in the colonial era, the world of pharaohs, or modern-day Africa, his books often explored themes of survival, war, power, and human ambition. He collaborated with co-authors in his later years to expand his literary universe, ensuring his stories continued to reach new audiences.
Beyond writing, Smith was an avid traveler and adventurer, drawing inspiration from his own experiences hunting, sailing, and exploring remote corners of Africa. While he was passionate about wildlife and conservation, some of his views—particularly regarding big game hunting—sparked debate. Nonetheless, his deep affection for Africa was evident in his writing, which celebrated both its beauty and its historical complexities.
Smith’s influence on adventure fiction remains significant, with his books continuing to captivate readers around the world. His legacy endures through his richly woven tales of exploration, conquest, and the enduring spirit of Africa.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 661 reviews
April 21, 2024
For Egypt Lovers
Oh Egypt, wonderful Egypt!
Sublime, mysterious, charismatic Egypt!
Land of Nile, Luxor, Abu Simbel, Karnak, Giza, Sakkara, Pharaohs, Cleopatra, Pyramids,...
Kaleidoscopic wonders come into my mind, everytime I think of you, dear lovely Egypt!...
Hmmm!... Sorry, friends, it seems I'm embarking in a virtual Egypt tour, instead of writing a review — you can count half a dozen lines, but… none of them seems to be about this book! 😜
In my defense, since it's a thriller, the less you'll know, the further you'll enjoy! 😉
So... What can I say?! It's one of those compelling reads that will guide you straight to the core of Ancient Egypt :)
Do you get thrilled by an enthralling historical thriller?
Are you an Ancient Egypt lover?
If Yes and Yes, by all means gift yourself this precious book!!! This story was born for a mind like yours 😉
Oh Egypt, wonderful Egypt!
Sublime, mysterious, charismatic Egypt!
Land of Nile, Luxor, Abu Simbel, Karnak, Giza, Sakkara, Pharaohs, Cleopatra, Pyramids,...
Kaleidoscopic wonders come into my mind, everytime I think of you, dear lovely Egypt!...
Hmmm!... Sorry, friends, it seems I'm embarking in a virtual Egypt tour, instead of writing a review — you can count half a dozen lines, but… none of them seems to be about this book! 😜
In my defense, since it's a thriller, the less you'll know, the further you'll enjoy! 😉
So... What can I say?! It's one of those compelling reads that will guide you straight to the core of Ancient Egypt :)
Do you get thrilled by an enthralling historical thriller?
Are you an Ancient Egypt lover?
If Yes and Yes, by all means gift yourself this precious book!!! This story was born for a mind like yours 😉
June 19, 2024
Being a hardcore fan of Egyptian Settlement and early Mesopotamian Era, it was really very charismatic and magestic to me.
Though I had always adored the Egyptian Quests but this one's my first book from Wilbur Smith; and I must say it was compelling.
However, there seems to be a discrepancy or rough illusion over the Gods he mentioned that created a doubt on why Egyptions worshipped Greek gods? How did that mattered to them considering 'Poseidon'?
Quotes, author used periodically were so amazing and relevant with the reality of human behaviour.
“Good intelligence wins battles long before the first arrow is shot or the first sword is drawn from its scabbard.”
There came a hiatus when story moving steadily towards more on Zaras & Tehuti than the actual quest but that was the best of all parts written; because at most points Taita was presented as hypocrite character giving goose-bumps to himself. Such boastful & pompous characters made the work looks like fantasy but spoil the content for the readers. Protagonists must be more of out-lined cast which presented by others as Hero not by self-proclamation.
In nutshell, this book gave me good time reading it.
So for me, it deserves, 4.0/5.0
Though I had always adored the Egyptian Quests but this one's my first book from Wilbur Smith; and I must say it was compelling.
However, there seems to be a discrepancy or rough illusion over the Gods he mentioned that created a doubt on why Egyptions worshipped Greek gods? How did that mattered to them considering 'Poseidon'?
Quotes, author used periodically were so amazing and relevant with the reality of human behaviour.
“Good intelligence wins battles long before the first arrow is shot or the first sword is drawn from its scabbard.”
There came a hiatus when story moving steadily towards more on Zaras & Tehuti than the actual quest but that was the best of all parts written; because at most points Taita was presented as hypocrite character giving goose-bumps to himself. Such boastful & pompous characters made the work looks like fantasy but spoil the content for the readers. Protagonists must be more of out-lined cast which presented by others as Hero not by self-proclamation.
In nutshell, this book gave me good time reading it.
So for me, it deserves, 4.0/5.0
August 6, 2014
The blurb is far more exciting than the book. Let’s begin there.
When the publisher offered DESERT GOD up for review I got all excited because it’s ancient Egypt and it goes to all these pretty, ancient places and Wilbur Smith is supposed to be fantasmagorical when it comes to writing historical fiction. Nabbed that one real quick. My hopes were rather dashed as I started reading.
What a slog this book was. To the point of being painful. I almost gave up on it. ALMOST. I’ve come this far in my year without DNFs. I wasn’t going to end it here. And I didn’t. But I really, REALLY wanted to.
The POV the story is told in is from Taita, a slave but not really who made a slew of appearances in past books, I’m assuming, based on introduction mentions and time dropping within the story itself but that was pretty irrelevant. I didn’t feel lost with the character. I just wanted to punch him in the throat. Taita is amazing at everything. He doesn’t even have to do whatever it is he’s good at. He’ll just automatically be perfect. Just ask him. He’ll tell you all about it. And then he’ll tell you he’s not a snob but his actions will go on to contradict that very statement. And then he’ll just go back to telling you how awesome he is at something, whether it’s warfare, shooting arrows, languages, games, taking a shit, whatever. No matter how good you think you are at something, Taita is better at it and he will make sure you know it.
This . . . is not an appealing character. At all. I didn’t give two flying fucks about anything this man did. I didn’t care about his missing dong (which he came back to. A LOT.) or his princesses (I’ll get to those pieces of work in a second) or whatever battles he was going in to or the political intrigue he had to perform. I DIDN’T CARE. Because when it’s coming out of such a pedantic mouth as that, how could I? I’m rolling my eyes too much to read the words on the page. So when I don’t give a damn about anything that’s going on, you can imagine how hard it was to actually read a 400+ page book.
And the princesses. What simpering, spoiled little quims. I wanted to drown them. Thoroughly. When they finally got sent off to be married to King Minos I was glad because that meant I never had to deal with their page presences again. Such insipid, worthless characters that only proved to be able to manipulate Taita and get whatever the hell it was they wanted. Their initial appearances on the page, regardless of scene, was always squealing toward Taita demanding gifts, or complaining that they weren’t getting something their way, or pitying themselves. Seriously, could this book have any more worthless characters in it? IS THAT POSSIBLE?
Any other secondary character was clouded through Taita’s eyes and since he never took care to get to know any of them (Zaras or Hui or Toran) they were mere stick figures in his view, blocking his sights from his princesses or whatever end he needed to get to. So I could say the secondary characters could have had potential but they were just outlines in Taita’s story. Loxias seemed kind of neat. She was a well-read and intelligent Greek girl, I think, that ended up being a tutor to the princesses. She had moments of defiance in her but her true personality was blocked by Taita’s big head so it’s really hard to tell.
The setting could have been phenomenal and I saw peeks of it through heavy-handed naval-gazing but it was all about Taita and his loquacious, head-up-rectum attitude about life that just completely drowned everything out. I could see the places being described in my head but they were pale images because Taita’s high falutin, LOOK HOW AWESOME I AM demeanor just washed everything out.
I’ll stick to Pete Hamill for my historical fiction of this caliber. It’s actually relatable and doesn’t think so highly of itself. He’ll give me a good story, relatable characters and a vivid setting. Wilbur Smith? Pass. I won’t be reading any of his other books if this is any indicator of what I’d be getting.
1
When the publisher offered DESERT GOD up for review I got all excited because it’s ancient Egypt and it goes to all these pretty, ancient places and Wilbur Smith is supposed to be fantasmagorical when it comes to writing historical fiction. Nabbed that one real quick. My hopes were rather dashed as I started reading.
What a slog this book was. To the point of being painful. I almost gave up on it. ALMOST. I’ve come this far in my year without DNFs. I wasn’t going to end it here. And I didn’t. But I really, REALLY wanted to.
The POV the story is told in is from Taita, a slave but not really who made a slew of appearances in past books, I’m assuming, based on introduction mentions and time dropping within the story itself but that was pretty irrelevant. I didn’t feel lost with the character. I just wanted to punch him in the throat. Taita is amazing at everything. He doesn’t even have to do whatever it is he’s good at. He’ll just automatically be perfect. Just ask him. He’ll tell you all about it. And then he’ll tell you he’s not a snob but his actions will go on to contradict that very statement. And then he’ll just go back to telling you how awesome he is at something, whether it’s warfare, shooting arrows, languages, games, taking a shit, whatever. No matter how good you think you are at something, Taita is better at it and he will make sure you know it.
This . . . is not an appealing character. At all. I didn’t give two flying fucks about anything this man did. I didn’t care about his missing dong (which he came back to. A LOT.) or his princesses (I’ll get to those pieces of work in a second) or whatever battles he was going in to or the political intrigue he had to perform. I DIDN’T CARE. Because when it’s coming out of such a pedantic mouth as that, how could I? I’m rolling my eyes too much to read the words on the page. So when I don’t give a damn about anything that’s going on, you can imagine how hard it was to actually read a 400+ page book.
And the princesses. What simpering, spoiled little quims. I wanted to drown them. Thoroughly. When they finally got sent off to be married to King Minos I was glad because that meant I never had to deal with their page presences again. Such insipid, worthless characters that only proved to be able to manipulate Taita and get whatever the hell it was they wanted. Their initial appearances on the page, regardless of scene, was always squealing toward Taita demanding gifts, or complaining that they weren’t getting something their way, or pitying themselves. Seriously, could this book have any more worthless characters in it? IS THAT POSSIBLE?
Any other secondary character was clouded through Taita’s eyes and since he never took care to get to know any of them (Zaras or Hui or Toran) they were mere stick figures in his view, blocking his sights from his princesses or whatever end he needed to get to. So I could say the secondary characters could have had potential but they were just outlines in Taita’s story. Loxias seemed kind of neat. She was a well-read and intelligent Greek girl, I think, that ended up being a tutor to the princesses. She had moments of defiance in her but her true personality was blocked by Taita’s big head so it’s really hard to tell.
The setting could have been phenomenal and I saw peeks of it through heavy-handed naval-gazing but it was all about Taita and his loquacious, head-up-rectum attitude about life that just completely drowned everything out. I could see the places being described in my head but they were pale images because Taita’s high falutin, LOOK HOW AWESOME I AM demeanor just washed everything out.
I’ll stick to Pete Hamill for my historical fiction of this caliber. It’s actually relatable and doesn’t think so highly of itself. He’ll give me a good story, relatable characters and a vivid setting. Wilbur Smith? Pass. I won’t be reading any of his other books if this is any indicator of what I’d be getting.
1
March 13, 2021
Not up to the usual Wilbur Smith standard. A mediocre storyline that leaves you wondering.
A great historical adventure story that is delightful in its telling. Taita is an advisor to the Pharaoh, as well as overseer to the Pharaoh two sisters. In order to defeat the Hyksos (Barbarian) he arranges the sisters to be wed to the king of Crete. Whenever anything goes wrong it is always someone else's fault and whenever anything works it is due to Taita's vast intelligence and planning skills. I found this tale refreshing.
A great historical adventure story that is delightful in its telling. Taita is an advisor to the Pharaoh, as well as overseer to the Pharaoh two sisters. In order to defeat the Hyksos (Barbarian) he arranges the sisters to be wed to the king of Crete. Whenever anything goes wrong it is always someone else's fault and whenever anything works it is due to Taita's vast intelligence and planning skills. I found this tale refreshing.
October 11, 2017
I very much enjoyed this book. Unusual for most historical fiction I've read in the past, it is set in the Bronze Age Middle East --- with, contrary to how Ancient Egypt is portrayed, if at all, in Western fiction, Egypt, this time, as the good guys struggling for its survival against the invading Hyksos barbarians. Even more unique, the, at first take, seemingly unlikely hero in this story is a eunuch named Taita --- who's lack of physical manhood is, as the plot unfolds, no limit upon either his intellect, cunning, resourcefulness, and courage. I will not give away events in the book, but, suffice to say, Wilbur Smith does an outstanding job of creating a highly engaging tale that brings Ancient Egypt to life and shows the humanity of a culture that we largely associate too much with mummies and massive tombs and temples. I was leaning towards rating this book 4 stars, but the climax of the book near the end was incredible ---- I could not put this book down! A very fascinating book to read -- thoroughly worth the time!
November 29, 2018
Aventuras e Desventuras pelo Mundo Antigo
Aton e Taita, dois eunucos que ascenderam na vida, graças à sua admirável argúcia, empenham-se animadamente numa partida de bao, e deleitam-se com o melhor vinho do Egipto.
Porém está longe de ser esse o objectivo deste encontro de amigos de longa data!...
Taita, o favorito de Hórus, é agora um dos principais conselheiros do Faraó e tutor das princesas Bekatha e Tehuti.
O Egipto está em risco de sucumbir às hostes bárbaras e Taita, tem a seu cargo a meticulosa missão que consiste em elaborar um plano de salvação.
E é esse o tema que debate animosamente com Aton, que lhe presta valiosas informações!...
As lindas e jovens princesas Bekatha e Tehuti, que se encontram a cargo de Taita desde o falecimento da Rainha Lostris, também entram no xadrez da guerra, pois a sua beleza será um valioso chamariz na obtenção dos melhores aliados.
Mas será que as mimadas e rebeldes princesas estarão dispostas a abdicar da aventura do amor, em prol do seu amado Egipto?!...
O "Deus do Deserto" é uma aventura de guerra e paixão que os amantes do Mundo Antigo, irão certamente adorar :)
Aton e Taita, dois eunucos que ascenderam na vida, graças à sua admirável argúcia, empenham-se animadamente numa partida de bao, e deleitam-se com o melhor vinho do Egipto.
Porém está longe de ser esse o objectivo deste encontro de amigos de longa data!...
Taita, o favorito de Hórus, é agora um dos principais conselheiros do Faraó e tutor das princesas Bekatha e Tehuti.
O Egipto está em risco de sucumbir às hostes bárbaras e Taita, tem a seu cargo a meticulosa missão que consiste em elaborar um plano de salvação.
E é esse o tema que debate animosamente com Aton, que lhe presta valiosas informações!...
As lindas e jovens princesas Bekatha e Tehuti, que se encontram a cargo de Taita desde o falecimento da Rainha Lostris, também entram no xadrez da guerra, pois a sua beleza será um valioso chamariz na obtenção dos melhores aliados.
Mas será que as mimadas e rebeldes princesas estarão dispostas a abdicar da aventura do amor, em prol do seu amado Egipto?!...
O "Deus do Deserto" é uma aventura de guerra e paixão que os amantes do Mundo Antigo, irão certamente adorar :)
August 19, 2014
It has been seven years since The Quest was published, the 4th and what I assumed was the final novel of the Egyptian series by Wilbur Smith. But the character of Taita is just too delicious a character to stop exploring at only four novels, so we can all rejoice that he is back.
This novel was emotionally satisfying for me in several ways. First, it’s a nice return to form. The first two books in this series, led by the ground-breaking River God, were awesome but the third was not as enjoyable and the fourth was a bit of a disappointment. This fifth novel not only brings back the marvelous character of Taita, the “long-liver” sage/scientist/inventor/eunuch but also the vibrancy of ancient Egypt and surrounding lands. These novels are billed as historical novels but, really, that is only because they take place in history. I did not do any fact checking on the events or personalities in this novel but I’m not sure I would feel comfortable relying on it for accuracy. Rather, this is a pure adventure novel with some important elements of fantasy including mythological deities impacting events on Earth.
The book is told from Taita’s first person point-of-view and his unsuccessful attempts at being humble at his own amazing successes falls short and is half the fun of reading all of these books. To hear him tell it, Taita is single-handedly responsible for most of the rise of the Egyptian empire, although he keeps such facts between himself and the reader. Indeed he is content to let the Pharaohs take the credit for his resourcefulness.
The novel is written in a fun-to-read style and reminds me a lot of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ books about John Carter of Mars or David Innes of Pellucidar. One adventure leads to another as Taita leads armies and navies in a chess match of intrigue against encroaching neighboring empires. Guile and charisma are his primary weapons and he wields them expertly, resulting in an absorbing well-rounded adventure novel complete with evil warlords, pirates, and damsels in distress. The final 50 pages were one of those edge-of-your-seat, can’t-read-fast-enough conclusions that I always hope for in an adventure novel. The book concludes in a satisfying way and, happily, it appears there may be more novels coming in the future. I can’t wait!
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Recommended Age: 14+
Offensive Language: None
Violence: Yes, several scenes of war carnage, and references to rape and pillage
Sex: Referenced. Frequent titillation and one graphic description of a pleasure “temple”
This novel was emotionally satisfying for me in several ways. First, it’s a nice return to form. The first two books in this series, led by the ground-breaking River God, were awesome but the third was not as enjoyable and the fourth was a bit of a disappointment. This fifth novel not only brings back the marvelous character of Taita, the “long-liver” sage/scientist/inventor/eunuch but also the vibrancy of ancient Egypt and surrounding lands. These novels are billed as historical novels but, really, that is only because they take place in history. I did not do any fact checking on the events or personalities in this novel but I’m not sure I would feel comfortable relying on it for accuracy. Rather, this is a pure adventure novel with some important elements of fantasy including mythological deities impacting events on Earth.
The book is told from Taita’s first person point-of-view and his unsuccessful attempts at being humble at his own amazing successes falls short and is half the fun of reading all of these books. To hear him tell it, Taita is single-handedly responsible for most of the rise of the Egyptian empire, although he keeps such facts between himself and the reader. Indeed he is content to let the Pharaohs take the credit for his resourcefulness.
The novel is written in a fun-to-read style and reminds me a lot of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ books about John Carter of Mars or David Innes of Pellucidar. One adventure leads to another as Taita leads armies and navies in a chess match of intrigue against encroaching neighboring empires. Guile and charisma are his primary weapons and he wields them expertly, resulting in an absorbing well-rounded adventure novel complete with evil warlords, pirates, and damsels in distress. The final 50 pages were one of those edge-of-your-seat, can’t-read-fast-enough conclusions that I always hope for in an adventure novel. The book concludes in a satisfying way and, happily, it appears there may be more novels coming in the future. I can’t wait!
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Recommended Age: 14+
Offensive Language: None
Violence: Yes, several scenes of war carnage, and references to rape and pillage
Sex: Referenced. Frequent titillation and one graphic description of a pleasure “temple”
August 14, 2016
Sorry, Mr. Smith! After reading many of your entertaining novels, I found Desert God disappointing. Dnf @ 20%.
November 21, 2014
ok I've just got to share how disappointed I was with Wilbur Smith's new novel. (just a warning, this will probably sound snooty as heck, but I consider myself to have a pretty darn good knowledge of literature and I have high standards)
to start off I have to say that I fell in complete and total love with the first book of this series, River God. I have only been so emotionally engaged and moved by a novel two other times in all the years I've been reading fiction. in my opinion, it could not have possibly been improved in any way. his second book the Seventh Scroll was another literary triumph, standing alone as it's own story, yet harkening back to the previous book in a almost loving way....
it went downhill from there.
his third installment Warlock, maintained the previous books standard of intrigue & action, but I felt it less. there was less emotion behind the words - less love for the characters. in fact, the author appeared to have had second thoughts about how he described the beautiful Queen Lostris in the first book, and decided to change her description entirely for the duration of the series. (I'm not gonna lie that kind of thing ticks me off) in The Quest, the magical qualities that the first book hinted at, and the second book reinforced, completely take over the storyline. while this is intriguing in an outlandish sort of way, it fell far short of the other books.
the most recent book, Desert God... actually pained me to read. after becoming so attached to the main character, it literally hurt me to see him portrayed as this seemingly heartless, warlike individual. the entire story was told with a cold, swift touch. the few moments of intended emotion packed no punch whatsoever because there was nothing leading up to them. this book actually went BACK in time in the storyline, which was very confusing, and in fact changed some of the essential facts of the story (again) this story was about war. it was cold and unfeeling as a chess match - the difference being that the book ended much sooner. the incorporation of Greek mythology also bothered me, as the Greeks didn't gain any influence over Egyptian culture until thousands of years after the Hyksos warred with Egypt. in the first book the main character was totally and unerring loyal to his Egyptian gods, and would never have countenanced the watering down of their culture that followed their dalliances with Greece. in fact I think the very idea would have angered him very much. this book was an all around disappointment. I was actually relieved when I finished it. I can't tell you how sad it makes me to see a beautiful love story ruined in this brutish manner. it really is murder. murder of the characters and all they stood for. you should've quit while you were ahead, Wilbur.
to start off I have to say that I fell in complete and total love with the first book of this series, River God. I have only been so emotionally engaged and moved by a novel two other times in all the years I've been reading fiction. in my opinion, it could not have possibly been improved in any way. his second book the Seventh Scroll was another literary triumph, standing alone as it's own story, yet harkening back to the previous book in a almost loving way....
it went downhill from there.
his third installment Warlock, maintained the previous books standard of intrigue & action, but I felt it less. there was less emotion behind the words - less love for the characters. in fact, the author appeared to have had second thoughts about how he described the beautiful Queen Lostris in the first book, and decided to change her description entirely for the duration of the series. (I'm not gonna lie that kind of thing ticks me off) in The Quest, the magical qualities that the first book hinted at, and the second book reinforced, completely take over the storyline. while this is intriguing in an outlandish sort of way, it fell far short of the other books.
the most recent book, Desert God... actually pained me to read. after becoming so attached to the main character, it literally hurt me to see him portrayed as this seemingly heartless, warlike individual. the entire story was told with a cold, swift touch. the few moments of intended emotion packed no punch whatsoever because there was nothing leading up to them. this book actually went BACK in time in the storyline, which was very confusing, and in fact changed some of the essential facts of the story (again) this story was about war. it was cold and unfeeling as a chess match - the difference being that the book ended much sooner. the incorporation of Greek mythology also bothered me, as the Greeks didn't gain any influence over Egyptian culture until thousands of years after the Hyksos warred with Egypt. in the first book the main character was totally and unerring loyal to his Egyptian gods, and would never have countenanced the watering down of their culture that followed their dalliances with Greece. in fact I think the very idea would have angered him very much. this book was an all around disappointment. I was actually relieved when I finished it. I can't tell you how sad it makes me to see a beautiful love story ruined in this brutish manner. it really is murder. murder of the characters and all they stood for. you should've quit while you were ahead, Wilbur.
February 10, 2022
Обикнах самодоволния евнух Тайта,който от първо лице разказва невероятните си приключения в Египет, Вавилон ,сред бедуините и минойците.
Историята е една приятна смесица от амбициозни цели, общуване с глезени, но обичани принцеси, фантасмагорични битки с галери и колесници, невъзможни любови, шпионаж и политикчески кроежи, поднесени с много елегантно чувство за хумор и гарнирани с малко дискретна помощ от богинята Инана.
Въпреки наивните обрати сюжетът е майсторски изграден - нищо излишно, дразнещо,нелогично. Свързано и логично повествование. Приятни диалози. Удоволствие!
Историята е една приятна смесица от амбициозни цели, общуване с глезени, но обичани принцеси, фантасмагорични битки с галери и колесници, невъзможни любови, шпионаж и политикчески кроежи, поднесени с много елегантно чувство за хумор и гарнирани с малко дискретна помощ от богинята Инана.
Въпреки наивните обрати сюжетът е майсторски изграден - нищо излишно, дразнещо,нелогично. Свързано и логично повествование. Приятни диалози. Удоволствие!
November 4, 2014
I loved going back to the world of Taita and particulary, ancient Egypt. There have been several reviews complaining of Taita's character, how he is so vain and full of himself. I guess I was a bit used to it because, even from the beginning, he was always like that, although not to the extent as he is in this book. It's been awhile since I read River God, so I could be mistaken.
Yes, Taita is definitely a legend in his own mind, but I still love him and enjoyed this book. It wasn't as good as River God, but it was still thrilling. I found the ending to be a tad anti-climatic, but it leaves and opening for the story to continue and I, for one, am looking forward to the next book.
Yes, Taita is definitely a legend in his own mind, but I still love him and enjoyed this book. It wasn't as good as River God, but it was still thrilling. I found the ending to be a tad anti-climatic, but it leaves and opening for the story to continue and I, for one, am looking forward to the next book.
October 1, 2014
Wilbur Smith. Awesome.
Desert God.
It's seven years since we last seen an Egyptian novel from Wilbur, in the guise of The Quest. Now Taita is back,this is the fifth book in the fantastic Egyptian series. As in all Wilburs book the descriptions are fantastic, you really do think you are their. In this story Taita is trying to beat of the Hyksos who are Egypts biggest enemy. As well as the battles Taita was involved in he also had to protect the pharaohs two sisters.
This is a book you will really enjoy from start to finish. Highly recommended.
5 stars. 01 October 2014.
Desert God.
It's seven years since we last seen an Egyptian novel from Wilbur, in the guise of The Quest. Now Taita is back,this is the fifth book in the fantastic Egyptian series. As in all Wilburs book the descriptions are fantastic, you really do think you are their. In this story Taita is trying to beat of the Hyksos who are Egypts biggest enemy. As well as the battles Taita was involved in he also had to protect the pharaohs two sisters.
This is a book you will really enjoy from start to finish. Highly recommended.
5 stars. 01 October 2014.
October 5, 2014
If you have read Wilbur Smith before then you may be disappointed. As an avid reader of his previous books, including the other Egyptian tales of river God and warlock, I was incredibly disappointed by this one. I found the constant immodesty of Taita, rather grating as it was almost patronising. I felt little for the characters and the plot wasn't gripping like many of the other stories have been. I gave it two stars as I was able to read it and it wasn't terrible but I would not recommend it. I hope the next book is better!
June 25, 2017
So I have read this series completely backwards ...oops ! I think knowing it's part of a series is what draws me to the info I'm missing but Wilbur smith does write these in such a way you can read them as stand alone novels .
I love anything ancient Egypt related and always open to recommendations so please feel free to give them :) ...this didn't disappoint , thrilling read and perfect mix of Egyptian culture / romance / war and tragedy .
I'd certainly recommend reading this !
I love anything ancient Egypt related and always open to recommendations so please feel free to give them :) ...this didn't disappoint , thrilling read and perfect mix of Egyptian culture / romance / war and tragedy .
I'd certainly recommend reading this !
July 17, 2017
টাইটার ক্যারেক্টারটা কেন জানি ওয়ান ডাইমেনশনাল মনে হয়। যা কিছু ভালো, তার সাথে টাইটা রইল ।
আর যা কিছু মন্দ, তার সাথে রয়েছে হাইকসো (Hykos, অনুবাদে এই উচ্চারণ ব্যবহার হয়েছে)।
অনুবাদ ভালো লাগেনি।
আর যা কিছু মন্দ, তার সাথে রয়েছে হাইকসো (Hykos, অনুবাদে এই উচ্চারণ ব্যবহার হয়েছে)।
অনুবাদ ভালো লাগেনি।
April 7, 2015
The fifth in Wilbur Smith’s Egyptian series was eagerly anticipated by his fans. Three previous novels had followed the fortunes of the eunuch Taita, while the modern day treasure hunt in The Seventh Scroll had added a further dimension to the tale. All had impressed me with their vision, the attention to detail, and the craft of a storyteller weaving intricate layers of plot within an adventure story that I never wanted to end.
But then came Desert God.
Sorry Wilbur, but this particular fan is bitterly disappointed. I genuinely hope there will be no more Taita adventures, because this tale is a big let down.
It starts promisingly enough, with Taita leading a raiding party against the Hyksos foe that we have encountered in most of the previous stories. Again we are immersed in a world of ancient times, immediately swept away with our hero’s audacious endeavours to support the cause of his pharaoh. We are introduced to more characters to which we are sympathetic, although there are (for my taste) several similarities in the descriptions given to characters from River God. On this occasion Taita must travel to Babylon before escorting two royal princesses to the island of Crete in an audacious plan to find new allies and finally rid Egypt of the marauding Hyksos.
I bought this book just before going on holiday to Turkey, but it didn’t come back with me. I deliberately left it behind because I did not want it to disgrace my bookshelf... I learned after my return that Wilbur Smith has occasionally used ‘ghostwriters’ to assist in completing his novels. If that is true, then it was never more obvious than in Desert God. I don’t know precisely where it happened (as I can no longer look through the pages!), but at some point Wilbur definitely lost the plot and someone else picked it up again. The storyline rambles without direction somewhere before we reach Babylon, and from thereon we are steered away from anything resembling Smith’s detailed and thorough plotting found in earlier books.
The final chapters are puerile and belong firmly in the slushpile of nonsense. I really cannot believe in the character of Taita any more. Earlier stories had imbued his personality with the elements of a mystic, but Desert God leaves us with an impression of someone better suited to the fantasy creatures found in Marvel Comic Books.
I’m sorry to depart from the voices of universal acclaim that usually greet Smith’s work, because I have been a genuine fan. But this book is a disaster (in my view), and if anyone reading this has previously enjoyed the earlier Egyptian stories, and is contemplating reading Desert God, my advice is “Don’t bother!”
But then came Desert God.
Sorry Wilbur, but this particular fan is bitterly disappointed. I genuinely hope there will be no more Taita adventures, because this tale is a big let down.
It starts promisingly enough, with Taita leading a raiding party against the Hyksos foe that we have encountered in most of the previous stories. Again we are immersed in a world of ancient times, immediately swept away with our hero’s audacious endeavours to support the cause of his pharaoh. We are introduced to more characters to which we are sympathetic, although there are (for my taste) several similarities in the descriptions given to characters from River God. On this occasion Taita must travel to Babylon before escorting two royal princesses to the island of Crete in an audacious plan to find new allies and finally rid Egypt of the marauding Hyksos.
I bought this book just before going on holiday to Turkey, but it didn’t come back with me. I deliberately left it behind because I did not want it to disgrace my bookshelf... I learned after my return that Wilbur Smith has occasionally used ‘ghostwriters’ to assist in completing his novels. If that is true, then it was never more obvious than in Desert God. I don’t know precisely where it happened (as I can no longer look through the pages!), but at some point Wilbur definitely lost the plot and someone else picked it up again. The storyline rambles without direction somewhere before we reach Babylon, and from thereon we are steered away from anything resembling Smith’s detailed and thorough plotting found in earlier books.
The final chapters are puerile and belong firmly in the slushpile of nonsense. I really cannot believe in the character of Taita any more. Earlier stories had imbued his personality with the elements of a mystic, but Desert God leaves us with an impression of someone better suited to the fantasy creatures found in Marvel Comic Books.
I’m sorry to depart from the voices of universal acclaim that usually greet Smith’s work, because I have been a genuine fan. But this book is a disaster (in my view), and if anyone reading this has previously enjoyed the earlier Egyptian stories, and is contemplating reading Desert God, my advice is “Don’t bother!”
November 1, 2014
Prolific author Wilbur Smith's latest novel, "Desert God: A Novel of Ancient Egypt" (William Morrow 2014), is the third in his series about Taita, former-slave turned adviser to a Pharaoh. The novel opens as a land-locked Egypt fights for survival against the barbarian Hyksos. Through this first person account, we see how Taita analyzes threats, assesses options, and crafts solutions that invariably work out. Even the surprise ending is a win for Taita as he masterfully turns disaster into success.
I love historic fiction, done well, it's a perfect blend of a plot-driven 'history mystery' and a peek into how people led their lives long before machines did it for us. With dozens of books to his credit, Wilbur Smith is a master if this genre. His voice is forthright and clear with a strong sense of place and time.
The main character in "Desert God", Taita, is fascinating. He is full of confidence, brilliant, and an extraordinary problem solver. When he is working on a problem, the story becomes a procedural on how he reaches brilliant solutions. Taita is like the heroes I love in thrillers, but lacking the flaws, insecurities, and broken dreams that usually accompany them. Despite this, Taita has an objective acceptance of his superior skills--
"It always surprises me how a few kind words from me are treasured by even the lowliest members of our entourage. One often forgets how one is revered by others less talented than oneself."
"I often think that I am too forbearing with those who are not as sharp-witted as I am."
"Modesty usually prevents me from employing the word beautiful when describing myself, but honesty requires me to do so in this instance."
While he lacks humility, he also avoids hubris.
Noticeably missing in this story was an inciting incident--a crisis around which the plot revolved. The first third of "Desert God" could have been a simple summary of the Egyptian dynasty tightly constrained to Taita's version of a noble life. Because of his super-human skills (a trait that is explained toward the end of the book), he is not a particularly reliable narrator for an historic novel. It took at least a third of this four hundred-plus page book to find the plot. I won't tell you what it is, but it surprised me.
Wilbur Smith, with over 125 books to his resume and 125 million fans in 26 languages, is a good find. Overall, "Desert God" is a good mix of history and plotting. I never felt like it was too narrative or pedantic. I've already ordered the two prequels to Desert God (which Amazon reviews say are better than this one--I can't wait).
I love historic fiction, done well, it's a perfect blend of a plot-driven 'history mystery' and a peek into how people led their lives long before machines did it for us. With dozens of books to his credit, Wilbur Smith is a master if this genre. His voice is forthright and clear with a strong sense of place and time.
The main character in "Desert God", Taita, is fascinating. He is full of confidence, brilliant, and an extraordinary problem solver. When he is working on a problem, the story becomes a procedural on how he reaches brilliant solutions. Taita is like the heroes I love in thrillers, but lacking the flaws, insecurities, and broken dreams that usually accompany them. Despite this, Taita has an objective acceptance of his superior skills--
"It always surprises me how a few kind words from me are treasured by even the lowliest members of our entourage. One often forgets how one is revered by others less talented than oneself."
"I often think that I am too forbearing with those who are not as sharp-witted as I am."
"Modesty usually prevents me from employing the word beautiful when describing myself, but honesty requires me to do so in this instance."
While he lacks humility, he also avoids hubris.
Noticeably missing in this story was an inciting incident--a crisis around which the plot revolved. The first third of "Desert God" could have been a simple summary of the Egyptian dynasty tightly constrained to Taita's version of a noble life. Because of his super-human skills (a trait that is explained toward the end of the book), he is not a particularly reliable narrator for an historic novel. It took at least a third of this four hundred-plus page book to find the plot. I won't tell you what it is, but it surprised me.
Wilbur Smith, with over 125 books to his resume and 125 million fans in 26 languages, is a good find. Overall, "Desert God" is a good mix of history and plotting. I never felt like it was too narrative or pedantic. I've already ordered the two prequels to Desert God (which Amazon reviews say are better than this one--I can't wait).
October 8, 2023
Dopo la grossa delusione del precedente libro
Alle fonti del Nilo
, ecco che Wilbur Smith si è ampiamente fatto perdonare con questo bellissimo e spettacolare Il Dio del Deserto, quinto ed ultimo capitolo (forse) del magnifico ciclo degli egizi ed incentrato sulla figura dello schiavo eunuco Taita. Nelle ultime pagine di
Alle fonti del Nilo
lo avevamo lasciato che (anche se per intercessione divina) aveva riottenuto una nuova giovinezza ed una nuova virilità; in questa sua nuova avventura, invece, lo ritroviamo nuovamente eunuco… quindi, c'è da supporre che quanto ora narrato sia antecedente ai fatti del precedente lavoro.
Inoltre, nei primi quattro libri del ciclo degli egizi abbiamo letto della magnificenza dell'antico Egitto, ammirato gli sfarzi della corte dei Faraoni e ascoltato la voce del Nilo… in quest'ultima avventura, invece, Wilbur Smith ci porta in giro per il Mediterraneo (e, infatti, il titolo del libro ci trae non poco in inganno): andiamo, quindi, tutti a Creta… passando da Babilonia!
Vi racconto brevemente la trama: Taita, nel tentativo di salvare il nord dell'Egitto dalla supremazia degli invasori Hyksos (episodio al centro delle vicende de Il dio del fiume , primo libro della saga egizia), cerca l'appoggio e l'alleanza degli altri due grandi regni dell'epoca, Babilonia e la civiltà minoica di Creta. Non aggiungo altro e mi fermo qui per non rovinare il finale a chi ancora deve leggere il libro.
La cosa impressionante di quest'opera è l'abile lavoro diplomatico, costellato anche di sotterfugi e macchinazioni varie, che Wilbur Smith riesce a far compiere a Taita per salvare il suo Egitto. E menzioni a parte meritano anche il bel testo scorrevole e mai stancante e le descrizioni dei paesaggi, dei personaggi e (addirittura) dei dettagli delle navi… quasi quasi, ad un certo punto del racconto, sembra di stare a bordo di una qualunque di essa.
[https://lastanzadiantonio.blogspot.co...]
Inoltre, nei primi quattro libri del ciclo degli egizi abbiamo letto della magnificenza dell'antico Egitto, ammirato gli sfarzi della corte dei Faraoni e ascoltato la voce del Nilo… in quest'ultima avventura, invece, Wilbur Smith ci porta in giro per il Mediterraneo (e, infatti, il titolo del libro ci trae non poco in inganno): andiamo, quindi, tutti a Creta… passando da Babilonia!
Vi racconto brevemente la trama: Taita, nel tentativo di salvare il nord dell'Egitto dalla supremazia degli invasori Hyksos (episodio al centro delle vicende de Il dio del fiume , primo libro della saga egizia), cerca l'appoggio e l'alleanza degli altri due grandi regni dell'epoca, Babilonia e la civiltà minoica di Creta. Non aggiungo altro e mi fermo qui per non rovinare il finale a chi ancora deve leggere il libro.
La cosa impressionante di quest'opera è l'abile lavoro diplomatico, costellato anche di sotterfugi e macchinazioni varie, che Wilbur Smith riesce a far compiere a Taita per salvare il suo Egitto. E menzioni a parte meritano anche il bel testo scorrevole e mai stancante e le descrizioni dei paesaggi, dei personaggi e (addirittura) dei dettagli delle navi… quasi quasi, ad un certo punto del racconto, sembra di stare a bordo di una qualunque di essa.
[https://lastanzadiantonio.blogspot.co...]
October 16, 2014
If you have been following the story of Taita, you will know what to expect and quite frankly this book delivers the goods. A rip snorting adventure and full of interesting facts. The ending was a bit on the cheesy side but sets the scene for another book.
July 7, 2017
Enjoyable story of ancient Egypt which was fun to read.
May 13, 2024
This book may not be historically accurate but it is an exciting story of an ancient Egyptian's quest to free his country of the Hyksos. This representative of the Pharaoh travels to Sumeria, Babylon, and Crete to seek allies in the war to drive out the Hyksos. Taita learns his father was a god and this shows in his superhuman ability to always succeed in winning battles and gaining allies including pirates. The novel was a page turner that kept me interested until the end which made me wanting more. I probably will get more because there is still the matter of the Hyksos to be settled in Egypt.
March 1, 2024
I finished reading this one on January 30 so let me just think what I can remember of the plot. Hmm...not much. But I will try to at least give you a brief summary.
Well, it's a novel of ancient Egypt. It says so right there on the cover. The main character is Taita, a slave. He is a eunuch because, apparently, that was a requirement for male slaves. He has in his care two princesses whom he always refers to as "my princesses."
Taita, as he will readily tell you, is very, very good at everything he does, especially warfare, languages, and games. Moreover, he is much appreciated and admired for his many talents. (This assessment, again, is according to him.)
The other characters in this tale are all essentially stick figures. We never get to know them very well.
There was one character, in particular, who I found interesting and who seemed to have the potential to add depth to the story. Her name was Loxias. She was a Greek girl who became a tutor for the princesses. But we just never got to spend that much time with her or to get to know her. The focus is always Taita, Taita, Taita!
Perhaps if I had found Taita to be a more sympathetic character I would have enjoyed the story more but my irritation with him kept me from ever being fully invested. As for the princesses who are the other essential characters in the story, they are too insipid and utterly selfish to care about.
At some point, the princesses are shipped off to become wives to King Minos of Crete. We may think we have seen the last of them at that point, but then our hero, Taita, also spends time in Crete and in their presence. Ah, well, it would have been cruel to separate him from his beloved princesses.
I struggled just a bit with deciding on a rating for this book and when that happens, I generally settle on a mid-rating. I stayed true to form in that regard.
Well, it's a novel of ancient Egypt. It says so right there on the cover. The main character is Taita, a slave. He is a eunuch because, apparently, that was a requirement for male slaves. He has in his care two princesses whom he always refers to as "my princesses."
Taita, as he will readily tell you, is very, very good at everything he does, especially warfare, languages, and games. Moreover, he is much appreciated and admired for his many talents. (This assessment, again, is according to him.)
The other characters in this tale are all essentially stick figures. We never get to know them very well.
There was one character, in particular, who I found interesting and who seemed to have the potential to add depth to the story. Her name was Loxias. She was a Greek girl who became a tutor for the princesses. But we just never got to spend that much time with her or to get to know her. The focus is always Taita, Taita, Taita!
Perhaps if I had found Taita to be a more sympathetic character I would have enjoyed the story more but my irritation with him kept me from ever being fully invested. As for the princesses who are the other essential characters in the story, they are too insipid and utterly selfish to care about.
At some point, the princesses are shipped off to become wives to King Minos of Crete. We may think we have seen the last of them at that point, but then our hero, Taita, also spends time in Crete and in their presence. Ah, well, it would have been cruel to separate him from his beloved princesses.
I struggled just a bit with deciding on a rating for this book and when that happens, I generally settle on a mid-rating. I stayed true to form in that regard.
October 11, 2014
If I could give this book any more stars I would!
I have never read any other books by this author. So by the title alone,
I took a chance.
This book transported me to the Ancient times of Egypt & Crete.
There is a hero in this book, though an unlikely one. He is Taita, a former
slave, but through his intelligence, cunning and undying devotion to Egypt,
rose to be Pharaoh's advisor & trusted friend.
Taita is entrusted to raising Pharoah's daughters Tehuti & Bekatha.
He loves them as his own. But daughters of royalty are pawns, to be used
to gain favor & power, with an ally or enemy. Their Mother, Queen Lostris
was His great love of his life. But, being castrated, He never could even
dream of loving Her as a man.
The Hyksos are the greatest threat. But Crete could be also.
Taita wisely has the job of deciding who does Egypt trust. But, he has
a ace in the cards on his side. Who but the beautiful Goddess Inanna!
They share something special between them.
Travel to the court of Pharoah. Feel, taste &smell the incense.
See Crete through this book, when it was one of the greatest powers of the ancient
world. What about the King of the Titan, Cronus? Minos, Pasiphae or the
Minotaur?
The ending I didn't see coming. You won't either. And that's what makes
this book great!
November 11, 2014
Smith is a master story teller. I enjoyed reading “River God” so much that when I saw this new book about ancient Egypt “Desert God” I grabbed it.
Our protagonist Taita is the former slave, eunuch and fixer-to Pharaoh. He has appeared in his other Egypt books. I heard an interview with Smith and he said that Taita’s vanity is played for laughs. He stated he had lots of fun making Taita conceited and ostentatious to the extreme.
From Thebes, young Pharaoh Tamose rules a divided Egypt. Hykos invaders control the lower Nile. Tamose sends Taita to reclaim the lost land. Taita must from an alliance with King Nimrod of Babylon and Supreme Minos of Crete. He loots a treasure of silver ingots and sends it to pharaoh. He treks across desert to Babylon then goes to Crete. Taita has diplomatic complications, lots of action, sea battles, land battles and the author provides sufficient particulars of landscape and people, food and drink to satisfy history buffs.
Smith tends to write characters as formally good or bad. At times the narrative seems rushed and toward the end of the book key elements are covered by quick exposition to accelerate the plot. Overall Smith blended intrigue, action, and suspense on a solid foundation of history to make a great historical novel. I read this as an audio book downloaded from Audible. Mike Grady narrated the book.
Our protagonist Taita is the former slave, eunuch and fixer-to Pharaoh. He has appeared in his other Egypt books. I heard an interview with Smith and he said that Taita’s vanity is played for laughs. He stated he had lots of fun making Taita conceited and ostentatious to the extreme.
From Thebes, young Pharaoh Tamose rules a divided Egypt. Hykos invaders control the lower Nile. Tamose sends Taita to reclaim the lost land. Taita must from an alliance with King Nimrod of Babylon and Supreme Minos of Crete. He loots a treasure of silver ingots and sends it to pharaoh. He treks across desert to Babylon then goes to Crete. Taita has diplomatic complications, lots of action, sea battles, land battles and the author provides sufficient particulars of landscape and people, food and drink to satisfy history buffs.
Smith tends to write characters as formally good or bad. At times the narrative seems rushed and toward the end of the book key elements are covered by quick exposition to accelerate the plot. Overall Smith blended intrigue, action, and suspense on a solid foundation of history to make a great historical novel. I read this as an audio book downloaded from Audible. Mike Grady narrated the book.
August 13, 2015
Тайта громи хиксосите, наред са Вавилон и Крит: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/p...
Още в началото трябва да се уточни нещо. По-голямата част от “Пустинният бог” не се развива в пустинята, но пък богове си има, че даже са и доста гневливи и събуждат вулкани. Изненадащо за мен, в поредния роман за приключенията на гениалния Тайта Смит поема по стъпките на автори като Емилио Салгари и Рафаел Сабатини – по-голямата (и по-интересната) част от книгата си е направо пиратско-приключенска, с което в общи линии се отдалечава от първообраза си “Речният бог”. Освободеният роб Тайта обаче си е все така изключителен – в ревюто си за първата книга го характеризирах като “нищо по-малко от нещо средно между Леонардо да Винчи, Стив Джобс и Нютон” и това не се е променило изобщо, нарцисизмът му дори се е задълбочил, колкото и невъзможно да изглежда това.
CIELA Books
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/p...
Още в началото трябва да се уточни нещо. По-голямата част от “Пустинният бог” не се развива в пустинята, но пък богове си има, че даже са и доста гневливи и събуждат вулкани. Изненадащо за мен, в поредния роман за приключенията на гениалния Тайта Смит поема по стъпките на автори като Емилио Салгари и Рафаел Сабатини – по-голямата (и по-интересната) част от книгата си е направо пиратско-приключенска, с което в общи линии се отдалечава от първообраза си “Речният бог”. Освободеният роб Тайта обаче си е все така изключителен – в ревюто си за първата книга го характеризирах като “нищо по-малко от нещо средно между Леонардо да Винчи, Стив Джобс и Нютон” и това не се е променило изобщо, нарцисизмът му дори се е задълбочил, колкото и невъзможно да изглежда това.
CIELA Books
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/p...
October 27, 2014
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads, and am grateful for the opportunity to read and review it.
The book, while an entertaining read in the end, was confusing and a little irritating at times. I almost abandoned it early on as the first 50 pages or so are rather boring and lackluster. It seems as if the author was trying to get back into the flow of writing after a long hiatus of sorts. Eventually the plot picked up and moved along fairly well, but nowhere near the standard that had been set by earlier novels. In my opinion the author missed important opportunities to elaborate on characters or plot. It almost seemed as if the book were written by several authors arguing over what they felt was most important to include.
This novel would serve as an appropriate introduction to the world of Taita, but not as a sequential story in the Egypt series as it attempts to do. Important character developments that occurred in “The Quest” were omitted in this book, so if you have already ready the other novels, this one will leave you slightly confused. Near the end of the novel I thought that I found myself getting irritated at how many times the narrator felt it necessary to remind the reader of just how fond of horses he was. That trait was covered thoroughly in the first 50 pages, there was no need to drag it out for another 380 pages. It would seem that the entire novel can be summarized by a few simply points:
1. My name is Taita and I am the greatest at almost everything. If there isn't something that I'm the best at it is either because I don't care about it or because it is still so new to me that I have not had the opportunity to become the best.
2. I have a strict duty to Pharaoh and Egypt, unless it concerns the "darling little princesses" under my care, in which case even though I have lived for over a hundred years and have developed in maturity and common sense the entire time, I'm going to let a couple of teen whelps dictate what I do.
3. Even though one of the main plots of the novel is crushing the Hyksos invaders and reuniting Egypt, the narrator spends more time talking about himself and how great he is than how he actually plans to expel the invaders. The book fails offer any sort of resolution on the war and alliance and instead focuses on rescuing the princesses, who by the end of the book are only slightly more mature and regal in their manner.
The book, while an entertaining read in the end, was confusing and a little irritating at times. I almost abandoned it early on as the first 50 pages or so are rather boring and lackluster. It seems as if the author was trying to get back into the flow of writing after a long hiatus of sorts. Eventually the plot picked up and moved along fairly well, but nowhere near the standard that had been set by earlier novels. In my opinion the author missed important opportunities to elaborate on characters or plot. It almost seemed as if the book were written by several authors arguing over what they felt was most important to include.
This novel would serve as an appropriate introduction to the world of Taita, but not as a sequential story in the Egypt series as it attempts to do. Important character developments that occurred in “The Quest” were omitted in this book, so if you have already ready the other novels, this one will leave you slightly confused. Near the end of the novel I thought that I found myself getting irritated at how many times the narrator felt it necessary to remind the reader of just how fond of horses he was. That trait was covered thoroughly in the first 50 pages, there was no need to drag it out for another 380 pages. It would seem that the entire novel can be summarized by a few simply points:
1. My name is Taita and I am the greatest at almost everything. If there isn't something that I'm the best at it is either because I don't care about it or because it is still so new to me that I have not had the opportunity to become the best.
2. I have a strict duty to Pharaoh and Egypt, unless it concerns the "darling little princesses" under my care, in which case even though I have lived for over a hundred years and have developed in maturity and common sense the entire time, I'm going to let a couple of teen whelps dictate what I do.
3. Even though one of the main plots of the novel is crushing the Hyksos invaders and reuniting Egypt, the narrator spends more time talking about himself and how great he is than how he actually plans to expel the invaders. The book fails offer any sort of resolution on the war and alliance and instead focuses on rescuing the princesses, who by the end of the book are only slightly more mature and regal in their manner.
November 15, 2015
Цялото ревю - http://ekaterinaes.blogspot.bg/2015/1...
В последно време правя много признания за себе си и за книжните си предпочитания, обаче така изглежда преоткривам и наистина какво ми харесва все повече. Голям любител съм на Древен Египет, на тяхната история, култура, изкуства и отдавна забравени маниери, които някои автори се опитват да предадат в книгите си...И да, признавам, че не съм особена почитателка на исторически романи, макар че това не е съвсем исторически, макар историята да се развива доста правдоподобно и с разказв��не от първо лице от страна на главния ни герой - бившият роб Тайта, книгата наистина се превръща в интригуващо историческо приключение.
Това всъщност е и първата ми среща с Уилбър Смит, но след "Пустинният бог" (Сиела, 2015) съм си обещала, че ще прочета всичко от този автор и неговите исторически сюжети около Тайта. Все пак този герой няма как да не стане любимец на всеки или поне всеки.
Тайта е съветник на фараона, закрилник на принцесите (сестрите) и...или най-общо казано гений, който с ум и хитрост, с находчивост и невинно, поне според него самия, вмешателство в управляването на народа той ръководи не само основните решения, които взима фараона, но и успява да накара и самите принцеси да следват изумителните му планове, да се съгласяват с него и да приемат всяка негова дума съвсем достоверно и с пълно доверие. Но и Тайта никога не изневерява на своите планове, изпълнява всичко дословно, пресмятайки и най-малката подробност, така че да предвиди опасностите или проблемите в плановете си. Проблеми рядко има, гениалните му планове го спохождат изневиделица и решенията му изискват само и единствено търпение. А той постоянно прославя себе си като скромен и търпелив, мака че нарцисизмът му е на толкова високо ниво, че чак ме кара да се усмихвам и да клатя глава, когато той сам "се нарече" скромен и сдържан. Само тези около него знаят какъв хитрец е под кротката си усмивка и спокоен поглед, който не издава по никакъв начин мислите и чувствата му.
Той е склонен да планува, да мами и лъже, и да краде и убива, да лекува, оперира и спасява невинни, да прощава и да наказва, да командва цели армии и да върти меча наравно с войниците си, да стреля от първите редици с лъка си и никога да не пропуска, да гребе рамо до рамо с хората си на пейките, на които трябва да седят робите. И всяко негово действие е напълно оправдано.
Заради Египет.
http://ekaterinaes.blogspot.bg/2015/1...
В последно време правя много признания за себе си и за книжните си предпочитания, обаче така изглежда преоткривам и наистина какво ми харесва все повече. Голям любител съм на Древен Египет, на тяхната история, култура, изкуства и отдавна забравени маниери, които някои автори се опитват да предадат в книгите си...И да, признавам, че не съм особена почитателка на исторически романи, макар че това не е съвсем исторически, макар историята да се развива доста правдоподобно и с разказв��не от първо лице от страна на главния ни герой - бившият роб Тайта, книгата наистина се превръща в интригуващо историческо приключение.
Това всъщност е и първата ми среща с Уилбър Смит, но след "Пустинният бог" (Сиела, 2015) съм си обещала, че ще прочета всичко от този автор и неговите исторически сюжети около Тайта. Все пак този герой няма как да не стане любимец на всеки или поне всеки.
Тайта е съветник на фараона, закрилник на принцесите (сестрите) и...или най-общо казано гений, който с ум и хитрост, с находчивост и невинно, поне според него самия, вмешателство в управляването на народа той ръководи не само основните решения, които взима фараона, но и успява да накара и самите принцеси да следват изумителните му планове, да се съгласяват с него и да приемат всяка негова дума съвсем достоверно и с пълно доверие. Но и Тайта никога не изневерява на своите планове, изпълнява всичко дословно, пресмятайки и най-малката подробност, така че да предвиди опасностите или проблемите в плановете си. Проблеми рядко има, гениалните му планове го спохождат изневиделица и решенията му изискват само и единствено търпение. А той постоянно прославя себе си като скромен и търпелив, мака че нарцисизмът му е на толкова високо ниво, че чак ме кара да се усмихвам и да клатя глава, когато той сам "се нарече" скромен и сдържан. Само тези около него знаят какъв хитрец е под кротката си усмивка и спокоен поглед, който не издава по никакъв начин мислите и чувствата му.
Той е склонен да планува, да мами и лъже, и да краде и убива, да лекува, оперира и спасява невинни, да прощава и да наказва, да командва цели армии и да върти меча наравно с войниците си, да стреля от първите редици с лъка си и никога да не пропуска, да гребе рамо до рамо с хората си на пейките, на които трябва да седят робите. И всяко негово действие е напълно оправдано.
Заради Египет.
http://ekaterinaes.blogspot.bg/2015/1...
August 30, 2016
Vabbeh, e anche per quest'estate posso dire di aver letto almeno una cagata pazzesca. Non lo definirei libro da spiaggia, perché me lo sono portato dietro e poi ho passato mezza giornata a imprecare non avendo nient'altro dietro.
Ma che boiata! Taita, sei il Dio del Quaqquaraqquà.
No scusate, per tre quarti del libro il protagonista ci ricorda che non ce n'è brillanti come lui. È bello (non lo direbbe di solito, è così modesto, però tant'è lo fa lo stesso - che sia un antenato della signora Elton di Emma? XD), intelligente, impara lingue mai ascoltate nel giro di un mese (vantandosi di riuscire a riprodurre la pronuncia al primo ascolto - bravo pappagallo?), è un genio militare, un filosofo, un ingegnere, un chirurgo, uno stilista di abiti e gioielli, un grande giocatore degli scacchi egizi, un arciere come pochi al mondo e uno dei dieci egizi capaci di nuotare e cavalcare. E dell'altro che sicuramente ho dimenticato. Ah, ed è un semidio.
E il mio pensiero corre qui, ma pazienza.
E nonostante tutte queste doti da Gary Stu che dovrebbero compensare il suo essere un eunuco, Taita è un gonzo. Perché non saprei in che altro modo definire un cretino che dovrebbe educare e controllare due principesse reali in viaggio per il matrimonio, quando queste fanno letteralmente il cazzo che vogliono con il suo benestare, per darle in sposa a un re di cui non sa niente ignorando totalmente cultura e usanze del paese del suddetto re. Forse se invece di elencare tutte le sue mirabolanti doti Taita sapesse fare due più due...
No davvero, non ce la posso fà. Che marea di boiate.
Ma che boiata! Taita, sei il Dio del Quaqquaraqquà.
No scusate, per tre quarti del libro il protagonista ci ricorda che non ce n'è brillanti come lui. È bello (non lo direbbe di solito, è così modesto, però tant'è lo fa lo stesso - che sia un antenato della signora Elton di Emma? XD), intelligente, impara lingue mai ascoltate nel giro di un mese (vantandosi di riuscire a riprodurre la pronuncia al primo ascolto - bravo pappagallo?), è un genio militare, un filosofo, un ingegnere, un chirurgo, uno stilista di abiti e gioielli, un grande giocatore degli scacchi egizi, un arciere come pochi al mondo e uno dei dieci egizi capaci di nuotare e cavalcare. E dell'altro che sicuramente ho dimenticato. Ah, ed è un semidio.
E il mio pensiero corre qui, ma pazienza.
E nonostante tutte queste doti da Gary Stu che dovrebbero compensare il suo essere un eunuco, Taita è un gonzo. Perché non saprei in che altro modo definire un cretino che dovrebbe educare e controllare due principesse reali in viaggio per il matrimonio, quando queste fanno letteralmente il cazzo che vogliono con il suo benestare, per darle in sposa a un re di cui non sa niente ignorando totalmente cultura e usanze del paese del suddetto re. Forse se invece di elencare tutte le sue mirabolanti doti Taita sapesse fare due più due...
No davvero, non ce la posso fà. Che marea di boiate.
May 1, 2017
Desert God by Wilbur Smith is a well written book. It's a slower paced read than the previous books I read recently, so it took me a while to get used to it. Once I did, I really enjoyed the story. The narrator, Taita, is also the main character. He thinks very highly of himself and considers himself and Egypt superior than most other people and societies. I find it amusing how Taita describes his enemy's brutalities, yet he doesn't recognize the same in him or his men or when he does, he justifies his actions. The book does go into graphic detail of the dead or dying men under the hands of Taita and his men or by others.
The description of the places Taita sees and the adventure he experiences is outstanding. The author tells the story as if he has been there himself - not a figment of his imagination. I read once that the author knows his Egyptian history and uses his knowledge in his novels, but some of these places as the author describes, can't exist anymore, if they ever did.
In addition, I read River God a few years back and I remember enjoying it very much too. I haven't had the opportunity to read the next few books in the series. It might have been nice to have read them before this book, but it wasn't necessary. Desert God stands on its own. Taita does mention a few past experiences, which does not hinder this story in any way.
This is a great book to read while on vacation or when there is time to relax and fully immerse into the adventures of Taita fighting for his Egypt.
The description of the places Taita sees and the adventure he experiences is outstanding. The author tells the story as if he has been there himself - not a figment of his imagination. I read once that the author knows his Egyptian history and uses his knowledge in his novels, but some of these places as the author describes, can't exist anymore, if they ever did.
In addition, I read River God a few years back and I remember enjoying it very much too. I haven't had the opportunity to read the next few books in the series. It might have been nice to have read them before this book, but it wasn't necessary. Desert God stands on its own. Taita does mention a few past experiences, which does not hinder this story in any way.
This is a great book to read while on vacation or when there is time to relax and fully immerse into the adventures of Taita fighting for his Egypt.
September 1, 2015
I hated this book.
Forget underdeveloped side characters. Bratty princesses. Thin plot. I hate it all less than I hate Taita.
He is perfect. he knows and can do all. Nobod can match him-and he will make sure you know it. But he isn't snob, believe him! just as he isn't racist-it is not his fault that he cannot find anything admirable in Hyksos, or ( to lesser extent) any other country! He manipulates Pharaoh but it is good! What he painted is better than what hundreds of best painters of world painted for decades! When he sees great invention, he plans to remake it in Egypt-ok, legit, but he won't tell anybody he didn't invent it, so he wouldn't crash their view of him. He constantly criticizes how everything would be better if he made it.
Only character I liked was Loxias, whom Taita is condescending too. At one point he is insulted because instead of Falling over heels for princess, Cretoan ambassador gets interested in Loxias.
Forget underdeveloped side characters. Bratty princesses. Thin plot. I hate it all less than I hate Taita.
He is perfect. he knows and can do all. Nobod can match him-and he will make sure you know it. But he isn't snob, believe him! just as he isn't racist-it is not his fault that he cannot find anything admirable in Hyksos, or ( to lesser extent) any other country! He manipulates Pharaoh but it is good! What he painted is better than what hundreds of best painters of world painted for decades! When he sees great invention, he plans to remake it in Egypt-ok, legit, but he won't tell anybody he didn't invent it, so he wouldn't crash their view of him. He constantly criticizes how everything would be better if he made it.
Only character I liked was Loxias, whom Taita is condescending too. At one point he is insulted because instead of Falling over heels for princess, Cretoan ambassador gets interested in Loxias.
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