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beltari's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.25
I don't usually write a review about a book I haven't finished, but I'm half way through it and I can't endure it anymore.
I've read my share of bad books in my life, but this is closer to a fanfic than a book, which is why I've decided to write this.
The story is about Gary Stu Taita, the slave, the most perfect man in all Egypt. By age of 30, he has mastered all known disciplines and not only does he knows everything there is to know about everything, he's also the best at anything you can think of, as he reminds you on every possible occasion.
He's the best architect, engineer, hydrologist, botanist, animal tamer, doctor (diagnostician and surgeon), chemist, painter, singer, cook, illusionist, lip reader, actor, writer, philosopher, historian, astronomer and astrologist (and I'm probably forgetting something) He's also a VERY beautiful man with a beautiful body. His only defect is that he's an eunuch :(
He befriended another perfect man, Tanus, the most perfect soldier in all Egypt. He's brave and beautiful, and his honor is beyond reproach. There isn't a single defect on this viking-looking Egyptian man.
Taita is devoted to his mistress, the most perfect woman in all Egypt. On the tender age of 14, this green-eyed, blonde Egyptian bombshell is as knowledgeable as her slave. She also has the most perfect breasts in the world (yes, the 14 years old girl's breasts are described with detail several times), is an excellent singer, dancer and actress.
Together, they'll face several challenges that they will obviously overcome easily, since they are perfect and they can do anything, so there's not much conflict throughout the story (also known as lazy writing)
The only thing that would redeem this book would've been that it was all a dream and Taita was only another slave dreaming of glory. But I skipped to the end, and no, he's perfect until the very last moment.
So to all the people who rated this book with 4 and 5 stars, are you sure you were reading this book and not another by the same name?
I've read my share of bad books in my life, but this is closer to a fanfic than a book, which is why I've decided to write this.
The story is about Gary Stu Taita, the slave, the most perfect man in all Egypt. By age of 30, he has mastered all known disciplines and not only does he knows everything there is to know about everything, he's also the best at anything you can think of, as he reminds you on every possible occasion.
He's the best architect, engineer, hydrologist, botanist, animal tamer, doctor (diagnostician and surgeon), chemist, painter, singer, cook, illusionist, lip reader, actor, writer, philosopher, historian, astronomer and astrologist (and I'm probably forgetting something) He's also a VERY beautiful man with a beautiful body. His only defect is that he's an eunuch :(
He befriended another perfect man, Tanus, the most perfect soldier in all Egypt. He's brave and beautiful, and his honor is beyond reproach. There isn't a single defect on this viking-looking Egyptian man.
Taita is devoted to his mistress, the most perfect woman in all Egypt. On the tender age of 14, this green-eyed, blonde Egyptian bombshell is as knowledgeable as her slave. She also has the most perfect breasts in the world (yes, the 14 years old girl's breasts are described with detail several times), is an excellent singer, dancer and actress.
Together, they'll face several challenges that they will obviously overcome easily, since they are perfect and they can do anything, so there's not much conflict throughout the story (also known as lazy writing)
The only thing that would redeem this book would've been that it was all a dream and Taita was only another slave dreaming of glory. But I skipped to the end, and no, he's perfect until the very last moment.
So to all the people who rated this book with 4 and 5 stars, are you sure you were reading this book and not another by the same name?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexism, and Slavery
there's a detailed description of the sexual attractiveness of a 14-year-old girlstephk23's review against another edition
1.0
I couldn't finish it. I was even listening to the audio book, and I just couldn't finish.
There were parts I liked. The writing style was OK. But the character. What slave was so educated that he could read and write, was an architect, an engineer, a doctor, an astrologer... and so on and so on. I wanted to groan out load every time there was another invention added to his name. Ridiculous. I kept thinking I'd listened to so much of it, surely I could finish, but it just kept going on and on and on.
Save yourself the trouble and don't bother with this one.
There were parts I liked. The writing style was OK. But the character. What slave was so educated that he could read and write, was an architect, an engineer, a doctor, an astrologer... and so on and so on. I wanted to groan out load every time there was another invention added to his name. Ridiculous. I kept thinking I'd listened to so much of it, surely I could finish, but it just kept going on and on and on.
Save yourself the trouble and don't bother with this one.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
5.0
Think it's a five stars but not sure, gonna sleep on it and see what I think about it later.
This is exactly the kind of historical fiction I love. A real exciting adventure that are so vividly told and a real page turner. Couldn't stop reading it. It had romance, action and so much more. Highly recommend
This is exactly the kind of historical fiction I love. A real exciting adventure that are so vividly told and a real page turner. Couldn't stop reading it. It had romance, action and so much more. Highly recommend
writeralicia's review against another edition
4.0
The following is not a helpful review. It's not a review really; it's more of an explanation for my rating.
I read this book, many years ago, because someone told me that it was pretty much the best book ever on the planet. After I read River God, I counted it among my top three favorite books for quite a while. I kind of agreed that it was pretty much the best book ever on the planet--or at least one of the best from the extremely limited selection of said books on the planet that I had actually read. But now, looking back, removed from the situation and barely remembering the book, I think it couldn't have been as great as all that.
I now give it four stars instead of five. I currently recall with (minimal) clarity exactly two events that occurred in River God. If it was not memorable enough for me to recall more than two events in the entire book, then it could not have been as great as I once thought. Could it?
I read this book, many years ago, because someone told me that it was pretty much the best book ever on the planet. After I read River God, I counted it among my top three favorite books for quite a while. I kind of agreed that it was pretty much the best book ever on the planet--or at least one of the best from the extremely limited selection of said books on the planet that I had actually read. But now, looking back, removed from the situation and barely remembering the book, I think it couldn't have been as great as all that.
I now give it four stars instead of five. I currently recall with (minimal) clarity exactly two events that occurred in River God. If it was not memorable enough for me to recall more than two events in the entire book, then it could not have been as great as I once thought. Could it?
booksbybindu's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my I forgot how good it can be to disappear into history when a book is as richly detailed as this is! It honestly felt as if I had stepped back into time and was experiencing it alongside the characters in the book. This is an example of historical fiction at it's best! It is full of reference points, the mythology of the culture is spread throughout the pages which gives the reader an authentic tome to devour.
This follows the story of Taita a talented slave and he is a treasured possession of Lord Intef. He is an expert in art, poetry, medicine and engineering and more importantly is the keeper of Lord Intef’s secrets. When his master's daughter, Lady Lostris is matched with the Pharoah, he is devastated as he loves her like she was his own daughter. But when Lostris is allowed to ask for one gift from her father she asks for Taita. They head for the palace and the intrigue that resides there. But Egpyt is divided as a country and Taita gets dragged into trying to solve the problems of the realm...
Is there nothing that Taita can't do?! Seriously he seems the be the most accomplished man ever created and doesn't he know it? However, he did have a heart of gold and he is completely loyal to those he loves. He is a complicated man and I ended up loving him! Such gall and determination. Scheming behind people’s backs and making sure that him and Lostris come out on top.
This is not a short book as it runs to over 600 pages but there was not a minute that I was bored. I devoured this book in two days and I instantly wanted more. There is a lot packed into this book and it is one of the best historical fiction books that I have ever read. Either Wilbur Smith had extensive inbuilt knowledge about ancient Egypt or he did an insane amount of research.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. It is a masterpiece. Roll on the next in the series.
This follows the story of Taita a talented slave and he is a treasured possession of Lord Intef. He is an expert in art, poetry, medicine and engineering and more importantly is the keeper of Lord Intef’s secrets. When his master's daughter, Lady Lostris is matched with the Pharoah, he is devastated as he loves her like she was his own daughter. But when Lostris is allowed to ask for one gift from her father she asks for Taita. They head for the palace and the intrigue that resides there. But Egpyt is divided as a country and Taita gets dragged into trying to solve the problems of the realm...
Is there nothing that Taita can't do?! Seriously he seems the be the most accomplished man ever created and doesn't he know it? However, he did have a heart of gold and he is completely loyal to those he loves. He is a complicated man and I ended up loving him! Such gall and determination. Scheming behind people’s backs and making sure that him and Lostris come out on top.
This is not a short book as it runs to over 600 pages but there was not a minute that I was bored. I devoured this book in two days and I instantly wanted more. There is a lot packed into this book and it is one of the best historical fiction books that I have ever read. Either Wilbur Smith had extensive inbuilt knowledge about ancient Egypt or he did an insane amount of research.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. It is a masterpiece. Roll on the next in the series.
jennadactyl13's review against another edition
4.0
This a lush, epic story of early Egypt, and is not about Cleopatra (seriously so many books about Egypt are about her). The details are lovely, and there is a little play thrown in towards the beginning summarizing some of the mythology, if you're like me and don't quite remember the stories. There's romance, adventure, an old fashioned tale of good triumphing over evil with enough of a regional flavor to keep it from being stale. I will say, though, that there were several gruesome descriptions of slaughtering animals or animals dying of pestilence that were unsettling, and I was annoying at the narrator somehow having every skill imaginable. Every time the characters needed something, it's oh, good thing I was a renowned doctor, I was a fantastic artist, I was also a priest, and great with animals. But is. Or enough to detract from a wonderful story.
snoodle72's review against another edition
3 Mary Sue characters. Male Gaze. Plot was decent but not good enough to keep me going.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
meisterkanz's review against another edition
4.0
One of the best adventure novels that I read. I am not delving into the historical accuracy. At times, it felt like a memoir rather than a novel due to the straightness of the plot and the character arc of each leads. Taita is so loveable and the narration happens through his eyes. He is very resourceful and goes greater lengths to show his love and loyalty to his mistress Lostris and Tanus. He is the most adorable and street-smart character. This novel came out in 1993, but I saw couple of passages that are used in a movie and a series. Smith paints a vivid picture of the Egyptians, the civilization along the Nile, their hunts, finding and taming of horses, their journey through the cataracts, encounters with Hyksos & the Ethiopians. Two or more characters with grey shades could have thickened the plot.
A definite page turner.
A definite page turner.
jannenemarie's review against another edition
4.0
I struggled with the kindle version and was about to give up. I then got the audible version and the narrator added so much to the story that it kept me engaged. This was a great story but pretty graphic at times.
moorejb's review against another edition
3.0
I’m sure this is someone’s cup of tea, but not mine. Sometimes the prose was interesting, but other times it weighed on me.
Taita as a narrator feels historically accurate but does not stop him from seeming too conveniently like a gentleman polymath. He seems good at every thing and that took me out of it.
Maybe I am not the best audience for this series
Taita as a narrator feels historically accurate but does not stop him from seeming too conveniently like a gentleman polymath. He seems good at every thing and that took me out of it.
Maybe I am not the best audience for this series