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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
Smith definitely does historical fiction far better than he does stories set in the modern era, This story follows part of the Courtney family at the turn of the 18th Century with 3 brothers finding themselves at odds, with deadly consequences. Bizarrely the women in this are far more kick-ass than Smith's modern female protagonists and they hold their own against not only the Courtney name but against the harsh and often humiliating circumstances they are born to, although there are a few that fall in the typical quiet female roles but even they have a certain amount of strength and determination. This is definitely one of Smith's better novels.
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
adventurous
medium-paced
First Wilbur Smith book, it's like a blend of every genre in one book but mostly a page turning adventure
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.5 stars
It's been twenty-odd years since I last read a Wilbur Smith, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I quite enjoyed this sweeping epic about a generation of Courtneys, with scenes ranging from England to the high seas and the breadth of Africa. It was a hardcover of daunting size, but an easy and relatively quick read. There's also no need to have read any of the other Courtney novels in the series. A grand adventure!
It's been twenty-odd years since I last read a Wilbur Smith, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I quite enjoyed this sweeping epic about a generation of Courtneys, with scenes ranging from England to the high seas and the breadth of Africa. It was a hardcover of daunting size, but an easy and relatively quick read. There's also no need to have read any of the other Courtney novels in the series. A grand adventure!
adventurous
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was my introduction to Wilbur Smith, and boy did I enjoy the ride. This book has everything that one could wish for in a historical/adventure book. Spurned siblings, adventure on the high seas, sojourns in exotic territory and love stories. It kept me entertained and wasn't very hard reading.
Probably my second favourite in the whole series so far. Absolutely excellent. One thing that always makes me love his books is the way Wilbur Smith writes strong female characters in a setting where women are not always seen as equal. This book has some excellent examples.
Sarah in particular is a new favourite character of mine. Absolutely brilliant. Dorian is a darling and I love his story. So much to love about this book.
Sarah in particular is a new favourite character of mine. Absolutely brilliant. Dorian is a darling and I love his story. So much to love about this book.
Wow! Finally got through this Epic! I just never knew where I was being taken next along the journey of this book. I found every thing I could want in a book conatined in it's pages, Drama, Action, Battles, Love/Romance, Suspence...