Scan barcode
A review by booksbybindu
River God by Wilbur Smith
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.