Desert God
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4.3 • 41 Ratings
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
On the shores of the Nile, the fate of a kingdom rests in one hero's hands ...
When the ancient kingdom of Egypt comes under threat, the Pharaoh turns to Taita - freed slave, poet, philosopher and his most trusted advisor - to finally defeat their historic enemy, the Hyksos.
Taita has a cunning plan that will not only deliver a crushing blow to the Hyksos, but will also form a coveted alliance with Crete. In charge of the Pharoah's sisters Tehuti and Bekatha as well as a mighty army, Taita embarks on a perilous journey up the Nile, through Arabia to the magical city of Babylon, and across the seas.
But beyond battle and betrayal, there is another danger - the spirited young princesses' attraction to two of the warriors leading the fight could not only ruin Taita's plan but threaten the future of Egypt itself.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Mythological deities, kidnappings, chariot races, large-scale natural disasters—Wilbur Smith delivers his signature blend of meticulous research and thunderous pacing in the fifth instalment of his Egypt series. The book’s hero, one of the pharaoh’s advisors, anchors a zig-zagging narrative full of twists, driving the action with his clever strategising and keeping his enemies (and us) guessing. Smith is an epic yarn-spinner and master world-builder, and Desert God delivers the best of both.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Popular historical novelist Smith spins his latest yarn about ancient Egypt (after The Quest), once again focusing on the eunuch Taita a slave turned close advisor and confidante to Pharaoh Tamose. Smith is a masterful storyteller, carefully blending intrigue, action, and suspense on a solid foundation of history. In this case, he depicts Egypt in the 16th century B.C.E., when the country was struggling to repel the invading Hyksos people. Taita convinces the pharaoh to seek an alliance with Sumeria and Crete, but before this can be accomplished, the Egyptians must break the secret alliance between the Hyksos and the Cretans. To do this, Taita takes the two royal princesses, Tehuti and Bekatha, to Crete's ruler, the Supreme Minos, and offers them in marriage. The journey is marked by bandit attacks, kidnapping, desert pursuit, betrayal, and vicious fighting. Moreover, Taita, who loves the princesses as if they were his own daughters, becomes concerned that their arranged wedding to the Cretan king will end in disaster after Tehuti reveals a dangerous secret to him. Add pirates, chariot racing, and large-scale natural disasters, and the result is a graphic, gory, and exciting tale of ancient conflict and intrigue.
