He is also a eunuch, a confidante, an architect, a military tactician, an artist, a doctor, a holy man and a seer into the future. I found the culture and technological advancement fascinating as much of the things Taita creates or modifies are things that we take for granted everyday. This particular book is set in Ancient Egypt and is set in a period much before all other historical fiction that I have read before. I love historical fiction and am reading a number of books in this genre at the moment. But Tanus will have to defy the same gods to attain the reward they have forbidden him, an object more prized than battle’s glory: possession of the Lady Lostris, a rare beauty with skin the color of oiled ceder–destined for the adoration of a nation, and the love of one extraordinary man. I am a firm believer that whilst a person or their deeds are remembered by the living, they are never truly gone from the world.įor Tanus, the fair-haired young lion of a warrior, the gods have decreed that he will lead Egypt’s army in a bold attempt to reunite the Kingdom’s shared halves. They may not be with us here and now, but they are with me in spirit. That being said, now I make the effort to do little things that they enjoyed and I use that time to remember them, whether it be completing the puzzles they taught me the rules of, listening to music they liked or even reading the books they enjoyed. I had never contemplated that one day sooner than we would all like, they wouldn’t be here anymore. I have known and loved all my grandparents equally, but in hindsight, I wish I had gotten to know some of them better.

Just over three months past my eighteenth birthday my last surviving grandparent died suddenly. To tell you a little of me, only one of my grandparents saw me grow to adulthood and even then only just. I knew at that point I wanted to read his books – and this series in particular. My grandad used to read Wilbur Smith, I was told as I pored over the book for the synopsis on the back cover. I was first introduced to Wilbur Smith as I stumbled across “Pharaoh” in one of my local bookshops with mum and dad. Today I am bringing to you a review of Wilbur Smith’s River God, the first in the series set in Egypt and narrated by Taita, a slave. It’s finally the weekend and we can all breathe a sigh of relief that another week is done.

River God by Wilbur Smith