Raise your hand if you are a bonafide bookworm!
I spent the last month and a half checking out a new author, Wilbur Smith. My husband is a longtime fan and has been ‘suggesting’ that I read the books. And, I should have known that he was going to be right… I LOVED them!
Smith has several series: The Courtney Series, The Ballantyne Series and the Ancient Egypt Series.
I started with The Courtney Series; there are a couple ways to read these novels. They can be read in order of publishing date or in terms of the historical eras. I chose the historical era route; which is broken down into THREE parts. The order of the parts is as follows: Part 3, Part 1 and Part 2.
Part 1 (1860s-1925)
1. When the Lion Feeds
Twins Sean and Garrick grow up in Natal; their lives forever changed by an unfortunate hunting accident and the Anglo-Zulu War. After a torrid affair brothers are pitted against one another causing Sean to flee North. Striking it rich in the gold fields, Sean and his friend Duff live high on the hog –however, nothing lasts forever; they are ruined and seek adventure and fortune hunting for ivory. Despite falling in love, Sean does not get his happily ever after as when his wife takes her life. His only reason for living is his son, Dirk.
2. The Sound of Thunder
Once again, Sean ends up in the middle of a war; this time between the British and Boers. Enter: Ruth –Sean’s new love interest and mother of his daughter, Storm. Ruth is married to a soldier in the war, who Sean later befriends. Sean finds himself facing off against his brother-in-law Jan Paulus (whom we met in When the Lion Feeds). Ruth reunites with Sean after her husband is killed. Dirk becomes increasingly unhappy as Storm diverts their father’s attention away from him. This bitterness causes him to yearn for bringing down his own family. After many years Sean is able to reconcile with his twin brother Garry.
3. A Sparrow Falls
Sean meets Mark Anders, a soldier hellbent on killing a WW1 German sniper. Once back at home Anders discovers he has nothing (his grandfather; killed, his home; taken). Dirk Courtney is putting his plan into action to bring about the fall of the Courtneys as once again Sean favours someone (Anders) over Dirk. Storm and Anders fall in love while South Africa once again teeters on the brink of war. Sadly, Dirk succeeds in his campaign of revenge by murdering Sean and Ruth. However, they are avenged by Anders who lives happily as a warden with Storm.
Next up, Part 2…
Stay tuned!