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.
The Ancient Egypt series is mainly based for the most part on Pharaoh Memnon’s time, however, the second book is set in modern times.
1. River God
“For 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. 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 cedar–destined for the adoration of a nation, and the love of one extraordinary man.”
2. Seventh Scroll
“For 4,000 years, Pharaoh Mamose has never been found until now! Egyptologist Royan Al Simma finds a message penned by Taita which gives clues about the tomb’s whereabouts. Only one step ahead of assassins, Royan runs for her life and into the arms of the only man she can trust, Sir Nicholas Quenton-Harper-a daring man who will stake his fortune and his life to join her hunt for the king’s tomb. Together, they will embark on a breathtaking journey to the most exotic locale on earth, where the greatest mystery of ancient Egypt, a chilling danger and an explosive passion are waiting.”
3. Warlock
“After a sixty-year war over the kingdoms of Egypt, two young pharaohs have risen to claim power, but only one can succeed. The mission of Prince Nefer, rightful heir to the throne, is to rebuild a magnificent kingdom out of the ruins of the city of Gallala. The desire of Lord Naja is to destroy his rival and rule the land with unholy supremacy. The warlock Taita, a matchless ally and legendary priest of notorious powers is on the side of Prince Nefer. Nefer and Taita must stay one step ahead of an assassin, ever-pursuing armies, and outwit his own flesh and blood who seek to betray him.”
4. The Quest
“Egypt is struck by a series of terrible plagues that cripple the Kingdom, and then the ultimate disaster follows. The Nile fails. The waters that nourish and sustain the land dry up. Something catastrophic is taking place in the distant and totally unexplored depths of Africa from where the mighty river springs. In desperation Pharoah sends for Taita, the only man who might be able to win through to the source of the Nile and discover the cause of all their woes. None of them can have any idea of what a terrible enemy lies in ambush for The Warlock in those mysterious lands at the end of their world.”
5. Desert God
“On the gleaming banks of the Nile, the brilliant Taita—slave and advisor to the Pharaoh—finds himself at the center of a vortex of passion, intrigue, and danger. His quest to destroy the Hyksos army and form an alliance with Crete takes him on an epic journey up the Nile, through Arabia and the magical city of Babylon, and across the open seas. With the future of Egypt itself on his shoulders, Taita enters a world where the line between loyalty and betrayal shifts like the desert sands, evil enemies await in the shadows, and death lingers on the edges of darkness”
6. Pharaoh
“Pharaoh Tamose teeters on the brink of death. Luxor is surrounded. Hope is lost. Taita,The ex-slave, now general of Tamose’s armies is preparing for the final push. An old ally returns and the tide is turned.But upon his victorious return to Luxor, Taita is seized and branded a traitor. Tamose is dead and a new era has begun. The new Pharaoh has risen — and he must be stopped.”
7. The New Kingdom
“In the city of Lahun, Hui lives an enchanted life. He has a loving father and the ruler-in-waiting of the great city, his fate is set. However, a sinister evil is plotting. Hui’s power-hungry and jealous stepmother, the great sorceress Ipsetnofret, and his brother Qen, orchestrate the downfall of Hui’s father. Hui is condemned and cast out and alone. Hui finds himself a captive of a skilled and powerful army of outlaws, the Hyksos. Determined to seek vengeance for the death of his father and rescue his sister, Ipwet, Hui swears his allegiance to these enemies of Egypt. Through them he learns the art of war, learning how to fight and becoming an envied charioteer. As the pieces fall into place and the Gods themselves join the fray, Hui finds himself fighting alongside the Egyptian General Tanus and renowned Mage, Taita.”