The story of Taita continues, (see the review of River God, earlier) and this story is even more taut than River God. The story opens with the murder of Pharoah Tamose by treachery and attempt to murder his young son Pharoah Nefer. Taita brings his considerable skills to keep him from danger. A fascinating story. Especially the villainy of Naja and his Hykos cohort (what is his name?) is explained very well, as are the magical conflict between the ‘great magus’ Taita and the Hykos witch doctor. The story never falters from the beginning to the end and is an astonishing work of fiction from Wilbur Smith. I think that along with River God, this is one of the best written books by the author.
The caveat, of course, is that Wilbur Smith does not write books that have considerable depth, so if you expected a Michael Ondatje or Ann Michaels, you would be disappointed, but he does what he does very well in this book! – 9/10
— Krishna
