Best historical novelist: I say Wilbur Smith. Stephen KingSmith brings to lifethe world of Egypt so much so you can almost feel the heat and taste the dust as the narrative builds to cracking pace. Irish NewsFans of blockbuster thriller writer Wilbur Smith will not be disappointed with The Quest. Financial TimesSmith writes with a fresh, crisp style... full of zest... The Quest is a hefty but gratifying read, long-awaited by his legion of admirers. Daily ExpressNo one does adventure quite like Smith and, true to form, his latest is a swirling torrent of unexplored depths and manliness in ancient Egypt. Daily MirrorThis eagerly awaited sequel to Smith's gripping Egyptian series continues in a truly magical tale. Woman magazineThe Quest is not a book for the easily queasy. After reading the scene about Bronze Age brain surgery, you'll never look at bamboo shish kebab skewers the same way again. It is a novel that is violent, fast moving and utterly engrossing. Edmonton JournalIt's the sort of book readers live for, the sort that sates, however fleetingly, the primal need for story that so often these days doesn't get fed. Vancouver SunFans of bestseller Smith's ancient Egyptian series will welcome the fourth book in the saga, which picks up where Warlock left off. Once again Smith deftly blends history, fantasy and mythology, but newcomers should be prepared for grisly deaths and mutilations. Publishers WeeklySmith's Africa is bewitching. We see and hear elephants, lions, hippos, and wild, weird creatures. Lakes and plains stretch as far as the horizon. His descriptions of the landscape are so real it seems we should be able to find these places on the map. Smith's narrative is a page-turner. His characters are absorbing and believable. We fear for our heroes and cheer for them when they triumph in bloody battle. When supernatural powers open up the ground before us, we teeter on the brink and can hardly stand to look over the edge and yet, we must. The Salt Lake TribuneFrom the Inside FlapPraise for author Wilbur Smith"Smith is a master." Publishers Weekly"One of the world's most popular adventure writers." The Washington Post Book World"A rare author who wields a razor-sharp sword of craftsmanship." Tulsa World"Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom others are compared." The Times (UK) "Best Historical Novelist--I say Wilbur Smith, with his swashbuckling novels of Africa. The bodices of rip and the blood flows. You can get lost in Wilbur Smith and misplace all of August."--Stephen King"Action is Wilur Smith's game, and he is a master."--The Washington Post Book World"The world's leading adventure writer." Daily Express (UK)"Wilbur Smith rarely misses a trick."--Sunday Times"Smith is a captivating storyteller." The Orlando Sentinel"No one does adventure quite like Smith." Daily Mirror (UK) "A thundering good' read is virtually the only way of describing Wilbur Smith's books." The Irish TimesFrom the Back CoverNew York Times bestselling author Wilbur Smith offers a thrilling look at the world of Ancient Egypt in THE QUESTEgypt has been struck by a series of terrible plagues, killing its crops and crippling its people. Then the ultimate disaster befalls the kingdom: The Nile fails.In desperation, the Pharaoh sends the warlock Taita, wise in the lore of the gods and a master of magic and the supernatural. But not even he could have imagined what terrible enemy waits in ambush in those dark lands at the end of their world. Now it's up to Taita to save Egyptbefore the end of the world's most glorious civilization draws near."Smith brings to lifethe world of Egypt so much so you can almost feel the heat and taste the dust as the narrative builds to cracking pace."Irish News how can i read books for free The Quest: A Novel of Ancient Egypt (Novels of Ancient Egypt)
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Um....wha?By Kelly GFirst of all, if you are new to either Wilbur Smith's writings or the Taita series at all, stop reading now and go look at "River God." This is NOT the book to start with and, quite possibly, not the book to finish with...or read at all. Honestly, there's enough elements in it that you know it's Smith writing but this book is such a departure from River God and other books in the series that you do spend much of the story simply scratching your head. I don't want to get into the whys and wherefores of the story because, if you have read the other books, many spoilers await you. However, despite that, you may find yourself like me where you're wondering exactly where Smith is taking Taita in this journey. Plus, you may also find your willingness to suspend disbelief strained to the utmost with some of the details - and this is even while knowing this is historical fiction. There were points in the novel where I simply went, "Oh, come on, this is ridiculous." Escapist elements in the story became belabored and tired - especially in the storylines involving Taita and the goddess, Eos, and Taita and Fenn. Again, without getting into details, I will say that both storylines seemed overdone but the one with Taita and Fenn especially (and you'll understand better if/when you read the book) just left me with a feeling of creeped-out distaste. Finally, there is one glaring continuity error concerning Fenn that drove me crazy for the entire book and I haven't noticed it mentioned in other reviews so I might be the only one who found it annoying...but it was there. If Smith offered explanation for it anywhere, I missed it.If you don't know it before now, Stephen King is quoted naming Smith as the best historical novelist in the world on the book's cover. As you read this novel, you realize it's probably because King's and Smith's writing styles are so similar. There's certainly enough sex and violence to satisfy any King or Smith fan. The book is definitely good for a diversion and Smith's ability to tell a tale is still present. I followed the story with a great amount of interest despite my growing dissatisfaction with Taita's path so I do credit Smith's storytelling ability with that more than anything else. In the end though, I was not as pleased as with the other novels.I was still sitting there....scratching my head.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. More than one way to Obtain GreatnessBy Mr CrookshankI usually find that most great books have 5 main characters or more, and the author draws the reader into the everyday lives of these characters where u get different point of views, for example the way R.R. Martin writes the game of thrones series. This novel by Wilbur Smith has many characters but is written from one person's point of view, which is the magus known as Taita. This book is a true delight to read and shows that there are many different roads to success0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Remarkable book wit good text, but the story is between the macrocosm and microcosm.By Elas KristjnssonThe river Nile has dried up with disastrous consequences for Egypt. The Emperor has sent tvo military detachments to find the reason for this, but thy do not return. Then he asks our hero to go, with 100 men. and with his inner aey he solves the problem,