Another brilliant book on ancient Egypt. I thoroughly enjoyed his first series and hope this one continues on for many more books. This is a period of history that fascinates me and who but Wilbur Smith can bring it to life.

The Book Maven’s Journal
Reviews for Word Connoisseurs

REVIEWER The Book Maven -- Joy
STAR RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sincere Thanks to NetGalley, Bonnier Zaffre USA and Zaffre Publishing for Providing the Review Copy

Coming Soon…

The New Kingdom
by Wilbur Smith and Mark Chadbourn

A Gripping Tale of High Adventure and Egyptian Magical Mysteries

Wilbur Smith’s latest tale of the dangerously mysterious world of diabolical ancient Egypt, “The New Kingdom,” is the coming-of-age story of Hui, the privileged and beloved second son of the adored second wife of a governor of un-unified Egypt.

“Mother told me that the gods have a plan for all men. They reveal it, not with a clap of thunder, but with the slowness of the wind uncovering a gold plate buried in sand. It is easy to miss that message, and that is how the gods wish it, for they want men to pay attention to their presence at all times."

Although born into a ruler’s household with many advantages, Hui’s teenage years, through young adulthood, are rife with peril—often due to his own reckless initiatives. However, Hui is also dealt harrowing challenges because he is cursed by the god Sept. His high priestess and sorceress stepmother despises him and will stop at nothing to see him dead and her own son rule.

“Here we stand before the all-seeing eyes of Seth, Lord of Chaos, our God of Fire and Desert, King of Envy, Master of Trickery, Overseer of Storms…Lord of Violence…Seth…Brother of Osiris, Isis and Nephthys. We call on you…Accept this sacrifice…”

An early zeal for recognition begins Hui’s tortuous journeys. It is his quest for a magical stone held by vicious bandits who think nothing of severing heads with their sickle blades that results in Hui’s best friend’s death and the unraveling of his former life.

“Ever since word of it had leaked out, there had been talk of no other thing in the city—of the power it possessed; of what the gods would grant anyone who owned it…”

The New Kingdom is a fast-paced adventure story filled with blood-curdling perils and supernatural mysticism. It is one that follows Hui’s life of betrayal by those he held closest, and his subsequent crusade for vengeance for all that was lost.

“What you endure is the curse that I placed upon you," she said. “A curse given force by Seth himself.”

It is a story of youthful spirit and fearlessness; of honor lost and promises broken; of heroism and triumph; and ultimately of conscience, redemption and the absolution found in peace.

“It is the duty of all men to do whatever they can to ensure no more blood is spilled, and that we can create an age where we live in harmony to enjoy all that the gods have bequeathed us...”

And for Word Connoisseurs…

Like all of Wilbur Smith's book’s, The New Kingdom is breathtakingly rich with descriptive action verbs; deliciously full of vivid figures of speech; and equally abundant with memorable quotes (several noted above). Below are some additional examples from the novel that will demonstrate Smith's consistently elegant storytelling.

“Nothing great was ever gained by timid hearts.”

“…under the lamp of the full moon…”

“…the lamp of the moon lit the way ahead.”

“He could taste the sweet fragrance of the sheep dung and straw…”

“A scarlet strip edged the sable sky in the east.”

“…he looked like a whipped dog at the back of a beggar’s hovel.”

“The warrior sheathed his sword, the blade singing as it slipped into the leather scabbard…”

“The chariots trundled ahead…the grooms and slaves trudged along behind…the ground throbbed…the horses snorted and stamped nearby…”

“…words about his soul being poisoned haunted him.”

“…he twirled it around then tossed the gore into the flames, where it sizzled and spat.”

“…most there saw the lattice of seeping purple weals across his back. He had been lashed within a whisker of his life...”

“What is a hero? It is not someone born that way. A hero is a man who defeats his greatest enemy first—his own fear—then carries on.”

Be watching for Wilbur Smith’s (collaboration with Mark Chadbourn) newest novel of the dangerous and mystical ancient Egyptian world, The New Kingdom, coming September 2021, from Simon & Schuster and Bonnier Zaffre USA..

This review was submitted to BarnesandNobel.com Book Reviews under the display pen name of bookmavenjoy and was posted on my Goodreads Book Review site.

Wilbur Smith does it again. He grabs you by the metaphorical throat and forces you to read from the first page to the last. Once again You are transformed back to ancient Egypt, following the trials and tribulations of Hui, the main protagonist in the continuing saga of all the characters we have come to love so much. A truly excellent, thrilling and exciting book from start to finish..

Wilbur Smith in unparalleled in his gift of bringing history alive to a reader. This new novel of Ancient Egypt has all the drama, dazzle and danger of his previous books and it kept me enthralled from the first chapter to the last.

The characters are vibrant and relatable, despite the thousands of years that separate us. Whether they are warriors or nobles, Smith finds the humanity in each of his characters and we are easily caught in the magic of his story- telling.

NetGalley provided me an advance copy of this book in exchange for a candid r3view.