Skip to main content

The New Kingdom by Wilbur Smith


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08ZNTFPBW

As a fan of stories based in mythology, I was delighted to receive an Advance Reading Copy (ARC) of "The New Kingdom" by Wilbur Smith. This was my first encounter with Smith's writings and I can honestly say I will likely at least pick up the original 6 novels in his Egyptian series and have already shoved "The New Kingdom" at my husband and told him it was a must read.  It kind of made me think of Rick Riordan for adults, though I do love his books as well.

I was entranced from the get go as we are thrown right into the action, as Hui, the main character, his friend, and his brother attempt to steal the Ka Stone. This event set everything in motion and is an event that will be important throughout the story. Every little detail has meaning and Smith neatly wraps up those details in the end.  Without giving to much spoilers, each small detail has a purpose that is well woven throughout the story.  It is a story of betrayal, vengeance, struggle, coming of age, and love as Hui navigates his destiny. Normally a slow reader, I devoured the 400 page book in a matter of days once I found time to read. 

As a teacher, I can see this book appealing to students of a high reading level, especially ones who are interested in Egypt or mythology. It is clear that Smith spent a lot of of time researching and coming to an understanding of what Ancient Egypt was really like and created a faithful rendition in his wonderfully written works of fiction.  Despite the differences in culture, I can see students finding ways to relate to Hui as he struggles to survive in a world that offers him no advantages.  The thoughts and emotions that come into play with every choice he has to make.

As a cosplayer, well who wouldn't was to pull off an awesome Egyptian cosplay?  There are so many interesting characters to choose from besides Hui, such as the sorceress Isetnofret, the mystical eunuch Taita, the seductive Ahura, the barbarian Khyan, the desert scout Fareed, or the great general Tanus.  With some research, I'm sure many cosplayers could pull off some amazing renditions of the vast selection of characters mentioned in "The New Kingdom."

As you can probably tell, I'd definitely recommend giving this story a chance, as it is also nicely standalone from the main series.  I will definitely be checking out the main series and have found another author to add to my favorites' list.

#bookreview #review #wilbursmith #thenewkingdom #egypt #mythology
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Forbidden Griffin by Zoe Chant

I received "Forbidden Griffin" by Zoe Chant as an ARC.  "Forbidden Griffin" is a shifter romance between two exiled griffins.  While trying to avoid too many spoilers, Cela is exiled from Griffin Island because her babies were not born griffins.  A nice enforcer suggests she find Tyr to help her out.  Needless to say, Cela and Tyr get a lot more than they bargained for when they meet and Tyr helps Cela get used to living in a human world, as Cela had never been off the island.  They'd make a nice family... if only they could touch.  The story follows Tyr and Cela's journey to break their curse and become a family along the way.  It's a sweet story of new beginnings and second chances, as well as new and blended families.  Though this is the 8th book in Chant's Bodyguard Shifters series, it is easily read as a standalone, though there are a few references to things that happened in prior books.  I will definitely be going back to read the othe...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ancord Bluetooth Speaker from FREEWISE Review

Hey all! I love this mini Bluetooth stereo from FREEWISE. It is great for us cosplayers who like to make videos of us in character or sing our favorite songs from the series. Also, pay attention to this review because I may be GIVING AWAY one of these great speakers soon! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GR46AVU/ About the Seller: The seller was very prompt in sending the package and it arrived on time. I did not need to contact the seller and everything was packaged well. Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-42QM_6W0o About the Product: I chose to review the blue Ancord Bluetooth Speaker from FREEWISE but it actually comes in three colors: blue, rose gold, and silver. The speaker comes with a connector so you can hang it off your phone, a charging cord (though it can be any mini USB cord as my phone charger works perfectly with it), and directions. It is pretty easy to set up even without the directions (I should know as I accidentally left the direction...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sound the Gong by Joan He

I bought "Sound the Gong" by Joan He as it was the sequel to "Strike the Zither" which I have read before and loved.  Though it is a sequel, it is meant to be read right after "Strike the Zither" and should probably be considered one book broken up into two parts and read together.  I would not read "Sound the Gong" as a stand alone.  The series is roughly based off the story of the Three Kingdoms, but with a mainly female cast.  "Sound the Gong" starts off right after Zephyr makes the betrayal realization at the end of "Strike the Zither."  It follows Zephyr's journey as she must decide what she is willing to sacrifice to get a chance to change fate and meet her goals to lead Xin Ren to victory.  Without giving too much away, it is a story of betrayal, forgiveness, hope, despair, and so much more in an emotional rollercoaster.  Will Zephyr ultimately get what she wants or will she have lost everything just for the chance?...
Post a Comment
Read more