Tamose, the young Pharaoh of Egypt, relies on his mentor Taita for advice. The Kingdom of Egypt has been invaded by Hyksos warriors; they control the harbors of the Nile delta, while Tamose’s court is forced to stay at Thebes in Lower Egypt. Taita has given Tamose wise counsel for years while raising the royal princesses, Tehuti and Bekatha. “I would go so far as to say that Pharaoh loves me like the father he never knew, and I love him like the son I never had.” (p. 15)

In order to retake northern Egypt, Taita and the royal princesses undertake a perilous journey to find allies on the banks of the Euphrates River in Sumeria and on the island of Crete. By marrying the princesses into these royal families, Taita hopes to gain military alliances for Tamose in order to reunite the divided land of Egypt. Their journey takes them through vast deserts and across dangerous waters. The resourceful, talented and courageous princesses fall in love on their journey as they encounter tidal waves, kidnappers, and earthquakes.

In Desert God, Wilbur Smith once again takes readers to the ancient Kingdom of Egypt. His unique mixture of fascinating historical detail and strong characterization creates a fast-paced and thrilling narrative. Hyskos invaders occupy the fertile lands of the Nile delta while Taita hatches a masterful plan to gain powerful allies in Sumeria and Crete. The descriptions of the city of Ur are intriguing. Taita and the royal princesses swim in the Euphrates, worship at the Temple of Ishtar, and wander through the magnificent Hanging Gardens. In Crete, readers learn about the Minoan civilization and its mysterious practices. Throughout the novel, Taita is a model of a skillful political powerbroker as he manipulates military campaigns, foreign rulers, and palace intrigues. His schemes and machinations are incredible.

Born in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) in Northern Africa, Wilbur Smith was raised on his father’s vast ranch where he learned to hunt and raise cattle. His first novel, When the Lion Feeds, was published in 1964 and began Smith’s famous Courtney series. Since then, he has published over 30 novels. His Egyptian series began in 1993 with the publication of River God. Desert God is the fourth novel in this series. Readers will be fascinated by this powerful epic of Ancient Egypt which combines the genres of historical fiction, mystery, and adventure. Those who are familiar with Wilbur Smith’s earlier Egyptian novels will be thrilled by this new addition to the series, and first-time readers will be sure to start looking for the other novels in this series.