Pharaoh

May 15, 2016

Since the five novels in veteran author Smith's ancient Egypt series have sold nearly 1.5 million print copies in the United States alone, historical fiction fans will welcome the next entry. Series protagonist Taita, the Pharaoh's adviser, is up to his neck in roiling intrigue.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2016
Best-selling author Smith continues his Ancient Egypt series (Desert God, 2014) and the story of long-lived warlock, trusted pharaonic adviser, and, now, military commander Taita. Having defeated the terrible Hyksos, both Taita and Egypt seem poised for better times, until barking-mad Utteric ascends to the throne and slates Taita for execution. Narrowly escaping to refuge in Greece with his old friends, King Hurotas and Queen Tehuti, Taita is dragged into intrigue and war to save the Egyptian Empire and those he holds most dear. The amount of exposition and backstory may frustrate Smith devotees, but newcomers to the series will benefit, given the novel's mythological elements and complicated character histories. This is an old-fashioned adventure, with a braggart narrator, villains evincing all the subtlety of Snidely Whiplash, beautiful kidnapped maidens, copious fight scenes, and in-the-nick-of-time saves. It's rumored that Smith no longer writes his own novels, but his legions of fans will demand this latest in the series in order to follow the next chapter in Taita's very long, exciting life.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)