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readwithbells's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Please do not read this book.
Without addressing the tonal inconsistencies, the convenient plot tropes, or the gratuitous violence, the story of The Quest defaults to an old man grooming a child for sex. I don’t know who approved this and I will be hesitant to read more Wilbur Smith in the future. Taita resolves the story by raping two different women - something that is completely irredeemable. He winds up BECOMING the goddess he hoped to destroy and yet is praised as a hero, and there is no rhetoric in the novel that suggests we should see anything evil in his actions.
The ending is boring and cookie-cutter, the resurrection of Lostris is uncomfortable at best, and Taita is no hero.
If you are going to read any of these books, stick to River God and Seventh Scroll. They are the purest form of the Ancient Egypt series and the ones that follow are a bastardization of the original characters and not worth your time.
Without addressing the tonal inconsistencies, the convenient plot tropes, or the gratuitous violence, the story of The Quest defaults to an old man grooming a child for sex. I don’t know who approved this and I will be hesitant to read more Wilbur Smith in the future.
The ending is boring and cookie-cutter, the resurrection of Lostris is uncomfortable at best, and Taita is no hero.
If you are going to read any of these books, stick to River God and Seventh Scroll. They are the purest form of the Ancient Egypt series and the ones that follow are a bastardization of the original characters and not worth your time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Rape, War, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, and Murder
Also includes heavy overtones of child grooming without awareness by the author
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