Taita is a humble slave; an expert in art, poetry, medicine and engineering, as well as the keeper of important secrets. He is the most treasured possession of Lord Intef. Yet when Intef’s beautiful daughter Lostris is married to the Pharaoh, Taita is commanded to follow her, and swiftly finds himself deeper than he ever could have imagined in a world of deception and treachery. But outside the palace, the great kingdom of Egypt is divided, and in even greater danger. Enemies threaten on all sides, and only Taita holds the power to save them all . . .

I purchased a copy of this book for my own reading.

As part of my 2025 reading challenge, I’ve been aiming to read books that I’ve never read before, and might not otherwise have picked up. One of the themes is a book set somewhere I’ve never been. Having never visited Egypt, River God made the cut.

Spanning a period of thirty or so years, River God follows the story of indentured servant Taita. He works for the Grand Vizier doing his bidding, no matter what that may be. Caught between his duty to his employer and his concern and care for the child he is charged with caring for, he seeks to make her life happy. What follows are power struggles, and a battle for life and freedom to lead Egypt under a united ruler and a gentle guiding hand.

This was my first read from Wilbur Smith, so wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I’ve always had a deep interest in history, from ancient to modern. I believe there’s a lot to learn from our past. But with that, I sometimes struggle with historical fiction, especially if it deviates too far from the truth. Thankfully, I loved the approach Smith took. It blends elements of fact into a story that follows entirely fictitious characters for a captivating read. The descriptions were stunning, really putting me into the heart of ancient Egypt. I’ll definitely be looking out for more of his books.

My rating: