Kingdom is historic fiction at its cleanest. Kingdom stands on its own and does need any prior knowledge of Smith’s work.Ĭhadbourn will also be a familiar name to many SF Book Review readers as he has had several fantastic stories out and his influence is felt within the pages of this book. I can attest that this is true having not read the previous books. The tale of Hui runs parallel to some of his other books but can be read on its own.

Smith is a name to be reckoned with when it comes to historic fiction and Kingdom sees him return to the setting of Ancient Egypt. He will return to avenge those that wronged him. The following years will see him travel across Egypt as a thief, outlaw, barbarian, and warrior. His one loyalty is to himself. Hui is accused of murder and before he is executed, he must flee his home city. When Hui sets out to steal an artefact delivered by the Gods with his brother and a childhood friend, he hopes that it will change his life and the fortunes of his family. It can be hard to take in how much life Hui crams into Wilbur Smith and Mark Chadbourn’s The New Kingdom and this is only book 1! Historic fiction is often written about exciting characters who have full and adventurous lives. There is no point following someone who's past role in Egyptian culture was to turn the compost heaps four times a day. You want to follow the likes of Hui who goes from middle class to thief, to accused murderer, to outlaw, to barbarian, to loyal Pharoah solider – and all the things in between.

Wilbur smith egypt series