Desert God

Taita is a freed slave, and advisor to the pharaoh.  He has devised a plan to create a division between the Hyksos and Crete in order to regain control of upper Egypt.  His plan is to steal a treasure belonging to Crete using men dressed as Hyksos soldiers.  It is not going to be an easy task to accomplish.

Upon gaining the treasure, a new problem arises.  How to get it back safely to Thebes. However, Taita has a solution for that, too.  Shortly after presenting the treasure to The pharaoh, he ennobled Taita.  However, Taita has another issue on his hands, for the princess Tehuti has been smitten by the young general who helped him in his scheme, Zaras.

Taita's plan to get the Hyksos and Minoans fighting each other worked out rather well.  In order to further move the plans along, Taita plans a mission to Crete, with the idea of giving one of the Egyptian princesses to the king as a gift.  Unbeknownst to him that same princess secretly orders Zaras to accompany the mission.  It is going to be a trip fraught with dangers.

First Taita must get the Sumerians to join the fight against the Hyksos.  For that he must use some of the treasure gained in his previous exploit.  Upon arrival in Crete, Taita is shocked when he finds out what has happened to his princesses.  He is forced to set about preparing for the war against the Hyksos.

Can the allies win a war against the powerful Hyksos?  Taita has his hands full as he plans an attack and worries about the future of the princesses.  Author Wilbur Smith once again has created an intriguing historical novel, however I must admit that I didn't enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed his previous historical novels.