A Courtney series adventure – Book 1 in the When the Lion Feeds trilogyA Courtney series adventure: When the Lion Feeds trilogy – Book 1 “‘What is it?’ Sean felt the first tingle of alarm. ‘N’yoni’, said Mbejane softly and Sean saw them. A dark pall, still so far off that they could not distinguish the individual birds: only a shadow, a thin dark shadow in the sky. Watching it Sean was suddenly … suddenly cold in the hot noonday sun. He started to run.” Brothers by birth. Enemies by blood. Natal, 1860; the Courtney twins are born. Heirs to their father’s fortune, destiny divides the boys from the start — Garrick is eager to stay indoors with a book and escape the hardships of cattle-rearing, while Sean, strong and much-loved, wants to try his hand at everything. When Garrick is forced to take ownership of their farm, Sean must explore the opportunities awaiting him: the rush and horrors of the Zulu Wars, the women who will fall for his charms, the rise and fall of gold fever and the deadly thrills of big game hunting on the African plains. But will Sean’s adventures really be his making — and at what ultimate cost…?
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I love the way the author takes you on a great ride. Not just the characters but he describes the area so wonderfully that you can see it in your mind. Have read several of his books & loved each one
Lived in S Africa- great book!
Wilbur smiths books are hard to put down until the last pages are turned
I was hooked on Wilbur Smith books in my teens. I loved the cut of his heroes and the Africa they inhabited. It was The Bold and the Beautiful on safari. Men were anvil jawed and driven; women kick-ass hotties. There was dust, sex, punch-ups, war, man-eating beasts and altogether a sense that there was something to be said for having adventure at …
I love Wilbur Smith. Great historical fiction.
I totally love Wilbur Smith. We spent some years in the area of Africa that he usually writes about and describes in such exquisite details. This is perhaps one of my very favorite books.
If you have ever lived there you have an instant understanding of the nuances of his characters and the intersections between them that Smith described so …
Just OK.
A bit long and drawn out especially the last several hundred pages.
This is the first book that I read by the author but all of my friends keep telling me to read his books well after this book I can see why. I will be reading the next book by Smith soon.
I’ve been reading Wilber Smith’s adventures for decades and again I wasn’t disappointed. There is plenty of action and excellent character development.
So many ups and then downs for the “hero” that kept me going the whole way. Great story!
First of the Courtney Series. The main character is Sean Courtney, the story mixes in gold mining and ivory hunting in the early days of South Africa.
I am currently reading every Wilbur Smith book written. There have been fascinating story lines and only a few predictable moments. I have read all the Courtney series and am not reading the Egyptian series along with a few segues into the Ballantyne story lines.
I came to understand the wilds of Africa in a new way and the frontier people who shaped it.
Wonderful book by a wonderful writer.
Have read MANY of his books. This one starts out like a cheap romance novel and almost gave up on it. Once it gets going things get back to his normal excellent story telling. Worth the effort to get through the first chapters.
I liked almost everything except the ending. The thought of the hero
going back to shoulder the load of his brother and sister-in-law is very
depressing.
Typical Wilbur Smith work. Engaging from start to finish.
Wilber Smith on top of his game! One of the truly greats!
Book 1. & 2. Were very good & interesting—- book 2. Not so much.