Monsoon: Courtney, Book 10

I loved this book. The characters were developed so well, as is customary with W Smith books. This was one of my favorites.

This trilogy was very well written. I was lost in each book, meaning I couldn't put them down.

I have read 14 or 15 of Wilbur Smiths books and find my reading pattern of his books as consistent. The first 80 to 85 percent can be read at leisure, however from then on I find myself being late for dinner, appointments and whatever plans I have because I must find out what happens on the next page. Monsoon is a worthy sequel to Birds of Prey with the young Hal becoming a wealthy powerful character that still has a burning desire for adventure and willing to risk all for the unknown. Each book has an erotic encounter by the main characters that gives an added zip to the overall character development.As a fan of history I appreciate the detailed description of the many components of the story such as the nature and customs of the people involved and the workings of the ships and boats of the time period.The complex and intriguing relationships of the brothers and how Sir Hal handles them is a study of human nature that plays out with unexpected results that piques ones interest for more.Whenever I find my interest in reading getting stale, one click on Amazon for a Wilbur Smith kindle book brings me right back up to speed.

Excellent writing

I love Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey/Maturin sailing stories. I was always a bit disappointed to read other author's attempts at historical fiction. They had enough inaccuracies to give me indigestion, and the action was predictably boring. I have to admit now, however, that Wilbur Smith is pretty darn good at what he does. He writes stories that seem accurate, but with a zest for adventure that keeps the plot moving at a fun pace. There is a lot of graphic sex, mixed in with high ideals, chivalry, sword play, and the quest for justice. That's a lot, but I am now on book 3 of the Courtney Series and will probably continue with Mr. Smith when I'm done.

Wilbur Smith books always make me want to find out more about the history of Africa. I love the third series!

Good but not his best. The story and plot are sound, but I sped through most of the boring descriptions and on going dialog.

Wilbur Smith’s books are so enjoyable and interesting to read. They truly are hard to put down. He is so descriptive in his writing that it is easy to imagine in my minds eye the scenes that are unfolding on the pages as I turn them. Wilbur Smith is definitely one of the best writers of our time.

Whether taken independently as a novel in its own right, or read as another in Wilbur Smith's sequence of 'Courtney' novels, 'Monsoon' is a magnificent read. The young Hal Courtney whom we left in 'Birds of Prey'is now mature and thrice widowed and comfortably ensconced at the family seat, High Weald, in Dorset with his three sons, William, Tom and Dorian. When Hal is asked by the East India Company to take once more to the ocean wave in pursuit of an arab pirate, Al Auf, 'the Bad One', who is laying waste the shipping in the Ocean of the Indies to the detriment of Company interests, he has to act fast. He leaves William, his son and heir, to take charge of the family estate and business and decides that his young boys, Tom and Dorian, must accompany him, along with his old retainer Aboli. Hal's old muckers from their various domiciles in Dorset and London are brought together and they set out via the Cape of Good Hope to hunt down the pirate.The sequence of the 'Courtney' series is as follows.The Lion FeedsSound of ThunderA Sparrow FallsBirds of PreyMonsoonBlue HorizonThe Triumph of the SunThe adventure of 'Monsoon' is a stunning narrative of life on the tall ships, depicted with remarkable authenticity by Wilbur Smith, to whom all credit must go for the depth and detail of his research, of warfare and savagery on the high sea and the heart-rending abduction by the pirates during a decisive sea battle of the ten year-old Dorian.There would be little point in tracing here the strands of the narrative as they take the reader through the ensuing eventful decade in the lives of the young Courtneys. The 'Monsoon' of the title, however, is a direct reference to the destiny of Dorian, held first in captivity and then rising to the highest echelons of the social and military hierarchy of the Omani empire. In many respects, his extraordinary interlude in the Muslim lands and the changes that this experience brings to bear on his character and personality as he reaches manhood, make 'Monsoon' essentially Dorian's story.I did feel that, long as the novel is, the end is too suddenly and too abruptly upon us and several fundamental questions remain unanswered. What is the fate of Zayn El Din, Dorian's deadliest rival who spares to effort to take his life and very nearly succeeds? What becomes of High Weald after the demise of both Hal and William, during the years that the younger boys are absent? Does its ownership fall to Dorian and, in light of their God-sent reunion, does he simply abandon it in order to pursue his life with Tom in the New World?This criticism notwithstanding, 'Monsoon' makes splendid reading, exquisitely romantic, exciting, thrilling and compelling. I recommend it unreservedly.

One hell of a book. Superb story brilliantly crafted by a master story teller. I had difficulty trying not to spend every moment reading the story. The ending left me up in the air so I guess I will have to purchase the next book to follow the compelling story of this amazing family, the Courtneys.

This is the 3rd book in the Hal Courtney saga. I think this is the best of the 3 as we have different stories going on in the book at the same time. Reading one of Wilbur Smith’s books is like having a good history lesson. Very enjoyable and highly recommended. Now on to the next in the series.

This is the second in the series of the Courtneys and introduces the new generation, the sons of Sir Hal. As well as being a journey across the oceans and parts of Africa these novels are also a journey through time as the old guard die of and the youngsters come to the fore.So in this book we discover Sir Hal's four sons William, Tom, Guy and Dorian and their own adventures. Rather than spoil the book suffice it to say that they all take different paths and each brings his own character to the novel.I am finding that it is typical of Smith to tell of unlikely feats of daring told in a very lengthy way. I think his motto must be why use ten words when a hundred or thousand can be used.At over 600 pages it is too long and I found myself skipping some pages but nevertheless it is still a good read. Onto Blue Horizon now.

This was a Wilber Smith great read, nobody puts so much into all his books, in all his books he takes you there, time just seems to fly by, because he has immersed you into that book, he must be one of the greatest writers of all time, i hope he continues to keep writing, i am all-way's looking forward to his next book.if you are going to try Wilber Smith book, take a tip and buy his first book in any of his series books, from that very first moment you start to read his book,he will take there, and having read the first book of any series, you will purchase the 2nd book, then the next and so on till the end, then you will be looking for your next series. enjoy and keep reading. i hope you will enjoy all of his books.