Overall, a decent, captivating novel. However I have a couple issues with it.
Firstly it is extremely gruesome and quite explicate in content with scenes that are present just for the hell of it and barley contribute in any way to the development or expansion of the plot.
Secondly, what's to go with Bryce's novels?? I swear the is just the Australian The Power Of One all over again. Same themes (fighting, betting, fixed betting, racism, same punch combinations, same lame sun-in-their-eyes trick used in the power of one, and the same damn endings )pretty much the same plot. I find it really poor that mr Courtney had to stick in these same old themes and issues, with similar roles and twists.
Contrary to other reviews, I don't mind the ending. It wasn't nice but it left me impacted.
It was nice but I don't think I would read the next book in the trilogy.

And the party goes on with the second part of the trilogy. A great story just to lose oneself around New Zealand, Australia and Van Diemens Island with the Solomon sons Tommo and Hawk.

Audiobook- much easier to get through than the absolute monster of a hardcover (trilogy compilation) that I have at home! Amazi Ng story, much more enjoyable than the first. Hate a cliffhanger though!! Guessing book 3 will start in 15y time, since it’s the third generation.

5 star, but only if you read The Potato Factory first!

A good, engaging read. Not as good as The Potato Factory, but a worthwhile read.

The second in the Potato Factory trilogy. Excellent story of the second generation of those who were sent to Australia from England in the 1800s (criminal element). Courtenay (author) and Bower (narrator) are made for each other when it comes to story telling.

Bryce Courtenay is one of my Top 5 favorite authors and this trilogy is amazing - I give all three books 5 bright and beautiful stars. (I listened to the audiobooks on Audible and the narrator, Humphrey Bower, was OUT OF THIS WORLD good).

A book of interesting little plots, but I found them to be formulaic, and the characters to be a bit canned and simple. I loved the complexity of The Potato Factory, but I couldn't get into the 'causes' and values of Tommo and Hawk. A bit of an abrupt downer ending too.

This book was much better than number 1 in the series. However it is quite graphic and dark at times. A great story on the bond and strength of 2 brothers to survive everything life throws at them together.

Another cliffhanger!
I went straight to this from the potato factory, and now I’m going to have to purchase the audio book of Solomon’s Song to end the story.
Moving on from my review of the potato factory, I can only say that Bryce Courtenay, has sucked me into the tale, once again, with his brilliant, brilliant writing.
Tommo and Hawk has proved almost as good as the potato factory. The former just had a little more to it, and I can’t wait to listen to the next one.

OK, but in many ways it read like a series of vignettes designed to showcase historical conditions, focusing on social, at the time, which were fairly terrible. Hence the two stars as I don't think it drove the characters very well at all and it was a bit of a struggle to finish it! I wont bother with the third in the series as by all accounts it's a bit of a depressing read. Also I hate books that finish on a cliff edge as you have to read the next one to find out what happens!

Great story, great audio book (excellent job narrator!) I really like Bryce Courtney books. This is the #2 in the Potato Factory series and is about the unlike to be twins Tommo and Hawk and their life in New Zealand with the Mauri tribe