So good. Cannot believe a writer can develop characters so well. I have a yearning to learn about Africa in the early 20th century and certain well-documented historical novels present this fairly. I particularly appreciate the way Wilbur Smith presents the Zulus with reverence for how they treated their land, their wildlife and their families. Moving on to the next in the series, The Burning Shore.

Wilbur Smith never disappoints. In this 3rd book of the Courtney Series, two Courtney men go to war in France, but only one returns. The trip home aboard ship turns into a life and death struggle for the newest Courtney and we see parts of Africa I've never even heard of. All the characters are memorable and I've already started The Burning Shore. ***Note: If you've never read a Courtney book and want to read them chronologically, books #9,10,and11 are prequels to the others, just written later. I had read 4 books before I realized this. So start with Birds of Prey to begin in the 1600s with the first Courtney.

A great man

The story speaks of a great young man who had vision to protect the lands others were greedy to claim. As a result of this man’s vision, lands are protected for all to be thankfull .

Very damned wild! It's exactly a Wilbur Smith adventure!

Oh Sean Courtney, please don’t die.
I hate u Dirk.

Another excellent novel by Wilbur Smith!

It is difficult to put aside one of Wilbur Smith’s books! This book also demonstrates his great character development and descriptive words allowing one to picture a part of Africa!

Usual standard

As usual, the standard is as expected. Lots if the usual and certainly wont disappoint if you know what to expect

After loving the first and reading the second within a week I decided to end the first set of Courtney Trilogy with A Sparrow Falls.
Ranked lower than my previous two Smith books but still thoroughly enjoyable.
It took a different tone in my opinion compared to the other two, the adventure and style was certain still there however in my opinion it grew and changed from the previous two. Maybe I was still nostalgic of reading the other two from Sean Courtney's perspective but this book is fantastic none the less.

Oplæser: Ole Rabendorf. 5 stjerner for oplæsningen.

Jeg er bare helt vild med denne serie. Trods det, at bogen efterhånden har mange år på bagen, er den læseværdig og spændende. Det kan bestemt ikke siges om alle bøger der er fra 1977. Bogen er fyldt med spænding og emmer af kærlighed til Afrika. Til den store natur og til det varierede dyreliv. Dejlig læsning.

An Outstanding Tale

This book grips one from the start, difficult to put down even to go to sleep!
A beautiful rich spoilt daughter brought to her senses by a war hero, lover of the natural beauty of South Africa but unconcerned with money, and the evil actions of an only son.

Un'avventura ricca di sfaccettature, di storie che si ramificano, ma tutte legate al protagonista, Mark Anders.

Una lettura scorrevole e a tratti da cardiopalma, che spesso mi ha tenuta incollata alle pagine, affamata di scoprire come questa o quella situazione andasse a finire.

La natura descritta dall'autore è così vivida da sembrare di esserci dentro. La cura e la minuzia con cui l'ambiente sudafricano e gli animali che lo abitano vengono descritti trasmettono appieno l'amore che il protagonista prova nei loro confronti, senza risultare noioso o melenso.

Un capolavoro che mi ha lasciata con la voglia di scoprire e divorare altre opere di Wilbur Smith.

I love ALL of Wilbur Smith's books, but of-course I like some better than others.
This book wasn't in the top echelon of his writing, in my opinion.
The plot is as Wilbur Smithesque as you could want: the grown up estranged son of the powerful and wealthy Sean Courtney returns mysteriously rich and ready to play politics - dirty politics, as dirty as necessary. Being smart, Dirk Courtney gets his minions to get their hands dirty instead of his. Add to the mix Mark Anders, who Sean met in the trenches of WW1 and treats like the son he never had in Dirk; and his beautiful but tempestuous and very proud Storm Courtney with which Mark has an almost star-crossed relationship, and there you have it.
I enjoyed this book, but for anyone who has read an amount of Wilbur Smith books I think they would probably agree with me that his writing noticeably developed over the years.
Worth reading none-the-less.