This is a story about the Courtney family that ends up focusing on the adventures of Theo and Constance, siblings, who are apart and then find each other again. Their adventures begin in 1754 Theo and Constance Courtney lost their parents in an attack on Madras, India by the French. Theo promises Constance he will always protect her. After they are sent to their cousin Gerard in Calcutta, and Theo is separated from Constance, life really falls apart for them. I am not a history buff, but I loved this book. But, if you can't handle men being mean to women, graphic sex and violence described, which includes in great detail about scalpings, DO NOT READ! This book teaches tenacity, loyalty, survival skills, and even protecting those you love the most. It is not a chick flick book. But males and females should really enjoy this book. It is written in a way that 400 pages are not tiring at all. If you don't know anything about the French Indian War, this is a great introduction to getting a taste. ( )

A typical Wilbur Smith novel filled with adventure, fierce battles, great love and henious villians. What makes this one a bit different is that we move from India, to France to New England and the backdrop of the French and British fight in America.
I enjoyed this novel as I always do but I do prefer the African romps. ( )

Wilbur Smith is a prolific writer, and Ghost Fire is his latest novel (co-written with Tom Harper). Although Ghost Fire is part of a long-standing series (encompassing over a dozen books), it functions well as a standalone. The story begins with two siblings--Theo and Constance Courtney--as they grow up in India, and then follows their journey as they become separated during the French Indian War and travel across continents in search of power, love, and revenge. I particularly enjoyed the exotic setting of India in the eighteenth century, and Smith incorporates some historically significant events into the story, including the infamous Black Hole of Calcutta. The writing style is fairly straightforward and plot-focused. However, I wish that Smith (and Harper) spent more time describing the beautiful locations and customs of the countries that the Courtneys visited. The story also seems to have been written with the male gaze in mind, which lessened my overall enjoyment of the book.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. Ghost Fire will be available in bookstores in September 2019. ( )