I love Wilbur Smith and Corbin Addison( a walk across the sun, Harvest of Thorns, The garden of burning sand) . This novel is a prequel to “ A Falcon Flies” which I read a long time ago. But the novel stands alone. It is a characteristic adventure romp. The very interesting twist is the lead character . Is he the hero or is he a villain ? The reader must decide for himself. I’m torn but ultimately because of how novel ends ( spoiler alert coming) Camilla’s death and the abandonment of her son, and expected continuity of slave catching, Mungo St John is really a deplorable character ( )

It's the middle of the 19th century and slavery is on its way out from most of the developed world. Mungo St John, the flamboyant scion of a much regarded family owning a big tobacco plantation, suddenly loses his family, his plantation and the love of his life to the cunning Chester Marion. Now Mungo is forced to become a slave trader, though it could be argued that he might have had a choice in the matter, in order to become rich enough to exact his revenge on Chester. He is driven by his thirst for vengeance through perilous voyages across the Atlantic ocean and adventurous expeditions in Africa followed by a brutal showdown in America. This, in a nutshell, is the story of Call of the Raven by Wilbur Smith with Corban Addison.

Mungo St. John is a well established character from Smith's famous Ballantyne series and this novel intends to show the readers what made Mungo the man he is. His is a highly conflicted character, with fairness, and a ruthlessness, that make him hard to like or dislike straight away. The other major characters are well rounded, too; they can’t be easily classified as good or bad, making this novel an engaging read.

The plot moves along at a fast pace and there is no dearth of action, either on sea or on land. The descriptions of the naval matters and the African jungles feel vivid and authentic. The plight of the slaves is described in gory detail, which is heartrending. The issue of slave-trading is examined from both points of view but the ending, where Mungo seemingly goes slaving again with no justification for the action, leaves a bad taste. Maybe this has been done it to preserve the continuity with the Ballantyne series for which this is billed as a prequel. Some of the sequences, like the slaves taking over the ship, feel exaggerated.

I can’t point to any specific flaw in the narration, other than the treatment of women, especially Camilla, that many readers may find unpalatable. It is a fine, entertaining saga that kept me hooked from start to finish and I would rate it a solid 4 out of 5. Readers who enjoy historical drama will like this a lot.

Wilbur Smith has consistently delivered numerous bestsellers during his long career and this one looks promising to join that list. I am grateful to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. ( )

This story is about a wealthy man who loses everything he holds dear and fights to get it back using whatever means become available. Multiple times he is tricked and yet continues to prevail.

The story is set back during the time when the slave trade was still being dismantled. There is a lot of insight into all that went on throughout that process. There is also many moments of frustration at the main character for making a decision based on money or revenge rather than what is right.

I definitely enjoyed the read and seeing things from different perspectives. However, seeing as this is set back when slave owning was still legal, there are a few rough scenes/moments of sexual abuse. But it definitely seems to be, for the most part, historically accurate in the things that might have unfolded.

I would definitely recommend for anyone who wants a better grasp of how things looked back in a time none of us were alive to remember! ( )

"The Call of the Raven" by Wilbur Smith was written as a prequel to his popular Ballantyne series. I came to this book without having read any of the previously written ones, and from that perspective, I loved this story. I will be seeking out the rest of the series to learn what happens next.

Mungo St. John is an incredibly compelling character, and I was invested in learning more about who he was from the opening scene. My understanding is that he is widely considered to be complex and controversial, and after reading this book, I understand why. Mungo grew up in a privileged family in the American South, went off to school in England, and returned home to find that things had changed dramatically in his absence. How Mungo handles this turn of events provides remarkable insight into the man he has become by the start of book 1 of the series ("A Falcon Flies").

Secondary characters like Camilla, Isabel, Tippoo, Fairchild, and Chester Marion have their own unique personalities and moral codes. Each brings something special to the storyline, and whether you love them or love to hate them, the book is made better by the inclusion of each.

Please don't be lulled into thinking that "The Call of the Raven" is merely a character study; there is action aplenty! Mungo's adventures on land and sea, in America, Africa, and England, offer everything the fan of action stories could possibly ask for.

While you can enjoy this book merely for the great characters and storyline, you can also dig deeper. There is plenty here to encourage the reader to consider his own definition of morality, and how that definition should (or shouldn't) be fluid based on circumstances. Ask yourself what you would do in Mungo's shoes at various points in the story, and try to be honest with your answers....you might learn something valuable!

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the exquisite degree of historical detail Mr. Smith weaves into his narrative. He obviously has extensive knowledge about this period of history, and everything from the clothing and ships to the speech patterns and societal norms rings true. Nothing about this book reads like a history tome, but by the time you've finished devouring the story, you WILL have learned some things.

"The Call of the Raven" is definitely one of the most exciting and intriguing books I've read in awhile.

Five out of five slices of perfect provolone! ( )

Mungo St. John, AKA Sinclair, reveals his true character by never redeeming his early choice to work on a ship destined to Africa to load slaves for America.

He does not recoil from the hateful brutality, murders, and horror despite that Camilla, the true love of his life, was a slave owned by his father and originally intended to be inherited by him. For some inexplicable reason, revenge overpowers any compassion for the people of Africa.

From the start, the plot builds evil upon evil and undermines any hope for redemption or balance. Mungo's old Cambridge adversary, Fairchild, turns out to be the hero of the story. Having not read any of the other Mungo books, I have no idea if Fairchild figures in as challenger.

Very disappointing. ( )