Rating: 
Summary: Well written, but predictable and annoying
Review: There's no doubt that this is a well written book and well researched. But my main problem with it is that it is so predictable. The stereotypical English family -- where the elder son treats his sibilings awfully. The younger siblings who start out boys and become men. The oath one brother gives to another. The bad guy who we know must be saught out and killed. The passing of the torch. All of these things I've seen elsewhere. What's new here? The characters seem two dimensional to me. I've read other books by Mr. Smith and I found the charactewrs in them to be larger than life, unforgetable. This is a disappointment.
Rating: 
Summary: Generally an interesting novel
Review: The author has a problem ending a novel and starting the next one. This is really two stories, the first being about Hal Courtney and his four sons, and the second about further adventures of Tom and Dorian Courtney. They are interesting stories with many details about the East India Company, the East African slave trade, trade with the Arab world, and the fratricide within Arab families as various individuals vied for power. Part of the plot is based on the assumption that inheritance in 17th century England automatically left the entire estate to the oldest son - which is incorrect as individuals of that time period commonly prepared wills making provisions for all children. The author makes some errors (such as a 17th century sailing ship traveling from Bombay to London in 62 days) which could have been easily avoided with a little better research. The book has graphic details of both sex and torture (much of which is extraneous to the main plot and could have been omitted). Therefore, it is not recommended for children.
Rating: 
Summary: Vintage Wilbur Smith
Review: The action is fast and furious. Certain situations seem to repeat such as the lead characters Tom and his brother Dorian having to deal with implacable enemies. In Tom's case his two brothers William and Guy and in Dorian's case the eunuch Kush and Zayd al-Din. They also have guardians who are loyal unto death. Tom has Aboli inherited from his father and Dorian has the less well developed character Batula. The women are loving of their men and uncomplicated. The action never ceases, battles are treated in detail with personal encounters of our heroes described like the battle passages in the "Iliad". The novel ends with several unresolved issues which require a sequel. I can hardly wait. A good read.
Rating:
Summary: Why did it end already?
Review: Those were my words when the enigmatic and premature end let me orphan of the fascinating saga and its attaching heroes. I salute the magic of the author in making his story take shape and live in our mind. The talent translate in hours of refined pleasures, I write my name down on the list of the sequel seekers. I left one star blank for two reasons: First, the cast is a little bit too manichean, I would like to see a little bit more complexity than good vs evil, even in Africa, reality is not black and white. Second, I wish to see a novel that will depart from brother hating brother; sister fighting sister or generations conflict could open some new windows on Mr w Smith srt of making our heart dance with the music of his words.
Rating:
Summary: Page turner
Review: Monsoon was incredible. I simply could not put it down. I found myself torn between reading my school assignments and reading Monsoon. At first I was put off by the number of pages in the book, but I finished reading it in a week by reading at every spare moment. This is the first of his books that I have read, but I going to order others.
Rating:
Summary: Smith produces The Great African Novel- again!
Review: In this sequel to Birds of Prey, the Courtneys return to pre-colonial Africa and Arabia where the strongest branches of the family will take root and prosper. Like all of Wilbur Smiths books, Monsoon is a fast-paced cornucopia of adventure and graphic violence. Head's roll on every page -in fact no body part escapes injury, detachment or penetraton at the hands of the Courtneys or their enemies. Smith has a native's knowledge of the African Continent and its environs and inhabitants. His knowledge of things nautical and the weaponry of the era derive from enthusiasm and personal experience and add much to the believability of his works. This book is not for the squeamish but it will send the true affiant of historical adventure scurrying after others of the Courtney chronicals. Veteran Smith readers will be pleased.
Rating:
Summary: OK, But Smith has done better
Review: I've read every book Wilbur Smith has published, most rank 5 stars with me. This is another good book, but missing some of the historical detail and more intense suspense of his earlier books. Hello Hollywood, when will you learn how to make great movies out of these great stories.
Rating:
Summary: Page after page of excellence!
Review: Wilbur Smith has yet again kept me spellbound from cover to cover with this latest tale of the Courteney family. There has never been an author that could paint such vivid, colourful pictures with his descriptive writing. Many long hours spent racing through the script, yearning to know what will happen next and yet not wanting to miss a single word. Having read all of his books I begin to think that I know what will happen - and then a twist or turn of fate from him sends the mind racing away again. Brilliant! I have just finished Monsoon and have searched for this review page to write down the emotional release from another epic story. Can't wait for the next one Wilbur!
Rating:
Summary: Wilbur Smith is a Great Story Teller
Review: MONSOON kept me up late for several nights. Wilbur Smith's insight into the Islamic slave trade of the 1700s was enlightening, frightening, and real. It would be earth shattering if he were to bring the story forward to expose the horrors of modern Sudan, in a new novel. Being American, I never understood Apartheid until I read his "fiction", set in historical South Africa. Likewise, I never understood the roots of the African slave trade until I read MONSOON. He is the Clavell or Michener of Africa. It is hard to believe that he isn't as popular in the United States as he is elsewhere in the world. I picked up my copy of MONSOON in England. I have never seen it on the shelves in the USA, outside of Amazon, of course.
Rating:
Summary: He has done it again
Review: I own 14 W. Smith books and I am hungry for more. Ever since reading Time to Die I have been his fan. The older he gets, the better he becomes. Monsoon is an independent sequel for Birds of Prey and I think it ranks as his best book along with River God. The characters of the book are typical W. Smith stereotypes. Tom, the hero, is a strong, independent, down-to-earth guy (who gets all the women), while his brother Guy is more intellectual and sophisticated, therefore he is the weakling. This kind of setting is somehow annoying since right in the beginning of Smith's books you will know who will win and who get kicked on the head. Despite that, Monsoon is absolutely superior entertainment.
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