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Summary: Lots Of Action, In One Demension
Review: I picked this book up after reading the Amazon reviews.The action is fast and furious. Unfortunately, the characters are one demensional to the point of parody, The good count and his noble "savage" wife, the unredeemingly corrupt churchman, the ultraloyal servant, etc. For a period romance the characters have a remarkable late 20th century sensibility. I could probably forgive the character flaws if the descriptive passages measured up or, worst of all, if the author didn't telegraph nearly every plot twist.
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Summary: Amazing adventure
Review: Empires of Sand has become my favorite book. I compare every adventure book I read to this one. The best part of this book are the characters. You get to know them in and out and very quickly learn to care about them and their lives. The story itself is the perfect definition of an epic. It is a roller coaster ride that is believable and thrilling. This book is a must read for anyone that loves life and passion.
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Summary: Best read since Ken Follett's "Pillars of the Earth"
Review: If you like Follett, Stephen Lawhead's "Byzantium", or Wilbur Smith, you'll absolutely love this book! It has everything; romance, action, adventure, but most of all(for me), a sense of history. The good guys are (maybe a little too) good and the bad guys are really bad! You really care what happens to these people and the right people don't always come out on top. I can't wait for the author's next book.
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Summary: Stunning book!
Review: I found the Empires of Sand by David W. Ball to be a spectacular read. His command of the locations and the authenticity of his writing is evident. Throughout the novel you're introduced to the characters in a way that allows you to truly see their "character" and involves you emotionally in the story line. Great book Mr. Ball!
Rating: 
Summary: Empires of Sand
Review: An old-fashioned, rip-roaring adventure tale spanning two continents and two generations. Surprisingly engaging for the width and breath that it encompasses. If you are looking for a novel that will make you think, this one may not be for you. But if you are just looking for uncomplicated, non-stop action and a hair-raising yarn in the style of the old pulp fiction serials, you will find this to be just the thing. Great action and adventure.
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Summary: The Tuareg are real! This book makes you care.
Review: I am amazed at the polarized opinions of this book. Can't help thinking that people who didn't like it have something wrong with them - I liked it that much. Once in the world of this book I didn't want to come out again, esp. out of the world of the Tuareg. If you enjoy the description of their culture in this book, look at the last hour of the 1990 film The Sheltering Sky (skip the part before Debra Winger joins the Tuareg caravan)-- the only jarring note was Winger wearing a veil as if she were a male Targui. In recent times the Tuareg have had a rough time of it, since modern transportation has replaced the caravans, droughts in West Africa have forced many Saharan people to move to the outskirts of cities, and modern African countries seem to have no use for nomads who constantly cross borders. I saw some pretty miserable Tuareg in Mali during the terrible drought of the '70s. The Tuareg seek a country of their own in the Sahara, and they have an independence movement, but quite a few have been massacred by certain African governments. If you like them enough in the book to care about them in real life (and I don't see how you could help it), try looking for some of their Web sites. Most are in French, so search for "Touareg," the French spelling. You can use a Web translator to read the sites if you don't know French. These people and their ancient culture are real - and in trouble now. David Ball could be doing them a big favor with this book.
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Summary: Excellent historical fiction
Review: Great plot, great characters (good and evil - and oh so evil!!), great backgrounds, just all around a fantastic (hehe.. you thought I was going to say "great," didn't you?) adventure novel. If you liked this, check out Bartle Bull's "White Rhino Hotel", "Cafe on the Nile" and "Devil's Oasis". More great African adventures.
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Summary: I don't usually read fiction...
Review: I don't usually read fiction - I find that real life stories are generally a lot more entertaining. But I am a product of Catholic school in the fifties and have regaled my wife with some pretty unbelievable tales of those years, so when she saw the reviews, she read it, loved it and insisted I do the same. Suffice it to say Ball does not exaggerate the abuses that go on behind those doors. In my mind's eye, Sister Godrick became the very same evil nun that so terrified me in the third grade, and I felt a personal sense of vindication and relief at the well deserved fate of the bishop. Good riddance to them all! The story was fast paced and well written. The more I read the more I was caught up . The scenes in the foggaras in Africa had me cringing and claustrophobic they were so graphic. It was an aspect of desert life I had read about, but I really experienced it in this telling. Although the rift between the cousins in book 2 seemed a little extreme given their close childhood, it made for a damn good story. Would I read another book by this author? Maybe... if he promises to do some more well deserved bashing of religious fanaticism.
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Summary: historic fiction at its best
Review: A conversation with my father(a great lover of books) way back when I was in high school and disdainful of anything to do with history, led him to give me a book (over the whispered protests of my mother because of the sex scenes)called the Golden Hawk by Frank Yerby. Talk about swashbuckling adventure! great romance, and exotic lands I'd payed only vague attention to as a student. And in the process of devouring this great story I found myself actually enjoying learning about the history, geography, and the culture. Wasn't this cheating? Well, ever since, I have been hooked on historical fiction...Leon Uris, James Clavell, Pearl Buck, M.M. Kaye, Steven Pressfield...the list goes on and on. I add to it now the name of David Ball, first-time author and storyteller extraordinaire. Start to finish, I enjoyed every word, loved every adventure. This guy can write. And his love and knowledge of The Sahara and Africa is obvious - I was transported. I am one of those (rare?) people who likes a good, long story. My only criticism would be that he didn't entertain me with a few more years of the deVries family saga. This is historic fiction at its best.
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Summary: Great find!!
Review: I am kicking myself for being so cheap; I was interested in this book when it came out in hardcover. Wish I'd bought Empires of Sand then. I just finished it and would have paid a fortune to read this earlier. Wow. What a story. And, what a setting. This is the best possible way any person could spend $7.00. The word on this book needs to get out -- if only for the reason that it is a most wonderful voyage into Paris and the Sahara with the most luscious characters you've ever met. Spread the word! Marilyn Leibowitz, Minneapolis, Minn.
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