Empires of Sand Audiobook

" liked the story about africa "

" Nope. I put this one down more than halfway through. I thought I would commit after the story's venue changed from France to the Sahara, but not so. The characters were not complex and the plot is predictable. "

" Reads like a classic epic movie from the 50s or 60s. Two cousins, best of friends, grow up in Paris during the Franco-Prussian War. Due to circumstances, one is forced to flee Paris and return to the homeland of his mother, the southern Sahara desert. 10 years later, they reunite, but on opposite sides. He is now a prince of the desert people, and his cousin a leutenant of the French army. The French are attempting to build a railroad through the desert, and the desert peoples are opposed. This book has plenty of action, romance, and high adventure, and sure was a lot of fun to read. I look forward to picking up David Ball's other historical fiction as well. "

" Excellent historical novel contrasting European and African/ Muslim cultures. "

" historical fiction - a great yarn from the African desert & land of the "blue men" (Tuareg) to Paris & back to the desert. "

" ALGERIA. My kind of book! "

" This book was very good, and could have easily gotten 4 stars if the author cut 200 of the 700 pages. It bogs down in several places and I lost the suspense several times. Also, some of the character development was a little surreal in spots. Very entertaining though. "

" Believe this had sex scenes as well.. "

" Best thing about the book for me was the detailed and (supposedly fairly historically accurate) settings of end-of-Napoleon-era Paris and depths of the Sahara / Hoggar. "

" Quite entertaining. Simple, straightforward. Good, fun story. Action packed. Revenge is one of the themes. I did not like that. "

" Not sure why I stuck with this. Parts of it were interesting, but the writing just didn't grab me. "

" Couldn't get through it, didn't find it nearly as engaging as his prior novel. "

" This was an enjoyable historical epic with lots of action/adventure. "

" Learned about the Tuaregs of the Sahara, the Prussian invasion of France, and France's attempt to build a railroad across the Sahara. Great characters and story. "

" Didn't finish. Wordy and uninteresting. "

" This had all the pluses of a good read, story, adventure, and well writen "

" Excellent historical novel about the seige of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War. I read this a few years ago when the novel first came out. Great reading experience! "

" Again, Ball's attention to period detail is exquisite. "

" Really disappointing. Could have been so much more than it was. "

" one of the best books to read in bed with your mate, a chapter a night. "

" Quite entertaining. Simple, straightforward. Good, fun story. Action packed. Revenge is one of the themes. I did not like that. "

" Believe this had sex scenes as well.. "

" Really disappointing. Could have been so much more than it was. "

" Couldn't get through it, didn't find it nearly as engaging as his prior novel. "

" This was an enjoyable historical epic with lots of action/adventure. "

" Again, Ball's attention to period detail is exquisite. "

" I loved this ...the time during the Franco-Prussian war (19th cent) the place: France and the Sahara Desert. A well written, well told story. "

" Learned about the Tuaregs of the Sahara, the Prussian invasion of France, and France's attempt to build a railroad across the Sahara. Great characters and story. "

" Excellent historical novel contrasting European and African/ Muslim cultures. "

" historical fiction - a great yarn from the African desert & land of the "blue men" (Tuareg) to Paris & back to the desert. "

" Not sure why I stuck with this. Parts of it were interesting, but the writing just didn't grab me. "