Okay So I finally got this great book through the interloan library thing. Came from los Angeles University. I saw the thickness of the book and I both hated and loved the read I was going to be in for. I was able to finish the 900 page book in 3 days with 8 hours sleep between. I easily spot the little indiscrepencies but forgave the author. The difference between this book and The Power of One is that the first was all about Peekay and his growth into becoming a man and all about believing in one's self. This one was not quite the same. While the first one had more action, This was more about the character's emitions and the Apartheid in South Africa. It was cool that I was able to read what other characters were thinking but sometimes it got fillerish. Tandia has had a pretty harsh life and I could empathize with her but sheesh, I dunno what it was but I felt myself becoming angry. I really didn't like the antagonist at all, I mean he even scared the crap outta me. Peekay as always, made me feel that there's hope and where theres a will, there's a way. I was expecting the demise of some specific characters. It sorta was like DAMN, What the... Why....... Noooooooooo............!! I both shared in Peekay's triumph and in his tragedy. I really liked the journey of this book but not the destination. Bryce wasn't operating at full efficiency probably because his son was very ill. I did make some similarties with this and some of the Enderverse characters. Peekay to me is a mixture of Ender and Bean, Tandia is Petra and Geldenhuis is very much like Achilles. When I'd finally finished sometime a few minutes ago. I wanted to cry. I just was disapointed with it that's all. I wasn't prepared for it. I was like,"That's it?, What! Where's the great climax and everything else I was hoping for?" In time my wounds for this book will heal. There was a hella lot of suspense and I was rooting for Tandia and Peekay the whole way. I wanted to hear more from all the characters of Peekay's childhood though. This book was good but it can never beat its predecessor. Thank you Bryce Courtenay for a well written book. I enjoyed it immensely. Anyone else want to include their thoughts?