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Clan of the Cave Bear is the first novel in Jean M. Auel's magnificent best-selling epic of life 35,000 years ago. Leave the 21st century and go back to Ice Age Europe. Follow Ayla, a Cro-Magnon child who loses her parents in an earthquake and is adopted by a tribe of Neanderthal, the Clan. See how the Clan's wary suspicion is gradually transformed into acceptance of this girl, so different from them, under the guidance of its medicine woman, Iza, and its wise holy man, Creb. Immerse yourself in a world dictated by the demands of survival in a hostile environment, and be swept away in an epic tale of love, identity and struggle.
Mankind has lorded over the land of Illian for a thousand years, enjoying what was left to them by the elves, as if it were their birthright. A thousand years is a long time for an immortal race to see the error of their ways and realize a truth that has remained unsaid for a millennia - elves are superior! They are faster, stronger, and connected to the magical world in a way that man could never grasp. Illian is their birthright. The six kingdoms of man are fractured, unallied and always clawing at each other's doors for more power.
Demonstrating once again her gift for spellbinding storytelling, Anne Rice makes real for us a great dynasty of four centuries of witches - a family given to poetry and incest, murder and philosophy, a family that over the ages is itself haunted by a powerful, dangerous, and seductive being called Lasher who haunts the Mayfair women....
The discovery of a strange and superior warship sends Dion, youngest son of the king of Xanthos, and Chloe, a Phalesian princess, on a journey across the sea, where they are confronted by a kingdom far more powerful than they could ever have imagined. But they also find a place in turmoil, for the ruthless sun king, Solon, is dying. In order to gain entrance to heaven, Solon is building a tomb - a pyramid clad in gold - and has scoured his own empire for gold until there's no more to be found.
Best-selling authors David and Leigh Eddings welcome fans back to the time before The Belgariad and The Malloreon series. Join them as they chronicle that fateful conflict between two mortally opposed Destinies, in a monumental war of men and kings and gods.
A rags-to-riches tale, Jonah's journey spans the breadth of human experience, from the intricacies of Edward III's political intrigues to the cutthroat world of international trade, from the triumphs of war to the agonies of personal loss - love, friendship, joy, heartbreak and glory. Set largely in London, the Scarlet City, the centre of medieval England, the Scarlet City trilogy is a thrilling portrait of the age and the people who made it so rich, colourful and extraordinary.
Clan of the Cave Bear is the first novel in Jean M. Auel's magnificent best-selling epic of life 35,000 years ago. Leave the 21st century and go back to Ice Age Europe. Follow Ayla, a Cro-Magnon child who loses her parents in an earthquake and is adopted by a tribe of Neanderthal, the Clan. See how the Clan's wary suspicion is gradually transformed into acceptance of this girl, so different from them, under the guidance of its medicine woman, Iza, and its wise holy man, Creb. Immerse yourself in a world dictated by the demands of survival in a hostile environment, and be swept away in an epic tale of love, identity and struggle.
Mankind has lorded over the land of Illian for a thousand years, enjoying what was left to them by the elves, as if it were their birthright. A thousand years is a long time for an immortal race to see the error of their ways and realize a truth that has remained unsaid for a millennia - elves are superior! They are faster, stronger, and connected to the magical world in a way that man could never grasp. Illian is their birthright. The six kingdoms of man are fractured, unallied and always clawing at each other's doors for more power.
Demonstrating once again her gift for spellbinding storytelling, Anne Rice makes real for us a great dynasty of four centuries of witches - a family given to poetry and incest, murder and philosophy, a family that over the ages is itself haunted by a powerful, dangerous, and seductive being called Lasher who haunts the Mayfair women....
The discovery of a strange and superior warship sends Dion, youngest son of the king of Xanthos, and Chloe, a Phalesian princess, on a journey across the sea, where they are confronted by a kingdom far more powerful than they could ever have imagined. But they also find a place in turmoil, for the ruthless sun king, Solon, is dying. In order to gain entrance to heaven, Solon is building a tomb - a pyramid clad in gold - and has scoured his own empire for gold until there's no more to be found.
Best-selling authors David and Leigh Eddings welcome fans back to the time before The Belgariad and The Malloreon series. Join them as they chronicle that fateful conflict between two mortally opposed Destinies, in a monumental war of men and kings and gods.
A rags-to-riches tale, Jonah's journey spans the breadth of human experience, from the intricacies of Edward III's political intrigues to the cutthroat world of international trade, from the triumphs of war to the agonies of personal loss - love, friendship, joy, heartbreak and glory. Set largely in London, the Scarlet City, the centre of medieval England, the Scarlet City trilogy is a thrilling portrait of the age and the people who made it so rich, colourful and extraordinary.
Dragonsong is the spellbinding tale of Menolly of Half Circle Hold, a brave young girl who flees her seaside village and discovers the legendary fire lizards of Pern. All her life, Menolly has longed to learn the ancient secrets of the Harpers, the master musicians of Harper Hall. When her stern father denies her the chance to make her dream come true, Menolly runs away from home. Hiding in a cave by the sea, she finds nine magical fire lizards who join her on a breathtaking journey to Harper Hall.
When historian Diana Bishop opens an alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library, it's an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordered life. Though Diana is a witch of impeccable lineage, the violent death of her parents while she was still a child convinced her that human fear is more potent than any witchcraft. Now Diana has unwittingly exposed herself to a world she's kept at bay for years; one of powerful witches, creative, destructive daemons and long-lived vampires.
Gervase Phinn’s colourful characters have now become firm favourites – the mostly mad staff at County Hall and the children themselves, who find ways of embarrassing the school inspectors with innocent ease. We reconvene with Christine Bentley, head teacher of Winnery Nook School and now Gervase’s wife and mother of their son; the well-named Mrs Savage and not forgetting the Queen of the Clean – Connie.
A wonderful, epic story that tells the history of the greatest city in the world, from Roman times to the present day. From the author of Paris, Sarum and New York. London has perhaps the most remarkable history of any city in the world. Now its story has a unique voice. In this epic novel, Edward Rutherfurd takes the listener on a magnificent journey across 16 centuries.
Garion has slain the evil God Torak and been crowned King of Riva. The Prophecy has been fulfilled - or so it seems.
The Pillars of the Earth tells the story of Philip, prior of Kingsbridge, a devout and resourceful monk driven to build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has known... of Tom, the mason who becomes his architect - a man divided in his soul... of the beautiful, elusive Lady Aliena, haunted by a secret shame... and of a struggle between good and evil that will turn church against state, and brother against brother.
DeathWizards have been the scourge of Talohna for over 5000 years; they are executed at birth or hunted to the death. There are no exceptions. Pulled by magic and blood sacrifice into a world he can't possibly begin to understand, Kael Symes soon finds himself the focus of a Talohna-wide manhunt. Desperate and trying to stay ahead of ArchWizard Giddeon Zirakus's execution squad, Kael soon discovers that Talohna's ArchWizard may be the least of his worries.
As spring comes to Scotland and the hills burst into life, a dance is planned for September. The invitations summon home the group of people Violet Aird has cared for most in her long life. The oldest, strongest and wisest of them all, she sees Alexa, her vulnerable granddaughter, find love for the first time while the decision to send her little grandson away to school is driving parents Edmund and Virginia even further apart.
Born in Colombo, Judith Dunbar spends her teenage years at boarding school while her beloved mother and younger sister live abroad with her father. When her new friend, Loveday Carey-Lewis, invites Judith home for the weekend to Nancherrow, the Carey-Lewises' beautiful estate on the Cornish coast, it is love at first sight.
Mourning the death of his father and gravely injured at the hands of the English, Jamie Fraser finds himself running with a band of mercenaries in the French countryside, where he reconnects with his old friend, Ian Murray. Both are nursing wounds, both have good reason to stay out of Scotland, and both are still virgins despite several opportunities to remedy that deplorable situation with ladies of easy virtue.
Jean Paget is just twenty years old and working in Malaya when the Japanese invasion begins. When she is captured she joins a group of other European women and children whom the Japanese force to march for miles through the jungle. While on the march, the group run into some Australian prisoners, one of whom, Joe Harman, helps them steal some food, and is horrifically punished by the Japanese as a result.
A collection of short stories from one of the most critically acclaimed authors in the fantasy genre, Robin Hobb. Including work written under her pseudonym, Megan Lindholm.Bingtown heiresses rub shoulders in this wonderful collection with vampires and alien musicians, tramps and feral cats. In "The Homecoming", Lady Carillion Carrock and a number of other Jamaillian nobles are sailing to the Cursed Shores.
The fifth book in the hugely successful Earth's Children series.
Ayla and Jondalar have reached home: the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, the old stone age settlement in the region known today as south-west France. Ayla has much to learn from the Zelandonii as well as much to teach them. Jondalar's family are initially wary of the beautiful young woman he has brought back, with her strange accent and her tame wolf and horses. She is delighted when she meets Zelandoni, the spiritual leader of her people, a fellow healer with whom she can share her medicinal skills.
After the rigours and dangers that have characterised her extraordinary life, Ayla yearns for peace and tranquillity; to be Jondalar's mate and to have children. But her unique spiritual gifts cannot be ignored, and even as she gives birth to their eagerly-awaited child, she is coming to accept that she has a greater role to play in the destiny of the Zelandonii.
Would you listen to The Shelters of Stone again? Why?
I could listen to this story so many times. Having already read it, but now finding reading difficult due to failing eyesight, I have rediscovered these old friends anew and am delighting in the pleasure of the stories.
What other book might you compare The Shelters of Stone to, and why?
In my view there is no other book which can compare with this. The whole Clan of the Cave Bear Saga is a one-off and is so delightful in its development in the life of the young woman, Ayla.
Which scene did you most enjoy?
My favourite scene was when Ayla and Jondalar finally reached the land of the Zelandoni and she met Jondalar's family, at long last becoming a respected person in her own right.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I could not stop listening to this, and unfortunately fell asleep on several occasions so that I had to rewind. In order to rectify this, I resorted to listening while in the bath - a most leisurely and much recommended way to have a long soak in a bath.
Any additional comments?
One of the best series of stories to have been produced in the modern day.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Having read all of the previous books this seems like a natural place to end Aylas story. Reviews for the next book are not good.
The story is still enticing but without the same level of intrigue created in previous books. There was a certain sense of inevitability which meant no real surprises. I felt more like I was going through the motions having devoted so much time to this story. Still worth a listen but unlikely I will continue to book 7.
Love the way this book teaches us about present day life via the distant past.
It’s nice to know what happens as Ayla and Jondalar reach the end of their journey, but I can’t help but feel we have heard the story of how she found the horses, found jondalar, trained wolf, introducing wolf a gazillion times. Hopefully the final book has a bit more storyline!
Do read 'Clan of the Cave Bear' and 'Valley of Horses' after that the books start to go downhill. This one is hurtling to the pit which is the last book of the series that you shouldn't waste your money on. 'The Shelters of Stone' is just about worth buying.
Jean Auel knows her stuff and writes with authority and great depth about the Ice Age. And although the story has a good basis her story telling lets her down.
Dialogue is stilted and Auel hardly uses any other word to replace 'said', so in conversations so-and-so said, and he said and she said and so-and-so said. Please! Why on earth didn't the proof reader pick this up and ask her to change it to 'replied' or 'agreed' ...anything bar 'said'.
Auel also repeats parts of the story 2 or 3 times each book. It gets boring. As do the too-intimate sex scenes - after all, how many ways are there of saying 'pulsing manhood'
But if you've got this far in the series this book should wrap the story up but don't expect excitement or new ideas.
Another masterpiece by Jean Auel, we have had now had about 14 years of life as it could have been just after the the ice age, and it is very illuminating.
Not the best of the series in my opinion but it's still a decent listen.
As in some of the other books it's been a little repetitive on occasions, although this can be put down to laying down background for first time readers/listeners who haven't followed the series.
The story seems to benefit from hinting at how things may have come about, the invention of the needle, the use of horses, dogs (wolves) etc. These things, and many others, may have come about over a longer period of time, but stories can't be expected to last for that long.
All in all... It's worth a shot.
I was very disappointed in Rowena for changing her pronounciation of Zelandonii. In Valley of the Horses, it was established that it was pronounced Zelandonyee, but in this book (where it's repeated a hundred times!) she changes it to Zelandonee-eye. Soooo frustrating. There were a few other things that got on my nerves: The River she pronounces as Thee River, more often than not. I think this is more an error on Jean's part, though. It is extremely distracting and very unnecessary. This is the last book I care for in the series. The final book is not to my taste at all and I have no desire to purchase the audible version, having already read the printed version.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Well.. I've been binge listening to these books for some months now and I love the first two. But the 3rd and this was rather mediocre. A lot of repetition and not much really happening. If I had something else in mind to read I'd end the series here as I don't expect the next one to be any better. But I don't have anything else in mind and it's grown into a routine so why not just finish it..? mixed feelings about this one and at times my thoughts wandered some were else as the book didn't really catch my attention as much as I'd preferred. Don't get me wrong; I love the world and the personalities, and I'll use my credit to give the last book a chance.
absolutely love these books, have been hooked since the very first one and continue to be transfixed by Ayla and Jondular's journey both figuritively and emotionally. The amount of research that I know had gone into these books is astounding. Well done to Jean and all concerned, I can't wait to read the best installment into the lives of this wonderful couple 😊