Earth’s Children: The Valley of Horses by Jean M. Auel

This prehistoric tale follows Ayla, whom we met in The Clan of The Cave Bear, in her struggle to survive alone after being cast out of the Clan.

She has always known that she was different from the clan: too tall, too willowy, too blonde. She has always thought she was ugly, with her looks that were so massively different from anybody she had ever seen. Ayla believes that she will never find a mate, that nobody will ever want her.

The fourteen year old girl becomes a nomad, travelling alone, hunting alone and sleeping alone. One day, she comes across a small cave and decides to take up residence there, if only for the winter. Little does she suspect that she’ll live in her little cave for three years.

Company for Ayla comes in the form of animals, she forms a special bond with a foal, and raises her like a child. She also tames a more frightening animal, her totem bearer, the Cave Lion. Living alone allows the child to become one with nature, and she respects all that Mother Nature has given to her.

For the first two thirds of the novel, between Ayla’s story, we follow the story of two brothers, Thonalon and Jondalar, who are like Ayla; modern-day humans.  Thonanlon is determined to go on the Journey of a lifetime, and reach the end of the Great Mother River whereas Jondalar is only eager to protect his younger brother from harm.

It is a story of friendship, love and discovery that is written as eloquently as the first novel in the series. Although, at times, I didn’t particularly enjoy the chapter’s about the brothers, I still found the book very easy to read. The way in which Jean M. Auel writes, is just short of magical, her command of the English language to form descriptions of lands forgotten tens of thousands of years ago, is second to none.

I would give this novel a Landmark  rating, as I believe that, although it was slow at times, it contains information and events that are crucial in Ayla’s journey.