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sarrei's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
This book is indeed well written and takes you into another world fully. But boy is it a dark book. A lot of errors and obstacles. Way too dark for me. But still left me wanting to know what will happen next…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence
soph_mills's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
lollybee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
At the age of five, Ayla finds herself orphaned when an earthquake kills her family.
After surviving in the wilderness for days, she is discovered by another Clan who take her in.
As Ayla grows up she struggles to conform to expectations of the Clan: the prejudices, superstitions, distrust and hatred of her because she doesn't look or behave like one of them.
This was an interesting story but overlong on description and explanation in places.
After surviving in the wilderness for days, she is discovered by another Clan who take her in.
As Ayla grows up she struggles to conform to expectations of the Clan: the prejudices, superstitions, distrust and hatred of her because she doesn't look or behave like one of them.
This was an interesting story but overlong on description and explanation in places.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Cannibalism, and Pregnancy
caitie711's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
TW: rape and domestic abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse
jmoxley's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A fantasy story about a young human adopted by a tribe of Neanderthals. The author has clearly up a good deal of effort into research Neanderthal culture as far as we can piece it together from archaeology and has a strong knowledge of the plant lore her medicine women use (although sometimes North American plants creep in which I’m not sure would have been present in in the Black Sea area during the Palaeolithic).
The story about power struggles within the Clan and the impending fading out of Neanderthals is credible and there are some moments of tension although other episodes are a bit formulaic.
The thing that I found increasingly irritating as the book wore on was the fact that the Neanderthals are supposed to communicate most by hand signals. There is obvious no evidence that they did this and it becomes increasing laboured as the author keeps saying thing like “She signed” or “Using rapid gestures he explained to the group…”.
There is also an assumption that women stay at home in the cave and have children while men hunt. There can’t be any evidence that Neanderthal society assigned gender roles in this way. Ayla, the main character, challenges this but is punished for it so although arguable the book tries to portray a strong female role the overarching assumption is that women who don’t stay at home and breed are unnatural.
Stylistically the author seems unable to leave a noun or verb without an accompanying adjective or adverb. Description is good but having too many descriptors makes for slow reading and doesn’t allow the reader space to imagine for themselves.
The story about power struggles within the Clan and the impending fading out of Neanderthals is credible and there are some moments of tension although other episodes are a bit formulaic.
The thing that I found increasingly irritating as the book wore on was the fact that the Neanderthals are supposed to communicate most by hand signals. There is obvious no evidence that they did this and it becomes increasing laboured as the author keeps saying thing like “She signed” or “Using rapid gestures he explained to the group…”.
There is also an assumption that women stay at home in the cave and have children while men hunt. There can’t be any evidence that Neanderthal society assigned gender roles in this way. Ayla, the main character, challenges this but is punished for it so although arguable the book tries to portray a strong female role the overarching assumption is that women who don’t stay at home and breed are unnatural.
Stylistically the author seems unable to leave a noun or verb without an accompanying adjective or adverb. Description is good but having too many descriptors makes for slow reading and doesn’t allow the reader space to imagine for themselves.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Violence
gdevlin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was a tricky one. The general world building was great and the concept was really interesting. I loved the detailed descriptions of how the people use nature to survive.
However, the writing is very slow and at times is far too descriptive. I found myself skimming sections describing things I felt just didn’t matter.
Also, the rape scenes are completely unnecessary. It followed the typical fantasy trope of rape being a plot device and providing character growth for a woman which I hate. It was incredibly graphic. The behaviour of the clan clearly showed Ayla’s alienation, the raping wasn’t necessary to add on top. It added nothing to the story. I think it’s meant to provide some kind of sexual awakening when she meets Jondalar in the second book and realises that sex is good. But that would be achieved anyway because it could have been ‘no one wanted me and no someone does’.
I also hate that she stops being effected by being literally raped just because she knows she has a child and is happy about it. Really sick
However, the writing is very slow and at times is far too descriptive. I found myself skimming sections describing things I felt just didn’t matter.
Also, the rape scenes are completely unnecessary. It followed the typical fantasy trope of rape being a plot device and providing character growth for a woman which I hate. It was incredibly graphic. The behaviour of the clan clearly showed Ayla’s alienation, the raping wasn’t necessary to add on top. It added nothing to the story. I think it’s meant to provide some kind of sexual awakening when she meets Jondalar in the second book and realises that sex is good. But that would be achieved anyway because it could have been ‘no one wanted me and no someone does’.
I also hate that she stops being effected by being literally raped just because she knows she has a child and is happy about it. Really sick
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence
readrabbitwrite's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
kbusemeyer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I heard about this book on a podcast so I kind of knew what to expect but also didn’t. It’s an interesting concept although hard to read about women being so submissive and having been bred to be that submissive.
I did like seeing Ayla develop and learn to think on her own but also learn the Clan ways from Iza. Her relationship with Iza and Creb was really special.
The whole thing with Broad was really terrible, like I’m glad she stood up for herself somewhat and I hope we get the redemption of her getting to see her clan again and then finally rebelling against Broussard. Brun was an interesting character and it was nice to read his thoughts on the matter and see how Druc was accepted and all the trials that went into that.
Auel is a very descriptive writer, there were lots of sections that it felt really well researched to know about how to describe making a tool from flint, for example. I think this book was a good way to pass time, not life-changing but is interesting.
I did like seeing Ayla develop and learn to think on her own but also learn the Clan ways from Iza. Her relationship with Iza and Creb was really special.
Auel is a very descriptive writer, there were lots of sections that it felt really well researched to know about how to describe making a tool from flint, for example. I think this book was a good way to pass time, not life-changing but is interesting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, and Violence
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Infertility, and Miscarriage
alyssasaurus's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child death, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Classism
sba's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Violence, and Blood