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Hardback288 pages
Author's Website
www.michellepaver.com/Publisher
Orion Children's Books (an Imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd ) an imprint of Orion Publishing CoPublication date
7th September 2005ISBN
9781842551714Children's Author 'Like-for-Like' recommendations
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Spirit Walker: Book 2 Chronicles of Ancient Darkness
Michelle Paver
Part of the 'Chronicles of Ancient Darkness' Series
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The Lovereading comment:
Dazzling entertainment, seamless storytelling - the second adventure in Torak's quest to vanquish the terrifying Soul-Eaters.
Synopsis
Spirit Walker: Book 2 Chronicles of Ancient Darkness by Michelle PaverThousands of years ago an orphan boy and his wolf cub companion challenge a demon bear that threatens to destroy their world forever. With the help of the World Spirit, Torak destroys the bear, but his beloved Wolf is lost in the ensuing avalanche. And Torak's quest is far from over. A strange, creeping sickness, silent and deadly, is threatening the Ravens. Word arrives that the Seal Clan have the cure and Torak must face a lonely journey to find it. On the Seal's Island he stumbles into a world utterly unlike his own. Here life moves to the rhythms of the sea, the Seals build shelters from whale bones and skim the waves in fast, beautiful kayaks. And here Torak is welcomed by the kindly Seal Mage, Teneris, and kinsman, Bale. But all is not as it seems - Torak must keep his wits about him to judge who might be friend or foe. As in 'Wolf Brother' Michelle Paver's sheer passion for her story set in a world of myth and natural magic, shines through in this skilfully woven, exciting and brilliantly satisfying second instalment of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness.
Reviews
'a must read... I adore this series, which packs as much punch as Harry Potter in its feel for Bronze Age hunting and survival.' Amanda Craig, Saturday Times
'...the perfect concoction of action and narrative is what makes the book so attractive. ...Paver has succeeded in producing a first-class story supported by substantial moral messages... unclouded by the present day' - Edward Malnick, Daily Telegraph
'...another gripping, taut adventure in the ancient world' - Anne Johnstone, The Herald
'...Wolves are more than just her [Michelle's] friends - they've helped to make her a millionaire and a global publishing phenomenon' - Sally Williams, Daily Telegraph
'...the story grips you like a wolf's jaws and won't let go...Her [Paver's] account of their spiritual beliefs suggests deep anthropological research but feels new-minted when described in her taut, elegant prose. Children, who are often very close to these animist beliefs, will find this imagined world as thrilling as Tolkien's or Pullman's...The climax is superb. With Wolf fighting demons by Torak's side for another four books, wolves have never looked more like a boy's best friend.' Amanda Craig, Saturday Times
'It's a classic plus - boy journeys and sturggles towards truth with faithful animal friend - but so well done, so fully visualised in so few brush strokes and cliche-free.' Gay Hicyilmaz, TES
'very well researched... and the stunning revelation at the end of the story will leave you unable to wait for the next instalment.' Fred Heffer (Age 12), Undercover
'themes of evil and power are strongly realised and the charming front of evil deepens the authenticity of characterisation. The plot is tightly crafted and the pace of the novel never slackens, escalating towards a dramatic crescendo... Spirit Walker offers profound insights into the human condition... highly recommended.' Aine Nic Gabhann, Inis (Children's Books Ireland)
'I loved this book because it's really exciting and you always want to read on. It is unputdownable and there's a cliffhanger at the end of every chapter. Every bit as good as Wolf Brother but it's much scarier!' - Sebastian Johnson (age 10) in The Sunday Express
'There are scenes of high tension and excitement, especially towards the end, and what remains in the memory are the strong human bonds and physicality of the lives they lead.' - Books For Keeps
'Fans of Wolf Brother cannot fail to be equally captivated by this second title in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness...Paver's prose is rich and evocative. The reader is transported to a fictional context which is wholly convincing, and the depth of her research has paid huge dividends here.' School Librarian
About The Author
Born in Malawi to a Belgian mother and a father who ran the tiny 'Nyasaland Times', Michelle Paver moved to the UK when she was three. She grew up in Wimbledon and, following a Biochemistry Degree from Oxford, she became a partner in a City law firm. Eventually, she gave up her career in law to follow her long-held dream of becoming a writer. Successfully published as an adult author of historical fiction, CHRONICLES OF ANCIENT DARKNESS are her first - brilliant - books for children.
About Michelle Paver and The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness:
- She wrote her first story on her mother’s typewriter at the age of 5. (Her mother still has it!)
- She has always been fascinated by prehistoric times and skinned a dead rabbit at the age of 10. She ditched of her bed and slept on her bedroom floor for 3 years as a child.
- She dug up the lawn of her parents’ house and planted medicinal plants which she tried out on her sister.
- She skipped lectures in biochemistry at Oxford University to write.
- The Chronicles Of Ancient Darkness Series has been universally popular. The series is made up of Wolf Brother (2004) Spirit Walker (2005), Soul Eater (2006) and Outcast (2007) so far. There will be 6 books in the series.
- The books have been translated into 36 languages.
- Ridley Scott has bought the film rights and a script is being worked on currently.
- She gave up a successful career as a Partner in a City Law Firm in 1999 to write full time.
- She has travelled to inaccessible and unusual places researching her books including the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania, Finland and Greenland and Northern Canada.
- On her travels, she has had some unforgettable, unique and heart-stopping experiences including learning the traditional skills of the Inuit people and coming face-to-face with wild polar bears through the observation platform grille of a tundra buggy. She has swum with killer whales, gone husky-sledding and faked a wolf kill to attract ravens.
- She has eaten some very unusual food in the name of research, including, raw whale blubber, fresh seal liver (still warm from when it was killed), fish eyes, seal flippers (these are put under rocks and left for 3 months after which time they are considered a delicacy), all sorts of wild berries, tree bark and sap.
- The only thing she has ever refused to eat was the seal eyes, though these are considered a delicacy by the Inuit and eaten by the grannies! There is absolutely no wastage when these animals are killed and every bit of them is used for food or materials so don’t be put off by any perception of cruelty.
- She has many artefacts from her travels including reindeer skin gloves and a necklace made of bear claws and teeth.
Titles in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series:
1. Wolf Brother
3. Soul-eater
4. Outcast
5. Oathbreaker
6. Ghost Hunter
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