Jean M. Auel

This Enhanced Edition contains exclusive content including the first chapter of the unabridged audiobook and eight videos. These videos include footage from 'Jean M. Auel in conversation with Chris Stringer' a sell-out event which took place on the 28th February 2011 at London's Natural History Museum, as well as videos about the eighteen lucky competition winners who influenced the making of the limited edition Augmented Reality hardback. Please note this a large file that will take time to download over slower connections. Europe is in the grip of the Ice Age. Its harsh but spectacularly beautiful terrain supports many varieties of animals but few people. They are Cro-Magnons - the first anatomically modern people - and Neanderthals, the other race with whom we shared that cold, ancient land. Ayla is a Cro-Magnon child who lost her parents in an earthquake and was adopted by a tribe of Neanderthal, the Clan. The Clan's wary suspicion was 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. But Broud, the Clan's future leader, becomes an implacable enemy, and causes her exile. Forced into dangerous isolation, she eventually finds her soul mate and fellow Cro-Magnon, Jondalar. Their epic journey across Europe is complete and Ayla and Jondalar join his people in the region now known as south-west France. Settling into the rhythm of life in the Ninth Cave, the couple find much pleasure in their baby daughter and in being reunited with friends and family. Ayla plays a vital role in the area of healing: her knowledge of plants and herbs, gleaned from her days with the Clan, strike awe in her new tribe. They are also both impressed by and wary of her uncanny affinity with long-time companions, the mare Whinney and Wolf. But, torn between her desire to concentrate on her new child and the rigours of her training as a Zelandoni acolyte, Ayla finds her relationship with Jondalar moving into stormy waters. Can she manage to balance her sense of destiny with her heart?

The Land of Painted Caves

In this, the extraordinary conclusion of the ice-age epic series, Earth’s Children®, Ayla, Jondalar, and their infant daughter, Jonayla, are living with the Zelandonii in the Ninth Cave. Ayla has been chosen as an acolyte to a spiritual leader and begins arduous training tasks. 
 
Whatever obstacles she faces, Ayla finds inventive ways to lessen the difficulties of daily life, searching for wild edibles to make meals and experimenting with techniques to ease the long journeys the Zelandonii must take while honing her skills as a healer and a leader. And there are the Sacred Caves that Ayla’s mentor takes her to see. They are filled with remarkable paintings of mammoths, lions, and bears, and their mystical aura at times overwhelms Ayla. 
 
But all the time Ayla has spent in training rituals has caused Jondalar to drift away from her. The rituals themselves bring her close to death, but through them Ayla gains A Gift of Knowledge so important that it will change her world.
 
Sixth in the acclaimed Earth’s Children® series

The Land of Painted Caves: Earth's Children, Book Six

Michelle Lilholm Bennett

** spoiler alert **
           REVIEW WITH SPOILERS!

There are still a lot of repetitions from the previous books here. And when I say a lot I mean A LOT.
Also the painted caves. I know the title is called The Land of Painted Caves. But really? That many descriptions of caves? THAT MANY? And when we are finally finished with the descriptions, Auel starts skipping several years ahead and skips most of Aylas other training. Would honestly have preferred it to be the other way around. So many painted dots and animals. We get it! The caves are painted!

The reason to why the book still manages to creep up to 3 stars, is because you do find out what happens with Ayla. Mostly. And you find out what happened to the Mamutoi after she left. You also figure out what happens to the people who did not like Ayla in The Shelters of Stone.
I loved when Auel started the plots and the story. All the long long descriptions of the caves I could have done without. 

More action less slow, descriptive scenes, please!
Too bad it's the last book in the series....

- And what happened to Durc? Would still love to know.

A novel set 25,000 years ago is the sixth book in the author's landmark series and continues the story of Ayla and Jondalar.

Kate Lillie

Roman de science-fiction (préhistorique)

Roman d'aventures

La petite orpheline Cro-Magnon recueillie par une tribu Neandertal a fait bien du chemin depuis Le Clan de l'Ours des Cavernes, le premier tome de ses aventures publié il y a maintenant trente ans. Ayla vient de mettre au monde une petite fille prénommée Jonayla, et a été peu à peu adoptée par les membres de la Neuvième Caverne, le clan de son compagnon Jondalar. A tel point que la Zelandoni, guérisseuse et chef spirituel de la Neuvième Caverne, la choisit pour lui succéder un jour. Pour parvenir à cette fonction, Ayla suit pendant plusieurs mois la grande prêtresse. Son initiation passe notamment par la visite des nombreuses grottes ornées de la région, l'occasion pour l'apprentie Zelandoni de découvrir des sites magnifiquement décorés, dont elle apprend à comprendre le sens. Cette formation, jalonnée de rites de passage, n'a rien d'une promenade de santé, et Ayla devra franchir bien des obstacles avant de devenir Zelandoni. Saura-t-elle trouver un équilibre entre ses obligations de jeune mère et d'épouse et les exigences de son apprentissage ? L'amour de Jondalar et d'Ayla résistera-t-il à tant d'épreuves ?

Le point de vue de l'éditeur La petite orpheline Cro-Magnon recueillie par une tribu Neandertal a fait bien du chemin depuis Le Clan de l'Ours des Cavernes, le premier tome de ses aventures publié il y a maintenant trente ans. Ayla vient de mettre au monde une petite fille prénommée Jonayla, et a été peu à peu adoptée par les membres de la Neuvième Caverne, le clan de son compagnon Jondalar. A tel point que la Zelandoni, guérisseuse et chef spirituel de la Neuvième Caverne, la choisit pour lui succéder un jour. Pour parvenir à cette fonction, Ayla suit pendant plusieurs mois la grande prêtresse. Son initiation passe notamment par la visite des nombreuses grottes ornées de la région, l'occasion pour l'apprentie Zelandoni de découvrir des sites magnifiquement décorés, dont elle apprend à comprendre le sens. Cette formation, jalonnée de rites de passage, n'a rien d'une promenade de santé, et Ayla devra franchir bien des obstacles avant de devenir Zelandoni. Saura-t-elle trouver un équilibre entre ses obligations de jeune mère et d'épouse et les exigences de son apprentissage ? L'amour de Jondalar et d'Ayla résistera-t-il à tant d'épreuves ?

The Land of Painted Caves

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