Chronicles of Ancient Darkness #2: Spirit Walker [Library Binding]

Michelle Paver (Author), Geoff Taylor (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness

A cry echoed through the Forest.
He froze.
It was not the yowl of a vixen, or
a lynx seeking a mate. It was a man.
Or something that had once been a man.
With a creeping sense of dread,
Torak watched the light between the
trees begin to fail. . . .

Torak is a boy apart. A boy who can talk to wolves. A boy who must vanquish the Soul-Eaters . . . or die trying.

As the Moon of No Dark waxes large, the clans fall prey to a horrifying sickness. Fear stalks the Forest. The very breath of spring seems poisoned. No one knows the cause—and only Torak can find the cure.

His quest takes him across the sea to the mysterious islands of the Seal Clan. Here Torak battles an unseen menace and uncovers a betrayal that will change his life—forever.

Spirit Walker is a spellbinding story of fellowship, treachery, and self-sacrifice that takes the reader further on the journey that began in Wolf Brother.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-9–Torak, Renn, and Wolf are reunited in this eerie, fast-paced Outbreak meets X-Files sequel to Paver's Wolf Brother (HarperCollins, 2005). Torak has settled in with the Raven Clan, more or less happily, although he still misses Wolf. This changes when a hideous disease starts attacking not only the Ravens, but the Forest clans as well. Torak is convinced that he has something to do with it and heads out to look for the Seal Clan, who might have a cure. After a terrifying run-in with a boar and the True Forest People, who tell him about the tokoroth, children stolen to become hosts to demons, he is kidnapped by three Seal Clan boys. Renn also knows about the tokoroth and goes in search of Torak. She first meets up with Wolf, and they join forces. On Seal Island, the mage Tenris, who claims to know the cure for the disease, sends Torak and his three kidnappers off on a dangerous expedition to find the secret ingredient. Near death, Torak discovers the ability to Spirit Walk–leave his body and become another creature. He, Renn, and Wolf also learn the truth about the Soul-Eater. Knowledge of events in the first book isn't required to make this a fun read, but newcomers will be clamoring for it, and all will eagerly await the next installment.–Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 6-9. This second book in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series maintains the momentum and convincing characterizations of Wolf Brother (2005). In this story, Torak begins searching for a cure for a plague that is decimating the clans and for the seven Soul-Eaters he is destined to fight. His quest reunites him with his pack-brother Wolf and awakens powers previously unknown to him. Once again, the wealth of wilderness lore adds to the story, which is infused with an inexorable sense of mysterious menace. Sally Estes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Library Binding: 368 pages
• Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (February 21, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060728299
• ISBN-13: 978-0060728298
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,989,799 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michelle Paver was born in central Africa but went to England as a child. After earning a degree in biochemistry from Oxford University, she became a partner in a London law firm but eventually gave that up to write full-time. The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series came from Michelle's lifelong passions for animals, anthropology, and the distant past-as well as an encounter with a large bear in a remote valley in Southern California. To research the books, Michelle has traveled to Finland, Greenland, Sweden, Norway, Arctic Canada, and the Carpathian Mountains. She has slept on reindeer skins, swum with wild killer whales, and gotten nose to nose with polar bears--and, of course, wolves. The first four books have been made into widely acclaimed audiobooks, read by Ian McKellen.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reels you in like a fish on a line!, May 4, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness #2: Spirit Walker (Hardcover)

Once I started reading the first page, I couldn't put it down. Written with careful planning, it keeps your hand turning the pages until you reach the end. It has a very unsuspecting ending, and along the way your heart is always pounding as if you were really in the book. You feel like you ARE Torak, and you feel everything that he feels - his anger, happiness, frustration, despair...Ms. Paver has wonderful talent. I wish I could write like she does!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A well-written and thrilling installment in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series, March 24, 2006

By 

A Customer (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness #2: Spirit Walker (Hardcover)

Although he is still reeling from the violent death of his father and the loss of his "soul" mate, Wolf, Torak has found a kind of peace living with the Raven Clan. As he tries to sort out his life, he has developed a growing fondness for its leader, Fin-Kedinn, and a kinship with the gentle people. In a single moment, however, all of this changes when he encounters a sick hunter from another clan.

The sick man had yanked handfuls of hair from his scalp and beard, leaving patches of raw, oozing flesh. His face was crusted with thick honey-colored scabs like birch canker. Slime bubbled in his throat as he spat out the last of the hair --- then sat back on his heels, and began scratching a rash of blisters on his forearm.

With his heart filled with dread, Torak returns to warn the Clan of the fever that is spreading. To his horror he finds that the mad sickness has already made its claim. Where could this be coming from? Was it possible that it had something to do with the Soul-Eaters and the warnings his father had given him? With a jolting realization, Torak knows he must find the source of this sickness. Thus begins a most perilous journey --- a journey to find the cure and a journey that unfolds a past that Torak will find hard to accept.

This story is told in two voices --- one from Torak and the other from his spirit brother, Wolf. Wolf refers to Torak and other humans as Tall Tailless. His voice offers views of all the confusion, which seems to result from human greed. Although Wolf does not understand the complexities of these things, he senses good and evil and the need to protect Torak. His ultimate goal is to be reunited with Torak and his journey parallels that of his spirit brother's.

Torak builds friendships within the Seal Clan but also tragically discovers a darker secret in someone he trusted. His problems have become deeper and more complex in this story, especially as he begins to comprehend that he is a Spirit Walker. Renn, the Mage apprentice (much like a spirit advisor), is again his companion and once more proves herself to be a true friend and warrior.

SPIRIT WALKER is every bit as good, if not better, than WOLF BROTHER. There is yet another book to look forward to and the possibility of a movie. Michelle Paver is in the winner's circle with this trilogy.

--- Reviewed by Sally M. Tibbetts

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars spirit walker:Chronicles of Ancient Darkness #2, August 11, 2007

By 

Jeffrey Nicolai "maverick" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness #2: Spirit Walker (Paperback)

I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters are vivid and you are on the edge of your seat until you find out what happens to them. A must read. The first book in this series is very good also.