Oathbreaker (Chronicles of Ancient Darkness) [Import] [Hardcover]

Michelle Paver (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 21, 2008 | Series: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness (Book 5)

When he was outcast, Torak was the hunted one. The following spring, he becomes the hunter when he swears to avenge the killing of one of his closest friends. To fulfil his oath he must brave the hidden valleys of the Deep Forest, where the clans have reverted to the savagery of an earlier time. Here, Torak finally learns why he is the Sprit Walker and discovers the true cost of revenge.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Michelle Paver's consistently splendid Chronicles of Ancient Darkness is an example of how gripping and life-enhancing the (children's book) genre can be.' -- Amanda Craig THE TIMES 'Another triumph for Paver, a former London lawyer who has meticulously researched natural and ancient history to create this enthralling saga of the clansmen who hunted the forests of northern Europe 6000 years ago. It outclasses Call of the Wild and The Jungle Book in the pace of its plot, its sympathetically imagined characters, and it's details of doings.' -- Christina Hardyment THE INDEPENDENT 'Fiction for children really doesn't get much better than this' BOOKBAG.COM 'Oath Breaker will keep you on the edge of your seat' RED HOUSE 'Paver brings to life a world of 6,000 years ago, with fascinating descriptions of the food, the weapons and medicines forest dwellers might have used' PRESS ASSOCIATION 'very gripping...and the descriptions of the forest are very vivid. I rate Oath Breaker 9/10 for its powerful descriptions and emotions' -- William Warren (aged 11) UNDERCOVER 'Vividly imagined' BOOKS FOR KEEPS 'Series such as Michelle Paver's superb Chronicles of Ancient Darkness have kept up the highest standard of writing, tension and developing characters for 11+ readers. In Oath Breaker Torak, Renn and their beloved Wolf are up against the last of the evil Soul-Eaters in a darkening series that combines meticulous research into Stone Age life with first rate story telling.' -- Amanda Craig THE TIMES

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 was brought up in Wimbledon and, following a Biochemistry Degree from Oxford, she became a partner in a big City law firm. She gave up the City to follow her long-held dream of becoming a writer. Successfully published as an adult author, the CHRONICLES OF ANCIENT DARKNESS are her first - brilliant - books for children.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Orion Childrens H/B & Trade Pb (June 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1842551744
• ISBN-13: 978-1842551745
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,237,590 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

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, August 22, 2008

By 

Sylvia Nist - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Oathbreaker (Chronicles of Ancient Darkness) (Hardcover)

This is an amazing series and she did an amazing job writing them. My kids all read them and loved them so they told me i had to read it. once i picked the other books up i just couldn't put them down!! So i am so excited for this book to come out and same with my kids.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Habit breaker, June 19, 2010

By 

Inspector Gadget "Go Go Gadget Reviews" (On the trail of Doctor Claw) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oathbreaker (Chronicles of Ancient Darkness) (Hardcover)

I've not really been in to reading for a long time now, but I still push myself to pick up a book as I feel guilty for not being in the habit. I've been reading Michelle Paver's Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series since 2005, and they've had their ups and downs. I didn't even bother reviewing the last entry, and the name escapes me at the moment, but Oath Breaker, while being a fairly brisk and to-the-point book still kinda drags since not a lot really happens in it.

The story is based on already long-established threads from the previous novels and brings nothing new to the series other than closing said threads. Torak once again runs off into the forest on his own, Renn is torn between Torak and tradition once more. Wolf is still confused by human customs. All other tribesman are primitive and gullible.

With no defining scenes and no new characters Oath Breaker feels very run-of-the-mill and by-the-numbers. The closing of the Thiazzi plot is all it really has going for it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great series, April 21, 2009

By 

Lady Reads-alot "bookworm" (your neck of the woods, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Oathbreaker (Chronicles of Ancient Darkness) (Hardcover)

This has been an excellent series thus far. Following the life of Torak and Renn as they face many challenges has been an adventure. In Oathbreaker, Torak loses his kinsmen and becomes consumed with avenging his death.The book shows us how vengeance can cost a high price. Torak nearly loses more than Bale, but through the progression of time he comes to realize this. Yes, he does make one careless mistake after the other, but realistically this is how a person behaves when they are bent of vengeance. They cannot see past their own hurts and hatred. Torak had to come to this realization.

This was yet another engaging read in the series and I look forward to the concluding novel.