From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8-- This third book about Shiva includes three parallel adventures of challenge and choice. The title character is commanded to drink from one of six bowls--the traditional ``ordeal of poison'' that is the first test for those chosen to be trained as Crones. She later wakens from a drugged sleep in the ice-bound, frozen wasteland known as ``Mamar's Kingdom,'' and she must find her way home . At the same time, in the hidden forests, Thag, tribal leader of the Ogres (i.e. Neanderthal), has been challenged by Shil, who unfairly defeats him in battle and banishes the badly injured man, forcing him into the frozen forests alone. In a third story, Shiva's friend Hiram has discovered that she has been taken north, and ventures into the forest in search of the Ogres to enlist the aid of Heft, whose abilities as a tracker are legendary. As Shiva struggles, using all her skills to find her way across unknown territory, Thag is being tracked through the forest by Shil's friends, determined that he shall die. Eventually all three threads and characters come together. At the end, leadership of both tribes passes to the young people who have already learned from one another and made the first steps to friendship--leaving room for further adventures. Readers unfamiliar with the series might have trouble following the parallel plots and identifying characters, but the story moves with a compelling force and there's a strong sense of the dangers to be faced during the long winters. This is a good addition to the series and is recommended where the earlier books are popular. --Eleanor K. MacDonald, Beverly Hills Public Library
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.