Chronicles of Ancient Darkness #1: Wolf Brother (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Geoff Taylor (Illustrator) "Torak woke with a jolt from a sleep he'd never meant to have..." (more)
Key Phrases: birch bast, crippled wanderer, stone tooth, Tall Tailless, World Spirit, High Mountains (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-9 - Set 6000 years ago, this fast-paced adventure delves into a world of spirits and mysticism not often seen in children's literature. Torak, 12, witnesses his father's brutal attack by a giant, demon-possessed bear and promises to find his way to the Mountain of the World Spirit. Before dying, his father instructs him to avoid other men and tells him that his guide will find him. Sure enough, Torak is soon adopted by a wolf cub, also recently orphaned, with whom he is able to communicate. The bear continues to terrorize the forest, but Torak is able to avoid it with Wolf's help. They are captured by the Wolf clan, who believes that Torak is the Listener, and will rid the forest of the bear when he fulfills a prophecy by delivering three lost artifacts to the mountain. He must solve an obscure riddle to find the artifacts and traverse dangerous lands, all the while evading the evil bear. Paver's depth of research into the spiritual world of primitive peoples makes this impressive British import, slated to be the first in a six-book series, intriguing and believable. - Karen T. Bilton, Somerset County Library, Bridgewater, NJ
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From Booklist

Gr. 6-9. A giant bear possessed by a demon fatally wounds Torak's father, who makes his son swear that he will find the Mountain of the World Spirit, many "daywalks" from where they have been hunting in the forest. The spirit, his father says, offers the only hope to defeat the bear, which will become invincible if not stopped. So begins Torak's desperate quest, undertaken in the company of an orphaned wolf cub, Torak's guide. After members of the Raven Clan capture the boy and wolf, Torak learns that he is the Listener, prophesied to crush the Shadow, the overriding evil that is trying to take over the land. There's one minor discrepancy that kids are likely to spot (if there's a second printing, it will be corrected), but that won't spoil the excitement in the first book in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series. This is fantasy adventure on a grand scale, with a wealth of wilderness lore and convincing characterizations. Sally Estes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books; Third Printing edition (February 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060728256
• ISBN-13: 978-0060728250
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #139,978 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Pleased, April 15, 2005

By	A. Mousseau "upset mother" (Downsville, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I recently purchased this book for my 10 year old son, he hasen't read it yet but I have. I think the book was very detailed and interesting, it kept me from wanting to put it down, to see what would happen next. All the people with the bad reviews must keep in mind, this book was written for children, so if it wasen't intellectual enough for them, to bad, it wasen't supposed to be. And as for being realistic, who cares, everything doesn't have to be "true" to be tantalizing to young minds. In closing I would recommend this book to any child and I know my son will enjoy it just as much as I did.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating Adventure, March 1, 2005

By	James Weber - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I picked up this book literally by accident and I hadn't heard any thing about it nor the hype. Having said that I finished the book in 3 days. The story is creative, funny and imaginative. When you finish this book you start dreaming of joining a Clan of your own! Well done Michelle Paver and I look forward to the second book Spirit Walker!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars INCREDABLE, April 1, 2005

By	Torak - See all my reviews

This book was great, although on the short side it was a great read.It was a very detailed book, and its pretty straight through so you dont get lost and have to go back a few chapeters. I read this book in three days reading about 100 pages a day. I recommend this book to anyone who likes nature or can read.I read this book for a book report and i got a 105! I dont see how its stereotypical as some people say. All i am mad about is that the next book isnt out yet:).