For generations, as dawn touched the River of Gold and light hit the fertile valleys of Southern France, the young men of the Kindred and the Norakamo tribes raided each other’s horse herds. But when a full-blown war threatened both tribes’ very existence, a taboo-breaking alliance was forged to survive this common enemy. To seal it, Alane, the Norakamo chief’s daughter, was promised in marriage to Nardo, the Kindred chief’s son.
Though they worship the same god, their ways are very different – especially for proud and beautiful Alane, who fights against her forced union with Nardo. But she soon discovers that can no longer resist the yearnings of her heart for this extraordinary man, And now Alane and Nardo must struggle to rally their people to defend their lands as they , too, must confront their own intense conflicts, ambitions, and desires. For if their marriage cannot last, neither will their tribes …
"With assured plotting, pacing and characterization, Wolf convincingly imagines prehistoric people and events, this time transporting readers to the Europe of 12,000 years ago. When reindeer--essential for food, clothing and tools--begin to leave European lowland valleys for more abundant mountain pastures, it looks as though the matriarchal Kindred tribe will have to fight the patriarchal Norakamo nomads for new land and hunting rights. But Rorig, chief of the Kindred, and Tedrik, head of the Norakamo, wisely agree on a marriage between Tedrik's daughter, Alane, and Rorig's son, Nardo, a union that eventually unites their tribes, despite opposition from Nardo's powerful mother, Mara, and other enemies in both groups. Peace is short-lived, however, for soon the fierce Redu, who use bows and arrows, invade the mountain pastures even as Alane and Nardo struggle with cultural differences-and with sabotage by Mara, who fears the dissolution of matriarchal power. Matters come to a head in a dramatic battle whose conclusion finds Alane and Nardo positing a wise and hopeful resolution to the survivors of all three tribes. . . a vividly told escape into the past". --- Publisher’s Weekly
"Details of prehistoric society come to life in this entertaining, complex novel. An unnecessary death during a routine raid to steal horses comes close to causing deadly war between two tribes, and a truce must be arranged. Alane, the daughter of one chief, marries Nardo, the son of the other chief. Many readers will easily identify with her difficulty settling into a new life, especially with her mother-in-law . . .. The complex plot then centers on alliances and battle strategies as hunting grounds shift and a new enemy of both tribes must be conquered." --- Library Journal
Though they worship the same god, their ways are very different – especially for proud and beautiful Alane, who fights against her forced union with Nardo. But she soon discovers that can no longer resist the yearnings of her heart for this extraordinary man, And now Alane and Nardo must struggle to rally their people to defend their lands as they , too, must confront their own intense conflicts, ambitions, and desires. For if their marriage cannot last, neither will their tribes …
"With assured plotting, pacing and characterization, Wolf convincingly imagines prehistoric people and events, this time transporting readers to the Europe of 12,000 years ago. When reindeer--essential for food, clothing and tools--begin to leave European lowland valleys for more abundant mountain pastures, it looks as though the matriarchal Kindred tribe will have to fight the patriarchal Norakamo nomads for new land and hunting rights. But Rorig, chief of the Kindred, and Tedrik, head of the Norakamo, wisely agree on a marriage between Tedrik's daughter, Alane, and Rorig's son, Nardo, a union that eventually unites their tribes, despite opposition from Nardo's powerful mother, Mara, and other enemies in both groups. Peace is short-lived, however, for soon the fierce Redu, who use bows and arrows, invade the mountain pastures even as Alane and Nardo struggle with cultural differences-and with sabotage by Mara, who fears the dissolution of matriarchal power. Matters come to a head in a dramatic battle whose conclusion finds Alane and Nardo positing a wise and hopeful resolution to the survivors of all three tribes. . . a vividly told escape into the past". --- Publisher’s Weekly
"Details of prehistoric society come to life in this entertaining, complex novel. An unnecessary death during a routine raid to steal horses comes close to causing deadly war between two tribes, and a truce must be arranged. Alane, the daughter of one chief, marries Nardo, the son of the other chief. Many readers will easily identify with her difficulty settling into a new life, especially with her mother-in-law . . .. The complex plot then centers on alliances and battle strategies as hunting grounds shift and a new enemy of both tribes must be conquered." --- Library Journal
