The Valley of Horses by Jean M. Auel

Genre: Prehistoric/Romance/Historical Fiction/Survival/Adult/Fantasy

If you haven't yet, read my review of the first book in the Earth's Children series, Clan of the Cave Bear

This book is the second of a series called Earth's Children by Jean M. Auel. It's about a woman named Ayla whose been cast out of her adopted family, and is surviving all on her own. She learns new things, befriends animals, and finally meets someone of her own kind.

Back Cover: HERE IS AN UNFORGETTABLE ODYSSEY INTO A WORLD OF AWESOME MYSTERIES, into a distant past made vividly real, a novel that carries us back to the exotic, primeval world we experienced in The Clan of the Cave Bear -- and to beautiful Ayla, the bold woman who captivates us with her fierce courage and questing heart. Cruelly cast out by the ancient Clan that adopted her as a child, Ayla now travels alone in a land of glacial cold and terrifying beasts. She is searching for the Others, a race as tall, blond, and blue eyed as she. But Ayla finds only a hidden valley, where a herd of hardy steppe horses roams. Here, she is granted a unique kinship with animals, enabling her to learn the secrets of fire and raw survival -- but still, her need for human companionship and love remains unfulfilled. Then fate brings her a stranger, handsome Jondalar, and Ayla is torn between fear and hope -- and carried to an awakening of desire that would shape the future of mankind.

First, let me say I was inspired to read this after loving the first book so fiercely. Ayla is freaking brilliant. She has a way with animals, and a way with capturing an audience. Beautiful, and intelligent. Books need more positive female roles. At first, this book felt kind of slow, but as it progressed, it just seemed to get better. The ending was amazing, and it definitely has a domino-like affect; I can't wait to read Mammoth Hunters! This book totally sets you up to want to see what happens next. It's one of the first books I've read that sets you up so amazingly for the next book, by the last page. I recommend this to anyone whose read The Clan of the Cave Bear and enjoyed it, this was almost better than the first book! The characters are intriguing!

Shame on anyone who thinks evil of this.