Wolf Brother: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness Book 1 [Paperback]

From extensive research about how the people of Northern Europe may have lived more than six thousand years ago, Michelle Paver has fashioned a remarkable debut novel for children. Wolf Brother, the first instalment of her six-book Chronicles of Ancient Darkness sequence, takes its readers back in time to an atmospheric world of snow, hunter-gatherers, tribes, clans, mountains, forests, bears and unearthly superstitions. For humans then, life was hard and Paver’s narrative taps wonderfully into all the sensations they must have experienced living amidst such an unforgiving landscape.

The book begins dramatically with the death of Torak’s father, the mage, Fa, from mortal wounds inflicted by a giant, possessed bear. Fa’s dying words bind Torak to a quest to find the mythical Mountain of the World Spirit. Only there will Torak find the strength needed to defeat the demonic creature and killer of men.

Having lived apart from other Clans, and burdened by such an impossible task, Torak is bereft by the death of his only companion in life and struggles to survive in the harsh conditions he now finds himself in. Then, instead of killing an orphaned wolf cub for food, Torak spares the tiny animal and together they travel north.

Torak gains a further companion for his arduous journey in the form of Renn, a headstrong and feisty girl of his own age whose Clan Torak inadvertently has an altercation with. Renn believes Torak to be The Listener--a prophesised being who will save the world--and together they escape from danger… into a different sort of peril.

Paver’s novel is strong on detail and the authenticity of her settings is breathtaking. She cleverly weaves a fantastical, but believable, layer onto her narrative that enriches her story and makes it all the more readable. (Age 10 and over) --John McLay --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

...is a remarkable novel, but in many ways the story behind it is even more phantasmagoric. -- Catherine O'Brien The Times, 30/6/05 '...captivated the publishing world...' -- Catherine O'Brien THE TIMES (T2) '...the best children's novel to be published in 2004...' -- Amanda Craig SATURDAY TIMES 10.09.05 'Well researched and beautifully written... a winner with boys and girls alike' -- Wendy Cooling CHILD EDUCATION MAGAZINE 'a gripping tale that rings true to our understanding of that distant time.' -- Julian Richards BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE Best reads of the year: 'the strength of Michelle Paver's novel was not just in the story and the characters, but in the detailed setting... offers much promise' -- John Millen SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST - YOUNG POST 'A fantastic tale of adventure and superstition... The parallel lives of Torak and Wolf are beautifully portrayed and intertwine woderfully with a gripping plot that produces a real page-turner of a read!' -- Hannah Leach (Year 9) BOOKS FOR KEEPS

'...captivated the publishing world...'

'...the best children's novel to be published in 2004...'

'Well researched and beautifully written... a winner with boys and girls alike'

'a gripping tale that rings true to our understanding of that distant time.'

"...the kind of story you dream of reading and all too rarely find. The vivid prose leaps off the page." --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

"Deeply Atmospheric...breathtakingly expansive, classically formed adventure story." --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

"Michelle Paver...writes in a clear, engaging style...The relationships and setting are persuasively described." --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

"...a terrific new book...a super fantasy story...beautifully produced" --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

"Wolf Brother...provides the most impressive beginning of a series set thousands of years ago...touching but never sentimental...immensely rich and compelling" --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Thousands of years ago the land is one dark forest. Its people are hunter-gatherers. They know every tree and herb and they know how to survive in a time of enchantment and powerful magic. Until an ambitious and malevolent force conjures a demon: a demon so evil that it can be contained only in the body of a ferocious bear that will slay everything it sees, a demon determined to destroy the world. Only one boy can stop it - 12 year old Torak, who has seen his father murdered by the bear. With his dying breath, Torak's father tells his son of the burden that is his. He must lead the bear to the mountain of the World Spirit and beg that spirit's help to overcome it. Torak is an unwilling hero. He is scared and trusts no one. His only companion is a wolf cub only three moons old, whom he seems to understand better than any human. Theirs is a terrifying quest in a world of wolves, tree spirits and Hidden People, a world in which trusting a friend means risking your life.

The wound in his arm burned and with each breath his bruised ribs ached savagely, but he didn't dare stop. The Forest was full of eyes. Birch trees whispered of his passing. He begged them not to tell the bear . . . Torak is alone: wounded, terrified, and on the run. An outcast like his father, he has avoided all contact with the clans - until now. Now his father lies dead: slaughtered by a demon in the form of a great bear. Somehow, Torak must keep going. His only ally is an orphaned wolf cub. His only chance of survival is his skill as a hunter. But starvation isn't the only thing in the Forest to fear. Through the whispering spruce trees comes an evil more terrible than any clan can imagine, let alone defeat. The Moon of Red Willow is fast approaching: and soon Torak - and only Torak - must face a foe he can neither outrun nor outwit; a foe who stalks him as silently as breath. WOLF BROTHER is an enthralling story of friendship, survival and betrayal. It carries you back thousands of years to the ancient darkness of the Forest: to a world steeped in natural magic and elemental terror: a world of wolves and aurochs, tree spirits and Hidden People; a world in which trusting a friend means risking your life. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Torak is alone… wounded, terrified, and on the run.

An outcast like his father, he has avoided all contact with the clans. But now his father lies dead: slaughtered by a demon in the form of a great bear.

Somehow, Torak must keep going. His only ally is an orphaned wolf cub….

And through the whispering spruce trees comes an evil more terrible than any clan can imagine. The Moon of Red Willow is fast approaching, and soon Torak must face a foe he can neither outrun nor outwit: a foe who stalks him as silently as breath…

WOLF BROTHER carries you back thousands of years to the ancient darkness of the Forest: to a world steeped in natural magic and elemental terror - a world in which trusting a friend means risking your life…

WOLF BROTHER is the first book in the CHRONICLES OF ANCIENT DARKNESS.

'Full of action' The Sunday Times

'An enchanting story' The Mail on Sunday

'Like other great children's books which also entrance adults, "Wolf Brother" conjures up an utterly believable yet original world.' Ian McKellen

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. She is the, author of the brilliantly successful children's series, THE CHRONICLES OF ANCIENT DARKNESS series.