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Wolf Brother: Book 1 (Chronicles of Ancient Darkness) Paperback – 7 April 2011

by Michelle Paver (Author)

1,798 ratings

Book 1 of 9: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness

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A boy. A wolf. A legend for all time. The first book in the internationally bestselling Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series by renowned author Michelle Paver.

Thousands of years ago, a powerful and malevolent force conjured a demon: a demon so evil that it could only be contained in the body of a ferocious bear, a demon determined to destroy the world. Only one boy can stop it ...

Twelve-year-old Torak sees his father murdered by the bear. With his dying breath, he asks his son to make him a promise. Alone, wounded, terrified and on the run, Torak must now lead the bear to the Mountain of the World Spirit - a mountain that no one has ever found before. But can Torak keep his promise?

A terrifying quest commences in a world of wolves, tree spirits and Hidden People, a world in which trusting a friend means risking your life.

Audio edition also available, read by Sir Ian McKellen.
Latest sequels Oath Taker and Viper's Daughter published in 2020-21.

Product description

Review

Wolf Brother combines elements of fantasy, prehistoric fiction and facts, to make a brilliant book. This the first in a series of six (and one of the best, too). I would recommend it to any one who likes wolves (essential!), magic and stone age people! ― THE GUARDIAN

The story is a rich tale full strong with the themes of survival, magic and folklore. Michelle Paver manages to install the same dreams in the reader's head that she once had herself - the dream to run with wolves in a prehistoric forest. ― FANTASY BOOK REVIEW

Wolf Brother, the first of six books in Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, is a terrific read, and I was instantly grabbed by the throat and whooshed along by the power of the writing. ― HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY

Rich in detail which brings the past to life and makes the forest background vivid to all readers ― LOVEREADING4KIDS

I liked the book because it is a thrilling, packed with a ton of action, and is an adventure you don't usually find in books. Wolf Brother never lets you stop reading, and it keeps a ton of suspense. ― TEEN INK subscriber review

Wolf Brother is a book where time passes quickly as the reader is absorbed into a colourful world. And before you know it the book has ended and you find you just have to grab the next book in the series and continue reading. ― THE DESK OF KAREN LEE FIELD REVIEW

Book Description

A boy. A wolf. A legend for all time. The first book in the internationally bestselling Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series by renowned author Michelle Paver.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Orion Children's Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ 7 April 2011
Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st Paperback Printing
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1842551310
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1842551318
Item weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 kg
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 - 17 years
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.8 x 2.2 x 19.6 cm
Book 1 of 9 ‏ : ‎ Chronicles of Ancient Darkness
Best Sellers Rank: 9,300 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 18 in Historical Fiction for Young Adults
- 170 in Fantasy Adventure for Young Adults
- 487 in Fantasy & Horror for Young Adults
Customer reviews:
1,798 ratings

About the authors

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Michelle Paver
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Born in Malawi to a Belgian mother and a father who ran the tiny 'Nyasaland Times', Michelle moved to the UK when she was three. She was brought up in Wimbledon and, following a Biochemistry Degree from Oxford University, 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.
Successfully published as an adult author, the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness ("Wolf Brother") were her first books for younger readers, followed by her brilliant 5-part series set in the bronze age, Gods and Warriors.
On the adult side, her first ghost story, DARK MATTER, was a UK bestseller and won massive praise from reviewers and readers, as did her second ghost story, THIN AIR.
Reviews for Michelle's gothic ghost story WAKENHYRST have been stellar - "Her finest novel yet” says The Times... "“What a story it is", says The Observer - "Wakenhyrst is brilliant, spanning Fen devils, mystics and the lot of women in Edwardian England.” WAKENHYRST is an Amazon Kindle bestseller.
Most recently, Michelle has announced that her WOLF BROTHER series will continue - to the delight of fans everywhere. See the video for some ecstatic fan reactions!
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Geoff Taylor
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Customer reviews

1,798 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a good read, particularly suitable for teens, with an exciting tale full of adventures. Moreover, the writing is incredibly well written with rich language, and customers appreciate the engaging central character and the book's ability to engage both boys and girls. Additionally, the book features a strong friendship theme. However, the scariness level receives mixed reactions, with some finding it terrifying while others consider it a bit scary. Customers disagree on the pace of the story.

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Readability Story quality Age range Writing quality Character development Relationship Scariness level Pace

102 customers mention ‘Readability’102 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and enjoyable, particularly noting it is suitable for teens.

"An excellent book. If you're looking for excellent descriptions of settings and characters, this book has a plethora of it...." Read more

"...Great book, I would recommend it to everyone." Read more

"Good condition, arrived promptly. Brilliant book." Read more

"Excellent book Looking forward to reading the next one in the series" Read more

63 customers mention ‘Story quality’63 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, describing it as an exciting tale full of adventures, with one customer noting that the plot keeps readers turning the pages.

"...the chronicles of the ancient darkness, the series is gripping and exciting. Torak and wolf are brought to life vividly." Read more

"Great story, very vivid imagery thanks to Michelle Paver's excellent descriptive writing, following the journey of a young boy and his wolf companion..." Read more

"Brilliant! Gripping right from the start! You must read the other 5 books in the series once you have read this one!" Read more

"Imaginative, good story" Read more

26 customers mention ‘Age range’26 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate that the book is suitable for young adults of all ages, engaging both boys and girls, with one customer noting it's particularly good for 9-year-olds.

"...Perfect book to engage both boys and girls and as it is part of a series they were spurred on to read the next book themselves!" Read more

"...There is nothing childish about these books. They are suitable for adults [if they still believe in magic] and children alike...." Read more

"...While it's a young adult genre I read this in my 40s and since introduced it to all my children...." Read more

"...Though aimed at approx 12 yr olds, it's a great read for anyone older than that...." Read more

23 customers mention ‘Writing quality’23 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its rich text and originality, with one customer highlighting its uncluttered prose.

"...In this page-turning, original, and spectacularly told adventure story, Torak and Wolf are joined by an incredible cast of characters as they battle..." Read more

"...The chapters are fairly short and written in clear, uncluttered prose and most of them ending in a cliffhanger so that I was repeatedly asked to..." Read more

"...It is well told and well worth the read which is why my review is so vague." Read more

"...The language is really rich and for any child with a passion for animals especially wolves, this is the series for your child...." Read more

10 customers mention ‘Character development’10 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one customer noting excellent descriptions of settings and characters, while another mentions the engaging central character.

"...told adventure story, Torak and Wolf are joined by an incredible cast of characters as they battle to save their world, in this first book in the..." Read more

"...The story involves many other characters and Torak is helped by a few and hindered by others...." Read more

"...The audio cd of the books are great. Ian Mckellan has the perfect voice for the book.the books are quite involved for independent reading at the age..." Read more

"An excellent book. If you're looking for excellent descriptions of settings and characters, this book has a plethora of it...." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Relationship’5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the relationships in the book, with one highlighting the wonderful bond between Torak and his wolf.

"...This is also a story about loss, friendship and bravery in the face of adversity, all described in vivid detail that brings the Stone Age..." Read more

"...There is a wonderful relationship between Torak and his wolf "brother" and they are called upon to challenge the evil that is invading their..." Read more

"...The main character has a very good relationship with a wolf and their bond is enviable...." Read more

"Friendship, loyalty and survival - brilliant!..." Read more

8 customers mention ‘Scariness level’5 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the scariness level of the book, with some finding it terrifying while others describe it as a bit scary.

"...Not in a disgusting gross zombie way, but in a creepy, heart stopping, 'BOO!' way...." Read more

"My eight year old grand daughter loved this but found it ‘ a bit scary’ - but not too scary to prevent her from going onto the next in the series..." Read more

"...They enjoyed the fast pace, sense of danger, relationship with nature and the abrupt ending...." Read more

"...Spellbinding, and terrifying, this is defiantly my on my list of favourite books. I" Read more

6 customers mention ‘Pace’0 positive6 negative

Customers find the pace of the book difficult to follow and concentrate on, with one customer noting it becomes overly descriptive at times.

"...I thought it was kind of slow, but maybe in the classroom it's more fun seeing faces and reactions, the boy is on the run from a demon bear..." Read more

"...The story moves at quite a pace but you soon warm to the main characters and urge them on...." Read more

"...I am not an avid reader of fantasy. So really found it very difficult to follow and concentrate .But will read it again and hopefully be able to..." Read more

"...In the end, the adventure is just too easy: there is a lot of superficial hardship but no real sense of the difficulty overcoming it." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

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Princess of the Midnight Stars
Loved this!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 October 2011
Verified Purchase

I've had a pretty little signed edition of this for a while now that I got second hand from Amazon and I love it to bits, but didn't get around to reading until about three weeks ago. I really really liked this, lots!!!
In a world of vampires, werewolves and other evil yet romantically inclined creatures of the night, it made a refreshing change to be in such an ancient and raw world.
So without any further ado here is a brief synopsis for those a little curious:

"Six thousand years ago. Evil stalks the land. Only twelve-year-old Torak and his wolf-cub companion can defeat it. Their journey together takes them through deep forests, across giant glaciers, and into dangers they never imagined.
In this page-turning, original, and spectacularly told adventure story, Torak and Wolf are joined by an incredible cast of characters as they battle to save their world, in this first book in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness."
For a book aimed at children this is one scary book! Not in a disgusting gross zombie way, but in a creepy, heart stopping, 'BOO!' way. The tension at times is incredible and I felt myself looking around me in-case I was being watched by evil spirits etc (you know, as you do when it's late at night and your reading about possession).
All that aside though this is a thrilling adventure novel that becomes race against time to save the world from some seriously potential evil and the scene was so well described I could clearly picture Torak and the wolf struggling to stay alive against all odds, and how awesome is a book that tries to see things from a wolf's point of view in certain chapters?
I have to admit that on some parts of the journey i was left holding my breath waiting to see what happened next, particularly when it came to the bear stalking both Torak, Renn and the wolf it was scarier than most horror novels I've read, and things got pretty tense. I think what makes this book so amazing, isn't just the quality of the writing and adventure but it's contrast to the world we live in. It seems crazy in comparison that today we see it as a tragedy if we don't get chocolate when 6000 years ago you had to hunt or be hunted.

It was the characters however, that really stole the show. Torak is admirably brave and the way he continues on the quest his father sent him on, despite his misgivings, demonstrated how loyal he was too. Renn was pretty incredible too although she did annoy me at first, but as the novel progressed she grew on me and I really came to like her. And as for wolf? man that little cub is so adorable and brave :-D

If your looking for a book of adventure, good vs evil and with some magical/mystical legend mixed in this is most definitely the book for you and I would recommend this to everyone out there. If it's on your to-read pile and you haven't read it yet...why not?

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Pat Ferrett
Wolf Brother Book 1
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 December 2024
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A good read. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I am liking forward to following the series!
I am ready for book two ( Chronicles of Ancient Darkness)

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Teresa
Bear demon
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 December 2024
Verified Purchase
I come across this book online on offer and my son said oh we read this at school, seeing the first six was on offer I ordered them hoping my 12 year old might want to read them but being I read allot I gave it a go, I was kind of shocked the first chapter the dad died and the boy feels alone ( I don't think that's a spoiler as the parents has to be gone for kids to go on a quest right?) This is supernatural yet no one has shifted yet of if gonna? But we have clans (think that's why school picked the books about ancient times)
I thought it was kind of slow, but maybe in the classroom it's more fun seeing faces and reactions, the boy is on the run from a demon bear (yeah literal) but by the end I was kind of glad I got the rest of the series.

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Petra Bryce
A terrific adventure
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 September 2010
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This is a marvellous story about Torak, a boy who befriends an orphaned wolf cub after the death of his father and who sets out to find the Mountain of the World Spirit in order to defeat a terrifying demon in the shape of a bear that's terrorising the Forest. This is also a story about loss, friendship and bravery in the face of adversity, all described in vivid detail that brings the Stone Age brilliantly to life. The chapters are fairly short and written in clear, uncluttered prose and most of them ending in a cliffhanger so that I was repeatedly asked to read "just one more chapter". I have shared this book with my eight-year-old son and he's absolutely loved it, so much, that we're already two chapters into the subsequent book in the series, Spirit Walker. I would hesitate to recommend this book to anyone under eight years old, as Torak's father dies in the first chapter and the description of his agonising death after being mauled by the bear doesn't leave much to the imagination; I found it quite hard to read these passages myself. This book will probably appeal more to boys than to girls, but I'm pleased to say that a girl plays an important role in the book and equals Torak in bravery and determination. With the evocative cover design by John Fordham and stunning woodcuts by Geoff Taylor at the beginning of each chapter, this is a book to keep and treasure.

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5 people found this helpful

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Sue Harris
Wood brother
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 September 2024
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Great read, the story flows effortlessly. Accurate accounts of nature ways and ancient custom. Can't wait to read the rest.

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stephanie cunningham
wolf brother
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 February 2014
Verified Purchase
Whilst brousding during the books on display in a charity shop I came across "outcast" part of the series of "Chronicles of ancient darkness" At first I was attracted by the exteriour of the book but WOW what a find! when I began reading it. Since then I have purchased the whole set [6] of these books, the avbove beeing obne. These books are supposed to be for children but they are equally valuable for adults. So what is it about these books? They take us back to the time wben we are at one or at least close to nature. A time when we lknew how to communicate and respect all living things.In tose early days we knew how to live fgrom what earth provided for us and we lived in hazrmony. And the magic of it all. Even rocks come alive and had a soul. And then, of course the harmony with our co-existing animals who, when treated with respect, were not our enemies. In fact, the wolf becomes our friend and brother provided that he is not hunted. A wonderful deries of bnooks full of natural mystery [it still exists but, sadly, we have lost it] and suspense. There is nothing childish about these books. They are suitable for adults [if they still believe in magic] and children alike. I just widh the series was more than just 6 books.

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Terry Kinnard
A very good series starter…
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 April 2024
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This is the first book of the series and Torak the main character is forced to go on a perilous quest when his father is killed by a large bear. The story involves many other characters and Torak is helped by a few and hindered by others. It is well told and well worth the read which is why my review is so vague.

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Gaby Chapman
Perfect for Reluctant Reading Boys
Reviewed in the United States on 7 January 2009
Verified Purchase

In the time of hunter-gatherers when ancient forest covered the land, a boy loses his father to an evil in the shape of a monstrous bear that threatens their entire world. Possibly the father is partially culpable for this evil, but before he dies he makes his soon-to-be orphaned son promise to destroy the bear. The boy will be helped in this seemingly impossible task by a prophecy, a riddle, three lost artifiacts, an orphaned wolf cub, and a young girl from another clan.

A boy who must make right the errors of his elders by successfully appealing to the Mountain of the World Spirit is a classic tale of renewal. The spirit of life will overcome the powers of destruction through the courage, fortitude, and intelligence of the newest generation. Many perils stand between the boy and his goal; the constant challenge to survival and the pressing need of the mission keep this story moving at a breakneck pace.

A similarly intrepid look on the faces of the many boys in my classes who kept asking for the next book in this series, Chronicle of Ancient Darkness, prompted me to find out what was appealing to them and to read the book. Danger never abates, courage must constantly be renewed, and purpose is unrelenting. This book has appealed equally to well-seasoned readers and to reluctant readers, so far only boys though girls who like animals and wilderness survival stories should enjoy it as well. Ninth graders as well as middle school students have enjoyed this book, but it is not a complex plot and enthusiastic readers as young as fourth grade will probably like it.

Gaby Chapman

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Jitha
Good book
Reviewed in India on 2 February 2025
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Good book

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Cliente Amazon
Libro in lingua inglese
Reviewed in Italy on 1 April 2018
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Sempre puntuali e perfetti. Ho imparato a visionare sempre prima Amazon in ogni acquisto e non si smentiscono mai. Bene così.

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Rio
人間の孤児と狼の子の運命的な出会いから始まるファンタジー
Reviewed in Japan on 31 March 2021
Verified Purchase
以前、「クロニクル千古の闇シリーズ」を借りて、日本語で読みました。
6000年前の世界を舞台にしたファンタジーで、主人公のトラクとウルフの心の交流が心に残りました。
このシリーズを読むと「生きるということはどういうことか」を改めて考えさせられます。
最近日本語で全６巻を買い揃えて読み返しました。そして英語ではどう表現されているのか知りたくなり、試し読みを見ました。児童書なので、英語から離れて久しかったのですが、読めそうなので買って読みました。
買ってよかったと思います。何回でも読み返せます。自然や動物の描写が具体的で、いろいろ教えられます。トラクは12歳なので、内容的には小学校高学年から読めると思います。英語では中高生ぐらいになるかもしれません。
ウルフの言葉で書かれている箇所があり、とてもかわいいです。
日本語の本は酒井駒子さんの絵でとても気に入っていたので、英語の本は期待していませんでした。ところが、章ごとのイラストが写実的でこちらもとてもいい絵でした。
1章が短めで、子供にも読みやすいと思います。たくさんの人に読んでほしいです。子供だけでなく大人も十分楽しめる本です。

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Gabriela Humberg
Very fast delivery!
Reviewed in Spain on 31 May 2023
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Fast delivery and great tracking information.
The book arrived in perfect condition.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this!

5.0 out of 5 stars Wolf Brother Book 1

4.0 out of 5 stars Bear demon

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific adventure

5.0 out of 5 stars Wood brother

5.0 out of 5 stars wolf brother

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good series starter…

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for Reluctant Reading Boys

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book

5.0 out of 5 stars Libro in lingua inglese

5.0 out of 5 stars 人間の孤児と狼の子の運命的な出会いから始まるファンタジー

5.0 out of 5 stars Very fast delivery!

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Loved this!

Wolf Brother Book 1

Bear demon

A terrific adventure

Wood brother

wolf brother

A very good series starter…

Perfect for Reluctant Reading Boys

Good book

Libro in lingua inglese

人間の孤児と狼の子の運命的な出会いから始まるファンタジー

Very fast delivery!