Pretty much my favorite of the series by Auel. I live in the Pacific NW so actually sort of met her once at a Jazz festival. I really like her last one, The Shelters of Stone, as well. But Valley still made me a true fan. ( )

This second book by Jean Auel about Earth's Children is about Ayla after she leaves the Clan where she was raised. Because she is alone, she must depend on herself to live. Alya raises a horse, Whinney ,and a cub lion named Baby who help and comfort her in her journey. Alya saves the life of Jondalar of`the Zelandonii and they continue her quest to find the Others, of which Alya was born.
I liked this book. The author goes into great detail about the area, rivers, herbs, plants, trees, animals and more. ( )

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The best in the series, 2 Sep 2003
By dragondrums "dragondrums" (Ingleby Barwick, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)

The Valley of Horses is the second book in Jean M Auel's magnificent Earth's Children series. Having been exiled from the clan of neanderthal's that had raised her, Ayla now has to journey alone and find ' the others', cro-magnons like her.
This is an epic and moving story of a young girl's struggle to survive and adapt to the fear of being totally alone in a strange and hostile environment.
Whilst travelling, Ayla discovers a valley that becomes her haven and her home and here she finds longed for companionship with a horse she raises from a foal.
Parallel to the story of Ayla is the tale of cro-magnon brothers who are 'journeying' in search of adventure. Ms Auel manages to handle these two seperate story strands with ease and switching between them never 'jars'. eventually the stories intertwine and become one as Ayla finally comes face to face with one of her own kind.
As rich in detail as the first book in the series this book is an absorbing read and one that is difficult to put down. Highly recommended.

The meeting of two people who knew their was something missing in their lives before. A beautiful and difficult tale ( )

Ayla has left the Clan, and now lives on her own. This is so for most of the book, until she finds Jondalar, a human male, one of her own kind. It is then that she has to decide wether to stay alone, or come out of isolation and interact with her own kind. Also in this book, you get to know Jondalar, as he and his brother's journey is shown before he gets into contact with Ayla.

This book is just as good as the last one, and the only negative thing I have to say about it, is that sometimes a description of a proces (like boat making) was a bit too long. Otherwise, a good follow-up on the first book. ( )