Spirit Walker

In Spirit Walker, Book 2 of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, Torak, is among Renn and Fin-Kedinn and their clan when a strange, horrifying sickness comes over them and other clans. Desperate to find a cure, Torak sets off west to the sea to find a remedy among the Seal Clan. He intentionally sets off alone, but secretly wishes Wolf was by his side once again, instead of with his wolf-pack. At the shores of the sea, he is taken captive by Bale, Asrif, and Detlan. His captors take him to an isolated island to meet his fate and the island mage, Tenris. Tenris seems wise, kind, and all-knowing, and most importantly he knows of a cure for the sickness affecting the clans. He cured his clan three summers ago when they fell deathly ill to show more the strange disease. Torak will do anything to bring the remedy back to the forest. But, dangers follow Torak and people are not who or what they seem to be. Torak needs Wolf and Renn to fight the evils and eventually all three are together again, but is it too little, too late? In the end, Torak discovers a frightening secret about himself and his father that will lead him onto his next journey. show less

This is another well written book by Michelle Paver. After reading Wolf Brother, the first book in this series, I decided to keep following this series. I discovered that these books not only branch into the forest clans of this imaginary world, but into the sea clans too. I would by no means ever consider these books as childish as I thought them to be again. This newly declared statement of mine came to me early in the book, when a man started eating his own scabs wilst writhing with sickness. I consider this book to be some thing I will introduce to my children, along with the Harry Potter and Hunger Games series. This is an all around great book.

[This is a review I wrote in 2007]

**Step back in time and transport yourself to another world!**

It's been a long time since I read book one (Wolf Brother) in the Chronicles of Darkness series, but it soon came flooding back when I started to read Spirit Walker.

Set in Stone Age Scandinavia, in book two Torak's journey continues, and the destiny we are given a glimpse of in Wolf Brother is more fully revealed.

At the opening of the book Torak's faithful companion, wolf, has left his side to live with a wolf pack in the mountains. Torak has been taken in by the Raven clan, living in the forest. However, when a strange and horrible sickness strikes suddenly into the heart of the clan, Torak know that it is he who must try to find some show more answers...

A wonderfully fast-paced and twisting plot. Expect the unexpected! I can't wait to read the next one. show less

Spirit Walker is the second book in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series written by Michelle Paver.

The book didn’t grab me instantly like the first book did. Having said that, however, it did draw me in by the end of the second or third chapter.

We join Torak for another adventure. Naturally, Renn and Wolf joined him (in a fashion), which was great and, in my opinion, expected. We were also introduced to some new characters who played their parts well and convincingly.

It was nice to ‘see’ more of the world too. It is easy to believe, with some book series, that the world is limited and to some degree two dimensional. But the author expands Torak’s world which makes it more believable. And because of this, the contrast to show more the first book was there; the first book was set in a forest, the second mainly on water and an island.

Another enjoyable instalment. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. show less

This book is the second in its series, set in the post glacial Europe of 6000 years ago. It is a well crafted world, and the author develops the story of the first book nicely in this one. Torak's adoptive clan get sick and the boy goes in search of a cure - first to the deep forest and then to the sea. The people he meets and adventure's he has are all wonderfully and convincingly drawn.

I thought that the breathless trajectory of the plot helped to disguise the paucity of meat here. I didn't think it lived up to the promise of the first book in the series.

Torak is settling into his new life as part of a human tribe, however he doesn't get long to savour this new world before he is called upon to fight the evil that haunts him.
We find out more about Torak's past through information that various characters both old and new are able to impart to him. We also discover what Toraks mission in life is to be.
I really enjoyed this second installment of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness and i can't wait to get my hands on the next one. I would highly recommend these books to older readers who enjoy the Jean M Auel books or to younger readers who feel that the Jean M Auel books are a little daunting in their size.