The Valley of Horses

By Jean M. Auel

This is the second novel in the epic series about the beautiful and bold Ayla, a girl of the Others, who, at the end of the last book, was cruelly cast out by the Clan that adopted her as a child. Ayla now has to set out on a journey all by herself, searching for the Others, a race as tall, blond, and blue-eyed as she.

After a while on the road Ayla finds a hidden valley where a herd of wild horses live. She finds a cave that is perfect, settles in the valley and brings a young horse into her cave to live with her. The horse is well cared for by Ayla and a unique relationship is formed between woman and horse .

The young horse is her only friend until Jondalar and his brother, Thonolan appear. They have just set out on a journey of their own. In fact, the book tells two separate stories; Ayla's story and the one of the two brothers.

Ayla rescues Jondalar and nurses him back from a fatal attack. He is the first she has ever met of the Others and Jondalar teaches her how to talk his language, so that they are able communicate with each other.

It is not until Ayla meets Jondalar that the story becomes interesting. Everything before that is not very interesting and too long-drawn out.

The story ends with Ayla and Jondalar riding off into the sunset - and now I cannot wait to find out what their next adventures will be like. Just such a pity that the first part of the story was so weak.