The Valley of Horses

Written by Jean M. Auel

Narrated by Sandra Burr

This odyssey into the distant past carries us back to the awesome mysteries of the exotic, primeval world of The Clan of the Cave Bear, and to Ayla, now grown into a beautiful and courageous young woman.

Cruelly cast out by the new leader of the ancient Clan that adopted her as a child, Ayla leaves those she loves behind and travels alone through a stark, open land filled with dangerous animals but few people, searching for the Others, tall and fair like herself. Living with the Clan has taught Ayla many skills but not real hunting. She finally knows she can survive when she traps a horse, which gives her meat and a warm pelt for the winter, but fate has bestowed a greater gift, an orphaned foal with whom she develops a unique kinship.

One winter extends to more; she discovers a way to make fire more quickly and a wounded cave lion cub joins her unusual family, but her beloved animals don’t fulfill her restless need for human companionship. Then she hears the sound of a man screaming in pain. She saves tall, handsome Jondalar, who brings her a language to speak and an awakening of love and desire, but Ayla is torn between her fear of leaving her valley and her hope of living with her own kind.

Second in the acclaimed Earth’s Children® series

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: May 16, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543613506

Jean M. Auel

Jean M. Auel is one of the world's most esteemed and beloved authors. Her extensive factual research has earned her the respect of renowned scientists, archaeologists and anthropologists around the globe, culminating in her being made an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Minister of Culture and Communication in 2008.

Reviews for The Valley of Horses

[coralpaige · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What an adventure and wonderful climax at the end of the book!

[Jerry Weis · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was kind of hoping for something more along the vibe of the first book, clan of the cave bear. This book takes a lot of historical liberties, meandering into a far-fetched combination of fantasy and bodice ripper. A pet lion? An amorous nomad hung like a porn star? As other reviewers have mentioned, there were some good parts, but a lot of it felt like some trashy fantasy pulp novel. I’m not sure whether I want to bother with the next book in the series.

[melissarochelle_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

What a lonely existence, luckily we've got a historical Dr Dolittle on our hands. A lot of history and description with fantastical elements -- It's entertaining enough, and I get that humans are pretty adaptable and constantly come up with ideas, but wow. Ayla and Jondalar are apparently some kind of mythical beings.

[Cabrera Figueroa · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's been a long time since reading a book has taken me this long, perhaps since I was stuck on the seventh book of the Wheel of Time series, which is so bad that I've set it aside for now. I'm referring to The Valley of Horses, the second book in Jean M. Auel's Earth's Children series. And no, it's not like the one I mentioned above. The book isn't bad, it's just that at times it feels tedious and unfamiliar. After reading The Clan of the Cave Bear, I expected the second installment to bring more hours of pleasure about Ayla's adventures, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Light-years away from the first, it feels as if it was written by someone else who was at odds with the idea of continuing such a magnificent work. Written in overly elegant prose, it places us in a distant past where cave lions, mammoths, and all the fauna of the Paleolithic exist; or at least that's what it makes us believe, hence my dissatisfaction. Without this megafauna, the story could very well be set in the present time, and we would see Jondalar with dark glasses and dreadlocks. That is precisely my concern, the extreme modernization of the characters. Additionally, I had to wait until Ayla and Jondalar met and shared their lives well beyond halfway through the book, while they walked through separate chapters as if they were in two different books. And finally, Jondalar, an authentic prehistoric hipster and true sex guru, shows more existential crises than a modern man. In summary, an unfamiliar book compared to the first one. I'm in doubt about reading The Mammoth Hunters. (Translated from Spanish)

[dominiquemarie-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'm loving this series, although, I could do without the caveman porn.

[Vicarieta · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I know comparisons are odious, but this has nothing to do with The Clan of the Cave Bear. It's incredibly boring. I've put it down at page 278 because nothing relevant happens. Maybe I'll pick it up again later, but for now, I'm leaving the series. I'll keep the wonderful memory of the first one, which I loved and I think is infinitely better in quality. (Translated from Spanish)

[Aylen18 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I admit that I read it in a week, and with good reason. The second installment of "The Children of the Earth" keeps the reader's attention from chapter to chapter. Ayla is expelled from the Clan and must find another place to live, as well as search for others (her own kind). Meanwhile, Jondalar embarks on a great journey with Thonolan (his brother). As the book unfolds, both Ayla and the brothers experience adventures and suffer misfortunes. We see the differences between tribes: languages, clothing, and stories. Sexuality flows freely in this book, showing that unlike today, it was not a taboo in the past. Destiny decides to bring Ayla and Jondalar together in a very peculiar way, and love will bloom naturally, along with encountering each other's customs. Prejudices and fear of the unknown are very much involved. Personally, there were parts I didn't like, but overall I feel completely satisfied. Let's go for the 3rd book. (Translated from Spanish)

[JULIOSALAYANDIA · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first book surprised and captivated me (The Clan of the Cave Bear), and this one did not fall behind (The Valley of Horses) with excellent storytelling. Ayla is expelled from the Neanderthal clan and goes in search of her Cro-Magnon kin, driven by natural and intellectual affinity. This Cro-Magnon woman learns to survive in a wild and ruthless world, where intelligence surpasses strength. With this book, we learn about human behaviors and to be more understanding of our wild nature. (Translated from Spanish)

[lolylolailalogmailcom · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The best of the saga, when he is alone his ingenuity works better. (Translated from Spanish)

[EriGuevara · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

These books continue to surprise me more and more. The truth is that this topic of the beginnings of humanity, prehistory, rituals, survival, and discovery is something that has me super interested. I had experienced it with the chronicles of prehistory, but this is another level since it's a much more mature and strong story. The first book was very raw, and Ayla suffers and suffers and suffers. In this one, at first, she also suffers a lot; after all, she is a woman who lost everything she loved, but as events unfold, we see how she is also a strong, indomitable, intelligent woman, and above all, with a huge heart. Extra points for the male characters introduced into the saga. I enjoyed this book so much! If you like historical fiction, you should read it! (Translated from Spanish)

[MontseParadise · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Second novel of the children of the earth. Ayla continues her story after being expelled from the clan, in search of others. Just like the first novel, this one has seemed even more beautiful to me. The description of the landscapes, how they made tools, Ayla's relationship with animals, the adventures of Jondalar and his brother, Ayla's encounter with Jondalar, the erotic touch, in short... a lovely novel in general. Eager to continue with the third. (Translated from Spanish)

[JAVIJAVIER · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Beautiful story that transports you to a time I never thought I would live. It narrates very well the experiences, situations, and above all, the daily life of the protagonist. I read the first, second, and I will read the third. (Translated from Spanish)

[Archman · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The story of Ayla continues, and it continues to captivate us irresistibly: her efforts to get ahead on her own, her discoveries about hunting and the domestication of animals, the discovery of other people like her, and the discovery of love and desire.

Jondalar enters the scene, and Ayla's world changes forever. While it doesn't reach the level of excellence of the first installment (the element of surprise in the previous book was very important), it is a highly enjoyable book. (Translated from Spanish)

[librarycin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.25 stars

A continuation of “The Clan of the Cave Bear”, I won’t say too much about how it happened, but in this book, Ayla is on her own, trying to survive, and looking for what the Clan call “the Others” – that is, people of her kind. She finds a nice spot to settle and manages to tame a horse, and raise a lion cub! Meanwhile (and I missed the circumstances around it), two brothers, Jondalar and Thonalan are travelling. Thonalan becomes injured, so they find a group of people to stay with while he improves.

I listened to the audio, so I did miss some things. Overall, I liked the story (I preferred Ayla’s chapters), but (and I will use terminology I found in other reviews), I didn’t think the “caveman porn” was necessary (though there was less of it than I expected, based on reviews). I could have done without the majority of it, though. I do hear it gets worse as the series goes on, but I think (for now), the story is interesting enough for me to continue to the next book. I also thought, for a prehistoric man, Jondalar was maybe a bit too contemporary in his attitudes toward women. Not everything was contemporary, but certainly more than I expected, although I guess we don’t really know what prehistoric culture was like. I did enjoy learning about the making of fire, tools, and the survival strategies and I loved Ayla’s animal companions. ¼ star was taken off for the caveman porn aspect.

[Annexxis77 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A true DELIGHT, if the first installment surprised me, this one has left me ASTONISHED.... The action shifts to our protagonist AYLA as she begins her survival journey alone and experiences the most astonishing INcredible moments at every turn.
This time, it offers us two parallel stories, one featuring our protagonist and the other featuring a duo of siblings who will converge with her at any moment...that's the long-awaited ending we glimpse and long for throughout these pages...
Surprise after surprise, this reading immerses us in the depths of the human psyche, whatever its level of evolution or development may be. All of this helps us see our ancestors in a different light, much more "human."
I admit that the last thing I expected from this novel was exciting passages, mainly due to how difficult it is to portray them....I must say that the most "explicit" scenes only highlight the excellence of this work.
I can't wait to start the next title in this MAGNIFICENT saga.
I have no other way to say it... EXCEPTIONAL.... An INDISPENSABLE work in any respectable Library. (Translated from Spanish)

[FernandaBlack · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ayla has been expelled and given up for dead by the Cave Bear Clan; now she must distance herself from everything she knows and seek not only a new place to live but also a new people to be with. In this second installment, the protagonist is forced to endure one of her greatest trials so far: surviving on her own. In her search for the..., Ayla will not only discover the limits of her physical and mental abilities, but she will also find some rather peculiar new friends to share her period of isolation. Additionally, a strange event will lead her to meet one of those she had longed for at the beginning of her journey. (Translated from Spanish)

[ConchiPi · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The beginning was quite slow for me... Although it wasn't bad but... I liked the first one more... For now, I'll stop here. (Translated from Spanish)

[Jana Maia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Second book of the "Children of the Earth" saga. An exciting story where the protagonist, Ayla, tests her knowledge acquired in the Clan and her ability to adapt to survive in her solitary exile. During this period, she further perfects her skills and discovers others that will help her with the great challenge of her life: to face and integrate with the Others, her own species of which she has no memory. Highly recommended. (Translated from Spanish)

[Memoriam · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

All the books contain various stories and very interesting historical information. This author perseveres quite a bit on certain details that I assume are from archaeological findings, which sometimes makes the reading somewhat heavy, but then it becomes a very light and captivating read; it's not a story or writing style that's easy to find. I really liked it. (Translated from Spanish)

[March Delgado · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What can I say about the books I grew up with? Thanks to them, I had wonderful nights with Ayla and Jondalar. 30 years after reading them, I remember millions of feelings, laughter, tears... WONDERFUL the first 3. (Translated from Spanish)

[Astur · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Follow the saga and maintain the anticipation. (Translated from Spanish)

[Diego hgr · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For me, it's quite better than the first in the series. It's faster to read, it hooks you, and it leaves you eager to read the next one. (Translated from Spanish)

[Florecilla Silvestre · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Second novel in the "Children of the Earth" saga. After leaving the Neanderthal clan, Ayla sets out in search of "the Others," her own kind, and ends up living alone in a Valley. The story unfolds parallel to the journey that Jondalar and his brother Thonolan undertake to explore the world. It's a story of survival, where on one hand we find Ayla figuring out how to survive alone, and on the other hand, we glimpse what life could have been like for the Cro-Magnons through Jondalar and his brother, and the tribes they interact with. An inspiring novel, different from the first, but no less captivating. It has the highest level of eroticism in the entire saga. You will love it if you are a fan of Prehistory. (Translated from Spanish)

[chellebearss · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this one very much, although it dragged a little in the middle. I've grown very fond of Ayla and this series and I plan to continue it right until the end! 3.5?

[abergsman-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There are parts to this book that are atrocious, and parts that are wonderful. Similar to Clan of the Cave Bear, I particularly enjoyed the detailed descriptions of the landscape, flora and fauna of Upper Paleolithic Europe. Ayla is an intriguing character; her struggles and obstacles were riveting. Jondalar's struggles....not so much. Certain aspects of the story are so unbelievable it is almost laughable. Ayla accumulated quite a miraculous number of inventions and cultural innovations, well ahead of what is historically accurate, such as horse domestication.

[longhorndaniel · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

really enjoyed this series

[evelynbernard · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Earth's Children series are my guilty pleasure and I haul them out to read them every couple of years or so.

A young girl is found after an earthquake and rescued by a pre-historic tribe. She is well-treated but considered an oddity because of her appearance. She learns the ways of the medicine woman, she learns to hunt, she has a child. Not everyone loves Ayla, however, and she is forced to leave the tribe and her child and make her own way.

A young man is journeying with his brother. They encounter several tribes along the way, settling down with them and learning skills from them until leaving to resume their journey. The brother dies along the way from a cave lion attack that leaves Jondolar severely injured. He is rescued and nursed back to health by Ayla, who has settled down in a nearby cave with only the animals she has managed to domesticate for company.

At this point, the series becomes a little like a Harlequin Romance against a pre-historic backdrop. Boy and girl meet and fall in love. Neither is able to articulate their feeling for eachother, leading to a series of misunderstandings. However, they are able to work together and between them manage to invent most of the significant developments of the Stone Age. Eventually, they realize that their feelings for eachother are mutual.

Ayla and Jondolar continue their journey together. They meet many other people along the way. There continue to be misunderstandings, breakups and reconciliations. The most interesting thing about these books are the descriptions of the lives and customs, the ceremonies and festivals of these stone age people.

I really like the whole series and will probably continue to re-read them every few years or so.

[floratina · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

READ IN DUTCH

Right after finishing The Clan of the Cage Bear I wanted to read this second book The Valley of Horses.

But for me it missed something. Ayla has left the people she grew up with and in search of The Others, but mainly she's just sitting in a cave, personally inventing all kinds of stuff. (It is almost as if she herself invents both the wheel and fire)

I thought it was a bit too much, I liked her better when she wasn't all this perfect.

As for Jondalar, I don't like him either.

[bdtrump · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Auel greatly damaged the success built from 'Clan of the Cave Bear.' The plot and basic idea are all appealing - individual survival in a harsh environment with limited technology - yet Auel attempts to be all things to all people. Part survivalist story, part dime-store romance novel, the second installment of 'Earth's Children' is a move in the wrong direction.

One of the major problems here are the throwaway characters. We are finally introduced to Jondalar, who is Prehistory's version of Prince Charming. Jondalar's story up through the point that he meets Ayla is excessively verbose, as the characters met along Jondalar's journey quickly enter and exit the reader's view. Basically, they are difficult to care about, and make the first half of the book very difficult to read as the reader gets the feeling that nothing important is going on.

During this time, Ayla's story is more compelling, as she's forced to live with the rather unfair cards she was dealt at the close of Clan of the Cave Bear. Her story moves the book along - up to a point.

Once the two characters meet, the book loses all the richness and complexity that Auel painstakingly built in the previous work. The two characters inevitably move towards gratuitous and constant sex, which becomes almost the sole focus of the book's last chapters. This isn't a problem if you go in wishing for a generic trashy romance novel - but I was hoping for something more along the lines of historical fiction.

Ultimately, it's very difficult to stay involved with this book. The environment and scenery are still well built, but it lacks any semblance of an antagonist (man, beast, or evil force) to make the book suspenseful. This book could have been written in half the pages and ended up with the same result. My only inspiration to pick up the 3rd book is the success of the 1st, as it's obvious that Auel has the potential to tell an interesting and unique story.

Two and a half stars, rounded up to give the author the benefit of the doubt.

[juva_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The first book took awhile to get started, but his book is just plain ridiculous. Ayla spends THREE YEARS living by herself in a cave. The book is more than half over before she finally meets the guy you know she's going to mate with from the first chapters. Auel drags it out to the point of agonizing boredom. It's clear that she did a lot of research about ancient tribes and tool making, but she seems to have no idea how to communicate this knowledge gracefully. Parts of the book were essentially research papers strung together by a flimsy narrative.

All that being said, once Ayla actually met one of the Others things picked up enormously. Though there are a number of aspects of about this book that don't make a lot of sense, I was so relieved to read dialogue instead of endless pages of descriptive prose, that I am willing to overlook a lot of the unlikely scenarios. It's a pretty good book if you cut out the four hundred or so pages of non-action.