Viper's Daughter

Reviews / Votes

'This is a story of demons, mammoths and the hostile landscape of the north ... Both love story and supernatural adventure, underpinned by research into (and experience of) survival skills and the practices of ancient clans. It transports us a long way from here' Sunday Times, Book of the Week. 'Children trapped at home now have at least one reason to celebrate - the long-awaited return of the Wolf Brother series ... This is immersive and gripping, with richly evocative descriptions of the natural world and Paver's total control of her imaginary kingdom maintains the tension to the very end. Welcome back!' Daily Mail. 'Meticulously researched, atmospheric [...] and relentless, this instalment deservedly introduces Paver to a new generation of readers' Guardian. 'What rich, dazzling, immersive storytelling. The landscape was so bright the light left me blinking, the details as sharp as a carved bone needle. To journey with Torak and Renn, and Wolf, whose ears were so keen he could hear the clouds pass, was an absolute privilege. The best book I have read this year by a country mile. (By a wild arctic length of many wolf lopes, I suppose I should say)' Hilary McKay, author of The Skylarks' War. 'A triumph of storytelling ... The sense of adventure and human spirit is exhilarating, and Paver's passion for nature, for wildlife, for the world's wondrous wilds is an immersive joy ... The sense of demonic danger is powerfully palpable, the writing rich, yet exquisitely sparse and smoothly readable, and the entirety of this enthralling adventure is laced with an uplifting sense of camaraderie, love and legend' LoveReading4Kids. 'Michelle Paver is a writer of extraordinary talent. I was enthralled, from start to finish. The storytelling was every bit as vivid and immersive as I remembered ... Michelle is in a league of her own with this series and what luck for us all that she hasn't finished with Torak, Renn and Wolf's world yet' Abi Elphinstone, author of Rumblestar. 'Skillful, satisfying, and minutely researched, this powerful evocation of an ancient world is vivid in its imagery and captivating in its excitement' Adrienne Byrne, Muswell Hill Children's Bookshop. 'I grew up reading the Wolf Brother series ... Viper's Daughter both quenches a thirst and reignites my hunger for more' Ollie Campbell, 17, reader. Paver's journeys permeate her work with rich detail, bringing not only the landscape to life but the human existence too' The Bookseller. 'It was such a thrill to revisit Torak, Wolf and Renn's world. I was enthralled from start to finish. Viper's Daughter is sharp, striking, and loaded with the wisdom of the deep past. I am in awe of Paver's accomplishment' Sophie Anderson, author of The House with Chicken Legs. 'A world of exhilarating adventure where nature is honoured, where demons thrive, and where the bond of friendship are all' Parent Talk. 'Readers learn a tremendous amount about Stone Age life from the depth of authentic detail that Paver weaves effortlessly into her story, whilst never sacrificing fast pace and page-turning gusto' Book Trust. 'Well-written and alive with authentic details' Time & Leisure. 'There's no better time-travelling guide than Michelle Paver, and the seventh instalment in her Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series, which kicked off with the magnificent Wolf Brother, guarantees escapism with its action, clever character development and glorious descriptions of nature 6,000 years ago ... This book is so skilfully researched and written (Paver does for the Stone Age what Hilary Mantel does for the Tudors)' The Times. 'It keeps a fast pace, making it a real page turner. Descriptions of the icy landscape, crackling with demon-infested volcanoes, all add to the tension. Characters quickly feel familiar, even for readers new to the series, and the interpretation of events through Wolf's eyes makes it thoroughly enjoyable. Author Michelle Paver does an excellent job of making this a standalone read' Irish Examiner. 'Paver knows a narrative hook when she writes one: "Renn wouldn't do that. She wouldn't leave him without a word." Pause. "But she had." She knows, too, how to combine convincing details ("bowstrings of braided deer sinew"), vivid atmospherics ("the endless soughing of the sea") and supernatural dramatics (a sea goddess). A fine comeback' South China Morning Post. 'A magical, escapist adventure as Torak and his wolf-brother search for his partner Renn' Sunday Times. 'Rich with descriptions of the natural world and imaginary kingdoms, a must for all Wolf Brother fans' Daily Mail. '[It] will delight fans both old and new ... This is master storytelling; atmospheric and thrilling by turns ... A welcome return to this fascinating world' Books for Keeps. 'This is pre-history historical fiction of the very finest ... It has pace, is gripping and totally action packed. An adventure that will keep readers engaged whilst also being written with style and grace that few can deliver. Another Paver masterpiece' English 4-11.