Viper’s Daughter

One of my favorite series growing up was Chronicles of Ancient Darkness by Michelle Paver. Set in the time around the Stone Age near the Arctic, the series follows a 11-year old boy who loses his dad in a fight with a demon bear. The series is rooted in nature with humans living in smaller groups, called clans. Some are nomads while others gravitate towards certain parts of the landmass. Each clan represents the fauna in the world and worships animal spirits for their wisdom and strength. Torak, our main character, is the sole survivor of the Wolf Clan which was destroyed some years prior. After the death of his father, he connects with the Raven Clan and seeks refuge with them. With him, comes a little wolf cub named Wolf. I revisited this series with Viper’s Daughter and am writing about that today.

I loved getting lost in Torak’s world and accompanying him in his quests. While the protagonist may be young, Chronicles of Ancient Darkness is not a light fantasy series. It is quite dark. Navigating in a wild world without family and no clan members to care for him, the story is often sad. Difficult relationships with parents are explored through multiple characters and the nature of living in the wild are also vividly portrayed.

The main arc of the series ended in book 6 and I fondly remember many times when I admired my 6 book complete collection! That was over a decade ago and it was very recently that I realized that this story that stuck with me for so long was still calling to its author. Michelle Paver published the 7th book, taking place two years after book 6 timeline wise, last year and when my mom decided to get the series for my brother (who was then 11 years old himself), I was hopeful about getting back into the series.

Was there fear that I would not like it as much as I did as a teenager?

Yes. But honestly, it worked out very well! Some books don’t need to be scheduled. Something happens and you just know that you have to read them. When Lauren had mentioned Big Magic a few months back and I knew it was time to read that book. 

This one is also related to Lauren, actually. We discussed the concept of land many times for Moon of the Crusted Snow and after our discussion (out tomorrow!), all I wanted to do was read a grounding book. One that would let me be on the land and experience it as someone living on it rather than in the city. I wanted to be immersed in natural spirits and believe in a world where animals communicate with humans and there is a cycle for life with seasons and nature rather than a clock. 

Viper’s Daughter gave me all of that. 🙂

I didn’t have my eight reading experiences when I was reading the series so I will analyze it with them today!

Cover

Viper’s Daughter has a typical cover like the rest of the story. They always depict what look like cave paintings to me, how I imagine our ancestors drawing themselves and what was happening in their time on a piece of rock, making it immortal. Whether it is a person in a canoe or two humans hunting, the figures are always against a natural landscape – out in the ice, in the forest, by the sea or even higher up in the mountains closer to the northern lights. Growing up, I enjoyed gazing at these covers and getting lost in them.

World Building and Cast

The covers help a lot in world building as they set a clear expectation about the kind of world that is depicted in the story. I didn’t know back then but these are actually quite atmospheric books where I am taken along for a soothing ride on a wave with the characters. The tensions and stresses of living in the wild, hunting animals and taking care of oneself in extreme weather are written well and I feel must do justice to the actual experiences. 

Torak and the people in this book would make our world very noisy and confusing. They are used to living alone or in smaller groups. They understand that each clan has a custom and their territories must be respected. There are people who break the rules, and those are often the antagonists in the stories. There is a lot of wisdom amongst the elders and news of what has been happening in far off clans still travels. One of things I love about the series, and have come to appreciate in picking it up again, kids are often fostered for a few years with a different clan. That is a hauntingly beautiful idea because while children grow up with their clan, in their teenage years, they immerse themselves in other clan’s teachings and practices. 

Plot

I see the plot to be partly written with the idea to interact with other clans. I don’t remember any of the exact storylines anymore but with each new book, Torak has to learn new ways of his people as well as nature around him. Often the things that happen make him question his previous decisions and grow as a person, learning how to live with elders and people who care about you, having spent the first 11 years of his life alone with his father. The themes of family and friendship are woven in the plot as well as I love seeing some strong leaders step up and offer help in their unique way at certain points during the plot.

Emotional Response and Immersion

I started this book in the evening and finished it at night. About 250 pages, books with a protagonist younger than me (I consider myself older now I am not 25 anyway) is a pretty quick read for me. I do not swim so Torak’s struggles in the ocean and Wolf’s hesitancy to be in a boat were very relatable to me. I felt Renn’s sadness of leaving Torak as well as her strength and perseverance – she has always been a wonderful second protagonist to read.

Storytelling

I find Michelle Paver’s writing almost balanced. I read Dark Matter earlier in the year and her style is consistent between books. She always makes me feel like I am the and the descriptions are succinct and beautiful. She can make the presence of a singular owl a bad omen as easily as she describes humans from Wolf’s perspective:Tail-less.

Thought Provoking

I have thought a lot about this book. Even before I decided to read it, I have looked at it many times and reminisced the feeling of being in its world. This whole post has been a good exercise in making its presence in my reading journey concrete. 

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I am glad to have found an ageless series! Would you be interested in giving it a try? 🙂

Cover image: Photo by Marc Guellerin on Unsplash