Chronicles of Ancient Darkness: Oath Breaker

by Michelle Paver Narrated by Ian McKellen

Overview

Torak circled the fire and Thiazzi came after him: slowly, cracking his whip, playing with his prey as a lynx plays with a lemming. Torak was exhausted. He wasn't going to last much longer. When he was outcast, Torak was the hunted one. Nine moons later he becomes the hunter, when he vows to avenge the killing of one of his closest friends.

Racked by guilt and grief, he follows the killer into the Deep Forest, where the World Spirit stalks the hidden valleys as a tall man with the antlers of a stag. But there is a rottenness at the heart of the Forest, for its clans have succumbed to the lies of the Soul-Eaters. Here Torak must face fire, war, and overwhelming evil. The fifth book in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series, Oath Breaker is a story about keeping promises and the true cost of vengeance.

A HarperAudio production.

Editorial Reviews

VOYA - Nancy K. Wallace

Angry after discovering Bale's attraction to Renn, Torak leaves his friend alone one night to guard the fire opal in this fifth entry of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness. By morning, the fire opal has disappeared and Bale lies dead at the foot of the Crag. At first, Bale's death appears to be an accident, but closer examination of the body proves that he was murdered by the soul-eater, Thiazzi. Overcome by guilt, Torak vows to avenge Bale's death, setting off with his foster father, Fin-Kedinn, and Renn. Their journey leads them into the Deep Forest where they blunder into a clan war. After Fin-Kedinn is badly injured, Renn and Torak must continue alone. When Thiazzi captures Renn, Torak must break his vow in order to protect her. Torak battles his archenemy in the treetops high above his campsite. An eagle owl snatches the fire opal from Thiazzi just as the soul-eater's beard catches fire and he falls to his death. From the first page, the reader becomes immersed in the primitive world of ancient clans, where every breeze and broken twig carries meaning. Here Torak discovers how much Renn means to him even though he stubbornly holds her at arm's length. When Wolf finally realizes that Torak is "not-wolf," their relationship is also tested and redefined. This series delivers consistent quality, nonstop action, and an innovative setting, which will appeal to fans of both fantasy and historical fiction. The author's extensive research of post—ice age Europe enhances the natural world she has created. Reviewer: Nancy K. Wallace

VOYA - Miranda Miller

This book uses beautiful vocabulary and magnificent settings to paint a portrait of a world that any fantasy enthusiast is bound to adore. A charming, energetic, and quirky read - I couldn't put it down until I had read every word. Reviewer: Miranda Miller, Teen Reviewer

Children's Literature - Judy Silverman

Although this is the fifth book in the series, and I expected to be completely lost by chapter two, I found reading it an amazing experience. It did not matter that I had no idea who these people were or what kind of lives they lived; it was, after all, 6000 years ago. I simply could not put it down. The story is simple but compelling. The young man Torak was an outcast until nine months ago. Readers are not told why, but it is not important. He and his friend Bale are keeping watch, but when Bale tells him that he wants to settle down and ask their friend Renn to stay with him, to choose him as her mate, Torak feels more alone than he has ever felt. He storms out of their camp and takes his boat to another island, but he sleeps very badly and in the morning heads back to find Bale dead. From various hints scattered around the site, Torak is sure he knows who the killer was, and he vows revenge. He will have help from his "pack brother," Wolf, to whom Torak can speak in either wolf or human language. Readers are not sure how they got to be brothers, but again, it does not really matter! Torak learns that revenge is much easier to talk about than it is to accomplish. All the clans—Beaver, Salmon, White Fox, and Narwal, just to name a few—have their own ways of living, and they have all tolerated each other for as long as people can remember, but now the Deep Forest and all its clans seems to be succumbing to the overwhelming evil of the Soul Eaters, who are trying to convince everyone that they really should not get along with each other. Life will never be simple again. This page-turner is from the "Chronicles of Ancient Darkness" series. Reviewer: Judy Silverman

School Library Journal

Gr 5–9—Torak is living with his foster father Fin-Kedinn and the Seal Clan when his friend Bale is murdered. Vowing revenge against the soul-eater who killed him, Torak and Renn discover that there is a bigger plot at work, one that threatens all of the clans of the forests. Torak must see past his hatred and vengeful quest to stop the evil that has taken root. Once again Paver blends her knowledge of animals and the ancient European landscape with magic and legend to add a new chapter to this story. Fans of the series will not be disappointed.—Genevieve Gallagher, Buford Middle School, Charlottesville, VA

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170354924
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	06/02/2009
Series:	Chronicles of Ancient Darkness , #5
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

Related Subjects

• Kids
• Fiction & Literature - Kids
• Fantasy & Magic - Kids Fiction

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