The Edge of the World (First Americans Saga)

Rating:
Summary: Epic and suspenseful story!
Review: I have feverishly read all the book in the First Americans series previous to this one. I'm about halfway through this book -- which is the third one in the second set of stories and characters -- and, so far, it's my favorite in the second set.

I had a hard time getting into the second set of stories (which starts with "The Sacred Stones") because I missed Torka, Lonit and all their people from the first set. I thought the second book in this second series ("Thunder in the Sky") was a little slow and uneventful at first, until it finally picked up about three quarter into the story.

Now, with this third book, I am finally finding myself attached to the characters. As Cha'kwena is forced to lead his people to the "Edge of the World", we travel with them through country that no other human beings has seen before. It's really quite exciting to discover the new land and the story is full of suspense as well, as you wonder what is going to happen to the mammoth totem and whether Cha'kwena will lead his people back to the land of his ancestors or not and, if so, in what circumstances.
The story also follows Shateh and his tribe, and reveals what happened to Ban-ya after she was left to die in the Valley of Death.

So if you started reading the second set of stories and find it disappointing compared to the first set, don't give up yet! It DOES get interesting and is well worth reading!

Rating:
Summary: Where do I start?
Review: Let's start with Shateh, can he make a decision? Killing babies goes with being shaman and chief, don't get me wrong, he is about the most honorable character, despite putting his sons out of the tribe for not being brave enough, at five years old! Poor Warakan is so confused, so is Cha-kwena (he never wanted to be a shaman) and his Mah-ree can she ever please anyone? I feel sympathy for Ban-ya, her whole life generally [is not good]. I don't recommend reading any of this series, starting with The Sacred Stones, because you will have to know what else happens and you will end up speed reading (or skimming,in my case) to an unfulfilling ending only to find there is another and another and another book in the series! I recommend reading Beyond the Sea of Ice through to Walkers of the Wind and STOP. Nothing gets better than Torka and Lonit.