Rating: 
Summary: One word - BAD!
Review: About 1/4 of this book is well written. The rest [sticks]! Yes it is that bad. I love the Earth Children series but I am not going to say this was a good book just to be a loyal fan. ... It has SO many inconsistancies, way too much repetition, and no plot what-so-ever. Do yourselves a favor, if you must read it, wait until you can get it a the library. Don't waste you money.
Rating: 
Summary: Not true to Ayla's character
Review: Like one of the other reviewers, I felt that I was led into expecting several conflicts between characters (which made the other books so interesting), but the conflict fizzled out or was avoided every time. It is as if Ms. Auel deliberately avoided every conflict. Also, I felt that Ayla is being pushed into becoming a religious Zelandonii although she has made it clear that she wants a home and family with Jondalar instead. The original Ayla would refuse to be forced into such a mold. Remember the sling she taught herself to use when women of the clan never touched weapons. Remember how in every other place she met people, she told them the whole truth about her past (including her son, Durc) and then dealt with the conflict. This time she so badly wants to be accepted that she won't acknowledge her son. In the first four books, I felt there was an in-your-face integrity about Ayla. When she made mistakes, she dealt with the consequences. When people didn't like her because the Clan was her family, she didn't try to play it down. Although she was hurt, frustrated, and angry, she just went about her business and expected them to deal with their own feelings. Zoelena spends much of the book trying to trick or coerce Ayla into becoming more involved with the Zelandonii. She emphasizes how difficult it would be to be mated and raising a family while being a Zelandonii. Ayla is happily mated to Jondalar, finally, and expecting his baby. WHY would Ayla be tempted to give it up? It just doesn't make sense. For 5 long books now, all Ayla has wanted is a family and to belong. WHY would she give the family up and place herself in such a strictly proscribed religious life? It is even obvious that Zoelena's concerns aren't about helping Ayla grow. In the book it clearly states that Zoelena wants to control Ayla's healing gift because it might cause some unnamed trouble to allow her to continue to heal without being a Zelandonnii. If Ms. Auel is true to Ayla's original character, I don't think she would make her become a Zelandonii because Ayla would fight against that unnecessary control. I also felt there was a lot of repetition of things like describing: how to domesticate a horse and a wolf, the joy of riding Whinny and Racer, how Ayla learned which plants worked for ailments. Even the big hunt was repetitive. Jondalar and Ayla have used their horses many times to guide stampeding animals into a trap. The sex too was repetitive. I re-read the first 4 books before reading the new one, and the sex scenes and descriptions of their feelings were almost exact repeats. I felt that many of the descriptions were taken from the previous books and dropped into this one. I did not hate the book, but I was so disappointed. Now I don't know whether I even want to buy the next one.
Rating:
Summary: The Muse is Gone
Review: Now we know why it took Jean 12 years to finish this book. Her muse is gone and with it everything that made the earlier books compelling and interesting. We can only hope she'll find it again for the final book.
Rating: 
Summary: Ties up loose ends
Review: I gave it five stars because I liked it. I considered giving it four stars because I don't think this book will hold much for a person who hasn't read the previous books in the series. It ties up loose ends and sets up an interest for upcoming adventures, but it doesn't carry a lot of excitement of its own. Obstacles are too easily overcome. This book works well as a step in a larger series, but I don't think it could stand on its own.
Rating:
Summary: Dissapointment
Review: AFter waiting so long I felt cheated after reading this book which could have been summarized in one sentence. Ayla reaches final destination, mates, and has Jondalar's baby. The rest of the book is totally plagarist from the other books in the series. All the events are exactly the same, just the names are changed. There was absolutely no new plots involved. What a shame.
Rating:
Summary: Worthless....Sank Faster Than The Titanic
Review: The only good thing I can say about this book is that I didn't have to buy it. It was a birthday gift from my sister. What a way to celebrate your 60th birthday. I eagerly awaited the 5th installment in the saga of Alya and Jondalar. Jean, you have insulted all of your devoted fans. Give us credit for having read the previous books and stop repeating yourself over and over and over again. Enough already. If you can't do any better than this, forget the 6th book. Sorry Sis, I wish I could get your money back.
Rating:
Summary: Mostly a Review of Previous Books
Review: Jean Auel needs to break out of her mold of trying to make the latest book a stand alone book for new readers. With the latest book this technique has gotten unmanagable. She spent at least a third of the book going over material covered in previous books. She needs to understand that this is a series and she should assume that her readers have read the previous books. If she wanted to include the old material in a short prologue to bring those who haven't read the other books up to date, this would work, since those who have read the previous books could just skip it. As it was, I found this book boring. It was a big disappointment!!
Rating:
Summary: A cure for insomnia
Review: This book is a real snooze. I plan to keep it near my nightstand for the next 12 years - just in case I have trouble dozing off. I loved Clan of the Cave Bear and really enjoyed the next 3 books, but this book is nothing more than a 700 page description of the way the continent of Europe looked 30,000 years ago. BORING stuff. As for the brilliant Ayla, she is relegated to a pathetic shell of her former self. I agree with all the other reviewers about the boring sex scenes, rehash of the Clan ways, etc. etc. That hunt on the 2nd day (page 250 thru 280 or so) was very contrived. They were so greedy they had to have 2 hunts? This was done more to show off Ayla's skill and Jondular's spear than to entertain the reader. It seems that way too much in this book is just 'filler'. I will not run out and buy the sixth book Ms. Auel. When I hear it's been published, I'll re-read Clan of the Cave Bear.
Rating:
Summary: The Shelters of Stone
Review: Jean Auel is a thougtful and entertaining Storyteller. I gave her latest entry to the Earth's Children Series an extra star simply because she does have masterful ability when turning a true tale of fiction -- as was done in "Clan" and "Valley". This installment, however, is nothing more than a recitation of archeological and prehistoric research facts, coupled with excerpts from previous books in the series. The detailed and often boring descriptions of local fauna, rock formations, and environmental evolution reads almost schorlarly. While it is not surprising that she has become an educated and skilled researcher over the years. I do, however, miss the characters and the simple story! When I pick up a book of this type I want to be entertained, not educated. I guess Jean's writing like our species also had to evolve. Too bad it went commercial and she could not continue to humbly tell the story of a few larger than life characters while sitting at the kitchen table. I am disappointed in this book but I, like many others, will eagerly run and purchase the last installment immediately upon release. She is after all Jean Auel -- an All- American success story!
Rating:
Summary: Huge Disappointment
Review: Like other fans, I have waited for this book for so long. It was a bitter disappointment. There is no storyline, the characters are shallow, and the dialogue long and boring. It could stand alone as a non-fiction book on the flora, fauna, geographical oddities, and craftmanship of the time period. I understand there is a need for background and environment, but there is also a need for character and story. Scenarios and characters promising conflict were introduced, then dropped by the wayside. The Clan is an integral part of this continuing story, but they are strangely missing. What happened?
The other books in this series transported us to another place and time, giving us memories almost as real as if we were really there. They stuck in the mind long after the reading was over. This book doesn't deserve to carry the name - it should never have left the editor's desk.
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