by Jean M. Auel
First published 1991
Ayla finds herself cast out and alone in a remote valley inhabited by wild steppe ponies. She must learn to survive without her clan, creating shelter and hunting for food in the harsh wilderness. The solitary woman discovers she can communicate with the horses and begins to harness their strength for her own survival. Her isolated existence changes when Jondalar arrives, a man from her own species who brings the possibility of companionship. Together they explore the development of language and form a deep emotional bond. Ayla faces the choice between her hard-won independence and the human connection she has long been denied.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, adventure, fantasy
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family, survival
Setting: The Valley of Horses, Remote Valley
Period: Prehistoric
Paperback · Thorndike Pr