A decent stone age novel, at last! I have to say I really rather enjoyed this one. It opened strongly, grabbing onto my interest, and it kept a hold of it by adding more twists and obstacles that got me desperately rooting for the protagonist, Chagak, and wanting to find out the resolution. The descriptions are vivid without being overly long – and in this respect Mother Earth Father Sky is, I would say, better than Clan of the Cave Bear. Speaking of Clan of the Cave Bear, I think the two books are definitely comparable in quality – and when I say that I refer only to the first book, not the later books in Jean Auel’s series. Both feature compelling plots with plenty of obstacles to overcome, although this book may have the edge in being more concisely expressed.

However, that said, I didn’t think Mother Earth Father Sky was amazing. In the final third of the book the protagonists have overcome the most pressing obstacles in their path, and it’s an easier ride to the end; likewise I had less reason to worry about what was happening. There was never any doubt in my mind that

Spoiler

Chagak’s tribes would overcome the evil tribe, or that both she and Kayugh would overcome their mutual sorrows to find love.

As a result, I admit I switched off a bit and found myself skimming a little at the end. Still, I’m pleased at last to have found a stone age novel that isn’t dry as dust, filled with purple prose, or containing New Age pseudoscience – it’s been a long time of searching.

7 out of 10.