One of my hyperfixations lately has been hominids (well, all of evolutionary science actually), but specifically, the Neanderthals. I find them endlessly fascinating. So when my friend told me about this book, I KNEW I needed to read it. And I really liked it!

This novel was written in the 80s so there’s a TON of inaccuracies, but you can’t write a book like this and not have those. I loved the things she did pull from real life and what we do know to be historically accurate. And the creativity she expresses in filling in gaps that we don’t know. Like how they communicated and how their society existed. I also found the generational memory the Neanderthals of this story have. It was so fascinating! The ending broke my heart and I actually cried, which doesn’t happen all that often anymore.

Trigger warning though: there is a detailed rape scene that is hard to read, so heads up for anyone wanting to check it out.

I’m definitely going to read the sequel soon!