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Content snapshot
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Violence
Some
Prehistoric violence; some deaths; a near-rape in the wilderness
Language
Some
Adult language in the translation idiom
Sexual Content
Very heavy
Extremely explicit sexual content; Jondalar's encounters and eventually his relationship with Ayla are depicted in graphic detail
Substance Use
None
No substance use
Emotional Intensity
Some
The psychological strength of a woman who has survived ostracism and thrived in solitude
What this book is about
Following the events of Clan of the Cave Bear, Ayla is alone—cast out by the Clan and searching for her own kind, the Others. She finds a valley where she raises a horse and a cave lion, developing skills no woman of her time possesses. Jondalar, a Cro-Magnon man of extraordinary skill and charm, is traveling far from home with his brother. Auel's second Earth's Children novel is notable for its extremely detailed portrayal of prehistoric life—and for sexual content that is explicit by any standard.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Extremely explicit sexual content throughout
A near-rape scene
Adults only
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