The Land of Painted Caves is the last of the 6 books in the Earth’s Children series.? The first four were done fairly quickly, then 25 years passed before the 5th.? And now maybe 6 years since that one.
I am glad to have read every word of the series, to have the whole picture.? but this book is definitely not as well written.? And while it’s the same big size as the others, there is a lot of padding.? Long stretches of material from the other books, and countless repetitions of the Mother’s Song.
Nonetheless, Ayla remains a great role model in her independence and interdependence, in her knowledge and skills in healing and her learnings in spirituality.? Could have also checked the category box on that and on Nature / The Environment.
This book focused majorly on the relationship between Ayla and Jondalar.? He sounded like a 20th century guy in his inability to deal with his emotions, and to keep him self busy when his mate does not have time to baby him.? He also has the insecure man’s inability to make sane choices in his sexual life.
That said, it all ends satisfactorily.? And it’s the last one.? Yeah.