Chronicles of Ancient Darkness
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The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness is a series of fantasy books by Michelle Paver. The books are generally aimed at children, but many adults enjoy them too. They are set in ancient Europe, 6000 years ago, a Native American like land, though the map on the inside cover of the books very closely resembles Ireland. The books are about a boy called Torak and his battles with the forces of evil that killed his father. The books are the author's first children's books, and have been received well. There will be six book in total.
Contents |
[edit] Characters
Torak - The main character of the book, he is a Spirit Walker and he can talk to wolves. He has close ties with the raven clan but comes from the secretive wolf clan. His father died in the claws of an elemental demon trapped by the soul eaters inside a bear's body.
Renn - Torak's best friend, her uncle is Fin-Kedinn, the leader of the raven clan, she is also friends with (initially mistrustful) Wolf and has helped Torak many times. At first she mistrusted the young hunter, but they soon became friends in their travels in Wolf Brother
Wolf - Torak's pack-brother, a young wolf that helped Torak in Wolf Brother and Spirit Walker, he is a 'pack brother' with Torak, and is friends with Renn, his parents and brothers were killed by a flood and he was the only one to survive.
The Soul Eaters - Powerful and fearsome beings; they want complete control of the forest, once known as the Mages, since each one was a Mage from his/her clan, only seven are known. Each Soul Eater has a characteristic that represents their clan, e.g. The Viper Mage has the tongue of the viper, and so on.
Fin-Kedinn - The leader of the Raven clan, knew that Torak's uncle and Torak's father were Soul Eaters. He is a vital person to Torak. Wolf respects this leader, as Fin-Kedinn sleeps like a wolf.
Hord - Renn's brother. He was strong and brave, but also too ambitious for his own good - a quality that lead to an unlucky fate.
[edit] Story
[edit] Wolf Brother
Torak is only twelve, and his father has just been killed by a bear - a bear possessed by a demon. Now, with only an orphaned wolf cub as his ally, Torak must try to discover who he is, and who is behind his father's death. But his task is put in jeopardy when he is captured by the Raven clan, where he is befriended by a fiery girl named Renn. With her help, he must journey to the Mountain of the World Spirit, so that he can destroy the bear and banish the demon within it. But the forest is being ravaged, and Torak has very few allies in a world that he has been kept apart from all his life. Can he reach the mountain in time to stop the bear before it is too late, and can he bring himself to give up his pack-brother Wolf?
[edit] Spirit Walker
A cry echoed through the forest. He froze. It was not the yowl of a vixen, or a lynx seeking a mate. It was a man. Or something that had once been a man. With a creeping sense of dread, Torak watched the light between the trees begin to fail...
Torak is a boy apart. A boy who can talk to wolves. A boy who must vanquish the Soul-Eaters... or die trying. As the Moon of No Dark waxes high, the clans fall prey to a horrifying sickness. Fear stalks the Forest. The very breath of summer seems poisoned. No-one knows the cause - and only Torak can find the cure. His quest takes him across the sea to the mysterious islands of the Seal Clan. Here, Torak battles an unseen menace, and uncovers a betrayal that will change his life for ever.
Has he been lied to all these years? Did his father know the destiny that is mapped out before him now? Torak must put his faith in Wolf and Renn, but danger seems to be all around him...even in places he never expected to find it. And what is his real link with the Soul Eaters?
[edit] Soul Eater
Wolf has been taken by the Soul Eaters, and Torak and Renn must try to get him back, at whatever cost. But there are darker things at work, and not only their lives will be at risk. But why would the Soul Eaters take Wolf? Is it a trap, or do they have some other purpose with him? The Otherworld is closer than ever before, and Torak's most perilous journey so far is before him. A shadowed secret will be uncovered, and Torak must draw himself close to the Soul Eaters in order to rescue his pack-brother. But is he willing to give the ultimate sacrifice to save the forests, and the world itself?
[edit] Outcast
After the mark of the Soul Eaters is discovered on him, Torak is sent away from the clans, and is not allowed to see even Renn or Wolf. He heads to Lake Axehead and the reedbeds there, where he is hunted by the hidden people, along with the Soul Eaters. Michelle Paver also said to people at the SOUL EATER launch, that at the time, she was writing when Torak meets the Wolf Clan. With a sly smile she said: "Lets jut say it's not what he expected". She also let slip that we find out something major about Renn. In a fan letter on www.torak.info, Paver has said how on 20th December, she has seen the first impression of the cover of Outcast it has been chosen and is on amazon.Outcast published will be in September 2007.
[edit] Earth Shaker
The fifth books working title has been revealed and confirmed by a website to be called Earth Shaker, and an unknown source reveals that something may happen to Wolf in the course of the book. A fan letter published on www.torak.info reveals how Paver has said it is the working title and will almost certainly change, but it has yet to be revealed. It will be published in September 2008. The story will take place in the Deep Forest and in another fan letter published on www.torak.info, Paver hinted how the cover probably will be green because of where the story is set.
[edit] Ghost Hunter
the title of the sixth and final book in the series has been confirmed as Ghost Hunter and will be published in September 2009. Paver has said that it will be set in the mountains.
[edit] Possible Prequel Series
In March 2007, Michelle Paver answered questions from her many fans through the worldwide fansite Torak.info (known to members as The Clan). It was a great expirence for both fans and Michelle. Something that was asked was if she has ever had an idea for a prequel book or series explaining how the Soul-Eaters were created. Michelle replied by saying that she has had an idea and also later said that if she has a good enough idea, there may even be a second Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series in the pipeline. Neither projects will even surface until atleast 2010 as that is the year after the final COAD book, GHOST HUNTER, is published.
[edit] Film Rights
In 2004, Fox 2000 purchased the rights to make feature films of the book series. The first book in the series, Wolf Brother, has been optioned from $250,000 against $1 million. The film series will be produced by Ridley Scott and Erin Upson.
In a fanletter from Michelle Paver which has been published on www.torak.info has revealed how at the moment, a script is in production.
It is not comfirmed whether the show will be screened.
