I have just finished reading Born in a Treacherous Time by Jacqui Murray and very happily give the book five stars.
About the book
‘The book’s plot is similar in key ways to … Jean M. Auel’s The Clan of the Cave Bear–Kirkus Reviews
Born in the harsh world of East Africa 1.8 million years ago, where hunger, death, and predation are a normal part of daily life, Lucy and her band of early humans struggle to survive. It is a time in history when they are relentlessly annihilated by predators, nature, their own people, and the next iteration of man. To make it worse, Lucy’s band hates her. She is their leader’s new mate and they don’t understand her odd actions, don’t like her strange looks, and don’t trust her past. To survive, she cobbles together an unusual alliance with an orphaned child, a beleaguered protodog who’s lost his pack, and a man who was supposed to be dead.
Born in a Treacherous Time is prehistoric fiction written in the spirit of Jean Auel. Lucy is tenacious and inventive no matter the danger, unrelenting in her stubbornness to provide a future for her child, with a foresight you wouldn’t think existed in earliest man. You’ll close this book understanding why man not only survived our wild beginnings but thrived, ultimately to become who we are today.
My review for Born in a Treacherous Time.
Firstly, respect to the author for the amount of research needed to create this amazing story of early man born into a world still going through its growing pains. Combined with vividly created characters who you instantly relate to, this is a book you won’t want to put down.
Secondly, I now have a much greater respect for our early ancestors for whom life is brutal, with the earth still spewing lava and ash and changing the landscape continuously. Food and water is scarce; game is eaten when opportunity presents itself, and there is a hierarchy which places man way behind some of the dominant predators of the day. Some of those predators are next generation humans such as man-who-preys and they hover on the horizon menacingly.
Lucy is a female, wise beyond her years and her species, who leaves her clan following a tragedy, to bring new blood to a devastated group. She is an early healer with a knowledge of plants that is invaluable to those she comes to care for, and an ability to track and hunt as well as a man. This does not endear her to other females in the group, but as the story evolves you understand that even in this brutal time, tenderness and friendship are still possible.
This is an amazing world that Jacquie Murray has carved out of an alien landscape.There is danger, adventure, tragedy and sacrifice. There is also humanity between species and the beginnings of an understanding of the symbiotic relationship with non-humans.
I came away with a sense of kinship with Lucy and the rest of the characters. So many of their traits were recognisable even two million years later. It is only recently that they have established that most of us who are Caucasian have a very small percentage of Neanderthal DNA. That makes this story all the more fascinating knowing that there is still a connection to those who lived through this treacherous time.
Read the reviews and buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Born-Treacherous-Time-Nature-Book-ebook/dp/B07CTCR944
and Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Born-Treacherous-Time-Nature-Book-ebook/dp/B07CTCR944
Also by Jacqui Murray
Read all the reviews and buy the books: Amazon Author Page US
And: Amazon UK
Read more reviews and follow Jacqui on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/84832.Jacqui_Murray
About Jacqui Murray
Jacqui Murray is the webmaster for Worddreams, her blog about all things writing. She is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy, the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers, and the upcoming prehistoric fiction, Born in a Treacherous Time. She is also the author/editor of over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, adjunct professor of technology in education, webmaster for Ask a Tech Teacher an Amazon Vine Voice a columnist for TeachHUB, monthly contributor to Today’s Author, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics.
Connect to Jacqui Murray
Blog: Worddreams,
Twitter: @WordDreams
Goodreads: Jacqui Murray
Pinterest: Ask a Tech Teacher
Amazon author page: Jacqui Murray
My writing website: JacquiMurray.net
Thank you for visiting and I hope you have enjoyed my review of Jacqui Murray’s book and will read yourself. Thanks Sally
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Great review. This seems like everything one would want in a book, when one is seeking an education about times not their own. Fascinating,unique premise!
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Thanks Claire.. I find it fascinating and sent my DNA back in 200 to the Oxford Ancestral project and discovered my DNA was linked to bones of a woman who died in a cave 20,000 years ago. The Seven Daughters of Eve by professor Bryan Sikes. I was doing my family history at the time and had got to 1490 so you can imagine my delight to go back even further! hugs
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That is wild! I’ve never heard of THAT far back! This brings up all sorts of questions! Now I want to know about your ancestral origins! I’m fascinated!
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It is absolutely incredible to see what they have done.. I did share most of it in a 2017 post.. ♥ https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2017/01/02/smorgasbord-health-weightloss-meet-helena-the-first-of-my-clan/
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I did originally get into this era to understand man’s roots so you’re exactly right, Claire!
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Excellent review, Sally!
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Thanks, Jennie. Sally captured my story perfectly.
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Indeed! You’re welcome, Jacqui.
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Thank you Jennie.. terrific book.. xx
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You’re welcome, Sally!
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A lovely review of Jacqui’s book. I am a big fan of all her books x
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Thank you Brigid.. I enjoyed very much.. hugsx
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Thank you so much, Brigid. That means a lot.
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A wonderful and thoughtful review of Jacquie’s book. Her hard work has paid off.
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Thank you Darlene.. a huge amount of work as you say.. and well worth every minute.. hugsx
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Thanks, Darlene. I have so enjoyed the research.
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Fabulous review for Jacqui’s book Sal. Sounds so intriguing. I’ll get there eventually :)<3
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Thanks Debby… Amazon being a pain now, instead of coming back instantly they say that reviews will be uploaded in several days.. ♥
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Amazon is a bloody mess! ❤
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I am thinking of revolting…♥
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I’ve got plenty of complaints into them, mainly that they moved my books from CS over a month ago and still holding my royalties there captive! 😦 😦 xx
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They are quick enough to remove their piece at source… ♥♥
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Fact! 😦 ❤
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This book, unlike my earlier ones, is not time-sensitive so no rush. It will be as up-to-date in a year as today!
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Thanks. 😉
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I have Jacqui’s books on my kindle and sure looking forward to reading them. Great review! 🙂 xo
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Thank you Bette..hugs x♥
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I hope you enjoy it, Bette. Lucy is a strong, confident female who faces down pretty much every problem she faces. My type of friend.
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I’ve read so many wonderful reviews for this book! I’m going to give it a try. Thanks for the recommendation, Sally, and mega congrats to Jacqui!
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Thanks, Jacquie–and yay!
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Great to hear thank you Jacquie.. hugsx
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A wonderful review, Sally. I also loved this book.
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Thanks so much, Robbie. I’m glad you liked it!
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Great to hear Robbie..hugsxx
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Nice review Sally, I too felt the same kind of respect you have mentioned about early man and the author who dared to explore their world. Jacqui has created a convincing picture with her imagination too.
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The more I read about early many, the more I respected the struggles s/he faced, the decisions that had to be made, and the choices. Not an easy life.
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Thanks Balroop and agree completely. Not sure that as a modern woman I would be half as hardy or brave.. hugsx
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Thank you so much for featuring my book today, Sally. I love seeing it through your eyes. You definitely got my attitudes and hopes for mankind as shown through this story.
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Pleasure Jacqui.. and I am sure that anyone reading the book will enjoy as much as I did..
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I’ve always been a Jane Auel fan and this looks like a great story. Thanks for the review.
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Thank you Allan.. I am sure you will enjoy.
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Auel is one of my models. She had a way of saying things that I rarely find in other early human books. The Gears get close…
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