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On the parched African earth more than half a million years ago sits the village of Kura, a matriarchal society of Homo erectus. Snap - a young, passionate woman of Kura - is destined to lead her people, and this year she must select a mate for the first time. Will she choose someone different each year, or will she find one mate she wants to pick over and over again, like her mother, Whistle, the next leader of Kura? As the Bonding ceremony approaches, Snap's future remains unknown. But Whistle, when her mate doesn't return, chooses a stranger with ideas far more dangerous than the lions that kill with a single slash.
When Snap challenges the stranger's growing power one too many times, she is brutally cast out to survive or perish. Abandoned and alone, she risks her life - and the future of her people - to stand up against an unthinkable evil. Unknown to her, the same danger threatens other villages as well. Soon, Snap and a new band of outcasts will face a force more terrifying - and deadly - than any of Africa's natural threats.
Both imaginative and believable, Daughter of Kura astonishingly brings to life an ancient and untamed world. Austin has created an unforgettable heroine who comes of age in a thrilling tale of courage, loyalty, and passion.
"[T]his is a remarkable first effort, and Snap and her companions will easily engage readers." - Publishers Weekly
"Though somewhat reminiscent of Sue Harrison's and Jean M. Auel's books about prehistoric peoples, this debut, which offers a fascinating peek into humanity's earliest days, stands out as well researched and wholly believable." - Library Journal
"In the tradition of Clan of the Cave Bear, Daughter of Kura is a highly imaginative recreation of a prehistoric matriarchy. The fascinating twist is an exploration of the roots of religion and the willingness of certain people to exploit it for personal power. I found it an intelligent and engrossing read."-- Elle Newmark, author of The Book of Unholy Mischief
"An intriguing look into what life might have been like in the hearts and minds of our ancient ancestors...The heartfelt story of a young woman's coming-of-age is fascinating and compelling." - Dorothy Hearst, author of Promise of the Wolves
This information about Daughter of Kura was first featured
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