Earth's Children, a series of six novels, took me on an emotional journey. I became entranced with the protagonist's life, was in wonder of the knowledge gained and lost throughout humanity, and deeply moved by small victories. I recommend this series to any reader, to challenge your perspective of the world we know today. You may find yourself questioning customs, thought to be deeply rooted in our veins, and imagining how you would thrive in the Paleolithic era. Taking on a series is a deep commitment, and I hope the information below guides you to make the best decision.
What I loved:
The first three novels were a bit of an obsession for me, the third, so much so that I couldn't talk to my partner until I finished it.
The pure innocence of the second book and Ayla's discovery, the ecstasy of unintentionally changing the course of humanity, fictionally, of course.
Raw humanity, and the early development of social constructs based on the need to survive.
This was a unique series for me, its not often you fantasize about pre-historic life in such a relatable way. This series reminds you that we are all tied to the past, and the past was full of emotions we feel today.
Challenges the unconscious bias present today and defends those who society shunned.
Reminds you that earth is a gift and the safety granted by our technological advances today drive us farther and farther from the natural world, that gives us comfort.
Let's not forget about the female empowerment, I'll let you read it yourself to fully comprehend how prized and appreciated women were.
Critiques:
Repetition, after the third book, the author retold the story every time a new character was introduced. I lost focus and just wanted to know what was happening next, not the fact that Ayla had a strange accent.
Repetition, the word enigmatic and the phrase beside herself were overused. Need I say more?
The sex, I'm not sex shaming but it felt a little unrealistic (it is fiction, I guess). The fact that the two main characters could continuously please each other, multiple times a day got a little old. I loved the female empowerment of the entire series but it was a dash excessive in my opinion.
For those of you who are audiobook listeners, THEY CHANGED THE ACCENTS for the 5th and 6th book. I found it took away from story line and who the character was. I also couldn't decide if I enjoyed having a grandmotherly voice read erotica to me or not.
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