My favorite aspect of these stories is surely the author’s feel for the environment Torak and his companions inhabit. Their home is the vast primeval forest with its wealth of wildlife, and this comes alive with Ms Paver’s talent for descriptions of its beauty and power. Also interesting to read about are the prehistoric people and their skills for survival, belief in magic, and respect for nature. If you don’t like fantasy this will not preclude you enjoying this book, as it is certainly not what people usually think of when they use the term - most of the "magic" is in the eye of the beholder rather than in actuality. Ms Paver knows how to make a story gripping and keep the pace moving swiftly along without sacrificing detail or losing momentum, and Torak’s adventures are nothing if not exciting and inventive. There are various surprises in store, and the only sound as I closed the cover was a groan that I would have to wait a year before the fifth book comes out. Very highly recommended for anybody who wants to read a good story.