Circles in the Sky

Mother People #2

by Joan Dahr Lambert

CIRCLES IN THE SKY, a prehistoric novel, is a tale of adventure, a love story, and a journey of compelling drama, tragedy, passion and courage, all rolled into one. The novel begins at the end of the first book in the Mother People Series, CIRCLES OF STONE, when the young Zena huddles alone and defenseless after an earthquake traps her in a tiny cave and buries her companions. Her mother is dead, too, as are most of the others in her tribe; she knows that intuitively. Though hardly more than a child, she also knows that it is up to her, as the next Zena, to find a new home for her people and to keep the ways of the Mother alive - the ways of love and compassion and respect for the earth that sustains them. This second Zena is an appealing heroine, a girl who lives in her mind as much as her body, but she also has a unique ability to combine common sense and imagination with mystical visions of the future that come to her from the Goddess. She finds many ingenious solutions to the challenges that face the small band of survivors as she struggles to lead to the new home the Goddess has promised them - like entrapment by the men with knives and the flooded river they must somehow cross to escape the danger. But when Zena loses Lupo, the young wolf who has befriended her and given her confidence, she is bereft. All her new-found courage seems to vanish when she realizes she may never see her beloved companion again. A near-fatal illness strikes, and only the mysterious appearance of an ancient and memorable healer saves her life, though Zena's body retains a permanent reminder of the illness. Other memorable characters abound in CIRCLES IN THE the old story teller who keeps the history of the Mother People alive; the crippled child who saves their lives, the young man whose chest is marked by a butterfly, symbolizing regeneration; the man who once killed his father in a fit of rage but who makes beautiful music on his bone flute, and the fiery young woman whose arguments about mating with the man who loves her disrupt the tribe’s stability. Zena watches the turmoil and is afraid, of the disruption within the tribe, of the men with knives who are still on their trail, of the fate of the small children who are mysteriously disappearing from Mother People tribes. But most of all, she fears a menace she senses hanging over them all that she cannot name but knows she must face before the tribe can continue their journey to the new home surrounded by a great moving sea she has envisioned. There, they will finally be safe. Then, when Zena least expects it, when she is alone with no one to defend her, she sees the unknown menace standing in front of her in the form of a woman so embittered by life that she has become the embodiment of evil. Her name is Veeta, and she has vowed revenge on all the Mother People and in particular on Zena. The scene that follows as Zena and Veeta finally come face to face will sear itself into your memory and tear at your heart, as wrenching and unforgettable as it is powerful. It is good and evil struggling for dominance in a prolonged battle of wills and mental strength, and all the advantages are on the wrong side. With Veeta’s knife at her throat, Zena's only hope is to use the solution she glimpses in pictures sent by the Goddess. All her senses rebel, but she knows that only she can do what must be done. This time, the survival of the Mother People as well as her own life, are at stake.CIRCLES IN THE SKY is the second novel in the Mother People series, which began with CIRCLES OF STONE. A third novel, ICE BURIAL, will follow.

Genres: Prehistory

353 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 19, 2010

About the author

I grew up outside, so it is no accident that most of my books take place outside. walking and climbing have always been my passions. I am still doing them at 80.

My first novel, Circles of Stone, the fist book in the Mother People Series, was published when I was 65, and I have been writing novels ever since. So never, ever believe you are too old to do anything.

I am about to embark on the fourth Mother People novel after finishing four mysteries in the Laura Morland Mystery Series. They were fun to write, excellent exercise for the brain and a relief after the serious issues I tackled in Circles of Stone and the others, but my heart always remained with Zena and I need to write about her again. I would love suggestions from any of you who have read my Mother People series about what you would like to hear.

I think this bio is becoming a blog, so I will continue there.
Thanks, Joan Dahr Lambert

Reviews

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even more emotional than the first book

A wonderful novel set around tribes of pre historical times in Central Europe. Very interesting takes on how some of our customs developed.

[Nina Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reading.

Well based on fact but not so historic that the story gets lost. Can't wait to read the next one.

[Jessica Wicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part two of this series sees the Mother People migrating from Africa into Europe, encountering the Patriarchal tribes from the lands of ice. New characters, all descendants to the characters in the first book, Circles of Stone. As with the first book, I was captivated. I love this series!

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the continuing saga, and the details about the characters day to day lives. On to the next book of the series.

[Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

I loved it, well written and a great story line I recommend you read, I am going straight to the next book in this series

[Carl Felts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read.

Never a dull moment. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in seeking an understanding of what may have been.

[Avis Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Circles in the Sky is book 2 in the Mother Series continues as a memorable novel that leaves the reader thinking about nothing less than human existence. It’s a gripping prehistoric story of life and death, joy, suffering and hope by the Great Goddess, it brings to life what was and can be again.
Follow along from the Pyrenees mountains to the Baltic Islands of Spain 30 thousand years ago, as Zena’s mother was dead. She knew it absolutely. Zena had seen the images in her mind, dark and terrifying images of men with slashing knives, of desperate women and screaming children. When finally the cries had ceased, she had seen her mother struggling up the steep path to the sacred ledge, the Kylie, to speak one last time to the Goddess. She was limping and bloodied.
Zena closed her eyes hard, trying to make the pictures go away, but they would not leave. For as long as she could remember, she had seen in this way. The images came without warning and her mother had told her that the ability to see what might come to pass before it happened, or long after. It was a gift from the Goddess, given to only a few.

[Louise Child · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dire

Really rubbish . Fairly early in the book ,one of the women was raped several times .Despite this ,she found herself attracted to him .From that point on ,it just got worse .Don't bother .

[Thomas B Hickey Jr]

Very interesting story,well done

[Rae Rivers · Rating 2 out of 5]

I mean she’s consistent with the weird rape themes I guess.
Every single Zena has the exact same personality too.
2 stars for the concept alone

[Jennifer Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first

This book was not as good as the first. I feel like a lot of the main plot was "forced" and there was a lot of unnecessary side stuff going on. All in all not a terrible read. Looking forward to book #3 no the less :)

[Mattie Castro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

The ability to slowly read this book is not an option! The characters and story engrossed me from start to finish.