What do you think?
Rate this book
Ember from the Sun
In the blue ice of an arctic cave, a scientist has made an extraordinary a woman's body, frozen for 25,000 years in a near-perfect state, with pliant tissues, vessels filled with blood--and an embryo waiting to be born....
They called her Ember, the child of their heart, born to surrogate parents who refused to yield her after birth. Raised among the Quanoot Indians, Ember is as modern as those around her, a young woman struggling with a loneliness and yearning she does not yet understand. Stronger than her classmates, imbued with the power to heal, Ember's soul resounds with the cries and whispers of a time she has never seen, and of a people who beckon her home.
Desperate to unravel the mystery of her birth, Ember embarks on a spellbinding journey to find the people who call to her in her dreams. Guided by a shaman who has waited for her return, pursued by the man of science who brought her to life, Ember is drawn to a place where no one else can go--where her ancestors, the golden-skinned people of her dreams, wait for her to set them free....
They called her Ember, the child of their heart, born to surrogate parents who refused to yield her after birth. Raised among the Quanoot Indians, Ember is as modern as those around her, a young woman struggling with a loneliness and yearning she does not yet understand. Stronger than her classmates, imbued with the power to heal, Ember's soul resounds with the cries and whispers of a time she has never seen, and of a people who beckon her home.
Desperate to unravel the mystery of her birth, Ember embarks on a spellbinding journey to find the people who call to her in her dreams. Guided by a shaman who has waited for her return, pursued by the man of science who brought her to life, Ember is drawn to a place where no one else can go--where her ancestors, the golden-skinned people of her dreams, wait for her to set them free....
528 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
31 people are currently reading
304 people want to read
About the author
Mark Canter
14 books16 followersI was raised in Kentucky hill country in a metropolis of 400 tobacco and hog farmers, where I belonged to the only Jewish family in the universe.
In my dharma-bum youth, I hitchhiked and jumped trains across the Western States and Canada and went through jobs from pizza chef to surgical orderly, massage therapist to rock-show stagehand.
After getting a journalism degree, I wrote for a few Florida newspapers before becoming senior editor of Men’s Health magazine. My short stories have been published nationally and my debut novel, Ember From the Sun, was published in 10 foreign languages.
I hold a master’s degree in the Humanities (“With Highest Distinction”) and for seven years I taught World Religions at Florida State University, where I specialized in “subverting the dominant paradigm.”
In my dharma-bum youth, I hitchhiked and jumped trains across the Western States and Canada and went through jobs from pizza chef to surgical orderly, massage therapist to rock-show stagehand.
After getting a journalism degree, I wrote for a few Florida newspapers before becoming senior editor of Men’s Health magazine. My short stories have been published nationally and my debut novel, Ember From the Sun, was published in 10 foreign languages.
I hold a master’s degree in the Humanities (“With Highest Distinction”) and for seven years I taught World Religions at Florida State University, where I specialized in “subverting the dominant paradigm.”
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
October 8, 2014
Years ago--ages--I was reading EVERYTHING I could get my hands on regarding How To Write a Query Letter.
*insert screams, sobs, bucket loads of tea, attempts at bribery, and a VERY clean house (best way to avoid the inevitable)!*
This was before ebooks, so you really only had the option of reading Writer's Digest Magazine, and/or How To books.
See?
TOLD you it was AGES ago!
Anyway, I came across a SAMPLE of an excellent query letter---or so the agent SWORE.
OMG!
The query letter sample was for Ember From The Sun.
I HAD TO GET THIS BOOK!!
Querying forgotten.
My own writing, forgotten.
When this book arrived--Amazon was a dream for those of us stationed overseas--life ceased.
This book was all it promised. It was waaay out of the normal genre I was reading at the time.
I have the query letter framed above my desk.
Why?
Because, THIS is how a query letter should be--IMMEDIATE sale!
And this is how a good book should be written--UP 'TIL THE WEE HOURS, READING!
If you're looking for an off-the-beaten-path story, this is one you'll enjoy.
And, what I've gone through to keep a copy. Twice, my own copy has never been returned to me. Now, I have a used copy--hardcover--and it doesn't leave my house. Lesson learned. :D
*insert screams, sobs, bucket loads of tea, attempts at bribery, and a VERY clean house (best way to avoid the inevitable)!*
This was before ebooks, so you really only had the option of reading Writer's Digest Magazine, and/or How To books.
See?
TOLD you it was AGES ago!
Anyway, I came across a SAMPLE of an excellent query letter---or so the agent SWORE.
OMG!
The query letter sample was for Ember From The Sun.
I HAD TO GET THIS BOOK!!
Querying forgotten.
My own writing, forgotten.
When this book arrived--Amazon was a dream for those of us stationed overseas--life ceased.
This book was all it promised. It was waaay out of the normal genre I was reading at the time.
I have the query letter framed above my desk.
Why?
Because, THIS is how a query letter should be--IMMEDIATE sale!
And this is how a good book should be written--UP 'TIL THE WEE HOURS, READING!
If you're looking for an off-the-beaten-path story, this is one you'll enjoy.
And, what I've gone through to keep a copy. Twice, my own copy has never been returned to me. Now, I have a used copy--hardcover--and it doesn't leave my house. Lesson learned. :D
August 22, 2020
A scientist makes an incredible discovery in a blue ice cave in Alaska, a 25,000 year old women. She appears in almost perfect condition. Upon examining her, he discovers a viable embryo. He implanted the embryo in a homeless teenagers who raises Ember as her own, leaving her with questions of why she is different and where are her real parents.
February 2, 2010
First I will paste what the review says:
The story begins as Dr. Yute Nahadeh discovers a well-preserved, frozen Neanderthal woman in Alaska. As he studies the woman, he discovers that she was pregnant at her death. He decides to implant the embryo and create a Neanderthal to study firsthand. He finds a hungry, homeless teenage couple to serve as the surrogate parents. After the birth of the child, the couple decide that they cannot give her up and raise the baby girl named Ember. Neither of the parents knows her history. As Ember grows, she begins to question her heritage because she looks and acts so differently from other girls her age. The folks in her hometown either shun her or worship her for her differences. Ember eventually seeks out Dr. Nahadeh and they travel to the area where the frozen corpse was found. Ember's search for her people, Dr. Nahadeh's fanatical study of the Neanderthal, a modern mining project, and greed bring this novel to a surprising end.
It is a really good story that has stayed in my mind... a wonderfully imaginative story
The story begins as Dr. Yute Nahadeh discovers a well-preserved, frozen Neanderthal woman in Alaska. As he studies the woman, he discovers that she was pregnant at her death. He decides to implant the embryo and create a Neanderthal to study firsthand. He finds a hungry, homeless teenage couple to serve as the surrogate parents. After the birth of the child, the couple decide that they cannot give her up and raise the baby girl named Ember. Neither of the parents knows her history. As Ember grows, she begins to question her heritage because she looks and acts so differently from other girls her age. The folks in her hometown either shun her or worship her for her differences. Ember eventually seeks out Dr. Nahadeh and they travel to the area where the frozen corpse was found. Ember's search for her people, Dr. Nahadeh's fanatical study of the Neanderthal, a modern mining project, and greed bring this novel to a surprising end.
It is a really good story that has stayed in my mind... a wonderfully imaginative story
September 22, 2008
Listened to this book driving to San Francisco. It was amazing! Made the time just fly by.
January 27, 2011
I'm only on page 65, so the writing could get better, but I doubt it. The story is very good and I find it interesting, but the writing is amateurish, especially when describing the character of Yute. I thought, at first, that he was a teenager by the way his lines were written and how he acted. He comes across as very very young, not a scientist at all. I assume he is scared of wolves, but to shoot a wolf his sister was feeding? There was no sense of urgency, no warning, just an unneccesary drama. And then he leaves, and then he decides to stay, and then he miraculously finds a Neanderthal corpse.
In regards to him finding a surrogate mother for the Neanderthal embryo...it was all fine and good when the teens wanted to find him, but then have an emergency power outage and then Yute, all the sudden, deciding that the teens he met in the park might want to carry the embryo...it was a little much. He is a scientist. His character would normally be written as either devious (mad scientist) or good, yet desperate. Instead he just sounds like a teenager with drama issues.
UPDATE:
The writing gets better. In fact, it seems to be mostly dialogue that has problems, but description and story are very good. I still don't like Yute, but maybe I'm not supposed to.
The story was a very good one and left me wanting to know more at the end. So, I have to say, the beginning left a bad impression, but I kept on and was glad I read it.
In regards to him finding a surrogate mother for the Neanderthal embryo...it was all fine and good when the teens wanted to find him, but then have an emergency power outage and then Yute, all the sudden, deciding that the teens he met in the park might want to carry the embryo...it was a little much. He is a scientist. His character would normally be written as either devious (mad scientist) or good, yet desperate. Instead he just sounds like a teenager with drama issues.
UPDATE:
The writing gets better. In fact, it seems to be mostly dialogue that has problems, but description and story are very good. I still don't like Yute, but maybe I'm not supposed to.
The story was a very good one and left me wanting to know more at the end. So, I have to say, the beginning left a bad impression, but I kept on and was glad I read it.
September 19, 2014
Some books are like a journey - a warm, wonderful journey. This was one for me. I love Ember, a child who grows into a woman like no other in the world. She knows she is different, a fact that is emphasized every day of her life. As she tries to understand her difference and looks for answers her life changes dramatically. An incredible athlete who has special healing powers that she doesn't understand, Ember is a loving and wonderful young woman.
It's been several years since I read a novel like this one but even those I read in the past were quite different. I've put this author on my TBR list so I can see if this enchantment holds with his other books. Ember from the Sun was a joyous journey for me from start to finish. It did not seem like over 500 pages! I can't recommend this read enough.
It's been several years since I read a novel like this one but even those I read in the past were quite different. I've put this author on my TBR list so I can see if this enchantment holds with his other books. Ember from the Sun was a joyous journey for me from start to finish. It did not seem like over 500 pages! I can't recommend this read enough.
June 5, 2011
Audiobook. Mystical. I really enjoyed this audiobook. FYI the narrator is the same one who did the voice of Pocahontas. Ember is the result of an embryo miraculously being viable in the body of a cavewoman. The scientist doesn't tell the surrogate parents but they feel such a closeness to the baby, they take her home knowing that the scientist doesn't really want anybody to know what he did. The parents are also only 16. Ember looks different, talks different and is stronger. She goes to find out where she came from and when she finds out first she freaks out and then the scientist. Sad, but uplifting ending.
September 20, 2008
"full of that magical, awesome marriage of science and art"
It's possible that when I re-read it I may upgrade to five stars.
It's possible that when I re-read it I may upgrade to five stars.
March 26, 2009
I loved the premise, but didn't get into it as much as I hoped. I don't know if I would have liked it better if another writer had tackled the project???
April 13, 2019
Jag läste inte hela boken. Någonstans vid sida 150 introducerades en ny karaktär - en reklamman från Boston dessutom och jag tappade lusten. Jag gillade huvudhistorien men boken i övrigt spretade iväg för mycket för mig.
Detta är Mark Canters debutbok - enligt omslaget. Trots detta är han en slipad thrillerförfattare. Han spetsar till det mesta, nästan från första sidan, med konflikter och överrumplingar. Men det var inte den delen jag var intresserad av. Fantasyelementen är klart undertryckte thrilleraspekten.
Jag hoppade fram till sidan 300, ungefär, och läst ut boken. den är ändå riktigt spännande med ett något överkonstruerad slut.
Karaktärerna är ganska platta. Den stackars svenske översättaren hade det inte lätt. Att kalla flickan för Glödande kol är inte så fint. Askglöd? Gnista? Den engelska titeln är Ember Nåja, det blev Lyster inuti boken vilket fungerar - om inte särskilt väl med tanke på bokens titel. Och Lyster är den mest intressanta karaktären; stark, modig, förvirrad och med oanade krafter. Andra karaktärer - som Yute - fick jag avsmak för första gång vi möttes och behöll åsikten boken igenom. Andra föll undan eller dök endast upp då och då.
Här finns många fina beskrivningar av landskapet i norra Alaska och neråt ända till Seattle. Här finns också en del om några av de nordväst indianernas sedvänjor och idévärld.
En umbärlig Fantasy, en ganska bra thriller. Ca. 200 sidor för lång.
Detta är Mark Canters debutbok - enligt omslaget. Trots detta är han en slipad thrillerförfattare. Han spetsar till det mesta, nästan från första sidan, med konflikter och överrumplingar. Men det var inte den delen jag var intresserad av. Fantasyelementen är klart undertryckte thrilleraspekten.
Jag hoppade fram till sidan 300, ungefär, och läst ut boken. den är ändå riktigt spännande med ett något överkonstruerad slut.
Karaktärerna är ganska platta. Den stackars svenske översättaren hade det inte lätt. Att kalla flickan för Glödande kol är inte så fint. Askglöd? Gnista? Den engelska titeln är Ember Nåja, det blev Lyster inuti boken vilket fungerar - om inte särskilt väl med tanke på bokens titel. Och Lyster är den mest intressanta karaktären; stark, modig, förvirrad och med oanade krafter. Andra karaktärer - som Yute - fick jag avsmak för första gång vi möttes och behöll åsikten boken igenom. Andra föll undan eller dök endast upp då och då.
Här finns många fina beskrivningar av landskapet i norra Alaska och neråt ända till Seattle. Här finns också en del om några av de nordväst indianernas sedvänjor och idévärld.
En umbärlig Fantasy, en ganska bra thriller. Ca. 200 sidor för lång.
August 23, 2019
***ENGLISH REVIEW BELOW***
Dit was een interessant idee en het was een leuk boek. Ik vond de opzet van het verhaal erg leuk, en de schrijfstijl was makkelijk en innemend om te lezen. Soms voelde het alsof dingen een beetje gehaast waren, maar misschien is dat omdat ik gewend ben om lange fantasie series te lezen met meerdere boeken, terwijl hier alles in maar één boek moest worden gedaan. Toch vond ik dat sommige plotlijnen er gewoon aangeplakt zaten, zoals de romantiek die nergens naar toe ging (en ook een beetje vreemd was, naar mijn mening) en het aanbiddende groepje mensen wordt ook nooit meer genoemd. Maar het was toch een leuk boek, snel, en met enkele interessante personages. Ik denk dat Yute en zijn zus mijn favorieten waren. Alles bij elkaar, een leuk en makkelijk boek.
***ENGLISH REVIEW***
This was an interesting idea and it was a nice read. I really like the premise of the story, and the writing style was easy to read and engaging. Sometimes I felt like things were a bit rushed, but perhaps that's because I'm used to long fantasy series consisting of multiple books, while here everything had to be done in just one book. Still, I felt like there were some plotlines that seemed just tacked on, like the romance that went nowhere (and was a bit iffy in my opinion) and the worshipping group of people that was never mentioned again, either. Still, it was a fun read, fast-paced, and with some interesting characters. I think Yute and his sister were my favorites. All in all, a nice and easy read.
Dit was een interessant idee en het was een leuk boek. Ik vond de opzet van het verhaal erg leuk, en de schrijfstijl was makkelijk en innemend om te lezen. Soms voelde het alsof dingen een beetje gehaast waren, maar misschien is dat omdat ik gewend ben om lange fantasie series te lezen met meerdere boeken, terwijl hier alles in maar één boek moest worden gedaan. Toch vond ik dat sommige plotlijnen er gewoon aangeplakt zaten, zoals de romantiek die nergens naar toe ging (en ook een beetje vreemd was, naar mijn mening) en het aanbiddende groepje mensen wordt ook nooit meer genoemd. Maar het was toch een leuk boek, snel, en met enkele interessante personages. Ik denk dat Yute en zijn zus mijn favorieten waren. Alles bij elkaar, een leuk en makkelijk boek.
***ENGLISH REVIEW***
This was an interesting idea and it was a nice read. I really like the premise of the story, and the writing style was easy to read and engaging. Sometimes I felt like things were a bit rushed, but perhaps that's because I'm used to long fantasy series consisting of multiple books, while here everything had to be done in just one book. Still, I felt like there were some plotlines that seemed just tacked on, like the romance that went nowhere (and was a bit iffy in my opinion) and the worshipping group of people that was never mentioned again, either. Still, it was a fun read, fast-paced, and with some interesting characters. I think Yute and his sister were my favorites. All in all, a nice and easy read.
April 9, 2022
A million years ago I picked this book up from a library clearance sale - it has since stood forgotten in my bookshelf for well over a decade.
Upon *finally* getting around to opening this book, I cringed at teenage!me. A story about Native Americans, written by a non-Native American author? In the 90's?? How could this possibly be anything but an incredibly cringe-inducing read?
It's... not, actually. Now, I'm not Native American myself, but as far as I can tell the culture is presented in a very respectful way, none of the characters are painful stereotypes-- and heck, we even get presented-as-completely-normal-and-a-non-issue Deaf rep at that.
The writing is somewhat clumsy at times, this being a debut novel, but the story is quick-paced and entertaining enough. The one thing that gets tiring is that repeated Male Author "the perky breasts and hard nipples of teenage girls/what if these two teenage sisters KISSED, hurr hurr".
Upon *finally* getting around to opening this book, I cringed at teenage!me. A story about Native Americans, written by a non-Native American author? In the 90's?? How could this possibly be anything but an incredibly cringe-inducing read?
It's... not, actually. Now, I'm not Native American myself, but as far as I can tell the culture is presented in a very respectful way, none of the characters are painful stereotypes-- and heck, we even get presented-as-completely-normal-and-a-non-issue Deaf rep at that.
The writing is somewhat clumsy at times, this being a debut novel, but the story is quick-paced and entertaining enough. The one thing that gets tiring is that repeated Male Author "the perky breasts and hard nipples of teenage girls/what if these two teenage sisters KISSED, hurr hurr".
March 28, 2024
So this is the 2nd time I've read this book. I like it, and I could see myself reading it again. But there are definitely aspects I didn't like. The author seems particularly fixated on the female characters' bodies, describing them in great detail, and placing them in situations where they are, in my opinion at least, unnecessarily naked. At one point he describes the tension between two sisters as "almost sexual", which was utterly ridiculous. One of the characters is unsure which of two sisters he wants to be with,and suggests they just be in a 3-way relationship......
Some of this could just be changing social norms since the late 90s, when thus was published. Ultimately, it's a good story - it just could have been written so much better.
Some of this could just be changing social norms since the late 90s, when thus was published. Ultimately, it's a good story - it just could have been written so much better.
June 30, 2018
I bought this book on sale because I liked the cover art and the description seemed different and intriguing. A few months later, I picked it from my shelf to take with me on vacation. I could not stop reading it!! I finished it in one day. A story that will make you gasp, feel saddened, angered, but most of all wonder! Sure there are some tricky parts that could possibly have been elaborated on, but overall, beautifully written and a fascinating concept that will pull the reader beyond the everyday mystery. Thank you so much, Mr. Canter.
October 21, 2017
An interesting idea
What if we could resurrect a lost species? Thoughtfully written with well defined characters. I was anxious to peer further into the lives of each character and loved the Indian history worked throughout.
What if we could resurrect a lost species? Thoughtfully written with well defined characters. I was anxious to peer further into the lives of each character and loved the Indian history worked throughout.
February 5, 2018
Read this book sometime between 1998 & 1999. Just found it on my library shelf as I was perusing the fiction section & liked the summary.
Enjoyed immensely. One of the few books I always seem to think of.
Enjoyed immensely. One of the few books I always seem to think of.
April 21, 2020
Rambling writing that has me scratching my head. Way too many (and often superfluous) details about some things and than some important occurrences are described with vague gestures. It's a struggle to get through this one.
ETA: This seems like more of a YA novel to me.
ETA: This seems like more of a YA novel to me.
May 13, 2024
I don't know why this novel just popped up in my memory, I read it a long time ago, but I remember LOVING it!!! Took me a while to find it (I only remembered the plot and the word "Ember") but I'm glad I found it so I can possibly re-read it again someday!
June 29, 2018
I was enthralled with the possibilities portrayed in this book especially since the influx of DNA tests now available one of which detects Neanderthal in specimens.
August 9, 2018
Super boek. Las het in 1 ruk uit. Jammer dat weinig mensen het kennen.
August 18, 2018
Interesting concept. perked my interest right to the end.
February 28, 2019
It started off slow but once it got going, I didnt want to stop reading. Very unique story. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
January 8, 2020
I read this book years ago but I liked it so much I still think about it. I thought it was a great read!
March 19, 2021
Am Anfang war es spannend. Später zog es sich sehr hin. Zum Schluss gab es ein nicht wirklich überraschendes aber schwaches Ende.
Nicht unbedingt zu empfehlen.
Nicht unbedingt zu empfehlen.
February 22, 2022
Great read
This book is completely spellbound, I would find myself thinking about it throughout the day. Very good book and story
This book is completely spellbound, I would find myself thinking about it throughout the day. Very good book and story
December 1, 2022
Amazing!
July 23, 2023
I absolutely loved it now I just wish it was on audiobook. cause I would love to be able to read it again
if reading didn't give me a headache
if reading didn't give me a headache
August 7, 2023
Such an interesting, unusual story!
October 4, 2024
Great story. I think the pacing changes speed too much, but maybe that was planned. It made a great movie in my head. The story ended like there will be a sequel.
January 11, 2025
Nunca había disfrutado tanto un thriller histórico. Tr mantiene pensando qué pasará, una trama inigualable y totalmente inesperada, la tecnología junto a prehistoria y adaptación en nuevo mundo
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews