Books like The Shelters of Stone by Jean M. Auel

When Ayla and Jondalar, accompanied by their animal allies Wolf, Whinney, and Racer, reach the Zelandonii’s Ninth Cave, they encounter a culture of limestone cliff dwellings rich in customs, artifacts, and spiritual leadership. The Zelandonii’s spiritual guide, Zelandoni, initiates Jondalar into the Gift of Pleasure, and Ayla meets a fellow healer, deepening her understanding of the tribe’s ritual practices. Facing skepticism from some Zelandonii who fear Ayla’s “flathead” background, the couple must navigate social tension as they prepare for the formal mating at the Summer Meeting. Ayla’s ingenuity, knowledge, and instincts are tested as she balances the arrival of a new child, the demands of an unfamiliar society, and her own evolving role within the Zelandonii. Set against a backdrop of the Ice Age and drawn from extensive research, the novel continues the Earth’s Children saga with noted attention to prehistoric detail.

First publish date: June 2002