Daughter of the Shaman. A novel of life in ancient Alaska, Book Two.
Elik longs to be a shaman.
On the frozen shores of Alaska’s distant past, Elik is different than her sister and friends. Belittled by a selfish father. Loved by a stranger whose kayak washes up on the shore. Trained by Malluar, the elder shaman—but not enough. There are secrets still to learn, and little time. The spirits call her name. The Loon. The Seals. The Wolverine. And their message pulls her into danger.
Now, her husband longs to travel north to his own village to revenge his father’s murder and Elik must go with him. But they are soon separated and Elik finds herself alone, first with Skinner, a useless, frightened man then suddenly with another, far different sort of person. Kaviaq is a shaman, strong but kind, powerful but gentle, and filled with promises. He will teach her the ways of the shaman, the magical songs she longs to understand. Words that will help her travel below the sea and up to the house in the moon where the spirits live.
Powerful words that will help her save her newly found friends from starvation, grief, and death. If only she can learn them in time.
Revised and re-issued by the author, summer 2018.
"Guttenberg is a gifted storyteller. She combines factual accuracy with intricate characterization and intriguing plots and comes up with fascinating books... Guttenberg's works have the compelling nature of the best of Jean Auel's novels, but in one important sense they are even better: They are completely believable." –Alaska Magazine
Book 1, SUMMER LIGHT begins the unforgettable story of Elik, a young woman who longs to be a shaman.
Elik is not like the others. She cannot sew a seal skin with the tiny stitches that make a kayak watertight. Or set a trap as silently as drifting snow. Or throw the weighted strands of a bola into a flock of birds, as well as others.
But this she could do: She could sing the spirit songs, almost like a shaman. This was a high calling for a woman in a place where the land reaches into the sea.
The Real People lived in a world of myth and magic, hunger and danger. A world where every animal and stone spoke to those who knew how to listen.
Desired by a powerful shaman and in love with a stranger newly arrived on their shore, Elik must find a way to save her people and reach her strongest dream.
Includes a non-fiction reading list and Author’s Note highlighting research into the archaeology of the period—100 b.c.
Elyse Guttenberg’s first novel, SUNDER, ECLIPSE and SEED, was shortlisted for Best First Fantasy by the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE FANTASTIC IN THE ARTS.
"With beautiful images of the gods, their portals and far lands... Guttenberg weaves an intriguing story around a surprisingly strong framework of dreams." Locus Magazine
“A world rich with poetry, resonant myth and sensuously drawn characters… Delightful, a Treat.” Elizabeth Ann Scarborough, author of Nebula award winning, The Healer's War.
