Continuing the story of Ayla and Jondalar, Auel combines her brilliant narrative skills and appealing characters with a remarkable re-creation of the way life was lived more than 25,000 years ago.

Seventeen-year-old Lyla feels ambivalent when the charismatic leader of her isolated suburban community is told that the end of the world is near and when it arrives they must all be ready to defend themselves against the unchosen.

Lyla thought she was free from the survivalist Community, but it is hard to break the hold their leader Pioneer has even though he is in jail--and he is planning to use his powerful influence to get his revenge on Lyla and the town.