When he was outcast, Torak was the hunted one. The following spring, he becomes the hunter when he swears to avenge the killing of one of his closest friends. To fulfil his oath he must brave the hidden valleys of the Deep Forest, where the clans have reverted to the savagery of an earlier time. Here, Torak finally learns why he is the Sprit Walker and discovers the true cost of revenge.

About the Author

Born in Malawi to a Belgian mother and a father who ran the tiny 'Nyasaland Times', Michelle Paver moved to the UK when she was three. She grew up in Wimbledon and, following a Biochemistry Degree from Oxford, she became a partner in a City law firm. Eventually, she gave up her career in law to follow her long-held dream of becoming a writer. Successfully published as an adult author of historical fiction, CHRONICLES OF ANCIENT DARKNESS are her first - brilliant - books for children. Ian McKellen is internationally renowned for his distinguished work on stage and screen over four decades. He has won over 40 acting awards. He plays Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, Magneto in the X-Men films and Sir Leigh Teabing in The Da Vinci Code. Throughout his career, he has enjoyed working regularly for radio. His solo reading of The Odyssey for Penguin Books won a U.S. Audie in 1997. His full biography is on www.mckellen.com

Prizes

OUTCAST hardback sold over 25,000 copies in its first month of publication! The CHRONICLES OF ANCIENT DARKNESS series has now sold over 700,000 copies since publication. Film rights optioned to Ridley Scott's production company, Scott Free, with 20th Century Fox.

Reviews

Gr 5-9-Torak is living with his foster father Fin-Kedinn and the Seal Clan when his friend Bale is murdered. Vowing revenge against the soul-eater who killed him, Torak and Renn discover that there is a bigger plot at work, one that threatens all of the clans of the forests. Torak must see past his hatred and vengeful quest to stop the evil that has taken root. Once again Paver blends her knowledge of animals and the ancient European landscape with magic and legend to add a new chapter to this story. Fans of the series will not be disappointed.-Genevieve Gallagher, Buford Middle School, Charlottesville, VA Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

'Oath Breaker is the fifth book in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series by Michelle Paver and is quite brilliant. It is a definite plus to have Sir Ian McKellen read the books who provides so much atmosphere in his rendition of the story...It is an utterly enthralling well written and very visual story that makes it very difficult to turn the audio off because you want to find out the next bit in Toraks revenge quest and will he be successful. An audio book that I highly recommend.' BOOK FIENDS KINGDOM www.bfkbooks.com 'As well as powerful characterisation and heart-thumping plots, they offer fascinating practical details of how life was lived in the Stone Age.' 3 July 2010 -- Christina Hardyment THE TIMES