Badlands

By: Jacqui Murray

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Savage Land is the third trilogy about prehistoric man in the series, Man. Vs. Nature. Written in the spirit of Jean Auel, Savage Land explores how two bands of humans survived one of the worst natural disasters in Earth's history, when volcanic eruptions darkened the sky, massive tsunamis crossed the ocean in crushing waves, and raging fires burned the land. Each of the tribes considered themselves apex predators. Neither was. That crown belonged to Nature and she was intent on washing the blight of man from her face. Join me in this three-book fictional exploration of Neanderthals. Be ready for a world nothing like what you thought it would be, filled with clever minds, brilliant acts, and innovative solutions to life-ending problems, all based on real events. At the end of this trilogy, you’ll be proud to call Neanderthals family.

In Badlands, Book Two of the trilogy, the tribes split up, each pursuing dangerous but necessary goals, all at the mercy of the Nature. How they collaborate despite their inborn distrust could end this journey before it starts or forge new relationships that will serve both groups well in the future.

virtual voice

virtual voice is good (was male at one point) it miscellaneously switched. and miss pronounced words, over all its good

Crisp prose grounded in anthropological research

In Badlands, Book Two of Jacqui Murray's Savage Land trilogy, prehistoric Earth is more than just a location; it is a powerful shaping force. As volcanic explosions drive early human bands from the Altai Mountains to the far-off "shoreless sea"—modern-day Gibraltar—their biggest struggle is not the inhospitable environment, but learning to trust and cooperate.
Murray portrays her Neanderthal characters with complexity, emphasizing their intelligence, adaptability, and strong social relationships. This is a story of emotional evolution as well as physical survival, in which alliances must be formed despite differences. The emergence of the savage "Tall Ones" raises the stakes, prompting the question: what sort of humanity will prevail?
Badlands, written in sharp English and based on sound anthropological research, is both an absorbing survival story and a heartbreaking monument to our ancient ancestry. Recommended for readers who enjoy clever, emotionally rich prehistoric fiction.
The audiobook format offers an engaging listening experience. I found the narration is clear, steady expressive, drawing the listener into the rhythm of survival and the pulse of early humanity.