In Barnes’ sequel, a teenage girl in ancient times is caught in the midst of a vicious rivalry for a tribe’s leadership.

In 4000 BCE, the Plānos tribe in the Pontic-Caspian steppe (modern-day Ukraine and southern Russia) loses its leader when Awos dies. His son, Potis, a clan chief and potential new Plānos leader, faces opposition from both another clan chief and his own cousin, who wants to oust Potis from his current position. A harsh winter has already depleted the livestock, making hunger a frightening possibility. But when raiders steal and mercilessly slaughter the remaining livestock, Potis suspects someone among his rivals has a hand in it. Meanwhile, Potis’ wife, Sata. and their 15-year-old daughter, Naya, return from the latter’s spiritual journey. During that time, Naya bonded with a red filly; she’s surprised that the clan has captured horses from the filly’s band and then horrified to learn they’re meant to be sacrificed to a god. It all stems from the general lack of animals for sacrifice, which is, in turn, another aspect of the battle for Plānos leadership. Potis wants to but can’t immediately make a move against the raiders, leading to serious tension within the clan. Does Wailos, the son of a rival of Potis’, have a genuine interest in marrying Naya, or is something else brewing? And will Naya feel obligated to marry him? Awos’ widow, Awija, is determined to help Potis and Naya, and a decidedly unhappy Sata contemplates bidding the clan, and likely her family, goodbye. Things take a crucial turn when Naya’s impending three-day vigil for her transition into adulthood finally arrives.

Barnes painstakingly develops the story’s female characters. The lives of Awija and Sata, for example, are paralleled; as Awija exerts an influence on events that most people are unaware of and Sata seemingly believes that her only choice is leaving everything behind, they’re both often at odds with men. Naya endures the worst of it, and she shows admirable strength while withstanding ruthless torment—mental and physical. The men are less interesting, ranging from static characters to interchangeable villains. This even includes Potis, who struggles to keep his clan and his family together, and Aytal, who met Naya in the previous series installment but, in this novel, is separated from her. They each face engaging difficulties that the story never fleshes out, opting instead to blame Potis, repeatedly, for troubles that he and others suffer. Still, the author masterfully clarifies the tribe’s customs and offers instances of its language, making it easy for readers to lose themselves in a narrative set millennia ago. Also, the prose paints colorful visuals, as when noting the “green flecks glinting in the firelight” in someone’s eyes and a setting sun’s “streamers of yellow and orange to accent the darkening sky.” With the exception of one significant death’s relatively minor impact, the ending is satisfying and sets the stage for the final book in a prospective trilogy.

Resolute women energize a remarkable, ongoing coming-of-age story.

A teenage girl in ancient times starts a sacred journey to become the first person ever to tame and ride a horse in Barnes’ debut novel.

In this story set in 4000 B.C.E. in what is now southeastern Europe, Naya is the 14-year-old daughter of Potis, the chief of her clan. She chafes against traditional rules, wishing for the freedom that the boys in her tribe are afforded. An encounter with a wild, red filly, which appears to telepathically communicate with her, secures the girl’s belief she’s meant for something more—but she must also convince her family. Her grandmother proclaims the quest Naya’s “soul journey,” but Potis is resistant, realizing that the horses could be a source of both great power and great danger. Naya tracks the herd through the grasslands, but just as she finds them, a young nomad named Aytal accidentally impales her with an arrow. Guilt-ridden, Aytal tends to Naya while his father, Oyuun, and younger brother race to find Naya’s clan. Eager to move the clan before winter, Potis agrees to let Aytal and Oyuun watch over the injured girl with the help of Naya’s mother, Sata; in exchange, Aytal’s brother remains with the clan as a hostage. The bulk of the story centers on Naya’s recovery and reconnection with the filly, Aytal’s sacrifices as atonement, and the forbidden feelings Sata and Oyuun start to have for each other. This impeccably detailed novel illuminates Naya’s journey on the ancient Pontic-Caspian steppe. Barnes skillfully develops key relationships in a manner that will make readers invested in the narrative. She also captures the tentativeness of romance and conflicts between traditions and other strong beliefs. As this is the first book of a planned series, some story elements are only hinted at—including a potential overthrow of Potis and Aytal’s punishment—and the book may have benefited from a bit more resolution. Also, the inclusion of 20 pages of supplemental material, showcasing the research that went into this book, seems overly extensive.

An often enjoyable story of a brave girl’s journey with a well-developed setting and characters.