Ghost Hunter By Michelle Paver

An Ice Age of thrilling adventure

With Ghost Hunter, Michelle Paver's six-part series comes full circle. Torak, the boy orphaned in the first book, Wolf Brother, is drawn by a tantalising glimpse of the ghost of his adored father into the clutches of the most powerful of the Soul-Eaters, the Eagle Owl Mage. If this is all Greek to you, start at the beginning; I guarantee you won't stop until you get to the end.

Set 6,000 years ago in a northern Europe gripped by the Ice Age, the books form a skilfully constructed coming-of-age myth. The 12-year-old Torak becomes more powerful as he learns more of the true nature of the parents who sacrificed themselves for him – as well as that of Renn, the magic-endowed girl who gradually becomes all in all to him.

Richly realised as Torak and Renn are, everyone's favourite character has to be Wolf, whom we first meet as a cub, puzzled about the nature of the "Tall Tailless" who saves his life, but unquestioningly loyal.

Coming of age entails learning, and Paver introduces thoroughly-researched wilderness lore: making weapons and canoes; building shelters from storms and floods, using plants to heal wounds. The nature of such animals as bears, aurochs and vipers is made heart-stoppingly real when Torak "spirit-walks" into their souls, virtually becoming one with them.

The endpaper maps build in complexity as each volume introduces a clan with a different set of allegiances and hunting skills. The villains are five Soul-Eaters, clan mages who become seduced by the evil omnipotence offered by the fire-opal. In this last book, the Eagle Owl Mage, the only surviving Soul-Eater, descends with murderous fury on Wolf's mate and cubs, separates Torak from Renn, and entices him into the demon-haunted Mountain of Ghosts. The finale is a climax as intense as Tolkien's fall of Mordor, with demonic dogs, fiendish one-time children, and Soul-Eaters summoned from beyond the grave.

Best of all, Paver succeeds in creating a conclusion with no mawkishness when she resolves the relationship between Torak and Renn – and, of course, Wolf.