Daughter of the Goddess Lands (Kalie's Journey #1) by Sandra Saidak

Daughter of the Goddess Lands (Kalie's Journey #1) Reviews

• 
  Selena (Life of a Random)

  Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
  
  Daughter of the Goddess Lands is, as you've probably guessed, adult fiction; therefore, it's going to have adult themes. Don't expect to read this and enjoy it without going in fully aware that it is going to address very adult-rated topics. Most of these would be sexual-related.
  
  I still recommend this book, just only to mature readers.
  
  The main character Kalie is extremely different from the other women around her. She's strong and hot-headed, but also gentle and kind. She's someone who has gone through so much and emerged without being destroyed. I loved the relationships she has with those around her and how she was portrayed realistically--she wanted to teach the people that take her, for example, but sometimes she gets extremely angry and it hinders her progress.
  
  Which I can completely understand. There were times that I got so, SO disgusted with and furious at what are known as the beastmen. They are so uncaring and animalistic, but then....I'll just have to let you figure it out for yourself. And these beastmen contrasted really strongly with the other, sort of opposing, people. These other people were so naive and gentle that it was hard to believe that they really didn't know certain things. Another interesting part of these people was that women had a position of power in their society which I found awesome.
  
  The setting is really interesting, being Prehistoric Fiction which I've never read before. It's set in the BCs where everything is still done by hand (of course) and the whole thing of reading about different communities was great.
  
  Finally, the writing. I felt like the writing was done pretty well. There were only a few parts where I thought maybe it could have been written a little better but overall it was really good. The description was good and the author used unique metaphors.
  
  Overall, this was a really good read that I would recommend to readers who like prehistoric times, raiders, strong women, and people learning to expect freedom.
• 
  Nancy

  This novel had everything I love: ancient history, a good story and great writing. The underlying themes involving personal relationships and, particularly, violence were truly inspired and thought-provoking. It's in my collection, so I guess that says it all. I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful book by Sandra Saidak!
• 
  Patricia Leslie

  I think the first thing a book review should do, is cut to the chase. Digression and analysis will come later, but potential readers should know straight off, that I enjoyed this book enough to want to go on and read the rest of the “Kalie’s Journey” series! In fact, the conclusion of this, the first in the trilogy, almost compels one to the second book, since it does end with a bit of a cliffhanger, and perhaps a hint of future complications in heroine Kalie’s emotional life.
  
  Now, some solid details on why I found this a worthwhile read. The era (about 5000 years ago) and setting (south of the Black Sea, the area which is now Turkey) are of great interest to me, since I have a degree in cultural anthropology. But curious readers should not be frightened off by fears of dry academia! This fictional journey takes the reader straight inside that long-ago world, through one young woman’s dramatic experiences. Starting with a context of both archaeological findings and social theory, Ms. Saidak has cleverly created a brisk-paced, eventful, yet believable story of hope, loss, and jeopardy … moments of both despair and grace.
  
  Kalie’s “journey” takes place at the very point in human history when there was a profound clash of cultural practices and social attitudes. At this time, the Late Stone Age was just beginning to evolve into the Bronze Age of early metalworking. In the fertile Black Sea region, agriculture had already become the established source of food; farming in turn led to the establishment of settled villages and towns. Among these settlements, Ms. Saidak premises an egalitarian, “partnership” society, in which women and men are equal (modelled on the socio-historical theories of Riane Eisler, particularly in her book "The Chalice and The Blade"). The material and spiritual life of village society reflects the archaeological findings of Marija Gimbutas, whose research in Turkey revealed extensive caches of goddess figurines, as well as structures which appear to be temples or shrines, and permanent houses. This is Kalie’s homeland.
  
  But from the steppe-lands to the east, trouble and warfare are fast approaching the peaceful, agrarian way of life. A nomadic, hierarchical warrior-culture (a “domination society” in R. Eisler’s terms) has developed around the domestication of herd animals, and development of horse-riding skills. These fierce mounted warriors worship a single sky-father type deity, live a nomadic life, and treat women as chattel property. Will Kalie find a way to synthesize two such contrasting lifeways into something which will make sense for her? The author has done an effective job of imagining “how it might have been” for the real people who lived through such a dramatic encounter of conflicting world-views.
  
  Since I believe the purpose of a review, is to give a reader a fair, accurate idea of why the book might be a good fit for his or her tastes, I must just observe here, that the lifestyle of the warrior bands is pretty rigorous: in its privations, and in its treatment of all those deemed “weaker” … non-warrior peoples, women, children, elderly … even their own beloved horses. Yet in my opinion, everything incorporated into the story is truthful, either supported by historical evidence (such as burial-mounds), or by early writings (which were not long in following this era), or by inference from other, similar societies in historical times. Yet in creating dramatic context for Kalie’s experiences, Ms. Saidak is always careful to avoid graphic, brutal detail. I don’t have much resilience when it comes to brutality in literature, but even at its harshest moments, this book remained an endurable (if not always comfortable) read for me, from beginning to end. I felt that for myself, I could only give it 4 stars, because there is not only a lot of rape, but also a lot of meat-eating and animal-skin-wearing (which is also very hard for me to read through); and the overall number of typos was occasionally distracting (although I know that is a forgivable occupational hazard for all books formatted by Amazon/CreateSpace).
  
  Those issues aside, my main conclusion here, is that anyone who enjoys a fast-paced tale with a stubborn, resilient heroine – and who is fascinated by human culture – should enjoy this book. Those unfamiliar with the ancient world of this period, will gain some useful insights while being entertained; those who already have some knowledge of the archaeology, will enjoy the way Ms. Saidak has worked to incorporate “what we know” into her speculative prehistory.
  
• 
  Denele

  I had hoped to learn more about this historical era by reading Saidak's work. But I ended up feeling that I couldn't really believe anything she wrote. Her 'thesis' is so heavily burdened by her feminist agenda, the story itself and any truly historical information is lost. There's no archaeological evidence to back up her heavy-handed presentation of early horse cultures as being under the thuggish control of animalistic men--and as portrayed here, that term is an insult to animals. Men who can only rape, generally gang rape, in their interaction with women is simply not a believable scenario. Nor is a theoretical goddess society so perfectly just that men and women freely exchange sex partners and roam around in a daze of spiritual bliss. Perhaps Ms. Saidak meant these two opposing societies to represent two aspects of human nature, but my sense was that she really believed her mythology.
  
  Research into the early horse cultures find high ranking women buried with weapons and other symbols of status. The Amazon legends didn't rise from nothing. How can the author ignore such evidence about the very time periods and cultures she attempts to portray?
  
  And as a story? What story? The heroine is special to start with and really doesn't learn anything or change except to repeatedly face her fate as a sacrifice to the future welfare of women. The narrative and internal dialogue attempted to convey emotion, but none of it translated on the page. I didn't care. The character wasn't engaging, and everyone except the main character seemed like stage props.
  
  I really wished this obviously ambitious undertaking had resulted in something more worthy of the author's and my time. Everyone who writes has something he/she wishes to express, but in this case, the author's agenda was all I could see.
• 
  Ruth Hill

  I have to admit that this is one of the most intriguing historical novels I have ever read. I do not believe I have ever read anything prehistoric, and the author certainly painted the time period and the peoples quite well. The barbarism often stifled my imagination--I was practically incapable of putting myself in the position of these Kalie and her people. I do not question that this was the way so much was back in that time period. Kalie was quite intriguing, and by the end of the book, I was definitely wanting more. What she was willing to do in the harshest of situations was quite amazing and laudable. She is the heroine of this saga.
  
  I am happy to report that there is no real profanity within this tale, and all the intimate scenes are implied. The reader will find many instances of rape, incest, and even homosexuality implied within the pages of the story. To be honest, none of that bothered me as the author was kind enough to leave out the details. In the beginning to about the middle of the book, I found the story to be a bit lagging. I was not certain I would ever connect with Kalie and her plight. By the end, I was definitely hooked, and I would be willing to read the next book in the series.
  
  I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
• 
  Marlene

  I love the idea of exploring civilizations of prehistory, and Sandra Saidak has done a great job of that in this story. Don't be fooled, though - this is no wimpy fantasy of unicorns and fairies. Sandra sets her characters in a time of upheaval, when prosperous, gentle societies are overrun by violent hordes. This book can generate hours of discussions that are relevant for today's world.
  
  What happens when a society that is trapped by scarcity comes across one that is rich with resources? Neither society will escape unscathed, and both will be forever changed by the experience. Sandra doesn't spare the reader from the gritty and horrifying details of the clash. Topics such as PTSD, slavery, rape, and gender equality vie for time with healing knowledge, art, music, religion and politics.
  
  These are modern topics, you say? It's anachronistic to put them in a story of prehistory?
  
  But no. The topic names are modern, but all of these were experiences of the human condition even fifteen or twenty thousand years ago. I found this aspect of the story fascinating.
  
  I would compare this book to Jean Auel's series, with the detailed descriptions (and the sex) ratcheted down a step or two.
  
  I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Good job, Sandra!
  
  
• 
  Kathleen

  Daughter of the Goddess Lands is a study in contrasts: male/female, passivity/aggression, sensitivity/obtuseness, vegetarian/carnivore, spiritual/bestial. Kalie, the main character, is a strong woman who suffers so much at the hands of the "beastmen" that she loses her voice. When she recovers, she tries to warn others about the dangers of these invaders on horseback, but her people are too gentle to imagine the behavior she's describing. They ignore her warning - to their peril.
  
  Kalie's journey takes her away from her village and then back again, when she's called on for help.
  
  The difficult part of the story is the many descriptions of rape, incest, and other forms of assault, abuse, and denigration. This is not a book for young readers or victims of sexual assault.
  
  The most interesting part is its turn into complexity rather than opposites, especially toward the end. Kalie has made friends among this alien society. She's changed them and they've changed her into a much more interesting character.
  
  An engaging read that leads right into sequels.
• 
  T.W. Fendley

  When I first learned about DAUGHTER OF THE GODDESS LANDS, it sounded like a book I would enjoy. I was right. I loved this book and didn't want it to end. I can't wait to continue Kalie's journey this summer when SHADOW OF THE HORSEMEN comes out. It was illuminating to look at a violent patriarchal society from the viewpoint of someone raised in a peaceful matriarchal community. This tale of one woman's determination to save her people from the beastmen despite her personal fears and overwhelming odds against her is one you won't easily forget. Saidak does justice to the genre Jean Auel popularized with CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR and her EARTH'S CHILDREN series.
• 
  Jacqueline Seewald

  Daughter of the Goddess Lands is a prehistoric epic in the tradition of Jean Auel, but it has relevance for modern as well as ancient history. Kalie is almost destroyed by the horrors she faces at the hands of the "beastmen." She comes from a people who value creativity and peace. When the invaders come to rape, plunder and destroy, neither she nor her people are prepared for it. Kali goes on a mission to infiltrate the horsemen's society, to destroy them from within. But the price is too high. She has lost her faith along the way. There are so many parallels here to the modern world. A troubling tale but well-written.
• 
  Cathy Waffle

  Loved all three books