Alice Roberts and the ancient spell Once upon a time, in a small village named Willowbrook, lived a young girl named Alice Roberts. Alice was a curious and adventurous girl who loved exploring the woods surrounding her village. One day, while wandering deeper into the forest, she stumbled upon an ancient book hidden in an old hollowed-out tree trunk. Curiosity getting the better of her, Alice carefully opened the book and discovered that it was a spellbook filled with ancient incantations and mystical spells. Excited by her find, she decided to try out one of the spells. Little did she know that this decision would change her life forever.
Our European ancestors painted a great range of animals in their cave-cathedrals, but there's no doubt that they were particularly partial to reindeer. In some Aurignacian sites, 99% of the animal remains are from Rangifer tarandus, and this predilection for reindeer seems to distinguish our own ancestors from those other ancient denizens of Europe, the Neanderthals. As for what reindeer like to eat, you might think it was reindeer moss. But that's a misnomer – reindeer moss is in fact lichen. And while reindeer eat plenty of it in the winter months, digging through the snow with their broad feet to get at it, I expect that they are happy when the summer arrives and there are far more juicy and delicious plants to eat.
There was a decline in the genetic diversity of reindeer after the peak of the last ice age 20,000 years ago probably due to a warming climate as well as those palaeolithic hunters but reindeer survived, and thankfully they don t look likely to become extinct any time soon. Alas for him and his tribe, their days were numbered the ice was creeping south and, two or three thousand years later, people had vanished again from a frozen British landscape and would remain away for the next 15,000 years.
Little did she know that this decision would change her life forever. Focusing her energy, Alice recited the incantation from the book. Suddenly, a bright light engulfed her, transporting her to a different time and place.
Digging up the stories of our past: Professor uncovers prehistoric burials in a fascinating study of Ancient Britain
HISTORY ANCESTORS by Alice Roberts (Simon & Schuster £20, 448pp) Some 33,000 years ago, a man was ritually buried in a cave on the Gower peninsula in South-West Wales. His body was stained with red ochre and he was surrounded by pieces of mammoth tusk with holes drilled through to be worn on a necklace, and ivory bracelets. The cave looked out across immense grasslands — now the Bristol Channel — stretching all the way to the opposite escarpment some 20 miles away: the cliffs of North Devon. And over the grasslands roamed vast herds of red deer and reindeer, bison, woolly rhinoceros and mammoth, as well as predators such as wolves, hyenas — and people.
Professor Alice Roberts has penned a fascinating study of ancient Britain, via seven prehistoric burials (file image)
Such is the spellbinding image conjured by Professor Alice Roberts in this fascinating study of ancient Britain, via seven prehistoric burials. The man in the cave is the first ritual burial known in our island story. He and his clan lived on these rich hunting grounds for generations, keeping warm with fur clothing and dung fires. Alas for him and his tribe, their days were numbered: the ice was creeping south and, two or three thousand years later, people had vanished again from a frozen British landscape — and would remain away for the next 15,000 years. This brings us next to Cheddar Man, who dates from about 9,000 years ago and was found in 1903 in Gough’s Cave in the Mendips. Thanks to the powerful tool of DNA analysis, to go with the traditional digging in the mud with trowels, we now know for certain that Cheddar Man was a hunter-gatherer about 5ft 5in tall, and that 10 per cent of today’s Britons of European descent share an ancestry with him. An amazing thought.
When the light faded, Alice found herself standing in the midst of a bustling medieval kingdom. Confused but intrigued, Alice explored the kingdom and soon discovered that she possessed magical abilities in this new world. She could levitate objects, control the elements, and even communicate with animals. It was a dream come true for Alice, who had always yearned for adventure and magic in her mundane life. As she immersed herself in this medieval world, Alice uncovered a dark secret that threatened the peace of the kingdom. An evil sorcerer was planning to cast a spell that would plunge the land into eternal darkness. Determined to save the kingdom and its people, Alice embarked on a quest to find a way to defeat the sorcerer and break his ancient spell. Along her journey, Alice encountered various challenges and met interesting characters who became her friends and allies. She learned to harness her magical abilities, growing stronger and more confident with each passing day. The fate of the kingdom rested on Alice's shoulders, and she was determined to fulfill her destiny. After many trials and setbacks, Alice finally discovered the key to breaking the sorcerer's ancient spell. With bravery and determination, she confronted the sorcerer in an epic battle that shook the kingdom to its core. Through her wit and resourcefulness, Alice managed to break the spell and restore light to the land. As a reward for saving the kingdom, Alice was hailed as a hero and beloved by its people. She was considered a legend, and her story became a part of the kingdom's folklore for generations to come. But for Alice, the greatest reward was the friendships she made and the lessons she learned along the way. Returning to her own time and place, Alice cherished the memories of her adventure in the medieval kingdom. She knew that she had been forever changed by the experience and vowed to live her life with the same courage and determination that had guided her through her quest. Alice Roberts, the ordinary girl turned hero, proved that with a little bit of magic and a lot of belief in oneself, anyone can overcome adversity and achieve greatness..
Reviews for "Alice Roberts and the ancient spell: a captivating blend of history and magic"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "Alice Roberts and the Ancient Spell" as I love fantasy novels, but I was sorely disappointed. The story felt dull and predictable, lacking the excitement and depth I was hoping for. The characters were one-dimensional and I struggled to connect with any of them. Additionally, the pacing was slow, making it difficult to stay engaged. I wanted to enjoy this book, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations.
2. Emily - 3 stars - As a fan of the fantasy genre, I was looking forward to diving into "Alice Roberts and the Ancient Spell". However, I found the writing style to be mediocre at best. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the descriptions were lackluster. The world-building was also quite weak, leaving me with a sense of ambiguity throughout the story. While the concept was intriguing, the execution didn't live up to it. Overall, it was an average read that could have been so much better with better writing and more attention to detail.
3. Sarah - 1 star - I couldn't finish "Alice Roberts and the Ancient Spell". The writing was childish and poorly edited, with numerous grammatical errors and inconsistencies. The plot felt disjointed and the story lacked any real substance. The characters were forgettable and I couldn't bring myself to care about their fates. It pains me to give such a negative review, but this book simply wasn't worth my time and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
4. Michael - 2 stars - "Alice Roberts and the Ancient Spell" had an intriguing premise, but unfortunately, it failed to deliver an engaging story. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of boredom interrupted by brief moments of action. The plot felt predictable, following clichés and tropes that I've seen in countless other fantasy novels. The world-building was also quite weak, leaving me with many unanswered questions. Overall, it was a disappointing read that I wouldn't recommend to avid fantasy readers.
5. Rebecca - 2 stars - I was hoping for a captivating fantasy adventure in "Alice Roberts and the Ancient Spell", but it fell flat. The writing lacked depth and the characters were poorly developed. The dialogue felt stilted and unrealistic, making it hard for me to believe in the world that was being presented. The story lacked originality and felt like a recycled version of other fantasy novels I've read before. Overall, I was left unsatisfied and won't be continuing with this series.