Broken Pride (Bravelands #1)

Gr 3-6--When his father is killed and his pride scattered, lion cub Fearless is discovered by the Brightforest Troop of baboons, who raise him along with their own young. Although his baboon friends Thorn and Mud do their best to include him in their lives, Fearless increasingly feels the pull of his lion instincts as he grows older. After a change in leadership, Fearless is forced out of the baboons' troop and must find a way to live apart from them. Learning that his sister and mother are still alive, now part of the pride led by Titan, the cruel lion who killed his father, Fearless is desperate to make contact with them, despite the danger of encountering Titan's wrath. Interwoven throughout Fearless's narrative are a story line involving Thorn and the Brightforest Troop and a plot thread about a young elephant named Sky and her grandmother, the Great Mother of the savanna. Although the novel sometimes veers into Lion King territory, Hunter has created complex creatures who retain believable animal instincts along with their anthropomorphic characteristics. From start to finish, this is a riveting tale, complete with fight scenes, political intrigue, personal vendettas, and unfinished story lines that will lead right into the next volume. VERDICT Fans of Hunter's previous series will not be disappointed, and they will be anxious for the next installment in this new series.--Sarah Reid, Four County Library System, NY