Shiva

Q: "How many books are in the Shiva series?"

"There are four books in the Shiva series, published between 1989 and 1992."

Q: "What is the first book in the Shiva series?"

"The first book in the Shiva series is Shiva's Challenge, published in 1989."

Q: "Is the Shiva series historically accurate?"

"Brennan researched Ice Age Europe and early human life extensively for the series, and the books reflect real archaeological knowledge about Cro-Magnon and Neanderthal peoples. While the plot and characters are fictional, the setting, survival challenges, and cultural details are grounded in what was known about prehistoric life at the time of writing."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Shiva’s Challenge	1989	J.H. Brennan	Buy
2	Shiva: An Adventure of the Ice Age	1990	J.H. Brennan	N/A
3	Shiva	1991	J.H. Brennan	Buy
4	Shiva Accused	1992	J.H. Brennan	Buy

Shiva is a four-book series set in Ice Age Europe, published between 1989 and 1992. J.H. Brennan drew on archaeological research to create a version of prehistoric life that feels both alien and real, following early humans as they navigate a frozen landscape full of predators, rival tribes, and the constant threat of starvation. The title character, Shiva, is a young girl whose story drives the series forward.

The books stand out for taking their prehistoric setting seriously. Brennan avoided the cartoonish approach that sometimes shows up in fiction about cavemen, instead building a world where survival depends on knowledge, cooperation, and courage. The interactions between different human groups, including Cro-Magnon and Neanderthal peoples, reflect genuine scientific debate about how these populations coexisted.

Shiva found an audience among younger readers interested in history and adventure, and the series holds up well for anyone curious about what life might have been like tens of thousands of years ago. Brennan’s skill at writing action sequences, honed through years of gamebook work, serves the prehistoric setting perfectly, since every hunt and every journey across the ice carried real danger.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Shiva series?

There are four books in the Shiva series, published between 1989 and 1992.

What is the first book in the Shiva series?

The first book in the Shiva series is Shiva’s Challenge, published in 1989.

Is the Shiva series historically accurate?

Brennan researched Ice Age Europe and early human life extensively for the series, and the books reflect real archaeological knowledge about Cro-Magnon and Neanderthal peoples. While the plot and characters are fictional, the setting, survival challenges, and cultural details are grounded in what was known about prehistoric life at the time of writing.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order