It can be challenging for any reader who joins the last part of a trilogy after not reading the series’ first two books, such as I did. Despite that, I quickly became invested in Natural Selection. One aspect that made this considerably easier was that Murray listed all the characters in the story from the three main tribes before her book began. Prehistoric people also had to deal with many animals from this era, and it was beneficial that the author listed them, followed by a brief description. I referred to these lists several times while reading Murray’s epic tale.

Having read one of Murray’s other books previously, I knew she liked strong female protagonists. This novel follows the same style with Lucy, the group’s leader and healer. Since modern medicine didn’t exist, she utilized plants and herbs to treat many ailments that beset her people. Lucy’s tribe included an interesting array of characters and animals, including Ump, a lone Canis searching for a particular mate. One of the common themes throughout is that tribe members worked together and learned to use each other’s strengths to survive in a world that included how to remain safe from violent predator attacks and a new species of man. One fact I found particularly fascinating was that those with poor eyesight learned to rely on other senses, such as smelling and hearing, to guide them.

Another eye-opening revelation was how adaptable prehistoric people had to become as they continually faced dangers and challenges. Premature death was a part of their lives; sometimes, people from other tribes joined them who got separated or lost their families through attrition. Xha was a Homo Erectus warrior from another tribe that became part of Lucy’s group. Though he quickly won over many others in their tribe, Lucy wasn’t as willing to trust him initially.

How prehistoric people learned to survive by creating tools and weapons like spears demonstrated their intelligence. Though not possessing what we would describe as language, they communicated through sounds, gestures, body movements, and facial expressions. I have a much greater understanding and appreciation for prehistoric people after reading Natural Selection. I commend Murray for her extensive research and precise storytelling abilities.

In the third book of Murray’s Dawn of Humanity series, Lucy aims to rescue enslaved tribe members. In a parallel story, a young cat (of the prehistoric kind, of course) searches for its own, saber-toothed tribe, and Ragged-ear (a tough-as-dinosaur-bones dog, again of the prehistoric kind) searches for his mate.

As always, Murray has thoroughly researched the animals and ecology of early Africa so that her world feels realistic, plus I learned a lot about historic peoples.

Murray explores thematic issues of slavery, family, and our relationship with animals.

The only reason I didn't give the book five full stars is maybe the research was too good. At times I lost the story because of the overwhelming details of the ancient historical setting. But readers' mileage may vary, so I encourage anyone interested in ancient humans or survival stories to give this book a read.

Terrific job by the author bringing Lucy’s ancient world back to life.

I read Natural Selection through Kindle Unlimited.

Natural Selection, Book 3 in the Dawn of Humanity Trilogy, by Jacqui Murray is a lovely story of prehistoric times, people, and other creatures. I found it interesting to learn how they thrived and overcame adversity in such a harsh and uncertain environment. I also found it quite interesting how Lucy learns from others as they learn from observing and interacting with her. Ms. Murray also offers a fascinating look into the early use of plants to create herbal treatments that apparently worked. I wondered what was the intuition that enabled them to select certain treatments, such as honey for bee bites and the baobab fruit for stomach issues. How they sensed this at the early stage of development is intriguing.

Lucy’s quest and efforts to prove herself and her skills, to prove to others she was a warrior made me think, “Some things never change.” We females still struggle to prove ourselves and achieve the respect and positions that come to men more easily.

Natural Selection is an enjoyable and educational read. --Pat Spencer, author of Story of a Stolen Girl.

What a splendid final book in the series of the Dawn of Humanity. Once again, Lucy and her small eclectic tribe have many challenges to face. She sets out to rescue part of her tribe mates who have been captured and are in danger from another tribe – the Man-Who-Preys.

There are some new characters in this book: the female Canis tracking Ump and a Homotherium kit, a type of sabre-toothed cat. Both of them are pack members and Lucy will welcome them.

The meticulous research undertaken by the author makes for an utterly believable prehistorical world, from the descriptions of the long-extinct inhabitants to the way in which the characters communicate and interact, each bringing their own skills and strengths in the Group-members.

A book that has clearly been given a solid foundation of research; it also includes an excellent bibliography.

Highly recommended.

Well written story. Holds your attention. Author did a very good job promoting good morals and kindness. Too often morality is lacking in books.

A great read for those who enjoy community, struggles and bonds. Really a great read. Full of plots and turns, achievement and overcoming.

In the third book of the series, Lucy is again beset with challenges.

Besides Lucy struggling to keep her tribe safe, and free the tribe members that were stolen by an enemy tribe—plenty to grab and hold a reader’s attention—there were substories hurtling through the book with characters I grew to care about. A Canis tracking another Canis to be her mate. A Homotherium kit looking for a pack. And Lucy’s former pack members that have been enslaved and are looking for a way to survive and escape their bonds.

Once again, Ms. Murray has woven prehistory into a lovely, understandable story. One of her signature themes is the blending of different cultures into one tribe. Proving that in spite of our differences we can get along.

On a personal note, I loved that Boah said goodbye. (You’ll know what I’m referring to when you read it.) And last but not least my favorite quote: “If Night Sun knew, it wasn’t telling.”

NATURAL SELECTION is a must read for all Murray fans, of which I am one, prehistory buffs AND for folks that just like a well-told tale.

I have read and loved the first two books in the Dawn of Humanity Series and have been looking forward to this final story. I wasn’t disappointed. Lucy sets out to rescue her tribe mates after they were captured. I have grown very fond of many of these characters and was rooting for them. The detail of their daily life brought me into a life I otherwise couldn’t imagine. Eating raw meat or insects while trying to survive in harsh conditions was just a way of life for our prehistoric ancestors. The amount of research into this story and series was impressive and made Lucy’s quest more real. I loved the animals that joined this tribe, including the Canis and Homotherium kit. Although I was sad to see this end, I enjoyed the journey into the past. A book and series I can highly recommend!

Really enjoyed this series

You feel like you’re transported back in time

There every day struggles just to survive love loss and everything in between

This is the third in the superb Dawn of Humanity trilogy and it’s just as gripping and moving as the other two books.

The author has done a remarkable job of showing us what it must have been like for our ancestors two million years ago. Thesemay be primitive groups with a rudimentary understanding of life but, by showing individual personalities and characteristics, these are also recognisably human and so their experiences matter to us. I’m also impressed at how they survived at all when faced with such a hostile environment.

Lucy is so brave, observant, curious and kind that her tribe of ‘misfits’ that she collects along her travels reward her with their loyalty and their support in any way that they can show it. She isn’t swayed by appearance but by the virtues each brings to the group.

One of the group says that it’s the sharing of knowledge that matters, and in one of her mystic dreams Lucy is told, ‘Soon our kind will be gone, but our knowledge will save those who come after us.’ This puts it all in a context for me. Many don’t survive and I felt the loss of some of them keenly, but that drive to survive made us who we are today.

I have another trilogy by this author waiting in my Kindle. I’m really looking forward to it.

Enjoyed the interactions between Xha, Wild, Lucy and Ump. Good story well told about a time very long ago in the human story.

This book and the whole trilogy presents itself as evolutionary fiction, but repeatedly ignores basic biology, anthropology, and animal behaviour. Characters gain impossible abilities, animals behave unrealistically, and stress responses are exaggerated to caricature. Nature and evolution are treated as props, not systems, creating pseudo-authenticity that undermines the story’s credibility. Symbolic themes might appeal to some readers, but anyone expecting plausible prehistoric realism will be frustrated.

To appreciate a trilogy, ideally, start with the first book. I didn't, but as in all good historical fiction, skilful writing refers to previious events . Reading Jacqui Murray's enthralling Natural Selection, in two evenings, I started to re-read immediately, to make sure that I could fully appreciate all relationships and kjey eventsin their journey across Africa. In two other languages, rusty from lack of use, I;d understand most of the text, but what if I';d never learned to sepak, let alone read ? How to understand what anyone might be trying to explain ? How did Lucy and all early humanity communicate ? Hominid anatomy shows that our ancestirs would have been able to hear speech at a very early stage in human evolution. About 4.4 million years ago, ' Ardi; would probably hear and communicate would hear and communicate like a chimpanzee. For all human infants even if their hearing and vocal organs are sound, there';s another essential factor- constant communication with adults and older children who use spoken language. Lucy, her own groupo, and the members of other groupd communicate in many waysm including the vocal sounds which would develop into spoken language, Anbody who shares their life with animals knows how fluently they communicate with us.

Tellin g this story, involving both hominids and associated animals, communication between them is esse4ntial. Sharing information s vital, includin g the benefits of healing plants, used to treat pain and injury. Would individuals accept other kinds of hominid as partners ? Analysis of hominid remains confirms that they did. Xia, who had left his original group, explains that his attitude towards other hominids has changed.

' It wasn't long ago I considered your kind - Man-who makes-tools - i nferior. Canis predators to be killed without remorse. When did early ho,omids beghin to share their lives with dogs ? Beware ofconfident dates, 30,000 years ago ? 20,999 ? As recentlly as 14,000? Or is our bond with canis far older , indicated by the associated human and dog remains found at Dminsi, Georgia, dated to about 1.75 million years ago .Joining Lucy and her group, as they journey across Africam I was reminded of other African based stories. Mma Raksutim Mma Ramutswe's colleague in the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency knew about the

'doctor of bones;Leakey. Mma Rakuski had learned that we all come from the same group of ancestor.

' So we are all brothers and sisters. Same DNA. Slight oversimplification, across a few million years, but Lucy's story is our story