The Sign of Protection

Ask Michelle Anything

Branson writes…

It's been a while since i have opened the stories of torak, renn and wolf as well as the myriad of characters, villains, demons, spirits and subjects not cased in your expansive world. However, one thing I've been curious about is this universally recognized sign of protection that is mentioned in passing several times. Something to the tune of a hand and three lines? Is there a graphical representation of this anywhere? It's also painted on stone in certain instances as a ward as well? I hope I'm remembering right and making sense. Your stories have stayed with me all these years. I first read them in elementary and i am now well out of high school and college haha. Thank you for the gift of your stories.

Cheers,
Branson, TX

Michelle Replies…

Dear Branson,

You’re quite right about the hand with three lines of power, and you’ll find a picture of it in Wolf Brother Chapter 19 (p135).  That picture is an adaptation of real hand signs found on rocks in northern Europe, and which date back many thousands of years, either to the Bronze or the Stone Age. Often they had four lines emanating from the middle finger, but I changed it three.  It’s thought that these signs were to ward off evil, but of course we can’t know for sure.  I hope that helps – and I’m really glad that the stories have stayed with you!

With very best wishes, Michelle


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Wimbledon Book Festival

October 17, 2025
Festival patron and Sunday Times bestselling author Michelle Paver will talk about her latest supernatural fiction in this live recording with Always Take Notes, a podcast for and about writers and writing.

Michelle will discuss her incredible career, from finding inspiration for Wolf Brother on Wimbledon Common to her latest novel Rainforest, which weaves Mayan culture with themes of obsession, gender and rebirth.

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The Witching Hour with Bridget Collins, Michelle Paver and Laura Shepherd-Robinson – Waterstones Canterbury

October 20, 2025

Join Bridget Collins, Michelle Paver and Laura Sheperd-Robinson as they discuss their stories in a brand new collection of ghostly tales called The Witching Hour.

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Yeovil Literary Festival

October 25, 2025

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Successfully published as an adult author, the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness (“Wolf Brother”) were her first books for younger readers, followed by her brilliant 5-part series set in the bronze age, Gods and Warriors. On the adult side, her first ghost story, Dark Matter, was a UK bestseller and won massive praise from reviewers and readers alike, as did her second ghost story, Thin Air.

Oxford Literary Festival 2026

March 29, 2026

The Oxford Literary Festival takes place in venues across central Oxford, such as Blackwell's bookshop, the Bodleian Library, the Sheldonian Theatre, the Weston Library, and Oxford colleges such as Christ Church and Worcester College. The festival includes international authors, journalists, intellectuals, historians, and poets.