This hardcover is a re-edition of the original book ([b:Royaume de vent et de colères|25090639|Royaume de vent et de colères|Jean-Laurent Del Socorro|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1425723523l/25090639._SX50_.jpg|44779717]) and the short-story [b:Le vert est éternel|34837954|Le vert est éternel|Jean-Laurent Del Socorro|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1491899278l/34837954._SX50_.jpg|55973749], both of which I read in 2017. I bought this new edition for the sake of completeness, as the most recent work - [b:La Guerre des trois rois|53768340|La Guerre des trois rois|Jean-Laurent Del Socorro|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593522445l/53768340._SY75_.jpg|84089419] (my review) - is related to this novel.

The short-story is still available for free online (website of the publisher and Emaginaire.com), but I prefer having it all together in one book. And signed, following the publisher's 'Operation Dedication' a few weeks ago (October 2020).

So, for the sake of ease, I'll just copy-paste my two reviews here. You can find the original versions here and here.

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[b:Royaume de vent et de colères|25090639|Royaume de vent et de colères|Jean-Laurent Del Socorro|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1425723523l/25090639._SX50_.jpg|44779717]

In English, the title would be something like 'Kingdom of Wind and Rage', referring to, as I see it, the weather in the south of France (the mistral) and the religious war between the catholics and protestants (between Henri IV and consul Charles de Casaulx, see here, who ruled a city that refused to recognize Henri IV as king).

After the war, in 1598, and edict is signed by Henri IV. See here and here, for example.

But the story itself takes place at least two years before this edict.

Jean-Laurent Del Socorro took the history of Marseille as setting for his story. Obviously, you then also see various historic characters featured, in a large of minor role (links taken from Wikipedia, in French): Catherine de Médicis, Henri III, Henri IV, Charles de Casaulx, Pierre de Libertat, Philippe II (king of Spain), ...

Of course, it would help if you knew the background history of the story, but it's not really needed, as M. Del Socorro himself told me.



The book is divided into three parts:

1) the present (1596), with the focus on our four main characters: Axelle (former head of a band of mercenaries, now exploits an inn, La Roue de Fortune, the Wheel of Fortune, with her husband Gilles, with whom she has a common past as mercenary), Victoire (head of the Guild in Marseille), Gabriel (a knight, who didn't get that title by standard procedure), and Armand (one of the magicians, who has a relationship with one of his studens, Roland), and finally, Silas, a Turkish warrior (a Moor, to be precise).
2) the past (several tens of years before the events of 1596): in which we visit each of the four characters' past that leads to the situation they are in in part 1
3) the present (1596): continuing where part 1 left off. You might want to check back on the relevant chapters to refresh your memory and more easily understand what happens next.

It's not really a Fantasy story, but a historical fiction one with a small touch of Fantasy, thanks to the Artbon, a stone that gives magical powers to its users (like setting your opponent to fire). However, this power comes at a serious physical and mental cost. You don't control the stone, the stone controls you. You have to have a very strong mental power to resist its callings. You could compare it, somehow, to the ring in 'Lord of the Rings'.

Also, the inn that is used as operating base, so to speak, reminded me of The Inn of the Last Home in Dragonlance. This setting also features several characters who each have their own story and own battles, although they have to collaborate as well.

The book is very well and smoothly written. It's a page-turner, very hard to put down. The constant focus shift between our characters (because of the short chapters) is a little annoying at first, but you get used to it after a little while. The focus does indeed lie on the characters, less on the historical events. Del Soccoro made sure each character has his/her own identity, own behaviour, own feelings, ...

There are two bonuses:

1) A novella about Gabin (comme gamin, mais sans "aime"; this word is crucial in his story and how he experiences the events in the main story), the boy who fled his father (alcohol-addict) and stayed at the inn La Roue de Fortune, where he helps with a.o. cleaning the tables. He's an introvert, doesn't talk much, only trusts a few people, but has a great, innocent view on the world. I had to laugh a few times with the play on words in the dialogues, but also almost shed a tear for what the kid suffered and how he told about his experiences.

2) An interview with the author (which you can read on-line, see here), in which he tells about his way of writing, how this book came to be, why it's written in this way, info on the various characters, ...



Although there's room for a sequel, if only to fill some holes, I can't stress it enough: What a fantastic read! Heavily recommended!

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[b:Le vert est éternel|34837954|Le vert est éternel|Jean-Laurent Del Socorro|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1491899278l/34837954._SX50_.jpg|55973749]

While this novella (a quick read) takes place in the world of [b:Royaume de vent et de colères|25090639|Royaume de vent et de colères|Jean-Laurent Del Socorro|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1425723523l/25090639._SX50_.jpg|44779717] (see my review here), it's best - but you don't have to, of course - to read the book first, then this novella. If not, you might miss context, background info.

The story is about the events after Henri IV is king of all, even though there are still a few problems with Spain. In comes a female Moor, Fatima, said to be the chronicler of Henri IV. She has an official letter, with his seal. Every other regiment refuses to accept her, until N'a-qu'un-œuil, captain of one of the various regiments, decides to take her under his wings. And as you can imagine, one thing leads to another: from your typical, hard military treatment to a very close relationship. Something that can not be hidden from his mates.

The trouble with the Spaniards (or, the Moors, more specifically) is that they manage to break through the defences, slaughter many soldiers, but also kidnap Fatima and Tremble-voix (a stutterer, who had a real talent for drawing, but also used that talent to mock fellow catholic soldiers, which was not by everyone in the army seen as humorous; N'a-qu'un-œuil had to reprimand him a few times, for the safety of everyone in his regiment), who was to protect her. They had hidden themselves in what was believed to be a safe place. Tremble-voix was chosen, because his camp mates believed Fatima to be a spy for the Moors. N'a-qu'un-œuil can't prevent these two people meeting an untimely and horrible death, but tries to honour Fatima - who didn't have a perfect youth under Christian rule (name change to Ana and what not) - by signing hs documents with a green seal instead of the classic yellow. Green was Fatima's colour, and as the title indicates, it refers to her saying that green is for eternity, for definitive decisions and other. Tremble-voix's sketch book is kept safe, among his (the captain's) other possessions.

[a:Jean-Laurent Del Socorro|13596817|Jean-Laurent Del Socorro|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] knows how to write a great story, regardless of the length. As with his other works: heavily recommended!

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I don't usually read e-books (or rather, e-short stories/novellas/...), unless they're short enough and I can print them out. Reading on screen is bad for the eyes, hence the printing. This story was free for the entire duration of April 2017, so why not go for it?

This story was previously published in the 2015 anthology (see [b:Utopiales 2015|28430765|Utopiales 2015|Alain Damasio|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1451743506l/28430765._SX50_.jpg|48542527]) of the annual festival Utopiales, which takes place in Nantes, France. ( )

In English, the title would be something like 'Kingdom of Wind and Rage', referring to, as I see it, the weather in the south of France (the mistral) and the religious war between the catholics and protestants (between Henri IV and consul Charles de Casaulx, see here, who ruled a city that refused to recognize Henri IV as king).

After the war, in 1598, and edict is signed by Henri IV. See here and here, for example.

But the story itself takes place at least two years before this edict.

Jean-Laurent Del Socorro took the history of Marseille as setting for his story. Obviously, you then also see various historic characters featured, in a large of minor role (links taken from Wikipedia, in French): Catherine de Médicis, Henri III, Henri IV, Charles de Casaulx, Pierre de Libertat, Philippe II (king of Spain), ...

Of course, it would help if you knew the background history of the story, but it's not really needed, as M. Del Socorro himself told me.



The book is divided into three parts:

1) the present (1596), with the focus on our four main characters: Axelle (former head of a band of mercenaries, now exploits an inn, La Roue de Fortune, the Wheel of Fortune, with her husband Gilles, with whom she has a common past as mercenary), Victoire (head of the Guild in Marseille), Gabriel (a knight, who didn't get that title by standard procedure), and Armand (one of the magicians, who has a relationship with one of his studens, Roland), and finally, Silas, a Turkish warrior (a Moor, to be precise).
2) the past (several tens of years before the events of 1596): in which we visit each of the four characters' past that leads to the situation they are in in part 1
3) the present (1596): continuing where part 1 left off. You might want to check back on the relevant chapters to refresh your memory and more easily understand what happens next.

It's not really a Fantasy story, but a historical fiction one with a small touch of Fantasy, thanks to the Artbon, a stone that gives magical powers to its users (like setting your opponent to fire). However, this power comes at a serious physical and mental cost. You don't control the stone, the stone controls you. You have to have a very strong mental power to resist its callings. You could compare it, somehow, to the ring in 'Lord of the Rings'.

Also, the inn that is used as operating base, so to speak, reminded me of The Inn of the Last Home in Dragonlance. This setting also features several characters who each have their own story and own battles, although they have to collaborate as well.

The book is very well and smoothly written. It's a page-turner, very hard to put down. The constant focus shift between our characters (because of the short chapters) is a little annoying at first, but you get used to it after a little while. The focus does indeed lie on the characters, less on the historical events. Del Soccoro made sure each character has his/her own identity, own behaviour, own feelings, ...

There are two bonuses:

1) A novella about Gabin (comme gamin, mais sans "aime"; this word is crucial in his story and how he experiences the events in the main story), the boy who fled his father (alcohol-addict) and stayed at the inn La Roue de Fortune, where he helps with a.o. cleaning the tables. He's an introvert, doesn't talk much, only trusts a few people, but has a great, innocent view on the world. I had to laugh a few times with the play on words in the dialogues, but also almost shed a tear for what the kid suffered and how he told about his experiences.

2) An interview with the author (which you can read on-line, see here), in which he tells about his way of writing, how this book came to be, why it's written in this way, info on the various characters, ...



Although there's room for a sequel, if only to fill some holes, I can't stress it enough: What a fantastic read! Heavily recommended! ( )