Elisabeth Ebory

This short story takes place in the world of [b:La Fée, la pie et le printemps|36256893|La Fée, la pie et le printemps|Elisabeth Ebory|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1505674173s/36256893.jpg|57907541] and is freely downloadable (you do have to create an account) on the publisher's website. In addition, you get the first four chapters of the novel itself.

It's about a witch who steals a golden cauldron from the Dagda, spiritual father of the druids. However, no matter what she does, all that comes out are golden objects. She desperately wants to create life. It takes some of her own to accomplish that: tears, blood, ....

All in all, not a bad story, but nothing exciting either. However, judging by the first chapters of the book, I think the book is the better option and should provide more reading pleasure. My TBR-pile is unfortunately too high to verify this. I may do so in the (near?) future.… (mehr)

Elisabeth Ebory's debut novel, translatable as 'The Fairy, the Magpie and Spring', was first released in the summer of 2017. Now, two years later and before the summer of 2019, the book is given a second chance in pocket format.

The story takes place mainly in London in the year 1837. Legend has it that fairies used to rule the world and there's one fairy, Rêvage, who wants to reinstate the fairies' rule for which she wants to be in command. The fairies are closed up / "trapped" in their own world, accessible only through sparkling corridors, for which a key exists. These appear only when someone uses them (elsewhere). But the system has gone out of control, as human soldiers/guards tried to destroy the key to the other world, therefore trapping the fairies in their own world.

Character-wise, there's an entire cast to follow and thanks to La Bibliothèque d'Aelinel, the title is explained: La Fée = Vik, la Pie = Philomène, and le Printemps = Rêvage.

There's young Philomène Ombrecyanne, as written on her special pistol, though it beats me why she wouldn't want to reveal her name, let alone if her name means anything Parhasard (a play on words for "par hasard", "by coincidence"), a thief, who has stolen the golden cauldron from a witch in Siberia. More about this special cauldron can be read in the short-story [b:Fichu chaudron|42424141|Fichu chaudron|Elisabeth Ebory|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1540319492l/42424141._SX50_.jpg|61420822], which I read in November 2018. See HERE. Anything coming out of this cauldron was made of gold.

Of course, said Siberian witch cursed Philomène, who mocked the witch whilst fleeing with her booty. It would be true, though: Philomène wouldn't know much luck afterwards, certainly not once she got involved in saving a former royal guardian/assassin by the name of Clem(ente de Roselle) from getting robbed. He and a adolescent girl named Vik (short for Victoria) were on the run. Philomène helped take out the robbers with her special gun, which fires magical arrows, putting one's adversaries to sleep for a very long time.

Oh yes, the Siberian witch is, one way or another, an acquaintance of Od. Both play special roles in the restoring of the worldly order and well-being of the little fellowship mentioned below.

Because of her noble act, she's invited for dinner with the gang of Clem. Od is the third member, can't cook to save his life, yet is the only one who seems to know something about preparing food. But he is capable of so much more, has his own secrets. However, all are wary about Philomène, as she doesn't fully trust the others. Philomène is of the solitary type, yet can't seem to detach herself from the group, once they break up camp and continue their mission. Meanwhile, she has stolen ink and parchment from Od, and it's not the only thing she's stolen from him. Nightmare, a black stallion that knows where the sparkling corridors are, was the first "thing" she unjustly acquired from Od.

On the other side, there are two other fairies: Rêvage and Sean, standing out with his green hair. When Rêvage is the mastermind, Sean is the accomplice who has to fulfil several tasks. He's not the brightest ever, yet has his moments of lucidity, especially when danger looms around the corner.

Both parties use special ink and parchment to evoke the lay of the land and the whereabouts of the other. A sort of Google Maps avant la lettre. Another means is telepathy, reading the other's mind.

The intrigue revolves around power, political power. Overthrowing the current regent, mother of the disappeared princess (queen-to-be) Victoria, and installing one's own child (Vik) on the throne. It's only much later that Vik finds out the truth from the terminal regent. The latter never wrote that parchment, bearing the seal of the palace, commanding Clemente to take out her daughter Victoria (a reference to the future queen Victoria of England?). The regent knew almost all along that Vik was not her real daughter and that something was not right.

The real Victoria was swapped, by Rêvage (the power-hungry fairy), with Vik. The real Victoria ended up with a wealthy family... as a servant girl. Much later, Vik and S - who are each other's siblings - undertake a mission to bring back Victoria and set things aright, as they found out the truth about the matter.

The story begins slowly, but once the train is on track, it's hard to put the book down. The whole has a certain lightness that contributes to this consequence. Nevertheless, one cannot overlook some flaws: e.g. the characters coming across more as humans than as fairies, in my opinion; a little bit of the magic world of the fairies not really explained; ... In other words, there's room for a sequel.

On the other han, the entertainment value is high, also made possible, as she's mentioned in the credits, by the advice of [a:Audrey Alwett|3226280|Audrey Alwett|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1410798080p2/3226280.jpg], author of a..o. [b:Les Poisons de Katharz|34527731|Les Poisons de Katharz (Chroniques de la Terre d'Airain #1)|Audrey Alwett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1489176734l/34527731._SX50_.jpg|45784417] (recommended for fans of [a:Terry Pratchett|1654|Terry Pratchett|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1235562205p2/1654.jpg]) and [b:Le gnome qui voulut être fée|42383064|Le gnome qui voulut être fée|Audrey Alwett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1539845311l/42383064._SX50_.jpg|61420823].

Summarised: An entertaining novel when you're in need of something light, before tackling the next big tome.

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I was sent this book by Éditions ActuSF for review. Many thanks to them for the trust.… (mehr)