Claire Krust
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Les Secrets d'Éole (L'Envolée des Enges, #2) 1 Exemplar
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The French writer Claire Krust returns to the Fantasy-front, three years after her debut, [b:Les neiges de l'éternel|26152204|Les neiges de l'éternel|Claire Krust|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1440357032s/26152204.jpg|46108441], which I liked very much, as you can read in my Dutch/French review of 2016.
L'Envolée des Enges (translatable as 'Flight of the Angels'; you don't really need the article 'the' here) is the first of two books in a same-titled duology. Book 2 is to see the light of day in 2019, if I'm not mistaken. Yes, Enges should be spelled Anges in correct French, but that's artistic freedom for you.
I was sent this book by Éditions ActuSF for review. Many thanks to them for the trust.
----------
The book is divided into two parts. While there is some world-building, the focus lies on the various characters: humans, Elbes, Enges, and Êtres de l'eau. The last three people were born out of the blood of Hélias Eleinargent. They are thus described as his children. All lived in peace with each other. Until that fatal moment.
The first part of the book focuses on the life and specifically a special moment in the lives of the Enges (Angels). Important to know, the Enges lived high in the mountains and always looked towards the sky, never towards the ground or valley. They didn't bother the humans, had no interaction with them, so why care about what goes on down there? Yes, you could say they're kind of arrogant.
With each generation comes a period of "Flight", leaving the nest, like muslims should once in their lifetime go to Mekka (in case you needed a comparison, but the muslims do return home). For that, the angels for whom that day draws near, must weave their own wings.Éole works hard to finish his weaving, as does his partner Borée, who's pregnant. They want to fly together on D-Day, but as she is pregnant, she can't participate, because it would endanger the life of the unborn. Éole decides to wait for her, but she desperately wants to fly. They agree, although with a heavy heart, to opt for an abortion and consult the shaman of the group. There's never been such a request, so they work with what they've got and know: a brew, and lots of it, to eject the growing seed. As you can imagine, all does not go according to what's expected or planned. Also, postponing your "flight" can have serious repercussions, as it must occur when you're still young enough.
Not long after, or even during, this event, mankind strikes. Humans, living in the valley, attack the holy pillar on which the Angels (Enges) live.They know no mercy, as the killing spree is fast and devastating. However, some surviving Enges are taken captive and put into prisons with metal bars with a red touch, which affects the Angels' magical powers and turns them into scared, weak-minded creatures, like chickens to the slaughter. The wind, their ally, can't do anything about this.
One angel, who could not or did not weave her own wings, and was a sort of outcast, witnesses the slaughter and flees, taking the wings of the one she loved (Éole). However, the symbols and power of the woven pattern don't catch on, since they belong to someone else. Céléno thus descends more rapidly than a bird of prey and smashes to the ground. Fortunately for her, Sujin, an Être de l'Eau (roughly translated as Water-Being), comes to the rescue and helps her recover. Sujin can change shape and thus move around humans and other creatures, yet he does need a river or stream to recover, when needed.
Together they embark on a quest to find out what happened to the captive Enges and how to rescue them.
The second part of the book takes place ten years after the devastating wipe-out. Here, the focus shifts to a different cast of characters, which makes it a bit hard to get into. Where are Sujin, Céléno, ...? They do play a role, a major role, but only much later. It's a fairly tough hurdle to surmount, to be honest. The only solution is: read on.
One of the new characters is Erini Tyresias Dys Rania, the ruler of the city of Rania. He commanded the eradication of the Angels. Another suspicious character is Zhang Fei, a wealthy and powerful man (maffia?) who seeks to take out Erini. Of course, he'll leave that dirty job to someone else. Arhan, a servant working in the pharmacy of the priest-mage, is the central character in part two. His dark side, which concerns the captured Enges, will soon be revealed, albeit in bits and pieces. That side will also prove to be his demise.
The shop itself is run by Abel, the son of the priest-mage. He is another character about whom not much is known, except that he seems to be a man of influence. What will be revealed about him in the second book?
Arhan has, during his career, amassed a large debt towards his employer and seeks to repay him... by capturing Angels and selling them to the dark forces of Erini of Rania. Next to that, he sells some of the pharmaceutical products of the shop he works in, to interested parties... on the black market, you could say, via his uncle. One of those people is the powerful Zhang Fei, who will have a big influence on the rest of Arhan's doings. Arhan is no longer safe from harm, as even his boss, Abel, has given him strict orders to not leave the premises. Alas, Arhan has (illegal) businesses to do, can't abandon his clients. In addition, there are more parties interested in capturing him for questioning and more. Like the twins Ygil and Egil (inspired by [b:Egil's Saga|331089|Egil's Saga|Anonymous|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1351208596s/331089.jpg|1753073]?), by order of Sujin and Céléno, who came into the pharmacy two times, at whih point Arhan saw another opportunity to gain money for a captured Enge/Angel.
Arhan is cunning, however. He somehow fears for his life, yet mastered the skill of misleading his captors into freeing him from his shackles, since he's got nowhere else to go, right?
After Sujin scanned his mind, it turns out that Arhan is also of special descent: an empath. Hence also the cunning way of misleading his captors. Since Sujin and co. want to find out why others are after him, they ask Arhan to draw a symbol one last time. The symbol served as indication that he had found/captured an Enge (Angel). Then, his partners in illegal activity (for which he earned a lot of money) would contact him for the transaction. Only, the final transaction would occur without Arhan, and the others must have known. Ygil and Arhan stayed behind at Sujin's place, safe from intrusion, but not safe from Abel, who took out Ygil, who was already injured from a previous fight.
Right when you think there will be a sort of conclusion, there is none. The wind, an important factor in the lives of the Enges, makes a comeback and puts a new creature (human-like, a new Enge?) on the holy pillar, where every Enge has been wiped out. Much to the new creature's surprise, of course.
Oh yes, right, it was about a war between the humans and the Enges. Who started it? That is not clear at all, although you might think it's the humans, as they built the scaffold to invade Enges-land. However, the memoires of Erini Tyresias Dys Rania tell a different story. Obviously.According to those, the Enges themselves were at the start of it all, as they thought that the iron and weapons with a special, red touch, were made to prepare for war against them. Basically, a misunderstanding that lead to worse and had very serious consequences. Or what was really the cause of it all?
Why did the humans find it necessary to expand their already vast territory - the aforementioned populations (Elbe, Être de l'eau, and Enge) were already outnumbered as the humans procreated more than them -, whereas they could just have closed a deal, made an arrangement or similar?
----------
Claire Krust has a fluent way of writing, of feeding you enough crumbs to give you no other choice but to read on. The change in characters (part one vs part two) - another positive point: likeable characters - was a bit weird and demands your attention, even though the second part does say it takes place ten years later. Luckily, the focus doesn't change with every chapter, so you can read on for some time, until the spotlights are turned towards other characters and happenings. Each chapter also begins with an excerpt or quote in the context of the history of the world, its peoples, ... This detail brings the world of this story a little more to life. The tackled themes (racism, territorial expansion, ...) - at least, that's how I interpreted it, based on the described events - also give the story a contemporary touch, in the context of the Migration Pact 2018, for example.
There are enough unanswered questions and holes (about certain characters, about the world, etc.) to be filled - (no) thanks to the frustrating cliffhanger (!) - for the second book to answer and fill. So, bring it on!
See also this interview for more information on this first book.… (mehr)
L'Envolée des Enges (translatable as 'Flight of the Angels'; you don't really need the article 'the' here) is the first of two books in a same-titled duology. Book 2 is to see the light of day in 2019, if I'm not mistaken. Yes, Enges should be spelled Anges in correct French, but that's artistic freedom for you.
I was sent this book by Éditions ActuSF for review. Many thanks to them for the trust.
----------
The book is divided into two parts. While there is some world-building, the focus lies on the various characters: humans, Elbes, Enges, and Êtres de l'eau. The last three people were born out of the blood of Hélias Eleinargent. They are thus described as his children. All lived in peace with each other. Until that fatal moment.
The first part of the book focuses on the life and specifically a special moment in the lives of the Enges (Angels). Important to know, the Enges lived high in the mountains and always looked towards the sky, never towards the ground or valley. They didn't bother the humans, had no interaction with them, so why care about what goes on down there? Yes, you could say they're kind of arrogant.
With each generation comes a period of "Flight", leaving the nest, like muslims should once in their lifetime go to Mekka (in case you needed a comparison, but the muslims do return home). For that, the angels for whom that day draws near, must weave their own wings.
Not long after, or even during, this event, mankind strikes. Humans, living in the valley, attack the holy pillar on which the Angels (Enges) live.
One angel, who could not or did not weave her own wings, and was a sort of outcast, witnesses the slaughter and flees, taking the wings of the one she loved (Éole). However, the symbols and power of the woven pattern don't catch on, since they belong to someone else. Céléno thus descends more rapidly than a bird of prey and smashes to the ground. Fortunately for her, Sujin, an Être de l'Eau (roughly translated as Water-Being), comes to the rescue and helps her recover. Sujin can change shape and thus move around humans and other creatures, yet he does need a river or stream to recover, when needed.
Together they embark on a quest to find out what happened to the captive Enges and how to rescue them.
The second part of the book takes place ten years after the devastating wipe-out. Here, the focus shifts to a different cast of characters, which makes it a bit hard to get into. Where are Sujin, Céléno, ...? They do play a role, a major role, but only much later. It's a fairly tough hurdle to surmount, to be honest. The only solution is: read on.
One of the new characters is Erini Tyresias Dys Rania, the ruler of the city of Rania. He commanded the eradication of the Angels. Another suspicious character is Zhang Fei, a wealthy and powerful man (maffia?) who seeks to take out Erini. Of course, he'll leave that dirty job to someone else. Arhan, a servant working in the pharmacy of the priest-mage, is the central character in part two. His dark side, which concerns the captured Enges, will soon be revealed, albeit in bits and pieces. That side will also prove to be his demise.
The shop itself is run by Abel, the son of the priest-mage. He is another character about whom not much is known, except that he seems to be a man of influence. What will be revealed about him in the second book?
Arhan is cunning, however. He somehow fears for his life, yet mastered the skill of misleading his captors into freeing him from his shackles, since he's got nowhere else to go, right?
After Sujin scanned his mind, it turns out that Arhan is also of special descent: an empath. Hence also the cunning way of misleading his captors. Since Sujin and co. want to find out why others are after him, they ask Arhan to draw a symbol one last time. The symbol served as indication that he had found/captured an Enge (Angel). Then, his partners in illegal activity (for which he earned a lot of money) would contact him for the transaction. Only, the final transaction would occur without Arhan, and the others must have known. Ygil and Arhan stayed behind at Sujin's place, safe from intrusion, but not safe from Abel, who took out Ygil, who was already injured from a previous fight.
Right when you think there will be a sort of conclusion, there is none. The wind, an important factor in the lives of the Enges, makes a comeback and puts a new creature (human-like, a new Enge?) on the holy pillar, where every Enge has been wiped out. Much to the new creature's surprise, of course.
Oh yes, right, it was about a war between the humans and the Enges. Who started it? That is not clear at all, although you might think it's the humans, as they built the scaffold to invade Enges-land. However, the memoires of Erini Tyresias Dys Rania tell a different story. Obviously.
Why did the humans find it necessary to expand their already vast territory - the aforementioned populations (Elbe, Être de l'eau, and Enge) were already outnumbered as the humans procreated more than them -, whereas they could just have closed a deal, made an arrangement or similar?
----------
Claire Krust has a fluent way of writing, of feeding you enough crumbs to give you no other choice but to read on. The change in characters (part one vs part two) - another positive point: likeable characters - was a bit weird and demands your attention, even though the second part does say it takes place ten years later. Luckily, the focus doesn't change with every chapter, so you can read on for some time, until the spotlights are turned towards other characters and happenings. Each chapter also begins with an excerpt or quote in the context of the history of the world, its peoples, ... This detail brings the world of this story a little more to life. The tackled themes (racism, territorial expansion, ...) - at least, that's how I interpreted it, based on the described events - also give the story a contemporary touch, in the context of the Migration Pact 2018, for example.
There are enough unanswered questions and holes (about certain characters, about the world, etc.) to be filled - (no) thanks to the frustrating cliffhanger (!) - for the second book to answer and fill. So, bring it on!
See also this interview for more information on this first book.… (mehr)
This is the direct continuation of [b:L'Envolée des Enges|40624793|L'Envolée des Enges (L'Envolée des Enges, #1)|Claire Krust|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1529863264s/40624793.jpg|63120740], which I read in December 2018. See my review HERE. In other words: both books form one big story that was simply cut in two.
----------
There are several populations in this story and they have to share the same world, even if they each have their own territory/lands: Enges (angels, in a manner of speaking, who live on a special kind of pillar, from where every x years, it's time to take flight - for which each Enge has to create his/her own wings - and thus not come back), Êtres de l'eau (water beings, who can change shape, but need rivers, streams, etc. to recover from any injuries), Elbes, les Quatrièmes (with their blacksmiths mining for the precious and dangerous red metal), and others.
As we remember from the first book, the Enges were being eradicated and enslaved, but what was the reason for this sudden uprising and wipe-out? One element is a special kind of red metal, which is detrimental to the Enges, as it makes them weak and submissive. They wanted to persuade the Quatrièmes that the mining of his material is bad not just for them, but for everyone/the world in general. As the latter wouldn't listen, the Enges decides to take matter into own hands and so one thing led to another.
The then ruling Raniaque (Erini) ordered for the eradication of the Enges. In their fight for survival, they unleashed a cataclysm, which caused many casualties among the attacking humans as well as among the Enges themselves. The wind is their eternal ally, but as an Enge, you must be able to control your power. Lose control and chaos is unleashed. However, when push comes to shove, the Enges decided to retreat to their pillar and lead a life away from the rest. There they would teach their children how to develop one's wings and aim for the skies when the time had come.
It's up to the young Hélias, grandson of the deceased Raniaque (he was murdered, out of revenge for his cruel deeds and decisions against the Enges; one central character is Céléno, who will continue to play a role in this second book ), to re-establish order and take action. Hélias is still a teen, when he all of a sudden has to take the throne. Of course, the board of advisors is not happy with how this inexperienced half-one (as he is born from a human and an Elbe) is leading the country. Furthermore, he has taken decisions to reduce the privileges of the rich and mighty, as he wants to create a society where everyone is treated equally and no one is more or less than the other.
Hélias's power depends largely on the Group of Nine and the Grand Tribunals, especially because he's still under-aged to rule properly. It is thus no surprise that at some point, that those privileged Nine demand that Hélias be relieved from office, at least until he has reached the minimum age to rule.
As noble as this idea is, the ever-evil Zhang Fei (of Fen origin, a big manipulator, as we have seen in the first book) applies his charisma to convince the new Raniaque to assist the man in his so-called war with the neighbouring populations.
Naive, Hélias is reluctant to provide support, as he realises that his neutral position is then endangered. But Zhang Fei manages to obtain the flying coaches, which were originally meant for public transport, and turn them into weapons of mass destruction, i.e. bombers. And so, one thing leads to another...
Céléno and Sujin (the water being who saved Céléno in the first book) continue their quest to set aright the wrongs: save the captured Enges, in the first place. Sujin meanwhile manages to become an assistant of Hélias, yet has no real political power, not even when the Group of Nine (with representatives of all people) meet on a regular basis.
Arhan, who previously worked in the pharmacy of the priest-mage, whose son Abel runs the shop, vows to better his life, after his vile actions to be able to repay his debts. But shifting sides has severe consequences and Arhan's road to a better world - as an empath (who can see others' auras), he wants to use his talent for good - is paved with obstacles of all sorts, even when seeks a new home, a new family to live with.Especially when at some point, the pharmacy is blown to pieces, after the dark secret was revealed: under the pharmacy, tests were performed to find out what made half-ones, Enges, ... so special. Arhan too was one of the test subjects, as the other tests were inconclusive, so the torturer had to find a proper specimen. Arhan was perfect, as he's also not fully human. Luckily, an Enge (Céléno) came on time to rescue him from an untimely death.
----------
The title, if I'm not mistaken, refers to Éole's and Borée's child, which was born under extreme circumstances. Borée was kidnapped by the invading humans, during the "war" with the Enges, while Éole didn't survive. Med, their child, was later entrusted to Hélias, and wasn't the most beautiful being ever. It was an abomination, and yet, Hélias had a lot of sympathy for the little one. So much even, that it influenced his way of ruling. Little did he know what powers the little one had in store, powers that would forever change the way the world would be ruled or look like.
----------
Like the first book, this one too was written very smoothly. The story is one of compassion, of respect for and acceptance of the other, one in which racism, discrimination, etc. have no place, as differences should be used to unite and complement, not divide. Vengeance is never the answer.
----------
A few remarks, though, at least in my copy:
* Ilmaris, an Enge, has black hair when she and Céléno meet at some kind of feast. A few pages later, when danger looms around the corner and both have to flee, Ilmaris suddenly has blond hair.
* With subordinate clauses, a comma isn't always needed, apparently. There are many phrases with 'mais', 'puis', ... in which the comma is often omitted. Correct or not? Correct, as the Banque de dépannage linguistique confirms. With 'puis', however, there should be a comma. Yeah, sorry, just the Grammar Nazi in me. ;-)
* A list of characters would have been nice and made the understanding easier, in my opinion. Or maybe a short recapitulation in the beginning of the book, since both books were not published right after one another. I thus strongly advise you to read both books without much interruption in-between. As the publishing dates of each book are far apart (August 2018 - April 2019), it's not easy to remember what happened or who's who. As you read on, though, several things become clear again and are explained, little by little.
----------
I was sent this book by Éditions ActuSF for review. Many thanks to them for the trust.
For an in-depth analysis, see this review of Les Chroniques du Chroniqueur.… (mehr)
----------
There are several populations in this story and they have to share the same world, even if they each have their own territory/lands: Enges (angels, in a manner of speaking, who live on a special kind of pillar, from where every x years, it's time to take flight - for which each Enge has to create his/her own wings - and thus not come back), Êtres de l'eau (water beings, who can change shape, but need rivers, streams, etc. to recover from any injuries), Elbes, les Quatrièmes (with their blacksmiths mining for the precious and dangerous red metal), and others.
As we remember from the first book, the Enges were being eradicated and enslaved, but what was the reason for this sudden uprising and wipe-out? One element is a special kind of red metal, which is detrimental to the Enges, as it makes them weak and submissive. They wanted to persuade the Quatrièmes that the mining of his material is bad not just for them, but for everyone/the world in general. As the latter wouldn't listen, the Enges decides to take matter into own hands and so one thing led to another.
The then ruling Raniaque (Erini) ordered for the eradication of the Enges. In their fight for survival, they unleashed a cataclysm, which caused many casualties among the attacking humans as well as among the Enges themselves. The wind is their eternal ally, but as an Enge, you must be able to control your power. Lose control and chaos is unleashed. However, when push comes to shove, the Enges decided to retreat to their pillar and lead a life away from the rest. There they would teach their children how to develop one's wings and aim for the skies when the time had come.
It's up to the young Hélias, grandson of the deceased Raniaque (
Hélias's power depends largely on the Group of Nine and the Grand Tribunals, especially because he's still under-aged to rule properly. It is thus no surprise that at some point, that those privileged Nine demand that Hélias be relieved from office, at least until he has reached the minimum age to rule.
Naive, Hélias is reluctant to provide support, as he realises that his neutral position is then endangered. But Zhang Fei manages to obtain the flying coaches, which were originally meant for public transport, and turn them into weapons of mass destruction, i.e. bombers. And so, one thing leads to another...
Céléno and Sujin (the water being who saved Céléno in the first book) continue their quest to set aright the wrongs: save the captured Enges, in the first place. Sujin meanwhile manages to become an assistant of Hélias, yet has no real political power, not even when the Group of Nine (with representatives of all people) meet on a regular basis.
Arhan, who previously worked in the pharmacy of the priest-mage, whose son Abel runs the shop, vows to better his life, after his vile actions to be able to repay his debts. But shifting sides has severe consequences and Arhan's road to a better world - as an empath (who can see others' auras), he wants to use his talent for good - is paved with obstacles of all sorts, even when seeks a new home, a new family to live with.
----------
The title, if I'm not mistaken, refers to Éole's and Borée's child, which was born under extreme circumstances. Borée was kidnapped by the invading humans, during the "war" with the Enges, while Éole didn't survive. Med, their child, was later entrusted to Hélias, and wasn't the most beautiful being ever. It was an abomination, and yet, Hélias had a lot of sympathy for the little one. So much even, that it influenced his way of ruling. Little did he know what powers the little one had in store, powers that would forever change the way the world would be ruled or look like.
----------
Like the first book, this one too was written very smoothly. The story is one of compassion, of respect for and acceptance of the other, one in which racism, discrimination, etc. have no place, as differences should be used to unite and complement, not divide. Vengeance is never the answer.
----------
A few remarks, though, at least in my copy:
* Ilmaris, an Enge, has black hair when she and Céléno meet at some kind of feast. A few pages later, when danger looms around the corner and both have to flee, Ilmaris suddenly has blond hair.
* With subordinate clauses, a comma isn't always needed, apparently. There are many phrases with 'mais', 'puis', ... in which the comma is often omitted. Correct or not? Correct, as the Banque de dépannage linguistique confirms. With 'puis', however, there should be a comma. Yeah, sorry, just the Grammar Nazi in me. ;-)
* A list of characters would have been nice and made the understanding easier, in my opinion. Or maybe a short recapitulation in the beginning of the book, since both books were not published right after one another. I thus strongly advise you to read both books without much interruption in-between. As the publishing dates of each book are far apart (August 2018 - April 2019), it's not easy to remember what happened or who's who. As you read on, though, several things become clear again and are explained, little by little.
----------
I was sent this book by Éditions ActuSF for review. Many thanks to them for the trust.
For an in-depth analysis, see this review of Les Chroniques du Chroniqueur.… (mehr)
Frankrijk en "l'imaginaire", het is een huwelijk dat geen gelijken kent, behalve dan in de Engelstalige wereld (meer specifiek het VK en de VS, waar jaarlijks hopen [!] boeken verschijnen). De Franse markt is divers, heel divers, getuige het aanbod van o.a. ActuSF, Les Moutons Électriques, Les Éditions Mnémos (deze 3 samen vormen een groep, Les Indés de l'Imaginaire), Bragelonne, Folio SF, Outre-Fleuve, en andere uitgeverijen.
'Les Neiges de l'Éternel' bevat vijf delen, elk onderverdeeld in een aantal hoofdstukken. Elk deel speelt zich af in een besneeuwde omgeving. Het is winter, door en door. Net geen "putteke winter"... eh, jawel, want afhankelijk van het verhaal laten de weersomstandigheden al of niet toe om een stevige wandeling te maken zonder dood te vriezen.
Elk deel heeft een eigen titel, draait rond een kernfiguur. Hoewel de delen enigszins apart te lezen zijn, vormen ze toch een geheel. Alle verhalen spelen zich af in aristocratische families (alle met dienstmeisjes), getuige niet alleen de beschrijving van de personages, maar ook de achtergrond (de huizen, kastelen, titels, en dergelijke, maar ook welke rol dit of dat personage heeft). Claire Krust gebruikt waar nodig de gepaste terminologie: tatami, futon, shoji, ... Hoewel internet tegenwoordig de standaard is, kon het geen kwaad een soort verklarend woordenlijstje voor- of achteraan het boek toe te voegen.
Hierna volgt een korte inhoud van elk deel, maar met spoilers (!) (omdat ik reviews ook voor mezelf schrijf, "for future reference").
1) La fille qui chevauche: Yuki (14) kan het lijden van haar broer niet langer aanzien en trekt er in het geniep op uit om een gekende genezer in de bergen te bereiken opdat hij haar broer zou genezen. Die genezer zou goddelijke krachten hebben, maar blijkt door familiale omstandigheden z'n job te hebben gestopt, maar dat weet Yuki niet. Maar de reis is niet zonder gevaar. Ze krijgt echter hulp uit onverwachte hoek: van de zoon van de dokter.
2) Le mort au pinceau: Akira, de broer van Yuki, is intussen overleden. Haar hulp kwam te laat. Akira was in z'n jonge jaren een fanatiek kalligraaf, onder het bewonderend toezicht van z'n zus. Nu, zo'n 50 jaar later, verblijft z'n geest nog steeds in z'n ouderlijke thuis, waar hij de terminaal zieke, 9-jarige Shota gezelschap houdt. Het is een beetje als de film 'Ghost', waar de geesten (tenzij door oefening) enkel via anderen iets kunnen doen, in dit geval schrijven. Akira herkent de oude(re) genezeres (Yuki) en wil haar vertellen hoe ze Shota kan redden. Uiteraard is de herkenning dan wederzijds door wat hij via Shota op het papier schreef. Shota blijkt haar kleinzoon te zijn.
3) L'enfant & la courtisane: een soort vervolg (5 jaar later) van deel 1. Yuki en Sayuri (een dame van plezier, om het zo te verwoorden) ontmoeten elkaar weer (dankzij de armband die Sayuri Yuki als geluksbrenger gaf toen Yuki voor haar opkwam toen zij door haar "chef van het bordeel" werd mishandelt). Maar het is geen gelukkig weerzien, of eerder, Yuki is moeten vluchten met haar zoontje, maar kan nergens terecht (familie-eer en zo). Sayuri belooft haar te helpen, maar blijkt dan zeer vindingrijk te moeten zijn wanneer blijkt dat Yuki er vandoor is. Zonder haar zoontje. Sayuri besluit haar eigen weg te gaan, maar onderschat de weersomstandigheden. Ze bezwijkt, maar kan toch nog gered worden, al is het zeer "kantje boord".
4) L'intrus dans la maison: Takeshi (achterachterkleinzoon van Yuki) bezoekt het reeds lang verlaten kasteel waar Akira gestorven is (zie delen 1 en 2), en hij nog als geest ronddwaalt, wachtend op Shota (toen genezen, maar wou indertijd sterven om ook een geest te worden), de grootvader van Takeshi. Maar Takeshi is een jongen op de dool, zonder een doel in z'n leven. Hij hoopt dit in de dood (als geest) te vinden. Akira treedt hier eerder als geërgerde geest op, kritisch, wantrouwig t.o.v. Takeshi (of elke indringer). Of Takeshi's wens waarheid wordt is niet goed geweten. Ik vond dit deel minder interessant, eerder wat langdradig. 'k Vond moeilijk een verband of aansluiting met de voorgaande delen, al snap ik wel de gebeurtenissen op zich.
5) Le fils du guérisseur: En zo komt de zoon van de genezer (deel 1) nogmaals in beeld, dit keer als hoofdfiguur. Seimei wil de wijde wereld intrekken, weg van de lokale bevolking, een meer anoniem leven leiden. Z'n vader is recent overleden, verzorgde geen zieken meer (omdat hij z'n eigen zoon, de jongste) niet kon helpen. Blijkbaar was dat een nadeel aan de goddelijke krachten: niet van toepassing op eigen familieleden. Daardoor raakte ie depressief en werd iedereen steeds weggestuurd, tenzij een overnachting nodig was wegens een lange terugreis. Zoiets kon nog net. Seimei trekt er dus op uit, maar wordt plots (door 2 stoere krijgers) aangemaand om de echtgenote van een belangrijke heer te genezen. Gezien z'n opleiding die z'n vader 'm gegeven heeft, kan ie snel inschatten hoe ziek of terminaal iemand is en hier duurt het niet lang of het verdict is: terminaal. De kasteelheer/heerser Imagawa is razend, beveelt Seimei alles in het werk te stellen om haar te genezen, desnoods bidden tot de goden tussenbeide komen. Seimei maakt echter kennis van een dienstmeisje, dat zelf ziek is, maar dat uiteraard niet vertelt. Seimei besluit haar te helpen, gezien haar meesteres terminaal ziek is. Seimei vreest voor z'n leven en besluit Akane in z'n vluchtplan te betrekken, wat best wel lukt, na enig aandringen. Echter, niet alles loopt volgens plan. En Akane's vader (niet Imagawa, want diens stervende vrouw - Akane's moeder, inderdaad - is even vreemd gegaan, met Akane als resultaat) blijkt helemaal niet dood te zijn. Imagawa was razend de kamer binnengestormd, maar stootte een kaars om, waardoor er brand uitbrak. Vluchten lukt voor het nieuwe koppel. Akane was door de rook bevangen, werd echter door Seimei gered, ondanks de strenge bewaking. Hij krijgt in de apotheek hulp van een jongen. Of eerder meisje. Zie deel 1. En zo is de cirkel rond.
'Les Neiges de l'Éternel' is een verademing! Origineel qua opzet, want hoe vaak lees je als westerling een verhaal dat zich in een fictieve Japanse feodale omgeving afspeelt? De schrijfstijl is van een, m.i., hoog niveau (zeker voor een debuut). In de flaptekst staat "betoverend, wreed en dichterlijk". Ik kan dit alleen maar bevestigen. Een woordenboek was bij momenten verre van een luxe, want ik kon niet alles uit de context afleiden. Om nog maar te zwijgen van het nodige onderzoek om de verhalen zo getrouw mogelijk te doen overkomen.
Dikke aanrader! Dit verdient een vertaling, zeer zeker.
---------------------------------------
(traduction rugueuse)
La France et l'imaginaire: c'est un mariage sans équivalent, sauf dans le monde anglophone (plus spécifiquement le Royaume-Uni et les États-Unis, où chaque année des centaines/milliers de livres sont publiés). Le marché français est varié, très varié, ce qui est démontré par les catalogues de ActuSF, Les Moutons Électriques, Les Éditions Mnémos (ces 3 forment ensemble Les Indés de l'Imaginaire), Bragelonne, Folio SF, Outre-Fleuve, et d'autres maisons d'éditions.
'Les Neiges de l'Éternel' consiste de cinq parties, chacune repartie en plusieurs chapitres. Chaque partie se déroule dans un environnement enneigé. Ce sont des hivers rigoureux, l'un plus sévère que l'autre.
Chaque partie a son propre titre, son personnage-clé. Bien que les cinq histoires se lisent, d'une ou autres façons, à part, elles forment quand même une unité. Dans chaque histoire, il s'agit d'une famille aristocratique (y compris les servantes, courtisanes, ...), ce qui se montre dans la description des personnages et l'arrière-fond (les maisons, les châteaux, les titres, etc. et qui joue quel rôle). Cela rend les histoires plus vivantes.
Évidemment, Claire Krust a employé du vocabulaire idoine: tatami, futon, shoji, ... Malgré le fait que la recherche sur internet est très facile, un petit glossaire aurait été utile, je trouve.
Je ne vais pas entrer dans les détails, bien que je l'aie fait en Néerlandais (ci-dessus comme spoiler, plutôt pour moi-même).
'Les Neiges de l'Éternel' est un rafraîchissement! Combien de fois lit-on une histoire qui se déroule dans un Japon féodal fantasmé? Le style d'écrire est d'un haut niveau, à mon avis, certainement pour ce premier roman. Le dictionnaire était un bon compagnon (dans mon cas, en tant que néerlandophone). Le texte de la jaquette parle d'un roman envoûtant, cruel et poétique. Je ne peux que confirmer.
Vivement recommandé! Et pourquoi pas une traduction (en néerlandais ou anglais, par exemple)?… (mehr)
'Les Neiges de l'Éternel' bevat vijf delen, elk onderverdeeld in een aantal hoofdstukken. Elk deel speelt zich af in een besneeuwde omgeving. Het is winter, door en door. Net geen "putteke winter"... eh, jawel, want afhankelijk van het verhaal laten de weersomstandigheden al of niet toe om een stevige wandeling te maken zonder dood te vriezen.
Elk deel heeft een eigen titel, draait rond een kernfiguur. Hoewel de delen enigszins apart te lezen zijn, vormen ze toch een geheel. Alle verhalen spelen zich af in aristocratische families (alle met dienstmeisjes), getuige niet alleen de beschrijving van de personages, maar ook de achtergrond (de huizen, kastelen, titels, en dergelijke, maar ook welke rol dit of dat personage heeft). Claire Krust gebruikt waar nodig de gepaste terminologie: tatami, futon, shoji, ... Hoewel internet tegenwoordig de standaard is, kon het geen kwaad een soort verklarend woordenlijstje voor- of achteraan het boek toe te voegen.
Hierna volgt een korte inhoud van elk deel, maar met spoilers (!) (omdat ik reviews ook voor mezelf schrijf, "for future reference").
2) Le mort au pinceau: Akira, de broer van Yuki, is intussen overleden. Haar hulp kwam te laat. Akira was in z'n jonge jaren een fanatiek kalligraaf, onder het bewonderend toezicht van z'n zus. Nu, zo'n 50 jaar later, verblijft z'n geest nog steeds in z'n ouderlijke thuis, waar hij de terminaal zieke, 9-jarige Shota gezelschap houdt. Het is een beetje als de film 'Ghost', waar de geesten (tenzij door oefening) enkel via anderen iets kunnen doen, in dit geval schrijven. Akira herkent de oude(re) genezeres (Yuki) en wil haar vertellen hoe ze Shota kan redden. Uiteraard is de herkenning dan wederzijds door wat hij via Shota op het papier schreef. Shota blijkt haar kleinzoon te zijn.
3) L'enfant & la courtisane: een soort vervolg (5 jaar later) van deel 1. Yuki en Sayuri (een dame van plezier, om het zo te verwoorden) ontmoeten elkaar weer (dankzij de armband die Sayuri Yuki als geluksbrenger gaf toen Yuki voor haar opkwam toen zij door haar "chef van het bordeel" werd mishandelt). Maar het is geen gelukkig weerzien, of eerder, Yuki is moeten vluchten met haar zoontje, maar kan nergens terecht (familie-eer en zo). Sayuri belooft haar te helpen, maar blijkt dan zeer vindingrijk te moeten zijn wanneer blijkt dat Yuki er vandoor is. Zonder haar zoontje. Sayuri besluit haar eigen weg te gaan, maar onderschat de weersomstandigheden. Ze bezwijkt, maar kan toch nog gered worden, al is het zeer "kantje boord".
4) L'intrus dans la maison: Takeshi (achterachterkleinzoon van Yuki) bezoekt het reeds lang verlaten kasteel waar Akira gestorven is (zie delen 1 en 2), en hij nog als geest ronddwaalt, wachtend op Shota (toen genezen, maar wou indertijd sterven om ook een geest te worden), de grootvader van Takeshi. Maar Takeshi is een jongen op de dool, zonder een doel in z'n leven. Hij hoopt dit in de dood (als geest) te vinden. Akira treedt hier eerder als geërgerde geest op, kritisch, wantrouwig t.o.v. Takeshi (of elke indringer). Of Takeshi's wens waarheid wordt is niet goed geweten. Ik vond dit deel minder interessant, eerder wat langdradig. 'k Vond moeilijk een verband of aansluiting met de voorgaande delen, al snap ik wel de gebeurtenissen op zich.
5) Le fils du guérisseur: En zo komt de zoon van de genezer (deel 1) nogmaals in beeld, dit keer als hoofdfiguur. Seimei wil de wijde wereld intrekken, weg van de lokale bevolking, een meer anoniem leven leiden. Z'n vader is recent overleden, verzorgde geen zieken meer (omdat hij z'n eigen zoon, de jongste) niet kon helpen. Blijkbaar was dat een nadeel aan de goddelijke krachten: niet van toepassing op eigen familieleden. Daardoor raakte ie depressief en werd iedereen steeds weggestuurd, tenzij een overnachting nodig was wegens een lange terugreis. Zoiets kon nog net. Seimei trekt er dus op uit, maar wordt plots (door 2 stoere krijgers) aangemaand om de echtgenote van een belangrijke heer te genezen. Gezien z'n opleiding die z'n vader 'm gegeven heeft, kan ie snel inschatten hoe ziek of terminaal iemand is en hier duurt het niet lang of het verdict is: terminaal. De kasteelheer/heerser Imagawa is razend, beveelt Seimei alles in het werk te stellen om haar te genezen, desnoods bidden tot de goden tussenbeide komen. Seimei maakt echter kennis van een dienstmeisje, dat zelf ziek is, maar dat uiteraard niet vertelt. Seimei besluit haar te helpen, gezien haar meesteres terminaal ziek is. Seimei vreest voor z'n leven en besluit Akane in z'n vluchtplan te betrekken, wat best wel lukt, na enig aandringen. Echter, niet alles loopt volgens plan. En Akane's vader (niet Imagawa, want diens stervende vrouw - Akane's moeder, inderdaad - is even vreemd gegaan, met Akane als resultaat) blijkt helemaal niet dood te zijn. Imagawa was razend de kamer binnengestormd, maar stootte een kaars om, waardoor er brand uitbrak. Vluchten lukt voor het nieuwe koppel. Akane was door de rook bevangen, werd echter door Seimei gered, ondanks de strenge bewaking. Hij krijgt in de apotheek hulp van een jongen. Of eerder meisje. Zie deel 1. En zo is de cirkel rond.
'Les Neiges de l'Éternel' is een verademing! Origineel qua opzet, want hoe vaak lees je als westerling een verhaal dat zich in een fictieve Japanse feodale omgeving afspeelt? De schrijfstijl is van een, m.i., hoog niveau (zeker voor een debuut). In de flaptekst staat "betoverend, wreed en dichterlijk". Ik kan dit alleen maar bevestigen. Een woordenboek was bij momenten verre van een luxe, want ik kon niet alles uit de context afleiden. Om nog maar te zwijgen van het nodige onderzoek om de verhalen zo getrouw mogelijk te doen overkomen.
Dikke aanrader! Dit verdient een vertaling, zeer zeker.
---------------------------------------
(traduction rugueuse)
La France et l'imaginaire: c'est un mariage sans équivalent, sauf dans le monde anglophone (plus spécifiquement le Royaume-Uni et les États-Unis, où chaque année des centaines/milliers de livres sont publiés). Le marché français est varié, très varié, ce qui est démontré par les catalogues de ActuSF, Les Moutons Électriques, Les Éditions Mnémos (ces 3 forment ensemble Les Indés de l'Imaginaire), Bragelonne, Folio SF, Outre-Fleuve, et d'autres maisons d'éditions.
'Les Neiges de l'Éternel' consiste de cinq parties, chacune repartie en plusieurs chapitres. Chaque partie se déroule dans un environnement enneigé. Ce sont des hivers rigoureux, l'un plus sévère que l'autre.
Chaque partie a son propre titre, son personnage-clé. Bien que les cinq histoires se lisent, d'une ou autres façons, à part, elles forment quand même une unité. Dans chaque histoire, il s'agit d'une famille aristocratique (y compris les servantes, courtisanes, ...), ce qui se montre dans la description des personnages et l'arrière-fond (les maisons, les châteaux, les titres, etc. et qui joue quel rôle). Cela rend les histoires plus vivantes.
Évidemment, Claire Krust a employé du vocabulaire idoine: tatami, futon, shoji, ... Malgré le fait que la recherche sur internet est très facile, un petit glossaire aurait été utile, je trouve.
Je ne vais pas entrer dans les détails, bien que je l'aie fait en Néerlandais (ci-dessus comme spoiler, plutôt pour moi-même).
'Les Neiges de l'Éternel' est un rafraîchissement! Combien de fois lit-on une histoire qui se déroule dans un Japon féodal fantasmé? Le style d'écrire est d'un haut niveau, à mon avis, certainement pour ce premier roman. Le dictionnaire était un bon compagnon (dans mon cas, en tant que néerlandophone). Le texte de la jaquette parle d'un roman envoûtant, cruel et poétique. Je ne peux que confirmer.
Vivement recommandé! Et pourquoi pas une traduction (en néerlandais ou anglais, par exemple)?… (mehr)
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As Japanese mythology (Wikipedia) and deities play a large role, the story wouldn't be complete without the use of the right terminology. But no fears, a translation or explanation was provided in the text.
In 'L'Héritage de l'esprit-roi', we follow the imperial onmyoji, Shinya. An onmyoji is a guardian, as well as a judge and executioner, of the balance between the real world and the spirit world. An onmyoji also offers shelter for spirits (shikigami), who can use his body as a vessel. Spirits also have special forces/characteristics, useful in battle or otherwise. In Shinya's case, there's Moryo (wolf-spirit, an okami) and Aï (human spirit).
While Shinya is the imperial onmyoji, there are various clans - Ryo, Suda, ... - that fulfill a similar role in guarding the balance/peace in the real world. Because of these clans, there are almost no spirits in the city, yet all the more in the country-side. Point of notice: Unlike his colleagues, Shinya did not form or head a clan afterwards. He's a solitairy guardian/exorcist/magician/..., yet relies on his spirits when needed. Spirits tend to have an own will, depending on their characteristics and origins.
As imperial sheriff, so to speak, Shinya goes where the balance between real world and spirit world is disturbed. A first case leads him to the castle of a lord, who lives there with his wife and servants, everything of course well-guarded. The imprisoned spirit of his concubine struggles with the thought of not being able to have children, despite the desire of the lord. After Shinya's intervention, with the right amount of magic and spirit-power, the concubine would be free and given a new name: AÏ.
Shinya is afterwards commissioned with a special assignment: The emperor's wife-to-be, the prime minister's daughter, was hit by a curse. The prime minister insisted that the criminal be found as soon as possible, not only for her sake, but also his (prime minister's), as his daughter is to become the new wife of the emperor, after his former wife had passed away. With the help of Sayo, who was his strongest contender for the job of imperial onmyoji, because one guardian can't do this alone, Shinya discovered where the curse came from: something with a forest and a Spirit-King, as you might have guessed from the title. While he would rather have gone on on his own, Sayo's presence and help would prove extremely helpful.
The ancient forest was created by the Spirit-King, only accessible to spirits or by invitation of the First Ones, the first inhabitants of the spirit forest. Approaching the forest as a living being would be fatal. Which is also why Shinya and Sayo wore masks as a disguise. Come to think of it, a wee bit too simple a solution to fool spirits. But if it helps, why not? However, spirits attached to a human being, like in Moyro's and Aï's case, smell differently, hence they are to be even more careful.
Each would investigate the situation in his/her own way: Sayo exploring the city, AÏ going her own way whilst on a mission to find the Spirit-King, and Shinya from behind the scenes, though venturing out to places he used to spent time at so many years ago. Next to his traditional "weapon", beads, he also has his katana at the ready.
On a few occasions, Ms Krust threw in some flashbacks about Shinya's past. Or was it AÏ scanning his memories to find out more about him and his mysterious ways?
* A first shows up how he was brought up, how he had to become a warrior for the family's/clan's sake: Image and stature are key. Shinya had always been in favour of a peaceful solution and justice, avoiding the violent way as much as possible (unless there was no other way). And how he was chosen by the emperor to serve him.
* A second one focuses on Shinya's time in the spirit-forest, how he got himself into trouble, as he had broken the code of conduct, with severe consequences. Hinode, protector of the border with the real world, would play a key role.
At some point, since he doesn't want to or can't go back, he has to find a way to survive. Thanks to the mask of one of the slain guards, he can infiltrate, even find a job at a tea plantation. Because the spirit world has its own plantations and workforce, just like in the real world. And just like in the real world, there's injustice. Shinya will acquire a new name there, Eijiro, and be taught the trade by Oroshi. The plantation is closed off by seals, like a barbed fence for cows. Shinya, intelligent as he is, will obviously try to find a way to get out, not in the least because he's still alive.
Hinode, who had saved him after his attack to take care of him, comes to his rescue again. She's the protector of the border with the real world. As Shinya seems to become less human - he can't become a spirit without dying, though - she sees potential in him, probably to have an ally in the real world. Shinya would learn the language of magic, thus be able to deactivate the seals that protect the plantation. His friend Oroshi would not know about this, on the other hand. One day, Oroshi would find out, but he was so convinced of the mantra "work well and you'll be free soon", that he thought Shinya was betraying him. Until Hinode comes to select three workers, including Shinya... but not Oroshi.
* The third one tells the tale of how Shinya/Eijiro and the two others were sent to the prison where the cursed spirits were locked up. The three were to take over from the current spirits guarding the prisoners. For a hundred days, then they/guards would be free. A similar rule as on the tea plantation. Killing the cursed ones would curse the one doing the killing. Hence locking them up. Or killing them with the katana.
Aï's investigations would lead her to Oroshi, who had taken Shinya under his wings during his stay in the forest (see the flashbacks). While Shinya found freedom again, Oroshi would have a harder time to regain his freedom, with severe consequences, as our fellowship would discover later on, whilst investigating the case of the curse on the minister's daughter/emperor's wife-to-be.
But that's not all. There are many threads in this book, the most important concerning the Spirit-King, the curse, and how the story doesn't end as you think it will. All's well that ends well, yet there are a few hidden agendas to take into account. Sayo had been away a little too long. The fact that she lost the position of imperial onmyoji was still nagging at her. When she was told by the emperor to join Shinya on this mission, it was the perfect opportunity to try to take revenge. Everything would end well for the spirits, or rather, Shinya and co. had done everything in their power to set things aright, but it would take time for the balance, especially in the spirit world, to be restored.
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'L'Héritage de L'esprit-roi' offers an exciting journey into the world of Japanese mythology, showing how difficult it is to find a balance between the real world and the spirit world, without events in one having consequences in the other. Little by little, the puzzle is formed, also because of the flashbacks that offer good insight into the imperial onmyoji's past. These interruptions don't disturb the reading experience, provide for a welcome change and necessary completion that would have turned out differently if integrated into the regular chapters. Then again, such an approach doesn't work for every kind of story. Let's also not forget Claire Krust's style that makes this a serious page-turner.
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I was sent this book by Éditions ActuSF for review. Many thanks to them for the trust.
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See also this little interview on actusf.com.… (mehr)