So far, I've very much enjoyed Gabriel Katz's books, although [b:L'envers du monde|25925808|L'envers du monde (Aeternia #2)|Gabriel Katz|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1437129271s/25925808.jpg|45817642] was a little less satisfying, in my opinion. See my reviews of his books I've read so far here. I can only say: If you've never read Katz, start with the Le Puits des Mémoires trilogy.

La Part des Ombres, like Aeternia a duology and whose story also takes place in the very same world as the aforementioned trilogy, brings together three characters from previous books: Olen from the trilogy Le Puits des Mémoires, Kaelyn from [b:La Maîtresse de Guerre|28951779|La Maîtresse de Guerre|Gabriel Katz|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1454839656s/28951779.jpg|32796449] (stand-alone in the same world), and Desmeon (aka The Dancer, le Danseur) from Aeternia. You could read this book without prior knowledge, but it's best to read the earlier books to know whom you're dealing with here.

Goranie/Gorany has been conquered by the Traceurs (war-waging people from the mountains), who rule with an iron fist. The real king has nothing left to say, he's a puppet. The governor is the one who rules, while his spoiled son considers himself a tough man, ready to take over command and show people whom they're dealing with. Strike fear and death among those who won't obey, meanwhile shagging servant girls, the only kinds of persons he has power over. Until he himself has to face an opponent much stronger and skilled than him.

The Traceurs got rid of all feasts and traditions of the locals, but one tradition was kept intact: visiting a marriage and joining the people present, everyone respecting each other. But one time, such a marriage didn't go as well. Death and destruction ruled the place, all part of a game of power... by the Traceurs. The groom survived his severe and life-threatening injuries and vowed to avenge his wife's and family's death. He calls himself le Fantôme / the Ghost. He creates a group of Ombres (Shadows), rebels to fight for his cause and bring down the reign of the Traceurs. And that's where Olen (a simple fruit- and vegetable merchant), Kaelyn (mistress of war, not of arms), and Desmeon (gladiator, faster than light) come in, playing different roles to try to enter the castle premises, to find ways to infiltrate and neutralise the Traceurs.

Of course, as they are mercenaries, high-placed persons who were present at the marriage and engaged in the killing, have to be eliminated, and it doesn't take long before at least two of them leave the world of the living. Olen finds out, while playing a role of language teacher for children, that the princess is to marry the governor's spoiled son, if only to have her father (the puppet king) maintain his position and maybe peace across the land. She doesn't want to, of course. Of course. Duh! So Olen decides to rescue her and bring her into safety in the camp of his friends, of the other Ombres, led by le Fantôme.

Katz has his own style, which is very accessible, yet also entertaining, which is vital. The main characters each maintain their characteristics from previous books - hence the importance of reading those first AND THEN this one. They remain normal, so to speak. With feelings, passions, skills, flaws, ... They don't have royal blood or those attitudes. This contrast, between them and the ruling class, is also present in the story. Furthermore, Kaelyn, despite being treated badly by Vlajad (le Fantôme's assistant), stands her ground as a woman, as a mistress of war.

The governor's son, however, does lose a lot of his credibility when the Traceurs' master of arms, known by the warriors as Amek, challenges him to a duel... to the death. Then he acts like a 5 year old child, while his father does nothing to avoid the lethal confrontation... so short before the son's marriage with the princess , who, like Mighty Mouse, seems to have come to save the day, after having spent some time at the camp of the Ombres..

This first book ends with a huge cliffhanger, so let's read on in [b:La Part des ombres - 2|38215949|La Part des ombres - 2 (La Part des ombres, #2)|Gabriel Katz|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1517050758s/38215949.jpg|59890097], which came out very recently.

In short: It started well, Katz got my full attention and I was sliding through the pages. The man has an accessible style, as I wrote above. Sometime over halfway, however, my attention started to fade a bit, the story became less exciting. Mind you, it's also very episodic, which is a trick to make you read on to know what will happen next. But because it's episodic, Katz doesn't tell everything, let's the reader's imagination fill in the blanks. This too speeds up the reading process, but leaves something to be desired, makes the book less attractive. At least, in my humble opinion. Hence my mixed feelings. Let's hope book 2 will satisfy my imaginary expectations. ( )