This is book 4 and the final instalment of the series 'Le Bâtard de Kosigan'. It's a direct continuation of the story that started with [b:Le Marteau des sorcières|35612355|Le Marteau des sorcières (Le Bâtard de Kosigan, #3)|Fabien Cerutti|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1499359301s/35612355.jpg|57052633]. The decision was made to cut the book into two, because it would have been too thick otherwise. And rightly so, I'd say.

The series, which I very much recommend, consists of four books, said to be stand-alone, but it's best to read them in chronological order, so as not to miss some important details about the characters, the events, ... :

1) [b:L'Ombre du pouvoir|21417064|L'Ombre du pouvoir (Le Bâtard de Kosigan #1)|Fabien Cerutti|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1394488252s/21417064.jpg|40718297] (see my review here)
2) [b:Le Fou prend le Roi|26106270|Le Fou prend le Roi|Fabien Cerutti|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1439672713s/26106270.jpg|45244891] (see my review here)
3) [b:Le Marteau des sorcières|35612355|Le Marteau des sorcières (Le Bâtard de Kosigan, #3)|Fabien Cerutti|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1499359301s/35612355.jpg|57052633] (see my review here)
4) [b:Le Testament d'involution|40222016|Le Testament d'involution (Le Bâtard de Kosigan, #4)|Fabien Cerutti|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1527442334s/40222016.jpg|62461673] (see my review below ;-))

And if you want, you can check out the stand-alone short-stories, which take place in the same world, in the anthologies of Les Imaginales:

1) [b:Fées et Automates - Anthologie des Imaginales 2016|29848394|Fées et Automates - Anthologie des Imaginales 2016|Jean-Claude Vantroyen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1460013912s/29848394.jpg|50209665] - Le crépuscule et l'aube (see my review here)
2) [b:Destinations - Anthologie des Imaginales 2017|35004321|Destinations - Anthologie des Imaginales 2017|Stéphanie Nicot|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493381757s/35004321.jpg|56282674] - Jehan de Mandeville, Le Livre des merveilles du monde (to read after book 2 in the series) (see my review here)
3) [b:Créatures, anthologie des Imaginales 2018|40131137|Créatures, anthologie des Imaginales 2018|Stéphanie Nicot|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1526470147s/40131137.jpg|62247823] - Légende du premier monde (still have to read it - Mr Cerutti recommends reading this story AFTER book 4, thus AFTER [b:Le Testament d'involution|40222016|Le Testament d'involution (Le Bâtard de Kosigan, #4)|Fabien Cerutti|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1527442334s/40222016.jpg|62461673]).

----------

So, the Inquisition, the eradication of ancient, pagan beliefs in nature, creatures like elves, dragons, and so on. Wiping it all from the face of the Earth, from all of recorded history, but keeping that knowledge for oneself, for one's own benefit and power over the other.

The Testament of Involution plays a key role in this last book, as its title indicates. In fact, there are two copies of the document, one of which is the real deal, of course. Both the witches and Las Casas have it or claim to have proper one.

Some spoilering, trying to be to the point: The battle between the sorceresses and Team Inquisition, lead by Juan Ginès de Las Casas (nicknamed Le Marteau des sorcières - hence the 3rd book's title), cardinal of the High-Office of the Inquisition, thus rages on. Our bastard manages to convince both parties to keep him alive and let him do what he was hired for. Only, both don't really trust him, despite him working for and against both parties, as he has his own agenda. Even Duke von Hohenstaufen seeks to get rid of Las Casas. Unfortunately, he won't live to see that day, as Las Casas will find out about the scheme soon enough.

Meanwhile, another part of his group (Compagnie des loups - Company of wolves) is investigating the actions of Duke Rudolf of Saxe. Rudolf is an important contender to the throne and one of Dagmar's opponents.

As push comes to shove, the Bastard and Las Casas do find out where the ritual described in the Testament of Involution takes place; somewhere underground. The Testament promises divine powers to those who accomplish the job. However, it's all fake. Sure, there is a divine connection: Satan himself, known as Mendorallen, who seems to have been trapped in a sort of capsule for over 150 years. One of the steps described in the Testament frees him from his "prison". That was also the only purpose for this Testament. The rest is page-filling. As you can imagine, Las Casas wanted to execute the ritual himself, believing - like the sisters Stein - he would be as powerful as a god. Alas, nothing of the sort, although there is a devastating battle between both forces. However, first Mendorallen and the Bastard have a little conversation, as the latter seems to have not really suffered from Mendorallen's power. This gives him the opportunity to "interrogate" Mendorallen about his mother, about the Testament, about the whole mess the witches and the Inquisition have got themselves into.

However, little by little, everyone wakes up again from Mendorallen's spell, and as he fears a trap, he clears off in the blink of an eye. As the fighting resumes, Laura Stein manages to save the Bastard and drop him in Mendorallen's capsule. As the lava rises and overtakes all platforms, Pierre Cordwain de Kosigan is one of the few survivors, gets saved by his comrades a little later. Yes, at some point and thanks to Mendorallen having put a spell on everyone, all forces could converge on one another.

All's well that ends well, somehow, despite the bloody battle and several casualties. Afterwards, after his missions in Germany and specifically Cologne, Kosigan returns to his homeland to retire, so to speak, but finds no rest until he has gone against the Church of Rome on last time, against Las Casas, against the Inquisition. It will indeed be his very last time. Or will it? As this fourth book is the end of the first cycle, our Bastard simply can't have perished in the dungeons of Rome, can he?

----------

With regards to Kergaël's story (the period 1899-1900 and even more recent, the 1970's), the bastard's heir, it seems he got shot when trying to escape from the clutches of The Antagonists (Croix d'Adombrement in a more modern version, say, Team Inquisition II). His friends mourn his loss, but want to find out what really happened, why so much money was set aside for a certain organisation (Old World Corporation), which role Kergaël played in the creation and activities of this organisation, and so on.

This all leads to new names, new developments, new revelations, but not everyone like this kind of nosey business. Eventually, after Mr Cerutti has mislead you (the reader) a few times, deus ex machina (or should I not use this here?): Kergaël is... NOT dead, after all. He did not only play an important part in the developments around his disappearance, but also staged it to be able to find out things for and by himself. And it turns out - major spoiler - that he's not really the heir of Pierre Cordwain de Kosigan... but his clone. Yes, his clone, which means our bastard sort of lives/d on in more recent times. He tells his friends the whole story at a secret meeting in the cellars of a local pub, where they share food and drinks. Until Kergaël sees the time right to disappear (again), like a thief in the night. Will we find out more about him in the second cycle? What with Team Inquisition II, the Arch (a movement created to counter the modern Inquisition? And so on.

----------

This first cycle ends magically, in a very unexpected manner. Mr Cerutti made a very exciting mix of history and fantasy, with a beautiful homage to the world of fantasy, of imagination, and alike. Fantasy as we know it may have started with, for example, Tolkien, but history proves that this style, this genre, this sort of stories already existed many centuries ago, but somehow got lost along the way and certainly in our present day and age. For shame!

Long story short: All hail Mr Cerutti for this magical journey into history and fantasy.

Bring on the second cycle! ( )