KATZ Gabriel

Very interesting and disturbing novel about two kindred spirits, society pariahs that found strength in each other - unfortunately not to do good things but to engage in horrible wave of murders that span decades.

Albert and Solange, former orphaned and latter de-facto orphan even with her mother still alive, will create a very strong bond. Their goal is to build a family, create something of their lives but very soon it will become obvious that they are much more damaged than even they thought possible - they complement each other and they are in balance, but that balance comes with the price. One acts very destructively while other tries to hide their tracks and ensure they are out of danger after the bloody murders. I have to say that 'til the end I was not quite sure who did what but ending was really a twist.

It is not story of one using the other - they are like two damaged persons, fulfilling each other, but due to their rather traumatic experiences they act on instinct, and they do not allow others to enforce themselves on them (due to their ... I guess you might say socially strange behavior they are haunted by a very specific type of person). In their deranged state they take care of each other and they even build a very successful business, they travel, for all means and purposes enjoy their life (or at least try) but they are marked, one might say with the mark of Kane, that constantly brings more and more asocial and brutal creatures to their door and only way they can deal with them is to kill them. They are like eponymous black butterflies drawn to the light that burns them (although I think these are moths, but all right, I guess some poetic freedom needs to be given here).

Very disturbing story of two psychopaths that under different situations (better and happier childhood) might have been very successful in life.

Book is not that big (around 200 pages) and it is written in a very readable style - I did not find any excess of words or parts of the story that is not supposed to be there (in other words, there are no meaningless fillers). Story spans decades and it is told from Albert's (like 3/4 of the book) and Solange's point of view (1/4 of book). Author manages to present very vividly their own view of the world and events, and reader even develops a bond with these antiheroes, although it is very clear that this weird pair could never be part of the normal world (or better said, the majority of population, because actions of some of these "normal" people are everything but).

Twist at the end though, puts this book into "Sixth Sense" category meaning a lot of time needs to pass before re-read is possible.

Interesting, very haunting crime thriller.

Highly recommended to fans of thriller and crime genre.… (mais)

Norte de Francia, años cincuenta. Cuando Albert, un joven huérfano y solitario, conoce a Solange, hija de una prostituta castigada socialmente por haber simpatizado con los nazis, de inmediato salta una chispa entre ellos. Solos frente al mundo, se vuelven inseparables y su amistad da paso a un amor salvaje. Su primer crimen es un accidente. El segundo, un delito perfectamente calculado. A partir de entonces, cada verano cometen un asesinato distinto. Sin embargo, ninguna llama puede durar para siempre.

Una relación que recuerda la de Bonnie y Clyde o la de los protagonistas de Asesinos natos de Oliver Stone. Una novela sentimental y oscura, hipnótica e inquietante, como la personalidad de sus dos torturados antihéroes: estas mariposas negras no dejarán de acecharte.… (mais)

Après Le Puits des Mémoires, voici une autre histoire qui se déroule dans le même monde. Un one shot, "standalone", pas de connection avec la trilogie. Le style est aussi un peu plus accessible et le livre est catalogué comme YA (jeune adulte), ce qui ne veut pas dire que les "vieils" adultes ne peuvent pas le lire. Au contraire, je dirais.

Comme écrit sur la quatrième de couverture, il s'agit d'une fille (Kaelyn) qui devait être un fils, pour succéder à son père (Horn), le maître de guerre d'un peuple à Nordland. Malgré ça, elle part quand même en guerre avec ces compatriotes pour combattre le lointain sultanat d’Azman. Ceci est décrit comme terre barbare en proie aux cannibales. Mais une fois arrivé là-bas, Kaelyn se rend compte que "terre barbare en proie aux cannibales" est complètement faux; elle découvre toute une civilisation développée (ce qui peut être considéré comme une critique sur notre [l'Europe, les États-Unis] point de vue sur, par exemple, le Proche-Orient et Moyen-Orient [ou d'autres pays/régions], non?). Et elle veut y passer plus de temps, parce qu'elle croit qu'elle pourra se développer, devenir maîtresse de guerre plus facilement chez eux que chez son propre peuple.

Et une chose mène à une autre. Elle commence comme esclave, mais arrive à monter l'escalier (en quelque sorte) - entre autres en sauvant la via de Fenia (l'épouse de Hadrian, le maître de guerre, et la nièce du sultan) - convainquant le maître de guerre (Hadrian) de la prendre sous ses ailes (et oui, Cupidon est présent aussi, ou qu'avez-vous pensé?), pour qu'elle puisse réaliser son grand rêve. Évidemment, cela ne se passe pas si facilement. Il y a de la jalousie, de la haine, de la manipulation (surtout par l'épouse de Hadrian, le maître de guerre: Fenia, la nièce du sultan). A la fin, on récolte ce qu'on sème.

Kaelyn entre-temps doit se battre pour avoir un statut spécial, pour vivre son rêve, pour être accepté en tant que femme dans un monde largement dominé des hommes. Et des Waegs, comparable avec, je dirais, les Uruk-hai dans Le Seigneur des Anneaux (LOTR), mais encore plus féroces.

Tout n'est pas décrit, c'est au lecteur de remplir les vides. Les batailles des Rouges contre les Azmaniens étaient un peu simples, je trouve. Par contre, Gabriel Katz =/= Bernard Cornwell. Chacun son style et ses propres capacités. Mais bon, l'histoire se tournait donc autour Kaelyn et le fait de devoir se battre en tant que femme dans ce monde si on veut réaliser son rêve.

Mais il y avait aussi au moins un moment auquel je me disais: "Comment?" Par exemple, quand quelqu'un de la formation de Kaelyn va contrôler si l'eau est potable pour les chevaux, Katz l'écrit comme ça, mais il n'a pas ajouté comment ce type l'a fait. Avait-il quelque chose sur lui, une sorte d'appareil? On ne saura jamais. Un détail, je sais, mais d'une certaine importance, je trouve.

Il y avait aussi une mention d'une langue locale, le Tchi. Cela me faisait penser au... Ch'ti. Un petit jeu de mots délibéré ou juste une coïncidence? ;-)

En tout cas, cette histoire m'a beaucoup plu, non seulement grâce au style raisonnablement accessible, mais aussi aux pincées d'humour. Bef, une chouette, eh, amuse-gueule par rapport aux histoires plus sérieuses ou épaisses.… (mais)

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.… (mais)