Fantasy thriller that pulls

A strange person called Nol asked to gather sages in the Ji island. Some never returned, others were marked for life. All were silent about what they had seen. A century later, their heirs are massacred by Zuu, the followers of the goddess priests vigilante zuia. Six of them escape their pursuers and get together to organize their defense. There Mother Corenn, member of the Permanent Council Kaul, Leti his niece, Grigan warrior Lower Kingdoms (that is to say South), the Nordic giant bowbaq the Reyan player Lorelia. Also part of the group Yan fisherman friend and lover Leti, although he is not a descendant of the wise.

Thus, the novel begins as a detective story and grabs the reader from the start. The comparison of these figures of different characters, forced to unite to face the danger, creates many earthy dialogues that fill a large part of the novel. The description of the known world and its many kingdoms is precise, with a wealth of detail. The ending is a true apotheosis, and quite frankly, I was stuck in my book.

The psychology of the characters is unfortunately very little thrust. This is not the strong point of Pierre Grimbert. At times, his awkwardness is far too visible. There is for example a scene where the heirs pass a hair from death during desperate fighting; some are seriously injured and survive by who knows what miracle. Around them, it is an Apocalypse landscape. Or one of them makes a joke and "whole group indulged in a chuckle, necessary to drive all the tension ...". I do not think we could laugh in such circumstances, and the term "power" is particularly ill-chosen.

The text reads well but the style is flat, without any research. I have not found a single figure of speech throughout Volume 1: "The night of stars make-up." That's a huge difference to the work of Tolkien! (The idea of ​​comparing Grimbert Tolkien does not come from me). The construction of Volume 2 can be criticized: the author prolongs the suspense with lengths and repetition, while the ending is too fast shipped. With the ideas of this book, a gifted writer could have made a truly flamboyant epic.