A masterful return

With his previous novel, Winning the war, Jean-Philippe Jaworksi has been essential as a major figure of the French literary landscape. Ever noticed with his Janua Vera collection, author from Nancy has a few years before returning to the commands of a denvergure project, namely the trilogy of "Kings of the World", always with electric sheep. Of course, after such works, Jaworski was expected to turn and this first volume or "First Branch" - titled Not even Death has the difficult task of convincing in just 297 pages (against 684 for Winning the war) that he is the author exceptional glimpsed before. Besides the difference in pagination, exit the period of the Italian Renaissance and hello Celtic era, an obvious risk taking that adds to limpatience to discover this new book.

Not even in death, Bellovesus son of Sacrovèse, tells his story to an Ionian hero to transmit his legend. Exiled by his uncle, King Ambigat after the war Boars that killed his father, Bellovesus, his brother and his Segovèse Dannissa mother must live at the bottom of the kingdom of Biturige people. Yet by the age, the two young men see themselves up by their lineage, and when the war against the Ambrones burst, the high king asks Sumarios demmener Bellovesus and Sacrovèse to war for that they become men. Embedded in a brutal and ruthless world, Bellovesus finds himself in deep trouble. The only problem with this is that unlike dAmbigat expectations Bellovesus is not dead.

The first evidence before but not out, this is the style of Jean-Philippe Jaworski. A linstar of his writing in Winning the war, we have to do here with a new feat. As a gemstone, the style of French author sparkles, chased by a precise and subtle pen and quon rediscovered each time from a different angle with each new reading. Behind every sentence, there is a little music, impeccable cadence that makes reading as fluid quépatante. Therefore, needless to say, only intro narrated in the second person, immerses the reader in Celtic universe. It turns undeniable from the first pages of the pen from Nancy na that never saméliorer this talent décriture does contradict the pages. It will even crescendo, so all the more impressive that the style is magnified by the mood of the author and history.

Not even death, despite his congruous size saffirme like a novel-universe. In sunny mix fantasy and history, Jaworski book an experience dimmersion. The sintroduit drive through the back door, that of family Bellovesus of history, noble fallen in the world of the Celts, their multiple tribes, customs, wars and traditions. It flirts with a time of pure warrior culture, with the first major party that takes Bellovesus Ségovèse and in the wake of Sumarios and Comargos, two heroes of Bituriges, a strong and proud people. This is where dailleurs proves the overwhelming force Jaworksi, that never do in lesbroufe. By systematically refusing the excess and bombast of many fantasy novels, but not out breathes authenticity, realism. The journey of the two young warriors turns out as rough as simple in its description. In a few pages, we live with the Celts, we eat with the Celts, we suffer with the Celts. In short, we are Celts. So much so that the heart will tighten when dOicos ​​request. Similarly, traditions and customs quickly introduced by author fascinate, always well used, they serve as the narrative engine source informaTION the reader. A pledge dintelligence in reading, along quun fly high entertainment.

Soon, we will switch in the main part of the novel, and thus the warrior age story to the story denfance between fantasy and nostalgia. Always avoiding the improbable feats e heroic flights, Jaworski invests his energy in the description of everyday life. Thus, the player enters the following pages in the company of young Celtic at the option of the time, one quickly understands all the bitterness of their mother and all leffronterie boys. Always dipping his story with the Celtic culture, we find ourselves facing a fascinating piece of life, as intimate as sensitive. Similarly, the author discusses the background of forests and adjoining legends. This is here where the most fantasy elements, almost mythological, find themselves most. The encounter between the Lord and Forts Taruos is striking evidence not only control but also Jaworski malice. By disturbing the game between delusional episode and dream world, he keeps a dream awake feeling all along while to discover a new facet of the Celtic legends. We remain far from the canons of the genre, for the better.

But let's be frank, but not out is not an easy book to address and follow. Based on a fluctuating narrative by its temporality, Jaworski ride his drive in different periods (not including doubts about the reality of things experienced) and some will find themselves quickly rerouted. Nevertheless, the difficulty is relative, and careful reading especially easy to palliate this little game is fully justified. The way back to the beginning of the plot before so the commitment of the boys for the war turns out dailleurs clever, proving that the control of the author allows him this kind of storytelling process. Anyway, the characters scattered throughout the novel it takes time to adapt to the strange names profusion prove quite interesting excavated and to mitigate the relative sense of disorientation experienced. Thus Bellovesus, Sumarios, Suobnos or Dannissa become anchors for the reader regardless lépoque. If lon really had to point a fault it would be the brevity Not even Death. A dune novel such excellence can only be frustrating when lon reaches the end, all the more that Mr. Jaworski strikes a sentence even more frustrating closing. But how to keep grievance to the author of a short novel we do when we see a ton of things to say otherwise? It will be here the heart of the reader who will talk, we need emergency on!

Not even Death, the first volume of the trilogy of the Kings of the World Jean-Philippe Jaworski door to the pinnacle of French fantasy and completes létablir as Best Francophone writer of the genre. In failing to do not match Winning the war but to surpass it, Jaworski detonates. Certainly the best fantasy novel for ages.