This second volume, where one finds of course the Alliance of Three is actually darker than the first. Some scenes (few) are more "shock" that the overall feel of the book, and in my opinion can offend the most sensitive of us share the unspoken (that work the imagination of course, but in unhealthy). I want to clarify that because I had not noticed it in Volume 1 ... That said, the story remains compelling, we always learn more from this new world. I await the result, but with less impatience than this volume. I think in fact that the whole "one book a year" is felt, many passages seemed a little sloppy, too fast ... This is the first time I feel that reading a book Maxime Chattam (admittedly, I have not read all his books), I hope this will be the last! :)