I was recommended this book by [a:Jean-Laurent Del Socorro|13596817|Jean-Laurent Del Socorro|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], known from at least two very good books ([b:Royaume de vent et de colères|25090639|Royaume de vent et de colères|Jean-Laurent Del Socorro|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1425723523s/25090639.jpg|44779717] and [b:Boudicca|34514050|Boudicca|Jean-Laurent Del Socorro|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1489001283s/34514050.jpg|55642248]), earlier this year at La Foire du Livre in Brussels, Belgium. He specifically asked if I liked [a:Terry Pratchett|1654|Terry Pratchett|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1235562205p2/1654.jpg], which I do. Well, his works, in any case.

While Sir Terry Pratchett's works have been translated into French (and published by Éditions L'Atalante), it's of course better to enjoy the works in their original language. But as the French also have a weird sense of humour, it can't be that there aren't any authors in that field?

That's where, for example, [a:Audrey Alwett|3226280|Audrey Alwett|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1410798080p2/3226280.jpg] comes in. She's first and foremost known for writing the texts for the Princesse Sara comics series and other comics. [b:Les Poisons de Katharz|34527731|Les Poisons de Katharz|Audrey Alwett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1489176734s/34527731.jpg|45784417] was her first proper Fantasy novel, which should have started a series, but for whatever reason, only the first book was released under her own label Bad Wolf. After some talks with Éditions ActuSF, it was decided to continue the work under their wings. But for that, the original story had to be reworked a little and was re-released in 2016. The original idea does remain: there will be more books/stories that will take place in the same world. As Ms. Alwett is/was a huge Pratchett fan, the books will follow a same pattern (if I understood her correctly): stand-alones in the same world.

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I'm not going to go too much into detail, but it's about a city called Katharz. It shelters all the bad guys of other cities and thus serves as a sort of city-prison or prison-city. You can enter through the large gate, but you can't leave. A large and sturdy wall closes everyone inside off from the outside world. Meanwhile, there's a society to run in there. That's the responsibility of a young, female tyrant: Ténia Harsnik, 22 years old. She's assisted by the world's best sorceress (who has bad luck with keeping apprentices, as they somehow always manage to screw up and get themselves killed in the process): Dame Carasse. When her most recent apprentice fails to obey her (and blows up her tent and himself in the process), she ultimately finds one curious kid, who was given up for adoption. His name: Azarel; yes, a biblical name (Azrael in English). And with Azarel, she will have hit the jackpot, so to speak. The world will not be the same any more. Her new izba (see Wikipedia for an explanation) also has magical abilities. And chicken legs! (I take it Ms. Alwett took The Luggage from Pratchett's Discworld series as inspiration)

As it happens, the city is cursed. The maximum number of inhabitants may not be higher than 100,000 (one hundred thousand). If however that number is more than reached, a dark future awaits Katharz and the rest of the world. Only, not everyone is aware of this agreement that was obtained many centuries ago. This also means that killing off the population is needed, with the approval of Ténia Harsnik. The population does not consist of only men, you must know.

There are of course also political events taking place elsewhere, in the neighbouring cities: A new king has to be chosen (Prince Alastor is the chosen one), a new bride for this new king-to-be, ... and a few wanting to see their own (political or other) powers increased through such a wedding. It's custom that the bride gets to choose a gift: Some wanted statues, or a street named after them, or similar. Grace (a common name, as it had been used 29 times before) asked for a small war (actually, her uncle did); more precisely, a war with Katharz, as it was said this city was producing chemical weapons (well, well... a subtle reference to the US and Iraq's so-called WOMD/Weapons of Mass Destruction, so that the US could invade and dethrone - and kill - Saddam Hussein?). Grace is also the niece of one of the senators of Prince Alastor's politicians. Her uncle tries to convince everyone that Katharz is playing with everyone's safety. Especially the prince needs to be convinced, as it would make him more popular with the population; it would show that the future king knows how to protect his people and is not a coward. Yep, going to far on false pretences... a classic political move to obtain something else. It happens time and again.

Not all goes according to plan, else you wouldn't have a (good) story to tell.

I found this story very entertaining. The writing is quite juicy, fun, and very much alive (colloquial speech). I could picture the different characters saying what they said (and how they said it) and doing what they did. The world was well worked-out, although the focus lied, obviously, on the characters. This is not a Pratchett copy-cat. There are the obvious influences, but this story holds its grounds even if you haven't read any Discworld novel. I certainly had to laugh several times at the sometimes simple-mindedness of the certain characters. But like Pratchett, Audrey threw in subtle references to real life, about human behaviour, about morals and alike.

So yeah, it's Fantasy, it's funny where it must be, but it also makes you think about the world today, even if the entertainment aspect is of much higher importance.

Definitely recommended for (French-speaking) Pratchett fans. I hope the next story/ies will be of the same quality. ( )