(same review for the two books)

I have long hesitated to read this series, 'Arkane', consisting of 'La Désolation' (my review) and 'La Résurrection'. Back in 2019, Pierre Bordage himself asked me - after I had purchased 'Les Fables de L'Humpur' and 'La Fraternité du Pance' (omnibus) - if I would be interested in his then latest offering. I politely declined, as those two books were not on my mind then.

And it took me several years more before I took the plunge, albeit it for the pocket versions. The books have won prizes, and yet the reviews were not exactly super enthusiastic. There were some, of course, but the majority of those I had checked out made me even more reluctant to read this series. But I have now read it and can confirm that some remarks were pertinent

In the beginning, I thought the series would revolve around Babel and language, based on how I first understood the construction of the city. It doesn't, unfortunately. I would have found it interesting how Mr Bordage would use language in one of his stories, although I think he's done it before. Though not in a Babel-like construction, if I'm not mistaken.

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What's it about, roughly? The river Odivir would overflow and flood the land Arkane. Fortunately, the goddesses of the river would spare the lives of seven peoples - each having their own animal symbol: Dragon, Eagle, Dolphin, Wolf, Corridan (invented term/species), Bear, Orbal (invented term/species, snake-like) -, who, after this miraculous rescue, vow to reconstruct their civilisation and maintain balance between each other. Disrupting the balance would result in their demise.

The rebuilt city is indeed like a Tower of Babel, but the top layer never interacts with the lower ones, despite the seven peoples having staff from the lower layers in their respective households. The labyrinths between each layer serve to keep each layer at bay, so the political clans can live their lives undisturbed. The layers are as follows: les Dits (comedians, artists, craftsmen), les Marches (traders), les Labeurs, les Bas et les Fonds (convicts). While the seven rescued clans are generally in charge, each layer has its own rules and beliefs (gods, colours, ...). Again, the top doesn't care about what happens below, as long as they are safe and undisturbed. Similar to the caste system in India (link 1, link 2).

Unless they disturb their own tranquil life, which they do. The Drac clan is taken out, the chief's son exiled to the lowest region, where he will lead quite a different life than before, but in a leading position. As the clans are politically and criminally untouchable, there's no one to punish them, to bring them to trial. They hold all power.

Matteo, the condemned son, has a sister, and she's determined to find him and bring him back to his rightful place. Next to that, Noy, from one of the conspiring clans, suspects something greater at work here, having caused the assassination and goes out to investigate as well. Far from Arkane, an apprentice in the art of masonry, mainly by mental force, was sent to become a mason (or "stone whisperer") because his parents thought he wouldn't get anywhere in life, so as a last resort... Renn, the boy, would also end up being the last of the Mohicans, eh, "stone whisperers". A stone whisperer can mentally communicate with any kind of stone and so physically manipulate/modify/shape it. This skill would be useful later on and even at the end of the story. Renn, despite being considered a no-good, would play a vital role for all involved.

Of course, he would get help from a mighty warrior, Orik, who had fought against a large upcoming army that had destroyed his country. The man hat come to warn the people of Arkane that they too would suffer an untimely death if no defences were erected to stop said army.

Next to these characters, there's more than a handful of side-characters who would help or deceive our "fellowship". Not in the least because Oziel, looking for her brother, and Renn would be wanted by the remaining six ruling clans. While people of the lower regions behaved friendly and helpful, corruption was also rampant there, and our fellowship would have to pray to the gods, so to speak, and use whatever means possible to stay out of the clutches of the guards/army/priests... as a high price was put on their heads. Yes, corruption is everywhere, especially when large sums of money are involved. Fortunately, other characters would see to it that Oziel or any of the other protagonists could continue their quests, even if it would cost those secondary characters their lives. Life is tough in Arkane.

Two congregations would "help" Oziel achieve her goal: La Désolation and La Résurrection. Each having their own take on how the city should be governed and how the murder should be solved. Oziel would find out soon enough, through a white lie, but one that would touch her for the rest of her life: physical disfigurement. Oziel would become less respected than the most vile people of Arkane. Worse, (especially) men would try to abuse her, kill her, use her as a toy.
Both titles also indicate what to expect: desolation (the assassination and the consequences) in the first part, resurrection (investigating and uncovering the truth) in the second part.

As always, all's well that ends well (despite the corruption, murders, deceit, ...), and the grand scheme for the execution of the Drac clan is revealed. As mentioned before, Renn and his stone-whispering skill would prove to be vital in the process. If stones could speak... they'd tell Renn what had happened so long ago to the founders of Arkane and how one thing led to another for the other people and creatures.

'Arkane', the series, is not flawless. There's a wee bit too much sex, as much as in 'Les Derniers Hommes'. Not that this is new, Mr Bordage has added this in previous stories, but not - if I recall correctly - in this quantity. Even if Mr Bordage himself has explained in an interview (like this one from 2008) that he's always incorporated it in his books.
Noy is the chosen one here, but if you read carefully, he's got a huge drive because it was used as a means of manipulation, to use him as a tool for the larger scheme set up behind the scenes. Noy wasn't the brightest of his family, but honestly thought and felt that he was respected as a potential leader. Even as a leader of wild creatures who had been living underground for several decades, but that too had a reason and was part of the original plan of the six clans who took out the Drac clan. And Noy was fooled in this, through subtle manipulation.

Second flaw, even if Bordage is not such a writer: not enough explanation of the setting, of the world, or even which role each clan played. I understand that the focus is always the characters and how they go through various experiences to find out who they are, what drives them, what skills they have and how they can overcome hurdles, despite their origins. He's good at that, no question about it - well, I did find it strange how our (incomplete) fellowship (without proper military training or tactics) managed to fight off the invading army that previously eradicated an entire people. But one must not neglect the world in which the story takes place, especially in Fantasy.

Third problem: Show, don't tell, or, more showing instead of telling. This also links up with "more explaining of the world/context", so that one doesn't have to wonder if something was overlooked.

Fourth little problem: battle scenes are not Bordage's thing, not when one is used to e.g. Bernard Cornwell's writing in that regard.

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'Arkane' is not a story of Babel from a linguistic point-of-view, it is one from a socio-political one. A classic tale, of course, in the world of fantasy, but one that shows there is hope for a better world or outcome, despite all the corruption, deceit, manipulation, greed, etc. Each character evolved, discovered skills and characteristics they didn't think they had, despite their flaws.
Bordage's style makes it a page-turner, most definitely.

All things considered, however, I can't really recommend this series as it is, unless you're familiar with Bordage's works and want something lighter, entertaining, notwithstanding its imperfections. If you're new to Bordage's works, better start with his older stuff, followed by his short stories, which - in general - are better (and more civilised ;-)) than 'Arkane'.

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Previously read, in chronological order: (not counting his stories published in various anthologies since his last collection)
* Chroniques des ombres (my review)
* Hier je vous donnerai de mes nouvelles (my review)
* Le Jour où la guerre s'arrêta (my review)
* Entretiens avec Pierre Bordage (my review)
* Contes des sages d'autres mondes et d'autres temps (my review)
* Contes des sages pas sages (my review)
* Dernières nouvelles de la Terre... (my review)
* Les Dames blanches (my review)
* Nouvelle Vie™ (my review)
* Les Derniers Hommes (my review)

Still on my TBR-pile:
* La Trilogie des Guerriers du silence (trilogy)
* Les Portes d'Occident + Les Aigles d'Orient (Wang duology)
* Le Livre des prophéties (omnibus)
* La Fraternité du Panca (omnibus)
* Les Fables de l'Humpur
* Abzalon + Orchéron
* Qui vient du bruit + Le Dragon aux plumes de sang (Griots Celestes duology)
* L'Enjomineur (trilogy) ( )