January 23, 2006
Mosse's page-turner takes readers on another quest for the Holy Grail, this time with two closely linked female protagonists born 800 years apart. In 2005, Alice Tanner stumbles into a hidden cave while on an archeological dig in southwest France. Her discovery—two skeletons and a labyrinth pattern engraved on the wall and on a ring—triggers visions of the past and propels her into a dangerous race against those who want the mystery of the cave for themselves. Alaïs, in the year 1209, is a plucky 17-year-old living in the French city of Carcassone, an outpost of the tolerant Cathar Christian sect that has been declared heretical by the Catholic Church. As Carcassonne comes under siege by the Crusaders, Alaïs's father, Bertrand Pelletier,entrusts her with a book that is part of a sacred trilogy connected to the Holy Grail. Guardians of the trilogy are operating against evil forces—including Alaïs's sister, Oriane, a traitorous, sexed-up villainess who wants the books for her own purposes. Sitting securely in the historical religious quest genre, Mosse's fluently written third novel (after Crucifix Lane)
may tantalize (if not satisfy) the legions of Da Vinci
Code
devotees with its promise of revelation about Christianity's truths. 8-city author tour.
February 15, 2006
Two women, separated by eight centuries, share a special connection both to each other and to three mystical books of power in this adventure novel by the cofounder of Britain's Orange Prize for Fiction. In the 13th century, French Crusaders were determined to exterminate all religious heretics in the rebellious south, including the Cathars living in Carcassonne. Bertrand Pelletier, soldier and keeper of the -Book of Words, - confesses his secrets to daughter Alais, thereby putting her in grave danger. During an archaeological excavation in present-day southwestern France, Alice Tanner uncovers a cave containing two skeletons and a stone ring engraved with a labyrinth. Alice must stay one step ahead of ruthless enemies while conducting her own investigation into the mysteries of the labyrinth. Mosse's obvious love of the region's Occitan language infuses her prose with great passion. However, the trick of alternating story lines becomes confusing, as does the irritating plethora of mystical objects. A flawed work, but, given the popularity of "Da Vinci Code" -type fiction, strongly recommended for public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 11/1/05.]" -Laurel M. Bliss, Princeton Univ. Lib., NJ"
Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 1, 2006
Mosse's epic adventure weaves together the present and the past in an entertaining Grail-quest tale. In the present, Alice Tanner, a volunteer at a French archaeological excavation, stumbles across the skeletal remains of two people in a cave, as well as a ring with an intricate labyrinth engraved on it. Her discovery attracts the attention of two unsavory figures: Paul Authie, a sinister police inspector, and Marie-Ceile de l'Oradore, a wealthy, powerful woman. When the ring that Alice discovered and the friend that invited her out on the dig both disappear, Alice begins to fear for her safety. Interlinked with Alice's story is that of 17-year-old Alais, newly married to a handsome chevalier and living in thirteenth-century Carcassonne. The threat of French invasion grows every day, but Alais and her father are more concerned with protecting three sacred books that reveal the secret of the Grail. The Crusaders want the books, but two people much closer to home are working against Alais and her father, desirous of the promise of eternal life that the Grail offers. Although the novel contains lulls in places, the medieval story is exciting. Expect demand.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)