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The Book of Ash #4
Lost Burgundy
There is more than one history of the world... "In a barbarous age in a world now forgotten, an extraordinary figure stood formidable on the European battlefield--a remarkable female warrior and strategist without equal...save one."
Dijon, the once-proud capital of Burgundy, has been pounded into near submission. The merciless soldiers of the Visigoth Empire stand hungrily at the gate, and at their fore, the beautiful, deadly Faris, unwittingly bred to tbe the instrument of a machine intelligence that seeks the end of humanity. The sun gutters weakly overhead like a dying candle, as the Wild Machines once again flex their dark, demonic power.
Ash, like her warrior twin, hears the Wild Machines' call--but unlike the Faris, Ash will not be their tool. For within Dijon's crumbling walls a fragile hope has bloomed: one who bears in her royal blood the ability to hold the dread Machines at bay. But defeating their dark plans will take a miracle--and ultimately, only Ash herself stands between Burgundy's implacable enemies and all humanity.
Dijon, the once-proud capital of Burgundy, has been pounded into near submission. The merciless soldiers of the Visigoth Empire stand hungrily at the gate, and at their fore, the beautiful, deadly Faris, unwittingly bred to tbe the instrument of a machine intelligence that seeks the end of humanity. The sun gutters weakly overhead like a dying candle, as the Wild Machines once again flex their dark, demonic power.
Ash, like her warrior twin, hears the Wild Machines' call--but unlike the Faris, Ash will not be their tool. For within Dijon's crumbling walls a fragile hope has bloomed: one who bears in her royal blood the ability to hold the dread Machines at bay. But defeating their dark plans will take a miracle--and ultimately, only Ash herself stands between Burgundy's implacable enemies and all humanity.
482 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
5 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
Mary Gentle
44 books204 followersThis author also writes under the pseudonym of Roxanne Morgan
Excerpted from Wikipedia:
Mary Gentle's first published novel was Hawk in Silver (1977), a young-adult fantasy. She came to prominence with the Orthe duology, which consists of Golden Witchbreed (1983) and Ancient Light (1987).
The novels Rats and Gargoyles (1990), The Architecture of Desire (1991), and Left to His Own Devices (1994), together with several short stories, form a loosely linked series (collected in White Crow in 2003). As with Michael Moorcock's series about his anti-heroic Jerry Cornelius, Gentle's sequence retains some basic facts about her two protagonists Valentine (also known as the White Crow) and Casaubon while changing much else about them, including what world they inhabit. Several take place in an alternate-history version of 17th century and later England, where a form of Renaissance Hermetic magic has taken over the role of science. Another, Left To His Own Devices, takes place in a cyberpunk-tinged version of our own near future. The sequence is informed by historically existing ideas about esotericism and alchemy and is rife with obscure allusions to real history and literature.
Grunts! (1992) is a grand guignol parody of mass-market high fantasy novels, with orcs as heroes, murderous halflings, and racist elves.
Excerpted from Wikipedia:
Mary Gentle's first published novel was Hawk in Silver (1977), a young-adult fantasy. She came to prominence with the Orthe duology, which consists of Golden Witchbreed (1983) and Ancient Light (1987).
The novels Rats and Gargoyles (1990), The Architecture of Desire (1991), and Left to His Own Devices (1994), together with several short stories, form a loosely linked series (collected in White Crow in 2003). As with Michael Moorcock's series about his anti-heroic Jerry Cornelius, Gentle's sequence retains some basic facts about her two protagonists Valentine (also known as the White Crow) and Casaubon while changing much else about them, including what world they inhabit. Several take place in an alternate-history version of 17th century and later England, where a form of Renaissance Hermetic magic has taken over the role of science. Another, Left To His Own Devices, takes place in a cyberpunk-tinged version of our own near future. The sequence is informed by historically existing ideas about esotericism and alchemy and is rife with obscure allusions to real history and literature.
Grunts! (1992) is a grand guignol parody of mass-market high fantasy novels, with orcs as heroes, murderous halflings, and racist elves.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 25, 2024
merita qualcosa più di 3 stelle
ma ho letto la versione omnibus e dopo 2.200 pagine credo di essermi spazientita
TRAMA:
biografia della mercenaria Ash
ma ho letto la versione omnibus e dopo 2.200 pagine credo di essermi spazientita
TRAMA:
biografia della mercenaria Ash
March 3, 2022
I found this last part of The Book of Ash to be a bit of a drag. It might have partly been my fault for letting so much time pass in between reading each one but it did feel like there was a lot of standing around dithering, and reading it felt like a chore at times. I was also disappointed with the explanation of the "miracles" (it's presented as having to do with quantum physics but it might as well be magic) and that we never found out more about the Wild Machines. Still, Gentle is a great writer and overall I'd recommend this whole book (it is really just one book broken down into four parts for the U.S. market) to those who enjoy gritty, medieval low fantasy. Me, I'll keep trying to find the White Crow stories that never made it over here...
March 21, 2019
Ash, our protaganist, is a vibrant character with a fascinating story. I really enjoyed it all. There is a fairly wide breadth of opinions on this series, I think, because it is difficult to pigeonhole the genre. Much of it reads like a typical Fantasy novel, set in a feudal society, with an empowered heroine destined to save the world. It also reads like a historical novel set in Europe's medieval period, with grim, detailed descriptions of a filthy, stench filled life of brutal battles, horrid sieges and gory deaths. It also has science fiction elements, as it is set in a "secret history"/alternate timeline. If you approach this series, aware of the above and set aside expectations of a typical Fantasy book, the story resonates better. I cared deeply about what would happen to Ash, the Lion Azure mercenary company and Burgundy. For me, that makes a story great, and was why I loved this series.
Also, make sure you read the afterwords!
Also, make sure you read the afterwords!
August 1, 2023
Mêmes commentaires que précédemment.
J'ajouterai que les tentatives d'explication de ce que fait Cendres avec la Bourgogne m'ont paru assez fumeuses pour en devenir agaçantes.
Mais enfin, ça boucle. Et le retour de la compagnie au lion, s'il est farfelu (pourquoi n'auraient-ils pas vieilli, eux, comme l'a faut Vaughan ?) est tout de même amusante, et satisfaisante pour qui, comme moi, s'est attachée au personnage, et n'a pas envie de les voir mourir.
Dans mon fichier e-pub, le roman était suivi d'une nouvelle intitulée "La logistique de Carthage", assez longue et beaucoup plus lente que le roman, mais du coup aussi plus approfondie, plus poétique, quoique parfois un peu ennuyeuse. Une fin étrange, qui m'a aidée à prendre congé de l'univers de Cendres dans lequel je me suis trouvée plongée pendant plusieurs mois.
J'ajouterai que les tentatives d'explication de ce que fait Cendres avec la Bourgogne m'ont paru assez fumeuses pour en devenir agaçantes.
Mais enfin, ça boucle. Et le retour de la compagnie au lion, s'il est farfelu (pourquoi n'auraient-ils pas vieilli, eux, comme l'a faut Vaughan ?) est tout de même amusante, et satisfaisante pour qui, comme moi, s'est attachée au personnage, et n'a pas envie de les voir mourir.
Dans mon fichier e-pub, le roman était suivi d'une nouvelle intitulée "La logistique de Carthage", assez longue et beaucoup plus lente que le roman, mais du coup aussi plus approfondie, plus poétique, quoique parfois un peu ennuyeuse. Une fin étrange, qui m'a aidée à prendre congé de l'univers de Cendres dans lequel je me suis trouvée plongée pendant plusieurs mois.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2017
Wow, freaking fantastic! I loved this four-book saga all the way through but this final entry kind of blew my mind. I've never read anything that was so skillfully both historical fantasy and alternate reality sci-fi at once. Plus with not one but two (arguably three) strong female characters, plus more than token representation of LGBT people - amazing. This book in particular pushes Ash to her breaking point, and switches around the fortunes of all the characters. It's a satisfying end but there are costs along the way. And sure, yeah, there's still some exposition-heavy scenes, and perhaps the ending is a bit of a last-moment conclusion without much foreshadowing of the possibility beforehand (sorry to be vague, but you know: spoilers), but I find these easy flaws to overlook given how engrossing the story is. I can totally see myself rereading this - if I'm ever able to find the time to wade through the whole series again. As it is, it leaves you with a lot to think about.
February 23, 2021
The Legend of Ash - a secret history.
In this volume Mary Gentle asks the question whether Jeanne d*Arc was the archetype of Ash or not rather vice verse...
The book itself is not so well written as I originally thought but this idea was to me a breakthrough - I did not see the context before, the synthesis.
(all the time they obstructed research and kept me busy like gadflies)
In this volume Mary Gentle asks the question whether Jeanne d*Arc was the archetype of Ash or not rather vice verse...
The book itself is not so well written as I originally thought but this idea was to me a breakthrough - I did not see the context before, the synthesis.
(all the time they obstructed research and kept me busy like gadflies)
April 4, 2009
Pour faire court, ce quatrième tome clôt d'une manière incroyablement épique ce récit déja formidable.
D'accord, le début du roman est inférieur à la conclusion du précédent. Mais c'est normal après tout, l'auteur essaye de ménager une progression dans sa narration, et ça marche de folie ! Parce que d'accord, tout commence avec un siège on ne peut plus traditionnel, pendant lequel j'ai même eu le temps de reprocher certtains des tics d'écriture de Mary Gentle, comme par exemple son insistance à nous rappeler que Cendres est étroitement sanglée dans son armure, ou alors que ses chausses cache sa féminité, voire mêmee que ses cheveux désormais courts lui rappellent son emprisonnement. Bref, ça introspecte massivement, et c'est presque - presque hein - chiant.
Mais au bout d'un moment, ça décolle de la manière la plus impressionante possible.
Je sais pas trop le dire sans casser tout le suspense, donc je ne vais pas m'emmerder quelques lignes plus bas.
En attendant, je vais vous placer un petit interlude sur Pierce Radclife, qui lui aussi vit, comme disait Pratchett, des temps intéressants : des sites archéologiques qui bougent, une expédition dans le désert marocain, et des découvertes historiques ! C'est vraiment génial, d'ailleurs, de le voir se casser la tête à comprendre comment Cendres a pu disparaître ou réapparaître de l'Histoire.
Pour en revenir à Cendres, j'ai eu une espèce d'orgasme de lecteur quand cette foutue muraille déja sapée s'est d'un seul coup effondrée pour laisser la place à une horde de mercenaires et de bourgignons qui sautent à la gorge de wisigoths à peine quinze fois plus nombreux ... Franchement, c'est une espèce de scène d'anthologie, un truc qui ridiculise complètement la bataille du gouffre de Helm de Tolkien. C'était même tellement bien foutu que j'avais l'impressiond e courir avec eux dans la boue, de sentir les tripes de mes ennemis glisser sur la lame de mon épée, et leur odeur m'envahir les narines. bref, j'y étais.
Bon, et maintenant que j'ai balancé mon armée de superlatifs, comment je peux parler de la fin de Cendres, hein , Comment je peux ?
Ben je ne peux même pas.
Je peux à la rigueur parler des concepts d'effondrement quantique concernant la disparition/réapparition de Cendres ... comme par exemple dire que ça ressemble (en sérieux) au délire présenté dans Le temps du twist. Mais ça ne vaut pas le coup, tout simplement.
En fait, la seule chose à dire, c'est qu'il faut vraiment, et absolument, que vous lisiez ces quatre tomes. Vous en apprendrez beaucoup dans ces tomes. Parce que c'est bien, mais alors vraiment bien. Voire en fait totallement dingue et génial à la fois (normal).
D'accord, le début du roman est inférieur à la conclusion du précédent. Mais c'est normal après tout, l'auteur essaye de ménager une progression dans sa narration, et ça marche de folie ! Parce que d'accord, tout commence avec un siège on ne peut plus traditionnel, pendant lequel j'ai même eu le temps de reprocher certtains des tics d'écriture de Mary Gentle, comme par exemple son insistance à nous rappeler que Cendres est étroitement sanglée dans son armure, ou alors que ses chausses cache sa féminité, voire mêmee que ses cheveux désormais courts lui rappellent son emprisonnement. Bref, ça introspecte massivement, et c'est presque - presque hein - chiant.
Mais au bout d'un moment, ça décolle de la manière la plus impressionante possible.
Je sais pas trop le dire sans casser tout le suspense, donc je ne vais pas m'emmerder quelques lignes plus bas.
En attendant, je vais vous placer un petit interlude sur Pierce Radclife, qui lui aussi vit, comme disait Pratchett, des temps intéressants : des sites archéologiques qui bougent, une expédition dans le désert marocain, et des découvertes historiques ! C'est vraiment génial, d'ailleurs, de le voir se casser la tête à comprendre comment Cendres a pu disparaître ou réapparaître de l'Histoire.
Pour en revenir à Cendres, j'ai eu une espèce d'orgasme de lecteur quand cette foutue muraille déja sapée s'est d'un seul coup effondrée pour laisser la place à une horde de mercenaires et de bourgignons qui sautent à la gorge de wisigoths à peine quinze fois plus nombreux ... Franchement, c'est une espèce de scène d'anthologie, un truc qui ridiculise complètement la bataille du gouffre de Helm de Tolkien. C'était même tellement bien foutu que j'avais l'impressiond e courir avec eux dans la boue, de sentir les tripes de mes ennemis glisser sur la lame de mon épée, et leur odeur m'envahir les narines. bref, j'y étais.
Bon, et maintenant que j'ai balancé mon armée de superlatifs, comment je peux parler de la fin de Cendres, hein , Comment je peux ?
Ben je ne peux même pas.
Je peux à la rigueur parler des concepts d'effondrement quantique concernant la disparition/réapparition de Cendres ... comme par exemple dire que ça ressemble (en sérieux) au délire présenté dans Le temps du twist. Mais ça ne vaut pas le coup, tout simplement.
En fait, la seule chose à dire, c'est qu'il faut vraiment, et absolument, que vous lisiez ces quatre tomes. Vous en apprendrez beaucoup dans ces tomes. Parce que c'est bien, mais alors vraiment bien. Voire en fait totallement dingue et génial à la fois (normal).
April 30, 2017
Title in German:
Die Legende von Ash 4. Der Untergang Burgunds
The fourth and last book about Ash the medieval mercenary general solves the mystery about Burgundy and the vital role its duke (or duchess) is playing in the defense of the Occident and tells us what happens to Ash and her mercenary troup. Admittedly I got slowly but surely bored with this book not much is happening it got only moderate exciting at the end of the book again. And I had really enough about the constant descriptions about the protagonist´s continual bladder weakness in ticklish situations and making a mess in their pants... I didn´t like Fernando del Guiz Ash´ selfish and traiterous ex-husband in the former books although the author made an attempt to redeem him at least partially - sorry, it didn´t make him more likable in my eyes I just hate him. I lost interest in reading about the reality shifting and the long-winded explanations about quantum physics and parallel universes either and I had to stop myself from just skipping it. Still I give this book four stars because I really liked the characterization of Ash and her troup and because all four books were a brilliant written mixture of realism, sci fi and fantasy elements. They´re absolutely worth reading .. and beware – not everything is like it seems to be!
Die Legende von Ash 4. Der Untergang Burgunds
The fourth and last book about Ash the medieval mercenary general solves the mystery about Burgundy and the vital role its duke (or duchess) is playing in the defense of the Occident and tells us what happens to Ash and her mercenary troup. Admittedly I got slowly but surely bored with this book not much is happening it got only moderate exciting at the end of the book again. And I had really enough about the constant descriptions about the protagonist´s continual bladder weakness in ticklish situations and making a mess in their pants... I didn´t like Fernando del Guiz Ash´ selfish and traiterous ex-husband in the former books although the author made an attempt to redeem him at least partially - sorry, it didn´t make him more likable in my eyes I just hate him. I lost interest in reading about the reality shifting and the long-winded explanations about quantum physics and parallel universes either and I had to stop myself from just skipping it. Still I give this book four stars because I really liked the characterization of Ash and her troup and because all four books were a brilliant written mixture of realism, sci fi and fantasy elements. They´re absolutely worth reading .. and beware – not everything is like it seems to be!
July 29, 2011
Dernier volume de la tétralogie, le plus déroutant, sans aucun doute. Voir tome un pour détails.
December 31, 2011
Mary Gentle's work is always worth my close attention. Earthy, realistic, and gripping.
November 11, 2012
Good start, gets a little odd when the book goes from medieval fantasy to Sci-Fi but still an interesting story with an empowering heroine.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews