I loved the action and story in this book! There was never a page where I could possibly guess what would happen next! And the way the technology is build in and used in the alternative world and tradition is dealt with gave me something to think about. Several times I just had to stop reading because it was just too close to reality.

I really also enjoyed to see how Bordage plays with royalist history and heritage when building this alternative world. He truly know it well and I feel I connect to the story on a totally different level when I get one of his many references. Everything from the names he uses to the language of each character, it is really neat.

That said, don't read this for the sake of history, read it for the action as the premise of the book is a bit weak. Let's face it; Louis-Philippe wasn't as bad as this. He did make the law which states that all communes have to provide at least one school... If you want to blame someone, blame the Legitimists. The Orléanists weren't as bad as this.

Overall a very good book! I'm looking forwards to nr. 2 in the series! ( )

L'histoire se déroule en 2008, sous la Monarchie, car en 1882, les royalistes ont renversé le gouvernement Gambetta, exécuté Jules Ferry et hissé Philippe d'Orléans sur le trône de France. L'Ancien régime est ainsi le quotidien des habitants du Royaume de France, le pouvoir est toujours à Versailles, les droits de l'Homme n'ont été qu'une parenthèse. Internet est interdit aux classes modestes car « le savoir généralisé engendre l'anarchie ». En toile de fond, une histoire d'amour entre un jeune "cou noir" et une jeune fille de l'aristocratie, vivant à Versailles, mais qui petit à petit se révolte contre son milieu dont elle découvre toutes les faces sombres.
Un thème intéressant mais une lecture avec des longueurs. J'avoue m'y être plusieurs fois ennuyée... ( )