The Memory of the Vanquished, Vol. 2 – The Immortal

Content : The second and last book in this political duology, set in a world inspired by the Yugoslav Wars.

The threat of an imminent war looms between Novi Zora and Mirska.

Lev, now a parliamentary apprentice, grows closer to his former mentor, Vladimir Sokolov, the abusive father of his boyfriend, Aliocha. He intends to uncover the truth about Sokolov’s alliance with the memory traffickers and his involvement in the mysterious disappearances orchestrated by Elias, a dangerous genius working from the shadows. But when Lev discovers the full extent of Elias’s experiments and the obedience of his test subjects, he decides to use them rather than put an end to them… even if it means betraying his own values to satisfy his despotic ambitions.

Meanwhile, Anastasia has been reunited with her family — for better or worse. Kept under close watch by her father, she continues her investigation and discovers that the plans for a dangerous weapon have been hidden inside the memories that were taken from her. If the machine is rebuilt, an entire people’s collective memory could be manipulated. Between a mother with fragmented memories, a rebellious sister and a calculating brother, it is difficult to know whom to trust…What if, deep down, the war had never really ended?

In this second volume, schemes, betrayals and conflicting interests collide against a backdrop of extreme diplomatic tension, driving the story towards an unprecedented confrontation between Novi Zora and Mirska. The narrative offers a sharp examination of nations torn apart, while exploring how populations relate to history and collective narratives.

A word about the author: A plot, blood and tears: that’s Bleuenn Guillou’s creed. It probably stems from her love of Ancient Rome, which led her to complete a master’s degree in Roman history and live in Naples. But passionate about speculative fiction too, she later turned to publishing, becoming a freelance editor specialising in Young Adult speculative fiction. Between two trips around the world — always to warm destinations — Bleuenn always returns to her secluded home in the Breton countryside, where she lives with her three cats, Caligula, Cleopatra and Vestal. By the fireside, she writes dark novels in which grief and mortality, as well as family ties and secrets, are recurring themes — all while eating sweets and drinking Coke. She apologises in advance: she loves open endings.