Two novels, two imaginary worlds and a common theme: passing on
Somewhere between fantasy and a contemporary family saga, Patricia Bibian and Agathe Novella each explore, in their own way, family secrets and bonds. In *Les Travaux de l’Oubli* and *Le Murmure des fleurs sauvages*, the two authors place the quest for self at the heart of their stories.
Les Travaux de l’Oubli: a fantasy novel with Caribbean roots
Guadeloupean author Patricia Bibian continues her Markan saga with a second volume entitled *Les Travaux de l’Oubli*. A fantasy novel that blends adventure, introspection and cultural heritage. In this new instalment, the author explores themes such as self-rediscovery, the weight of family secrets, collective memory, and the fragile boundary between good and evil. Drawing on Caribbean folklore, the narrative alternates between action-packed scenes, emotional tension and touches of humour, whilst presenting an original mythology. Accessible to both young readers and adults, *Les Travaux de l’Oubli* presents a world where Caribbean culture, magic and a rite-of-passage quest converge. A passionate fan of anime, dramas and fantasy, Patricia Bibian draws on these diverse influences to craft worlds steeped in myth. Priced at €25, this second volume reaffirms the uniqueness of Markan, a saga at the crossroads of adventure, cultural transmission and coming-of-age storytelling.
*Le Murmure des fleurs sauvages*: a sensitive novel about mother-daughter bonds
With *The Whisper of Wild Flowers*, Agathe Novella presents an intimate and sensitive family saga, exploring the passing on of traditions, invisible wounds and the complexity of the bonds between mothers and daughters. The story brings together Amanda and Mathilde, twin sisters whom motherhood has transformed in opposite ways: one feels stifled, whilst the other is radiant. When their mother brings them together to be with their ailing grandmother, three generations of women find themselves confined within the four walls of a flat steeped in history. As they open up to one another, the four women are forced to confront their buried wounds. Gradually, they open up, unspoken truths resurface, and certain secrets threaten to sever the bonds that unite them. Inspired by the phrase ‘Even the freest flowers retain the memory of their soil’, this story explores the ambivalence of motherhood and the complexity of mother-daughter relationships. The novel is available for €17 in print and €3.99 in digital format on Amazon.
