Review Detail of Kergonan in Lord of Mysteries

Cuttlefish That Loves Diving is the author of Throne of Magical Arcana, one of my favorite Chinese novel, and certainly the best with a wizard as a main character in my opinion. So, is Lord of the Mysteries a confirmation of this writer's talent or a letdown after one excellent novel ? The answer is, thankfully, the former. This tale is simply awesome, a story of intrigue, mysteries, investigation, occult and horror that will keep you on edge until the end. True, it starts slow, with a third to a half of the first volume being an introduction to the setting (still fresh), but after that, you just won't be able to let go until the finish line, and maybe even beyond, for CTLD stated that it is only the first part of a trilogy. Just one warning, unlike TMA, there's no romance, which in this case, is not a bad thing since I can see how the author could have managed a love story with the main character without making it feel artificial. The protagonist, Klein Moretti, is an excellent character, who progresses in his adventures with wits, intelligence and prudence. His victories are almost never the result of his guts (although they play a part in some of them), but careful planning, deductions and wisdom. He knows he can't face everything the world throws at him and pulls back if needed. He also assumes a number of different identities as the story progresses, as really plays them each as a different person. The others characters are equally well written, from his associates in his own little conspiracy, to the antagonists (there is not only one major antagonist), to the world's important figures, the secondary or even tertiary characters, each and everyone of them is unique, with its merits, flaws, quirks, likes/dislikes, disposition and often secrets. That's why I can only stop here so I don't spoil the story. For the same reason, I won't go into much details about the setting. The protagonist is transmigrated into a Victorian/Industrial Revolution world with rivalries between nations, piracies and colonisation, but which hides an underworld of occult conspiracies, mysteries and power games between occult entities (human and non-human) of tremendous, a world where knowing thing above your power level can literally drive one mad or into a monster. The power system, by the way is very original. The Beyonders obtain their power by drinking potions made of occult ingredients, each potion having a name (Seer, Warrior, Sleepless ...) reflecting the power it grants. In order to progress in power, a character must assimilate the product and then drink the next elixir in the path (and you better not try mixing potions of different paths). Again, I can't go any further without unveiling some major elements of the setting and story. CK Talon's translation is flawless, which is a requirement for such a story where there's a highly complex intrigue without useless element. He showed himself again as one of the best in this business. So, in conclusion, the Lord of the Mysteries confirm Cuttlefish that Loves Diving as one of the prime Chinese fantasy author, on par with Er Gen and I Eat Tomatoes. The story of intrigue, occult and horror is excellent, the characters are awesome, the setting is wonderfully well built and the translation is top notch. I give it a full mark, 10 out of 10 without hesitation. I still prefer Throne of Magical arcana, but only as a matter of personal preference, both books are must-read. PS: thanks to Cuttlefish That Loves Diving for writting this novel, CK Talon for translating it and Qidian for publishing it.