"Labyrinth" by Kate Mosse

I just finished reading "Labyrinth" by Kate Mosse and once again, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the percieved grail mysteries, Languedoc and remembering Catharism. I loved the plot where three ancient books that were said to contain the secrets to the holy grail were introduced and have made their way across the world from guardian to guardian. However, their content was not thoroughly explored and this was a huge disappointment as a reader! I wish we could have learned more about what these ancient texts supposedly held... The idea here was that the holy grail is, in a way, cosmic consciousness, the eternal womb of creation, "passing stories on from one generation to the next", and that by participating in a ritual and uttering ancient incantations, one may be able to prolong ones life. Those in touch with the mystical realms know that all is possible and nothing is im-possible. One might even argue that all of human life is eternal, if looking at the example above. If we pass on our wisdom, in words or otherwise, we leave a remembrance, an imprint behind. Even if memories fade, they can never truly die. Is something real just because people remember it? What about a person who has lived and died having a quiet life, are they a forgotten memory? How can their life or they themselves not be regarded as real? Reality definetly depends on our perception of it.

From the story, I never understood why we never learned more about these books that apparently held the mysteries to the secrets of the Holy Grail. We journey with Alais to see if she can bring these books to safety, but we never get a closer look at them. The relationships in the book, I found a little stereotypical and basic. I could not imagine the feud between the two sisters, Alais and Oriane, hardly interacting with each other at all. Especially how the relationship between Alais and her husband Guillhem plays out. We love flawed characters - and prefer those to a happy ending. It is realistic. Happy endings are what you make of them. The ending, what was supposed to be the climax of the story, was a let down. It was anticlimactic. Alais's great escape from Carcasonne and Montségur was told as a third person account, someone telling someone else this story. I would have loved to read it! This journey that  took years and involved so many challanges, ultimately strengthening Alais's  character - the making of a woman. I am so fascinated by such stories. Our challenges shape and change us. I would have loved to have that in writing.

What was fantastic was the incredible description of Carcassone. Kate Mosse is truly an expert, as she has lived in the South of France for over a decade. In each book of the Labyrinth trilogy (and apparently the books are not connected in any way) there is a guide to Carcasonne in the back of the books. With descriptions and photos. What a truly lovely idea.

Memorable quotes

"Step by step, we make our way." / "Pas a pas, se va luènh." Page 100.

"But surely it is better to die in the trying, then let fear of what may come to pass take our courage from us." Page 409.

"... the real Grail lies in the love handed down from generation to generation, the words spoken by father to son, mother to daugther. The truth lies all around us. In the stones, in the rocks, in the changing pattern of the mountain seasons." Page 691