We are on a fantasy world , in the islands known as the Fortunalia , where the characters and the way of life refer much to the Japanese culture and its martial arts. On the other hand , the author is a passionate of Japan and practice the martial arts for many years .
The title of the novel and the idea was born from reading a quote from the philosopher Eugen Herrigel , famous for his autobiographical book "Zen and the archery " who "had a great success in many countries." The citation reads " With the upper end of the arc archer pierces the sky, the lower end is hanging from the ground , secured with a silk thread ." This beautiful metaphor , in the opinion of the author , reveals the deep belief that the Japanese have in the mix of practical spirituality and , in particular , this saying is said that only a heart devoid of " tremors " is able to shoot the arrow perfect , which leaves the caster without him tremble , so that the wire does not break and the earth ( with the archer ) does not sink into the abyss.
The protagonist of this novel is a fifteen year old girl named Coko . She was born on a mountain almost two thousand feet high , a mountain inhabited by the archers and defense Scudoj . That mountain is the only place that the evil tyrant Bardos failed to conquer.
Coko , believed that the name of Bardos and his army of ghosts , are the result of an ancient legend , but his mother Aela one day Bardos reveals that actually exists and governs with the terror and massacre of entire villages . In Coko born strong desire to go down the mountain to kill the tyrant.
Under the guidance of Dhyana , becomes skilful in archery , then , accompanied by a stretch of road from his father who gives her an owl , Coko intranprende a journey that will bring her into contact with people who will teach you the courage wolf and the value of the sword, and other encounters with beings who receive and pass on their knowledge and wisdom, Coko after many other adventures , come to the meeting with fatal Bardos in fulfillment of the mission.
The back cover
According to the most ancient legends of Fortunalia, the sound of an arrow has the power to ward off evil spirits. Faithful to their lord Bardos, during the period Slim spirits have become the rulers of the nights of Fortunalia, annihilating each sunset anyone that gets in their way. But there are still free zones where peace dwells, as the mountain on which the archers Scudoj lives Coko. Sixteen insecure, destined to take the difficult path of training with the bow, she will eventually climb down the mountain away to venture into the wasteland and face the evil Bardos. Coko will learn the courage wolf by the men of the sword, the value of wisdom from the dances of the pin-guinidi and men fox awareness of life in a time of death. The path to the abyss will first raise Fortunalia a journey into his soul, to ward off fears of the unknown: the fate of this world will depend on the success of his lonely war.
Pino Cottogni
Fantasy Magazine.it