The Chronicles of the Maple and the Cherry Tree The Noh Mask (Volume 1)

An abandoned child, Ichiro is raised as a son by a mysterious samurai who teaches him the way of the sword.

Living as a recluse in the mountains, in the heart of a wild nature, he grows up with the rhythm of the seasons, between blissful carelessness and an apprenticeship that demands perseverance and courage.

But one terrible night, Ichiro's life takes a drastic turn. He must turn his back on his childhood to face the world and his destiny.

Sublime heroes, friendships and betrayals, passion and vengeance... The Nô Mask is the beginning of a dazzling epic set in 17th-century Japan and the revelation of Camille Monceaux's talent.

Review from La Librairie du Grimoire Ancien

Le masque de Nô, the first volume of the "Chronicles of the Maple and the Cherry Tree," marks the emergence of a remarkable talent in French youth literature. Camille Monceaux, published by Gallimard Jeunesse, delivers a dazzling Japanese epic that follows in the great tradition of the samurai coming-of-age novel.

The author masterfully unfolds the world of 17th-century Japan, blending the way of the sword, Bushido philosophy, and a wild nature that becomes a character in its own right. Ichiro's journey, an abandoned child raised by a mysterious samurai, evokes great initiatory epics while maintaining a unique and contemporary voice.

Monceaux masters the art of epic storytelling: sublime heroes, friendships and betrayals, passion and vengeance intertwine in a narrative that captivates both teenagers and adults. The spiritual dimension of apprenticeship, where perseverance and courage forge character, gives this novel a depth that transcends simple entertainment. An essential read for all lovers of Japanese culture, samurai epics, and coming-of-age stories where destiny is forged by the sword.

— La Librairie du Grimoire Ancien