Written before the recent abductions of French citizens in the Sahara area, Ruffin's novel depicts the complexity and meanders of islamisation in subsaharian Africa. You can see that Ruffin is quite familiar with the situation over there and does not fall into simplistic western proselytism. It's rather classic though. Even the most dramatic events that brings structure to the tale are factually described with no hint of drama whatsoever. It could have used a little more of politically incorrectness. Pleasant to read. ( )