Reviews

Picking up ten years after the events in Kushiel’s Chosen, Phèdre nó Delaunay has been summoned by someone from her past. She is requested to complete a task, to find a missing boy, a boy that the Queen desperately wants to find as well. Phèdre hesitates until the person offers her a reward that would free a friend of hers who has been trapped for many years.

My least favorite in the series, but still a solid story. Phèdre journeys from fantasy France to fantasy Egypt, Iran, Turkey, and as far south as Uganda to complete her journey. Carey’s winding of myths and religions with fantasy just give my brain so many happy chemicals. However, there is a dark spot in here that was definitely something that pushed the limits of what Phèdre has put herself through in the past books. The part that brought it down for me was the pacing. I am standing by this needing to be two books as the ending felt rushed through the action and dragged through the wrap up.

hippievamp's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

jgintrovertedreader's review against another edition

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4.0

This is the third book in the Kushiel's Legacy trilogy. Phedre no Delauney, s&m courtesan/spy extraordinaire, and her consort Joscelin have enjoyed ten years of peace. That peace is shattered when they set out to find the traitor Melisande's son and rescue Phedre's childhood friend, Hyacinthe, from eternal life (notice I wrote life and not youth.)

For me, this was the darkest and therefore hardest to read of the three books. As usual the s&m scenes weren't (to me) all that graphically detailed. Well, they could have been a lot worse anyway. Most of it was really left up to readers' imaginations. But what she did write and the direction it sent my imagination in was just too much for this country girl. Luckily, all that stops after the first half of the book. So if you can hang in there that long, I believe you're free and clear to just get on with the story.

The story itself was well-written and engaging. I really felt like this book could have been two novels. There are definitely two distinct halves. I think I would almost have rather had the real second book cut out completely and have the first half of the third book as the second novel in the trilogy.

If you liked the other books, this one won't let you down.

****************SPOILERS*******************************

The whole first half in Darsanga was just way too dark for me. I didn't feel like we were really getting anywhere with the story for a while. I know that the plot really was moving along, but it just felt repetitive with Phedre trying to make friends with the others, Phedre trying to make friends with Imri, Phedre going to dinner with the Mahrkagar and avoiding Joscelin's eyes, and then Phedre going to have violent sex with the Mahrkagar as he slowly breaks her. I was just ready for the plot to move on past that part.

And, as much as I like Joscelin, and I'm really glad that he's still with Phedre, I kind of wish that Phedre and Hyacinthe had hooked up one more time, maybe when he visited her in Montreve. It's kind of hinted at that it might happen in the future, but, c'mon, this woman just practically went to hell and back for this guy. They have to get together one more time!

gracew's review

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dark hopeful slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

atcochra's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

rottingwithabook's review against another edition

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5.0

Arghhhhh this book. This series. What a conclusion to such an EPIC trilogy. I felt so immersed in Phedre’s world, start to finish. I felt part of it all. There is so much detail, so much lushness in JC’s descriptions of different cultures, of Terre D’Ange, of their religion and worship of Elua. I fell in love with Hyacinthe, Joscelin, Imriel, Ysandre, the Chevaliers.. You go through so much with them, you can’t help but feel attached.

This book was so so dark in places, and JC did such an amazing, tactful job of tackling the difficult, heart-wrenching trauma that the characters go through. Irs not an easy read, but I couldn’t stop. I had to know what would happen. It’s all handled very delicately, but without holding back either. My heart broke for them and all they had to endure, and then my heart was gently put together again at the end of their journey ❤️‍

jenaw1n's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

sydneeelise's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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