Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
This book was soooooo not what I was expecting it to be.
For some reason, I had it in my head that this was some sort of paranormal romance? And that it was sort of trashy? I have no idea where I got those ideas from, because they couldn't be further from the truth. This book is epic fantasy, well-written, has intricate plotting, seriously intense worldbuilding . . . and it's not your mom and pop's epic fantasy, either. It's sexy. Like, SEXY sexy. Sex is a vital part of the world in Kushiel's Dart.
So the background here is that we're on an alternate history Earth about 1,000 years after the death of Jesus, specifically alternate Europe, once in which Christianity never really took hold because the real focus was drawn to a group of rebel angels who believed in the union of men and angels. Their leader, Elua, is the foundation of their society and religion the way that Jesus is to modern day Christians (Jesus still existed in this version of history, he just had less of an impact). In fact, Elua couldn't exist without Jesus, having been born from the blood fallen from the crucified Christ, mixing with the soil of the Earth. Elua and his followers founded Terre D'Ange, the land of angels (the equivalent of modern day France), where they mixed with men and taught people to "love as thou wilt." The people of Terre D'Ange are part angel as a result of all this.
Our main character is Phèdre, a devotee of the angel Naamah, who taught people to worship through the gift and use of their bodies. Phèdre was sold as a child to the Night Court and eventually taught to serve Naamah, essentially becoming a courtesan/priestess hybrid. But Phèdre was also born with a mote in her eye, a sign that she is a descendant of the angel Kushiel, and who feels pain as pleasure. Early on, she's adopted by a man who educates and trains her in court politics so that she may use all her training to effect political change. She largely escapes all the hoopla surrounding stories about Special Ones because the way she uses her specialness has everything to do with her own choices, and the way that others view her as a tool or something to possess.
I was utterly captivated by this book. And it's really hard to describe, because it's so easy for people to focus on the sex parts. Granted, those are important, but it's never titillating. The sexuality in this world is so foundational it just becomes background at a certain point. And there's so much more that is also interesting. The political maneuverings, the espionage, the battles, the different cultures, the friendships and romances . . . it's like Game of Thrones if that series weren't so concerned with pointing out social inequalities by subjecting its characters to atrocities in the name of power. Here, the powerful people obliterate each other and play a version of the game of thrones, certainly, but it feels so different without the misogyny, with more focus on other stuff that is traditionally considered feminine. And yet, it also doesn't shy away from violence, and even though there is romance in this book, it's not the focus. If you're not skeeved out by the unique sexuality here, it become fascinating. Phèdre uses her sexuality as a weapon, as she's been trained, and she's not ashamed of it . . . also, the pain as pleasure thing might be a bridge too far for some readers, but I didn't mind it at all, even though I can't sympathize with her at all in that regard.
The first third of the book is basically table-setting. Setting up the world, filling in Phèdre's background, letting us get to know all the characters and the political and religious situation, and then BAM, shit doesn't let up for five hundred pages, so if you're a bit bogged down at the beginning, you should push through.
I'm so glad Malin kept bugging me to read this after she so generously gifted it to me in the last Cannonball Read book exchange. I will DEFINITELY be reading the second two books in this trilogy, and probably all the other books set in this world as well.
If you're a fantasy fan, you should for sure check this series out. I can't believe I almost didn't read it.
[4.5 stars]
For some reason, I had it in my head that this was some sort of paranormal romance? And that it was sort of trashy? I have no idea where I got those ideas from, because they couldn't be further from the truth. This book is epic fantasy, well-written, has intricate plotting, seriously intense worldbuilding . . . and it's not your mom and pop's epic fantasy, either. It's sexy. Like, SEXY sexy. Sex is a vital part of the world in Kushiel's Dart.
So the background here is that we're on an alternate history Earth about 1,000 years after the death of Jesus, specifically alternate Europe, once in which Christianity never really took hold because the real focus was drawn to a group of rebel angels who believed in the union of men and angels. Their leader, Elua, is the foundation of their society and religion the way that Jesus is to modern day Christians (Jesus still existed in this version of history, he just had less of an impact). In fact, Elua couldn't exist without Jesus, having been born from the blood fallen from the crucified Christ, mixing with the soil of the Earth. Elua and his followers founded Terre D'Ange, the land of angels (the equivalent of modern day France), where they mixed with men and taught people to "love as thou wilt." The people of Terre D'Ange are part angel as a result of all this.
Our main character is Phèdre, a devotee of the angel Naamah, who taught people to worship through the gift and use of their bodies. Phèdre was sold as a child to the Night Court and eventually taught to serve Naamah, essentially becoming a courtesan/priestess hybrid. But Phèdre was also born with a mote in her eye, a sign that she is a descendant of the angel Kushiel, and who feels pain as pleasure. Early on, she's adopted by a man who educates and trains her in court politics so that she may use all her training to effect political change. She largely escapes all the hoopla surrounding stories about Special Ones because the way she uses her specialness has everything to do with her own choices, and the way that others view her as a tool or something to possess.
I was utterly captivated by this book. And it's really hard to describe, because it's so easy for people to focus on the sex parts. Granted, those are important, but it's never titillating. The sexuality in this world is so foundational it just becomes background at a certain point. And there's so much more that is also interesting. The political maneuverings, the espionage, the battles, the different cultures, the friendships and romances . . . it's like Game of Thrones if that series weren't so concerned with pointing out social inequalities by subjecting its characters to atrocities in the name of power. Here, the powerful people obliterate each other and play a version of the game of thrones, certainly, but it feels so different without the misogyny, with more focus on other stuff that is traditionally considered feminine. And yet, it also doesn't shy away from violence, and even though there is romance in this book, it's not the focus. If you're not skeeved out by the unique sexuality here, it become fascinating. Phèdre uses her sexuality as a weapon, as she's been trained, and she's not ashamed of it . . . also, the pain as pleasure thing might be a bridge too far for some readers, but I didn't mind it at all, even though I can't sympathize with her at all in that regard.
The first third of the book is basically table-setting. Setting up the world, filling in Phèdre's background, letting us get to know all the characters and the political and religious situation, and then BAM, shit doesn't let up for five hundred pages, so if you're a bit bogged down at the beginning, you should push through.
I'm so glad Malin kept bugging me to read this after she so generously gifted it to me in the last Cannonball Read book exchange. I will DEFINITELY be reading the second two books in this trilogy, and probably all the other books set in this world as well.
If you're a fantasy fan, you should for sure check this series out. I can't believe I almost didn't read it.
[4.5 stars]
Seems like a fun story but it's really not my style of writing
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
boring. I enjoyed the first third (about her being raised to become a pain seeking spy courtesan) but then all the intrigue went out of it when she ended up stranded as a barbarian slave, and it never really came back. just boring.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
The writing style and number of names made this a challenging read
I have never encountered erotic historical fiction of a caliber to match this work by Jacqueline Carey. If you have a drop of kinky blood in your body you'll adore this book quickly. If you don't, there's still so much to love about it.
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced