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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Written for RantingDragon.com
Though based on the geography of what we know as Europe, this story is set in an entirely different world. Our France is known as “Terre d’Ange”, where we get to know Phèdre. Phèdre, an unwanted child is a child that is given to Cereus House of the Night Court.
One day, a nobleman, Anafiel Delaunay, comes to Cereus House to buy Phèdre. He buys her for the reason that Phèdre always thought was her biggest flaw, the scarlet mote in her eye. Delaunay, however, is the first to recognize her for what she is: pricked by Kushiel’s Dart, meant to always experience pain and pleasure as one.
Phèdre spends her childhood in Cereus House, where she is taught all the courtly arts and talents of the bedchamber, until she is old enough to move to the Delaunay residence, where she is trained to become an expert spy as well and Phèdre quickly becomes the most desired courtesan in the City of Elua.
The day Delaunay makes a misstep in the games he plays with the court of the City of Elua, and he and his household are betrayed, means a major change in the life of Phèdre. She is sold into slavery to the barbaric Skaldi, with only her Cassiline (a warrior priest that serves as a bodyguard), Joscelin as her companion. As barbaric and disorganized as the Skaldi seem, they have a leader that seeks to unite them, to destroy Terre d’Ange.
As Phèdre and Joscelin are the sole beings that are aware of this plot, they must find a way to escape and warn the Queen of her homeland.
Poetry and sexuality
This is an excellent book. Jacqueline Carey is one of those few authors that knows to make every sentence to sound poetic. She has built a world so intricate but sensual at the same time that it is very appealing. Her characters have real depth and are interesting. Undoubtedly, the frank description of Phèdre’s passions in the bedchamber will put people off. However, the many sex scenes are not overabundant and are very elegantly written. Personally, it has introduced me to a whole different viewpoint on sexuality, which I found very interesting. If you open yourself up to such unusual sex scenes, you’ll find yourself amazed and intrigued.
The plot of the story is exciting and interesting, even if it’s a bit long and Carey does tend to get a bit overly wordy. This 1015 pages big brick will keep your mind occupied and will leave you craving for the next book in the series to find out more about the complicated culture of the D’Angelines.
Kushiel’s Legacy
Currently there are eight books in Kushiel’s Legacy, compromising two finished trilogies and one unfinished trilogy. The first trilogy is “Phèdre’s Trilogy”, Kushiel’s Dart, Kushiel’s Chosen and Kushiel’s Avatar. The second trilogy is “Imriel’s Trilogy”, consisting out of Kushiel’s Scion, Kushiel’s Justice andKushiel’s Mercy. The third trilogy currently has two released novels called Naamah’s Kiss and Naamah’s Curse. This trilogy is called “Moirin’s Trilogy”. The remaining book is scheduled for release in June 2011.
You will probably agree with me that with all those similar names, it gets a bit confusing which book you have to get next.
I doubt there will ever be movies made based on these books because as great as they are, they won’t likely appeal to the mainstream public because of the rather dark, sexual nature of Phèdre. A tv-series could me more likely in my opinion, but for as is known to the internet, there are no commercial adaptations of Kushiel’s Legacy scheduled.
Why you should read this book
This is a book that every fantasy fan should have read. It’s intricate plot, the depth of the characters and the beautiful writing style of Jacqueline Carey will be a pleasure to read for everyone. Do keep in mind that there’s a lot of 18+ explicit scenes in this novel, so I wouldn’t recommend that you give this book to your 12 year old niece who likes Harry Potter. Go get it for yourself, though! This book most certainly won’t disappoint.
Though based on the geography of what we know as Europe, this story is set in an entirely different world. Our France is known as “Terre d’Ange”, where we get to know Phèdre. Phèdre, an unwanted child is a child that is given to Cereus House of the Night Court.
One day, a nobleman, Anafiel Delaunay, comes to Cereus House to buy Phèdre. He buys her for the reason that Phèdre always thought was her biggest flaw, the scarlet mote in her eye. Delaunay, however, is the first to recognize her for what she is: pricked by Kushiel’s Dart, meant to always experience pain and pleasure as one.
Phèdre spends her childhood in Cereus House, where she is taught all the courtly arts and talents of the bedchamber, until she is old enough to move to the Delaunay residence, where she is trained to become an expert spy as well and Phèdre quickly becomes the most desired courtesan in the City of Elua.
The day Delaunay makes a misstep in the games he plays with the court of the City of Elua, and he and his household are betrayed, means a major change in the life of Phèdre. She is sold into slavery to the barbaric Skaldi, with only her Cassiline (a warrior priest that serves as a bodyguard), Joscelin as her companion. As barbaric and disorganized as the Skaldi seem, they have a leader that seeks to unite them, to destroy Terre d’Ange.
As Phèdre and Joscelin are the sole beings that are aware of this plot, they must find a way to escape and warn the Queen of her homeland.
Poetry and sexuality
This is an excellent book. Jacqueline Carey is one of those few authors that knows to make every sentence to sound poetic. She has built a world so intricate but sensual at the same time that it is very appealing. Her characters have real depth and are interesting. Undoubtedly, the frank description of Phèdre’s passions in the bedchamber will put people off. However, the many sex scenes are not overabundant and are very elegantly written. Personally, it has introduced me to a whole different viewpoint on sexuality, which I found very interesting. If you open yourself up to such unusual sex scenes, you’ll find yourself amazed and intrigued.
The plot of the story is exciting and interesting, even if it’s a bit long and Carey does tend to get a bit overly wordy. This 1015 pages big brick will keep your mind occupied and will leave you craving for the next book in the series to find out more about the complicated culture of the D’Angelines.
Kushiel’s Legacy
Currently there are eight books in Kushiel’s Legacy, compromising two finished trilogies and one unfinished trilogy. The first trilogy is “Phèdre’s Trilogy”, Kushiel’s Dart, Kushiel’s Chosen and Kushiel’s Avatar. The second trilogy is “Imriel’s Trilogy”, consisting out of Kushiel’s Scion, Kushiel’s Justice andKushiel’s Mercy. The third trilogy currently has two released novels called Naamah’s Kiss and Naamah’s Curse. This trilogy is called “Moirin’s Trilogy”. The remaining book is scheduled for release in June 2011.
You will probably agree with me that with all those similar names, it gets a bit confusing which book you have to get next.
I doubt there will ever be movies made based on these books because as great as they are, they won’t likely appeal to the mainstream public because of the rather dark, sexual nature of Phèdre. A tv-series could me more likely in my opinion, but for as is known to the internet, there are no commercial adaptations of Kushiel’s Legacy scheduled.
Why you should read this book
This is a book that every fantasy fan should have read. It’s intricate plot, the depth of the characters and the beautiful writing style of Jacqueline Carey will be a pleasure to read for everyone. Do keep in mind that there’s a lot of 18+ explicit scenes in this novel, so I wouldn’t recommend that you give this book to your 12 year old niece who likes Harry Potter. Go get it for yourself, though! This book most certainly won’t disappoint.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
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
mysterious
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
For some reason this book was catorgarized under the genre Erotica, I believe that was vastly misplaced, but I loved it all the more for whatever silly entity would describe it as such. One of the author reviews of this book said it best: "Kushiel’s Dart is the book for anyone with a taste for high intrigue and sumptuous description, for sensuality and excitement. It is a wonderfully elegant book, as full of beauty and surprises as its appealing heroine.” (Delia Sherman)
The reoccuring description of erotica and fantasy was what originally intrigued me (I will not lie and say this book is without grandious sensuality, but erotica it is not), but what held my intrest was the high intrigue (political machinations are typically not my thing), the splendid and complex heroine and her hero, and the toilful journey they undertook.
I would gladly recommend this book, although it is a lofty tome at some 900 pages (according to my e-reader), to anyone looking for a beautifully crafted fantasy novel rife with eloqent descriptions and featuring a unique heroine.
The reoccuring description of erotica and fantasy was what originally intrigued me (I will not lie and say this book is without grandious sensuality, but erotica it is not), but what held my intrest was the high intrigue (political machinations are typically not my thing), the splendid and complex heroine and her hero, and the toilful journey they undertook.
I would gladly recommend this book, although it is a lofty tome at some 900 pages (according to my e-reader), to anyone looking for a beautifully crafted fantasy novel rife with eloqent descriptions and featuring a unique heroine.
If I had a dollar for every time someone shivered, trembled, or quivered…
adventurous
slow-paced
adventurous
challenging
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
This book is challenging in a number of ways. It has too much sex for many and not enough for those coming to it for that purpose. It has sexual assault and sexualization of children. The main character is steeped in the culture of this place, and doesn't see the problems with many of the things about this culture that would make a reader think twice, then a third time (though the narrative itself does not think so kindly on them, and there's absolutely a "conscience character" with her).
The narrative itself does take a little while to get truly going, but there is an epic tale told in these pages, with deft prose and real heart. The political intrigue is well-crafted, simple enough to be understood but complex enough to have to play out the consequences. There's also a lot of sex, where your mileage may vary.
I don't want to judge a book by what it's not trying to be, so I won't ask it for less sex or a more complex intrigue. I would ask it to be a little more forthcoming on drawbacks of its dominant culture, and to build the romance aspect a little more (it does feel a little out of left field, though not so abrupt as much romantasy nowadays).
The narrative itself does take a little while to get truly going, but there is an epic tale told in these pages, with deft prose and real heart. The political intrigue is well-crafted, simple enough to be understood but complex enough to have to play out the consequences. There's also a lot of sex, where your mileage may vary.
I don't want to judge a book by what it's not trying to be, so I won't ask it for less sex or a more complex intrigue. I would ask it to be a little more forthcoming on drawbacks of its dominant culture, and to build the romance aspect a little more (it does feel a little out of left field, though not so abrupt as much romantasy nowadays).
I bounced off this book so hard I gave myself a concussion.
I read 100 pages of the book. That is, less than 10% of the entire series narrated by Phedre, which wraps up at >2000 pages.
I would like to compliment myself on cutting my losses early.
I fucking hate Phedre :’))) Most unbearable narrator I’ve seen in a while -- Mycroft Canner, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I downright missed you. Further on the list of things I didn’t like: Ebony Ravenclaw Dementia self-introductions, pretty half-angel half-french people racial supremacy, Christ-worshipping Jews, ~exotic~ Gypsies, fucking one’s way in and out of problems, romances with father figure characters.
I read 100 pages of the book. That is, less than 10% of the entire series narrated by Phedre, which wraps up at >2000 pages.
I would like to compliment myself on cutting my losses early.
I fucking hate Phedre :’))) Most unbearable narrator I’ve seen in a while -- Mycroft Canner, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I downright missed you. Further on the list of things I didn’t like: Ebony Ravenclaw Dementia self-introductions, pretty half-angel half-french people racial supremacy, Christ-worshipping Jews, ~exotic~ Gypsies, fucking one’s way in and out of problems, romances with father figure characters.
DNF 65%
I really really tried to like this book. But the political story was so complex and had so many characters, it just did not hold my interest. And honestly, I was expecting way more sex from the way people talked about it. Wanted: more sex, less politics.
I really really tried to like this book. But the political story was so complex and had so many characters, it just did not hold my interest. And honestly, I was expecting way more sex from the way people talked about it. Wanted: more sex, less politics.