Reviews - La Marque | The StoryGraph

2.08k reviews for:

La Marque

Jacqueline Carey

4.01 AVERAGE

blove0312's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional 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

While this took me 6 days to read, it was over Christmas and I had a lot going on. Also it’s proving to be a very difficult book to review. At first I was unsure about it, there were a lot of people to remember and keep track of especially as they faded to and from the background. I’m not big on erotica or “spice,” though this isn’t exactly that, but Phedre is a sex professional - among many other things. (It’s don’t think it’s supposed to do things a lot of smut do, considering the ages and statuses of the players involved, but there are some very descriptive scenes even if most of them focus more on the pain and not the actual sex.) But I loved her life with Delaunay and Alcuin. I loved her relationship with Hyacinthe, from small children causing trouble in the market to young adults scheming and learning and enjoying their lives. And Joscelin, whew, he brought a lot to this story. The characters are truly top-tier.

For all the sex bond servant stuff, it really isn’t the main focus of Phedre or the story itself. It helps move the players, but this is all about political intrigue and scheming, seeking truths, sacrificing as needed to get to the heart of things. And the battle scenes are wonderfully done. Holy shit. Among some of the best I’ve read. The emotions I felt as I finished the last 30% of this book were intense, which is not to discount the emotion of their time with the Skaldi and what followed, but we met a lot of new characters, we saw a prophecy or two come to fruition, we faced certain death, we lost dear people. There were several times I just set my book aside and stared into the abyss. And as much as I want to dive right into the second to see what decision has been made regarding a certain relationship, I had a couple books pop up through Libby that are part of a series and I doubt I’ll get the first two at the same again, so despite the fact that I have almost never stopped in the middle of a new series, I think I must considering the length of Carey’s books.

Above all else, Phedre is a beautiful character. She is brave and talented and smart and loyal. If you’re reading this for smut, I think you will be very disappointed. Seeing reviews call this book trashy bothers me. This is an epic fantasy meaning the entire world is completely made up with its own peoples and laws and religions. Just as cannot easily judge our own histories with today’s lenses, we cannot judge made up places and peoples.

tyraleann's review against another edition

4.0

I'm a horrible buddy reader... just putting that out here right now for the world to see. I finished this before the majority of the group even started. So I'm not rating it yet so I don't sway their opinions before they even start.

_boggra's review against another edition

5.0

I love this book like housewives love 50 Shades of Grey.

theneurodivergentowl's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-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

abgcastro24's review against another edition

5.0

Not that I had many expectations going into this book, but it was so much more than I thought it would be. Kushiel's Dart has everything I crave in a fantasy book. Mystery, intrigue, court drama and politics. Secrets upon secrets. A many interesting and different characters. Action. Sex. An intricate world. Magic. A little bit of humor. A little bit of romance, slow but good. War, battle strategies. Princes and Princesses and Kings and Queens and Lords and Ladies. Warriors, sailors, trained bodyguard companions, travelers, spies, courtesans, slaves, warlords, rebels. A great heroine.

I will confess that I couldn't follow every single detail because like George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones, there is a ton of detail. Specifically a ton of characters from different parts of this world. We meet a lot and a whole lot more is mentioned. Like any great fantasy reads, this is long and could be tedious. But I was never bored. Carey's writing style is different. The world building lacked for nothing. The main character Phedre's story is well written from beginning to end. Most of the side characters, whether good or bad, are very much part of the overall story and of Phedre's life. Everyone was given a fair amount importance. And all served a purpose.

Needless to say, I loved this book. It feels like Game of Thrones on one hand, with the epic world mingled with war and politics, and Anne Bishop's Black Jewels trilogy because of the dark nature of this book, the sex an slow building romance. Definitely a new favorite, and close to the top of my list, right next to the two series just mentioned.