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realmsofmymind's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Phedre is a courtesan with a rare gift from the angel Kushiel: anything that gives her pain also gives her pleasure. Sold by her mother into indentured servitude as a child, Phedre is raised in the Night Court until her bond is sold to the nobleman Delaunay. But Delaunay doesn’t plan to use Phedre for mere profit; instead, he trains her in the arts of politics and spying, taking advantage of the many nobles who spill secrets to their lovers. But Phedre one day discovers a plot so disastrous, it shatters her life and threatens to upend the kingdom. Can one courtesan navigate the politics of a continent before war destroys her homeland?
KUSHIEL’S DART is a sprawling epic fantasy that is much more political saga than the romance erotica the internet would have you believe. Yes, there are explicit sex scenes, including BDSM. But aside from a few key scenes in the first third of the book, the sex is only briefly alluded too; even the consummation with the love interest goes by without too much description. In its 900+ pages (depending on which edition you have), I’d say only a little more than 5% is truly devoted to Phedre’s various assignations.
The lack of sex isn’t so much a ding against the book as an attempt to contextualize what on earth you are getting into if you dive into KUSHIEL’S DART. From all the internet whispers, I had braced myself for a book far more weighted towards steamy sex scenes than it actually is. Instead, KUSHIEL’S DART is a young woman’s harrowing journey as she uncovers a conspiracy to invade her homeland, a conspiracy that could push her country to civil war. There are a dizzying number of nobles mentioned in the pages of this book, introduced so quickly and so briefly I was hard-pressed to keep them straight.
Part of that is due to the fact that the story is told from Phedre’s perspective after the fact, as if she were writing a memoir. That puts an odd distancing lens on events, giving a cold, factual bent to the narrative instead of making me truly connect with anyone outside of the main two or three characters. And because I wasn’t connecting with people, keeping L’Envers motivations separate from d’Aiglemort’s could be a challenge.
To give credit where credit is due, the author does create a lush, deep world full of feuding houses and an intricate religion, with the barest dash of divine magic. I did frequently find myself falling into the pages and letting the story wash over me, even if I wasn’t always able to keep straight who was suspected of murdering a princess in years past. The story takes a turn about a third of the way in, jettisoning Phedre from her cushy nobility life into the far flung reaches of the continent, events which certainly hooked my interest. But I found my interest flagging towards the end of the book, however, as one event after another seemed to delay the story reaching its ending. (To be completely fair to the book, I read KUSHIEL’S DART over the course of six or seven weeks; my feelings on the pacing might have been different if I’d read it faster).
KUSHIELS’ DART is a saga that happens to contain sex scenes, rather than an erotica that happens to contain politics. If you like a slow, grounded deliberate tale that sends its characters across the continent and back again, this might be one you’ll love to sink into. If you came looking for spicy love-making and fast-paced events, you’ll likely find yourself disappointed. As for myself, I’m unsure if I’ll continue with the series. While there were certainly elements I liked (and a tantalizing hook for the sequel), I don’t know if the writing style is for me. To borrow from the core religion of KUSHIEL’S DART, “Love as thou wilt” – my love might lay elsewhere.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
Various depictions of sex slavery.howwoolatthemoon's review against another edition
I am not into this nearly enough for thirty+ hours, plus sequels
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Abandonment, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Torture, and Trafficking
picowombat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
leopardteeth's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, War, Rape, Torture, Slavery, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
100_pages_hr's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
2.0
I don't usually read fantasy, but this was recommended by someone I trust... No regrets reading it because it is good to read outside my comfort zone... But I still don't love fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Death and Death of parent
BDSMaccidentalspaceexplorer's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
There are a lot of things I really enjoyed about this on re-read - the fact that it's unashamedly kinky but always reaffirms that consent is necessary, the way that the story sucks me in even though it's a thousand pages long, and the fun alternate history and worldbuilding woven into Terre d'Ange. I also liked Joscelin better upon this re-read, even though I noticed his persistent flaws more.
Now, I was definitely a little concerned about the portrayal of the alternate version of the Roma, since I would have liked to have seen more stereotypes subverted there, but I do recognize that this was written like 20 years ago, so it won't be perfect. And I do think that sometimes the way that Phédre solved basically every problem with sex went a bit far, but I'm also willing to set aside my disbelief for the sake of an otherwise enjoyable book.
Overall, though, my re-read has me excited about reading the second book, and I'm ready to see where the world takes Phédre and Joscelin.
Now, I was definitely a little concerned about the portrayal of the alternate version of the Roma, since I would have liked to have seen more stereotypes subverted there, but I do recognize that this was written like 20 years ago, so it won't be perfect. And I do think that sometimes the way that Phédre solved basically every problem with sex went a bit far, but I'm also willing to set aside my disbelief for the sake of an otherwise enjoyable book.
Overall, though, my re-read has me excited about reading the second book, and I'm ready to see where the world takes Phédre and Joscelin.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, and Torture
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Slavery
The main character, Phedre, engages in a lot of BDSM play, including spanking, blood play, humiliation, exhibitionism, whipping, etc. Most of it is consensual and she derives a lot of pleasure from it, although there is some rape/sexual assault, as I mentioned above. On the whole though, this book is fairly explicit! Be warned.
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