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mrswythe89 's review for:
Kushiel's Dart
by Jacqueline Carey
I enjoyed this a lot at first, in a stupid trashy way, but got bored after a while, which is why I took so long to finish it. I think it reaches its height of trashy fun in Terre d'Ange; all the bits with Phedre living with the Skaldic tribes, getting away from them in the wintry tundra etc. etc. drag a lot for me. Maybe it's just 'cos "swept away by a barbarian!" isn't my kink.
Carey has a habit of saying really obvious things in a hilariously portentous way, e.g.
I asked him to pass the butter, for though as one marked by Kushiel's Dart, my greatest pleasure lies in pain, yet I am D'Angeline, and appreciate the finer things in life. Golden butter, springing from the roseate udders of the exquisite cattle of L'Agnace, was a pure joy I had neither strength nor inclination to deny.
"It's the butter you desire?" said Joscelin, my beloved, brave Cassiline. Well I knew the agonies that tore him even to acknowledge my desires, for the Cassiline brethren are trained to asceticism. Though they appreciate the beauty that is their birthright, as any born on Elua's blessed land must, the beauty they are drawn to is stern and cold, allowing not for butter.
"Yes," said I: and truly, it broke my heart to say it.
He passed the butter, but I could tell with by one glance at his white face, still and beautiful as suffering carved into marble, that it cost him much. I do not think his heart could grieve more than mine did, that day when I asked him to pass the butter.
This isn't even that great a parody, 'cos that's *exactly how she writes*.
I did really like the worldbuilding, with all these prettily-named AU versions of European countries. I think probably my favourite character was Hyacinthe -- he was the only one who seemed to have a sense of humour.
Carey has a habit of saying really obvious things in a hilariously portentous way, e.g.
I asked him to pass the butter, for though as one marked by Kushiel's Dart, my greatest pleasure lies in pain, yet I am D'Angeline, and appreciate the finer things in life. Golden butter, springing from the roseate udders of the exquisite cattle of L'Agnace, was a pure joy I had neither strength nor inclination to deny.
"It's the butter you desire?" said Joscelin, my beloved, brave Cassiline. Well I knew the agonies that tore him even to acknowledge my desires, for the Cassiline brethren are trained to asceticism. Though they appreciate the beauty that is their birthright, as any born on Elua's blessed land must, the beauty they are drawn to is stern and cold, allowing not for butter.
"Yes," said I: and truly, it broke my heart to say it.
He passed the butter, but I could tell with by one glance at his white face, still and beautiful as suffering carved into marble, that it cost him much. I do not think his heart could grieve more than mine did, that day when I asked him to pass the butter.
This isn't even that great a parody, 'cos that's *exactly how she writes*.
I did really like the worldbuilding, with all these prettily-named AU versions of European countries. I think probably my favourite character was Hyacinthe -- he was the only one who seemed to have a sense of humour.