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A review by diannamorganti
Kushiel's Justice by Jacqueline Carey
5.0
After the incredibly awful audio experience of the last book (I'd bought it rather than borrowed it, so I felt compelled to finish it in audio), I picked this book up in print. I still have those terrible voices for Phedra and Joscelin in my head, but they're fading a bit. They make it difficult to read the passages where Phedra's beauty is praised, because her voice is still a doddering old woman (think Carol Channing meets Diane Rehm and you'll begin to understand how AWFUL Simon Vance is at female voices).
Rant over. Spoilers to start. So, you think you can figure this book out. The conclusion is obvious -- Imriel will end up with Sidonie. This is a world with only one rule: Love as thou wilt, so it's obvious. Doraleigh has to die. You also know from the outset that Imriel will succeed at avenging her death. Still, the journey is rewarding and wonderful, and the love that grows between Doraleigh and Imriel is believable and heart breaking. I rarely enjoy a book as much as I've enjoyed these. I didn't think I'd enjoy the Imriel books as much as I enjoyed the first trilogy, but they've really surpassed my expectations.
Imriel's lack of curiosity bugs the crap out of me. Oh, my parents are having secretive meetings behind my back, but I'm not curious in the least?! They come to him and say that if he'd like to know what they're doing they'll tell him, and he says 'no'? Punk! Ever think the reader might like to know? What a terrible 1st person narrator he makes. What happened to all knowledge is worth having? Phedra as a narrator would never have done that. Can you tell I've really gotten into this world? :)
The next book has a big hurdle to overcome for me, I find it very very difficult to believe that Ysandra opposes Imriel and Sidonie together. I can see that Imriel gets it and Drustan gets it, but I don't get it. I can't WAIT to see Melisande show up again -- I just wish I could read it from Phedra's point of view. I have a feeling that Imriel's self-absorption and lack of curiosity will dull that plot point. We'll see.
Rant over. Spoilers to start. So, you think you can figure this book out. The conclusion is obvious -- Imriel will end up with Sidonie. This is a world with only one rule: Love as thou wilt, so it's obvious. Doraleigh has to die. You also know from the outset that Imriel will succeed at avenging her death. Still, the journey is rewarding and wonderful, and the love that grows between Doraleigh and Imriel is believable and heart breaking. I rarely enjoy a book as much as I've enjoyed these. I didn't think I'd enjoy the Imriel books as much as I enjoyed the first trilogy, but they've really surpassed my expectations.
Imriel's lack of curiosity bugs the crap out of me. Oh, my parents are having secretive meetings behind my back, but I'm not curious in the least?! They come to him and say that if he'd like to know what they're doing they'll tell him, and he says 'no'? Punk! Ever think the reader might like to know? What a terrible 1st person narrator he makes. What happened to all knowledge is worth having? Phedra as a narrator would never have done that. Can you tell I've really gotten into this world? :)
The next book has a big hurdle to overcome for me, I find it very very difficult to believe that Ysandra opposes Imriel and Sidonie together. I can see that Imriel gets it and Drustan gets it, but I don't get it. I can't WAIT to see Melisande show up again -- I just wish I could read it from Phedra's point of view. I have a feeling that Imriel's self-absorption and lack of curiosity will dull that plot point. We'll see.