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maralyne 's review for:
Kushiel's Dart
by Jacqueline Carey
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Kushiel's Dart is an epic fantasy centered on courtesan/spy Phedre, who was born with the eponymous Kushiel's Dart in her eye, marking her as someone who experiences pain as pleasure. The setting is heavily based on medieval Europe, and Phedre's people - the D'Angeline - are descended from angels who loved mortals. Written in an autobiographical style, we follow the story through Phedre's perspective, which is written with dramatic flair and lengthy descriptions.
The story starts from Phedre's birth, and meanders through her upbringing as a courtesan and later a spy. While she is raised into prostitution, she doesn't participate in sex scenes until her late teenage years. The sex scenes themselves aren't particularly titillating, often short and almost clinical, and tend to fade-to-black, which surprised me, given what I had been told about the book. The plot is heavily political but does include war and violent action, though Phedre herself is not a warrior. Instead Phedre applies her skills as a courtesan to spy and manipulate, though she makes friends and allies as often with her charm as with her skills in bed.
I enjoyed the unusual perspective, since many epic fantasies focus on warriors or rulers. This book satisfied my craving for political epic fantasy. Other readers may find it long and tedious to parse through.
In terms of world building, the story reimagines medieval Europe, complete with the "French" Terre de Ange, the "Italian" Caerdicci city-states, the "Spanish" Aragonians, the "British" Pictish, the "ancient Roman" Tiberium empire, and the "Germanic tribes" of the Skaldi, and more. The fantastical elements come from gods and angels that are primarily ancestors and objects of worship who have passed down abilities and blessings. The magic people posses is subtle and limited but still plot-relevant.
I enjoyed my time reading Kushiel's Dart, and I look forward to reading more of the trilogy. I am intrigued and amused by Phedre's narration and appreciate her character. She is romantic yet also pragmatic, kind and clever. I hope the sequels take her character to new heights.
The story starts from Phedre's birth, and meanders through her upbringing as a courtesan and later a spy. While she is raised into prostitution, she doesn't participate in sex scenes until her late teenage years. The sex scenes themselves aren't particularly titillating, often short and almost clinical, and tend to fade-to-black, which surprised me, given what I had been told about the book. The plot is heavily political but does include war and violent action, though Phedre herself is not a warrior. Instead Phedre applies her skills as a courtesan to spy and manipulate, though she makes friends and allies as often with her charm as with her skills in bed.
I enjoyed the unusual perspective, since many epic fantasies focus on warriors or rulers. This book satisfied my craving for political epic fantasy. Other readers may find it long and tedious to parse through.
In terms of world building, the story reimagines medieval Europe, complete with the "French" Terre de Ange, the "Italian" Caerdicci city-states, the "Spanish" Aragonians, the "British" Pictish, the "ancient Roman" Tiberium empire, and the "Germanic tribes" of the Skaldi, and more. The fantastical elements come from gods and angels that are primarily ancestors and objects of worship who have passed down abilities and blessings. The magic people posses is subtle and limited but still plot-relevant.
I enjoyed my time reading Kushiel's Dart, and I look forward to reading more of the trilogy. I am intrigued and amused by Phedre's narration and appreciate her character. She is romantic yet also pragmatic, kind and clever. I hope the sequels take her character to new heights.