Kushiel's Avatar (Kushiel's Legacy) by Jacqueline Carey Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Kushiel's Avatar (Kushiel's Legacy)
Book Review: Beautifully written, lovingly crafted
Summary: 5 Stars
The author explores the intricacies of human relationships while introducing the reader to the lyrical world of the almost-past. The story is enriched with political intrigue and diverse topography of the ancient world. The main character Phedre again plumbs the depths of human love and cruelty, this time in a search for freedom for her childhood friend. A stunning culmination of the series!Book Review: The Best of the Series
Summary: 5 Stars
Fans of this series will be happy to know that Carey's writing chops are still there. She can write descriptive prose with the best of them. She understands pacing and never lets the pace drag, despite the length of the novel. Anyone expecting the tautly plotted political intrigue of the first two books in this series will be surprised, however.
Sure, there's some of that going on. What would a Carey book be without it? But this book is about a journey Phedre and Joscelin take, both physically and spiritually. We see more growth in their characters and their relationship in this installment than in the previous two put together. We see Phedre given the choice to be free of her anguisette nature forever, but at a terrible cost. We see her at the mercy of an abuser even more brutal and amoral than Melisande, who degrades her so thoroughly that she is reduced to begging for more torture and loathes her own nature in a way she never has. We also see her exalted and empowered. We see her bereft of everything she loves, but finally gifted with more than she ever dared to hope for.
There is no question that Phedre is one of the most complex characters in modern fantasy. Her bizarre nature may occlude her nobility to some, but for those who perceive that she embodies loyalty, self-sacrifice, and love, she stands as one of the truly great creations in the genre. I cannot recommend this book, and indeed this series, in sufficiently strong terms. Buy this book, but read the other two first.
Book Review: A Spy in the House of Pain
Summary: 5 Stars
It will turn all your expectations of a heroic quest tale on its head. "Kushiel's Avatar," the third of Jacqueline Carey's "Kushiel's Legacy trilogy (for now at least, the door seems to be left partially open for more tales) packs surprises right from the start and continues to do so until its dramatic conclusion. In this episode Phedre--courtesan, spy, linguist, sexual masochist--takes her longest journey yet, in order to free her old friend Hyacinthe from his indentured servitude, as related in "Kushiel's Dart," the first of the three novels.
Phedre's quest, set in an alt-Renaissance earth about which we learn more than in the previous two tales (what? Carthage survived here?), takes Phedre and her companion Jocelin far from her native "Terre d'Ange" (our world's France) all the way to our Lake Victoria, as she searches for the key that will release Hyacinthe from his captivity. Her journey is harrowing and its centerpiece--a descent into a hellish land--is so dark as to be almost unbearable.
Throughout, Ms. Carey demonstrates her knowledge of ancient history, religions, and languages in addition to her storytelling skills. As before, the story is told in the first person from Phedre's point of view, and without any cheating. Readers see only what Phedre sees, and as before she writes for future readers of her world, not ours. (She takes delight in descriptions of exotic, to her, creatures like rhinos and elephants.)
It's long (750 pages). It's thrilling. It's ambitious. It's not for children. And it's but one click away from being yours.
Book Review: Truly Magnificent!
Summary: 5 Stars
In this third book in the series, Phedre faces her most difficult challenges yet, and is forced to press her loyalites to their breaking point. She wrestles with questions of her own identity, and what it means to be an anguisette. The trials and tests in this third book develop her strength and maturity. Nice to know her whole life didn't peak at age 20, eh? In this episode, she takes on supernatural forces again and again with only her gifts of love, loyalty and pain. Through it all, Phedre and Josceline continue to grow and continue to face the challenges of accepting & loving each other for who and what they are. Many wonderful new characters and new settings. A great read! Book Review: Astounding!
Summary: 5 Stars
This legacy gets it's grand finale in this book. I highly recommend reading the first two before jumping into this one because you'll undoubtedly be confused if you don't. Nevertheless, Kushiel's Avatar is the avatar of the legacy itself. With a plot so simple yet intricate, with more characters, and more of Joscelin breaking his vows, lol, this last and, in my humble opinion, greatest of the legacy will keep you on the edge your seat and will definitely have you yearning for the future release of the Imri series, Kushiel's Scion. Don't try to figure out the plot to this book before hand, you'll only damage many brain cells. An astonishing fantasy that Carey did an excellent job of engendering to life, this is one book (and Trilogy) you'll never forget. You won't want to put it down. It contains a variety of genre's including those regarding war tactics, romance, seduction, religion, pirating, dark fantasy, betrayal, and most importantly, love.
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