Kushiel's Chosen (Kushiel's Legacy) by Jacqueline Carey Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Kushiel's Chosen (Kushiel's Legacy)
Book Review: Love as thou wilt ...
Summary: 5 Stars
Phedre no'Delaunay is back, imbedding herself into another masterful intrigue of the courts of Terre d'Ange, a beautiful land populated by beautiful people. Though 'Kushiel's Chosen' uses many flashback moments (too many), I strongly recommend that your read the first installment in the series first, 'Kushiel's Dart'.
Phedre helped to save Terre d'Ange and ensure that queen Ysandre de la Courcel secured her throne. Through all she endured, her nemesis Melisande Shahrizai escaped. Phedre is uneasy, knowing that Melisande is loose. With her reluctant Cassiline, Joscelin Verreuil and her chevaliers known as 'Phedre's Boys', Phedre sets off to the land of La Serenissima to track Melisande's flight. What she finds is a big shock, and another deadly plot against queen Ysandre.
Like the first book, this second adventure of Phedre no'Delaunay is an intricate twist of dangerous intrigue and startling adventures. Unlike the first book, 'Kushiel's Chosen' takes its languid pace into tedium. Too many times, our heroine languishes in reminisces that can cause yawning, especially if you have already read about her previous exploits in the first book. You will also find heavier religious references and closer ties to real-life Europe.
'Chosen' also seems to draw a firmer line between the sensuality of the story and the adventures, with the fist part of the book dedicated to Phedre's return to Naamah's Service. She re-enters the Terre d'Ange courts and conducts a series of liaisons, using her talents as an 'anguissette', one who experiences pain as pleasure. This makes her a valuable courtesan indeed. In the second half of the book, the sensuality is cast aside for some high-tension conflicts and narrow escapes.
Jacqueline Carey's 'Kushiel Legacy' books are far too rich and intricate to describe them in detail, but rest assured they are well written in a beautiful, flowing prose and offer up much more than your average romantic fantasy. Phedre is smart and well trained, caring and beautiful, interesting and sometimes funny, a unique heroine that you cannot help but like.
'Kushiel's Chosen' maintains a slower pace than 'Kushiel's Dart', but in the end does not disappoint, in spite of the too frequent episodes of digging up past thoughts and deeds. There is also a nice surprise waiting in this installment, so don't miss it. I'm already well into the third installment, 'Kushiel's Avatar'. Enjoy!
Book Review: Very Good Stuff!
Summary: 5 Stars
The second book of the trilogy.
Once again Phedre takes us on a mind blowind adventure. This book was just as good as the first, and gives us more of the same igredients like suspense,intrigue,action,love,and last but not least sex. Phedre is thrown into yet another twisting plot of deciept,the tale unfolds before your eyes in an intricate pattern that will have you turning the pages like an addict. The new characters are great, Joscelin is still a hottie, Phedre still loves/craves pleasure with pain. If you loved the first, you'll adore the second.
Recommended indeed.
Book Review: Really great books.
Summary: 5 Stars
This story is an amazingly rich and layered fantasy that will completely suck you in if you give it half a chance.
From reading all three of the Kushiel's novels thus far, I can tell that Ms. Carey has done her research about ancient places, languages, myths, and religions to weave her stories into something that feels real even as you are swept away in the fantasy of it all. You are able to see the world that was, yet imagine a world that might have been all at the same time. Kushiel's Chosen takes you to whole new places with Phedre, and lets you explore the Medditeranean in a new and fantastical way.
These are NOT kids books. They have sexual themes that definitly make them grown-up reading and make it necessary to be able to put personal preferences aside and simply go along with the story, but nothing about those situations feel gratuitous or simply placed there for shock value; they actually help propel the story.
All in all, I love the Kushiel's stories and am anxiously looking forward to the next books. If you love history and love fantasy, I think you will also find this series facinating.
Book Review: Almost as good as the first.
Summary: 4 Stars
Although I enjoyed the first and last of this triology a little more, I thought this second part was vital in understanding the growth in all of the main characters, especially Phedre and Joscelin, and their heartbreaking relationship. This second book really explores the challenges Phedre must face with the burden of the entire nation of Terre D'Ange on her shoulders. The word smithing is once again one of Carey's greatest strengths. With this installment of Kushiel's Legacy, expect a slightly slower plot line, but an ending segment that will leave you on the edge of your seat! I highly recommend it.Book Review: One of my favorite series!
Summary: 5 Stars
I could not put this book down. I loved the main character, who was a strong woman, with flaws. I urge every fantasy lover to read the Kusheil's legacy series. Every one of the three books were great!