Kushiel's Dart (Kushiel's Legacy) by Jacqueline Carey Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Kushiel's Dart (Kushiel's Legacy)
Book Review: Provocative and exotic new fantasy
Summary: 5 Stars
I was sent proof copies of this book for a cover quote, and feel strongly enough about it to put a review here. There is a lot of derivative, run of the mill fantasy about, but this book is fresh, complex, somewhat daring, and very well written. Perhaps not for the totally faint-hearted, as its themes are often of an adult nature, but Carey has to be applauded for this addition to the genre. It won't be given the same massive push as one of the new block-busters of fantasy, so I'm here doing my bit as a fellow author. Support new talent. Buy this book.Book Review: A must read!
Summary: 5 Stars
Once I started this book i could not put it down and finished it in 2 days. I wish I had slowed down, if only to savour it and make it last a little longer! This is a stunning debut from a fantastic new author. Sumptuous settings, a likeable and extraordinary heroine, a machiavellian villain, all written in beautiful, flowing language that will transport you to Terre dAnge, where prostitution is the highest form of divine worship. Very adult in parts, and not for the faint hearted! I've already put in my order for Kushiel's Chosen with a friend in Canada, (April 2002) and am counting the days!Book Review: A captivating and lush novel
Summary: 5 Stars
I was attracted to this novel by the heroine Phedre's physical marker - which I share and which sets her apart and determines the path of her life from infancy - a scarlet mote in her left eye. The book may be daunting in size but it has an ambitious range and the author writes superbly and sensually. Here is finally a book which deals on a cerebral and physical level dealing often with the extremes of intimate relations (especially due to Phedre's unusual propensities as an anguissette derived from the spot in her eye, Kushiel's dart).
Without elaborating too much, the setting of Phedre's world appears to be a Europe after the Crucifixion which did not occur exactly as it does in the bible. Instead a new deity was born from the blood of Christ and the tears of Mary Magdalene leading to a number of other events which are detailed in the book. The upshot is that Phedre is born into a pleasure house (of which there are many) where everyone is extremely good-looking (a premise explained quite convincingly) consecrated to the worship of Naamah.
The most difficult part of the book is the political intrigues involving a cast of hundreds people which is not always easy to follow. However this aspect of the novel is balanced by the development of Phedre's character with very likeable central characters and a good pace. Buy this one and you won't be disappointed.
Book Review: Kushiels Dart ~ A rich story with characters to believe in.
Summary: 5 Stars
This book unravels a story set upon a rich cultural/religous backdrop in a world that feels real. For a change the author isn't afraid to explore sexuality in liberal terms. The book is laced with erotic flavours, in a world where orientation is of no concern. There is love and betrayal in large measures. I couldn't put it down and it left me feeling full and satisfied afterward. Thanks Jacqueline.Book Review: A Needle of Pain
Summary: 3 Stars
In some ways, this is an inventive book. Carey envisions a society that far from denigrating the business of sex-for-hire, instead details one that embraces it; where there are thirteen Houses as an established part of the society, each of which specializes in a different area of sexual gratification, and trains their candidates from a very early age in all the arts of love, entertainment, and impeccable personal service. She places this inventiveness against an alternate history background of Europe, which seems to have as its major demarcation point from our own history the defeat of the Roman forces by a united force of Picts. Within this history, the field of countries and societies she paints is a very standard semi-fuedal middlle-ages level of technology and monarchies, complete with all the standard court intrigues associated with that era. This is probably the main point of failure of this book, as to present the intrigue, she parades a host of characters to the reader?s eyes early in the book ? far too many of them, with few early clues as to which of these characters are important and which are mere spear-carriers. There is nothing new in this intrigue; it?s still the age-old story of individuals grasping for the power of a crown by any means possible. What is new is her use of Phedre, a lady marked from birth as belonging to the House of Kushiel, which specializes in the S&M brand of sex, as a fantasy incarnation of Mata Hari, using her training and own sexual inclinations as the lever to pry important information about all the various plots from her clients.
Phedre, from whose viewpoint the story is told, is a well drawn character. Also competently drawn are those who are closest to her, Delaunay, her patron and owner; Alcuin, her male counterpart; Joscelin, her ascetic martial-arts trained protector; and Hyacinthe, her gypsy-like friend. Unfortunately, the rest of the characters are only sketchily drawn, leaving me with little insight into the motivations of those grasping for power. Melisande, as the chief web-master of all the convoluted plotting, cries out for a far deeper characterization than what is shown, and if she had been so drawn, I think this would have been a much better book.
The true fantasy elements of this book are few and don?t really play a part in the story until almost 700 pages in; those looking for elves, dragons, and goblins need not bother with this book. Those looking for some titillation may also be disappointed, as Carey?s description of Phedre?s various sexual encounters are only mildly graphic and have far more emphasis on the use of pain than many people may be comfortable with.
I found the prose style to be somewhat artificial, an attempt perhaps to re-create the lushness and verbosity of some eighteenth-century romances. It is this style, more than anything else, which leads to the 900 page length of this book. Far too often, Phedre would state ?I don?t really remember what else happened that night? and then proceed to give three paragraphs of description of those happenings. A more direct style would have probably reduced it to 600 pages, made it easier to follow, and held my interest better.
An interesting idea, a personable main character that I could empathize with, but a story and setting that are just too commonplace, told with too many words to make this a gripping read.