Kushiel's Scion (Kushiel's Legacy) by Jacqueline Carey Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Kushiel's Scion (Kushiel's Legacy)
Book Review: Imriel Comes of Age
Summary: 5 Stars
All the promise of Imriel de la Courcel in Jacqueline Carey's last novel of Terre d'Ange has been fulfilled. The greatest triumph, I think, of this first book in Imriel's trilogy is that Carey gives Imriel a voice of his own, a life of his own, and a story of his own. She is not rewriting the books that made her a bestseller: this book is a brilliant and distinctive continuation of the story of Terre d'Ange.
This story begins several years after Kushiel's Avatar ended, and Imriel carries all the courage, determination, and yes, baggage that he had at the end of that book. He's a young man living in the shadow of his infamous mother and his famous foster parents, damaged by Darsanga, and struggling to find his own way in the midst of d'Angeline intrigue. And that is the sum total of the plot of this book. Imriel first overcomes the trauma of abduction and slavery, his fears about the dark side of his own nature, and then seeks to become a man in his own right and in his own way.
Everything in Kushiel's Scion is geared toward setting Imriel on his way, and very likely, I'm guessing, setting up the confrontations in the second and third books of the trilogy. New characters are introduced, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of Eamonn, (or Prince Barbarus), as well as Maslin and the adult Sidonie and Alais, Queen Ysandre's daughters.
Best of all and most promising is, as always, Melisande. As is usually the case, her influence is unseen (yes, that was an intentional pun) but definitely present. Her plans for Imriel remain hidden, but she makes her first try for her son in this book, and I'm sure that she won't be absent in the next two books. Melisande is without question one of the best and most original female villains in all literature, and seeing Imriel contend with her and her minions is an absolute treat.
I think my favorite element of this book was Imriel himself. Carey is impressive in assuming his voice and his view of the world: even the things Imriel chooses to describe, sees, feels, and thinks are different from Phedre's point of view. While Phedre noted the contents of a dinner table down to the candle sticks, Imriel is mostly concerned with the quantity of food he can put away, for example.
Phedre herself is on the periphery of this novel; Joscelin, as Imriel's role model, mentor, and hero, has a greater impact. Which is as it should be, in my opinion, and I loved seeing Joscelin through Imriel's eyes.
And now that Imriel has made his peace with who and what he is in this book, now that he's killed to defend himself and his friends, sacrificed, and assumed his responsibilities, I can't wait to see what challenges Terre d'Ange, his mother, and Carey throw at him next.
Time to start counting down to the next book.
Book Review: beautiful
Summary: 5 Stars
After waiting so long for Kushiel's Scion to come out, I've built up such high expectations, they were bound to be shattered. And in a way they were. This book was nothing like what I thought it would be, but entirely captivating none the less.
Imriel has his own distinct voice: less formal and more self-aware and introvert than Phèdre's. His battles are internal (although there's a quite spectacular 'real' battle thrown in), and the book is all the more beautiful for it.
I can't wait until the next book in Imriel's trilogy comes out!!!
Book Review: Not bad, but it drags
Summary: 3 Stars
I guess I cant expect as much action as in Phedres series. Imriel is likable, but hes okay, not great. I guess its not what I expected. Neither was Alais, and she had a lot of potential. If this series continues, I would by the second book though. This book seems like an introduction, and my interest is piqued. Not bad, but it drags.Book Review: Master storyteller
Summary: 5 Stars
Jacqueline Carey is at the height of her powers as a master storyteller in this rich and involving novel. The pages simply fly while reading her novel of a fully devoped world with rich characters and involving plot. This is an adult novel: scenes of explicit sexuality are here,so there are scenes not for the squemish. Having said that, Those who love superb writing, a grand story, fully developed characters that live and breathe,and a grand and intricate plot will relish this superb novel in Carey's masterful trilogy.
Bravo!
Book Review: So glad to be back in Terre d'Ange
Summary: 5 Stars
Return to Terre d'Ange with Kushiel's Scion, sequel to the Kushiel's Legacy trilogy. This book follows Phedre's adopted son, Imriel, son of the treacherous Melisande and third in line for the D'Angeline throne. Carey does an excellent job of developing Imriel into a complicated, troubled young man without in any way betraying the character he was in Kushiel's Avatar: haunted but with the proverbial heart of gold.
Imriel is coming of age here, and coming to terms with desires he finds hard to face. Between his molestation at the hands of the Markhagir of Drujan, his anger with Melisande, and the dominant tendencies inherent in his bloodline, Imriel finds sexuality a minefield of issues. He wants more than anything to be a good person, but fears he's fated to be something else.
His quest to find maturity and inner peace will lead him to the Night Court (fans of the Night Court rejoice--we see more of it here than we have since Dart), into court intrigues, and to an Italy still clinging to the ghosts of its glorious past. Imriel finds himself surrounded by schemes, plots, and conflicted desires, and truly comes of age in this hotbed of troubles. I really love what Carey does with his character, and can't wait to see what comes next for him, as it's clear there will be further Imriel books.
The one thing I didn't like at first was that the climactic battle didn't seem to have much to do with Imriel; it was more that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. But on further thought, I realized that Phedre, too, was sucked into things she never meant to be involved with, in Dart and Chosen. I'm just so accustomed to the Phedre of Avatar, plunging herself headlong into adventure because she knows she has to--but this is a mature, 30ish Phedre. Like the younger Phedre, Imriel ends up in situations he never intended to be involved with, but becomes a stronger character through these tribulations. In the end, I think the plot works, and really shows how far Imriel has come since the beginning of the book.