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: Kushiel: The Next Generation
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a continuation of Jacqueline Carey's popular Kushiel's Legacy series, focusing on Phedre and Joscelin's adopted son Imriel. As several plot strands are left untied, it appears to be the beginning of a new trilogy. I said in reviewing the earlier series that it was perhaps the best fantasy series I've ever read. This book isn't as good as the earlier ones; still it is good enough to merit a recommendation.
Readers should be warned that the plot is much slower than Carey fans are used to. Only in the last 1/3 or so of the story is Imriel in any real danger. Mostly this book is a sustained character study of a damaged adolescent. And in that sense, it isn't fully successful. Imriel is much less messed up than you than you would expect of a child who survived the horrific events of "Kushiel's Avatar". Still, he comes off as rather whiny and depressed, and after a while these elements get overly repetitious in his first-person narrative, in particular Imriel's constant self-loathing.
The first half of the story is Imriel's experiences in Phedre's holding of Montreve and the Terre d'Ange court, where Imriel is caught between his heritage through his adoptive parents and that of the large and powerful Shahrizai family that spawned his traitorous mother Melisande. The second half, containing almost all the adventure in the tale, tells of his journey to college in Tiberium (Rome). While there, Imriel encounters the shadowy organization that originally trained Phedre's mentor Anafiel Delauney in spycraft, as well as getting caught up in a battle for control of a friend's home city.
As in any Kushiel novel, there is a good deal of sex. I disagree with the reviewer who complained it had been toned down excessively. In fact, I thought the sex was more explicitly described than in earlier Carey stories, although there was less of it. Still, the novel is inappropriate for kids, who would in either case be turned off by the bulk and relatively slow action.
Book Review: Could be Better
Summary: 2 Stars
Not a bad book but not as good as the original trilogy. I want to give this book a 2.5 but I can only give whole stars and it's not worthy of a 3. Imriel's coming of age just doesn't seem to hold much of a dramatic pull for a storyline. Plus you have to have a high squick threshold when your read the Kushiel books. I find that I didn't mind the S&M sex scenes so much as the casual inbreeding among the nobility. Imriel's sexuality is toned down from Phedre's but the part where he goes to a 'House' with his cousins almost threw me out of the story. I like reading well written sex scenes as much as the next person but would you really want to be at an orgy attended by blood relatives?Book Review: Great!
Summary: 4 Stars
Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Legacy is a series I adore. I was thrilled to find out she was continuing on with this series. Everything is very well written, but it is not as intense as the first three. It is still very much worth reading and I fully intend on purchasing her next one. The characters are well-developed but it's sad to see less of Joscelin and Phedre though it's interesting to hear a new point of view. I think it takes a little time to accept that this story is from a new p.o.v. The sensuality and grandeur and beautiful writing is still here. What doesn't make it great for me is because of my own expectations--this book was by far more introspective and a bildungsroman rather than an adventure compared to her first three. Still, this is a wonderful story.Book Review: anti-climax
Summary: 1 Stars
it seems that the author got tired. The book is boring beyond belief, the characters are way too scetchy and the plot a total let down.
In order to maintain the good impressions from the 3 previous books refrain from it.
Book Review: A real treat!
Summary: 5 Stars
A wonderful continuance of the first three books. After finally getting used to the fact that it's someone else's voice we're hearing, everything falls into place. I'm so glad the story doesn't end with the first three books! Thanks Jacqueline Carey!