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Kushiel's Scion (Imriel's Trilogy #1)

by Jacqueline Carey (Goodreads Author)

4.15 of 5 stars 4.15 · rating details · 9,877 ratings · 342 reviews

Imriel de la Courcel's blood parents are history's most reviled traitors, but his adoptive parents, the Comtesse Phèdre and the warrior-priest Joscelin, are Terre d'Ange's greatest champions.

Stolen, tortured, and enslaved as a young boy, Imriel is now a Prince of the Blood, third in line for the throne in a land that revels in art, beauty, and desire. It is a court steeped...more

Paperback, 944 pages

Published May 1st 2007 by Grand Central Publishing (first published 2006)

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Aug 14, 2012 Célia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, bought, english, fantasy, 2012, 3-stars

This book caught me in a complicated time of my life, so my opinion might be a little biased. Still, it was a valuable companion and it helped me, so I will try to write something coherent.

I loved the previous books in Kushiel's series. Three years have passed since I read the last one, but it was not hard to remember the characters, the places and the story as I was beggining this one. Some years have passed since "Kushiel's Avatar" and here we have a new narrator, Imriel, son of Phèdre's and T...more

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Jun 01, 2011 Sath rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, reviewed

This begins the second trilogy, in the Kushiel's Legacy series. This trilogy follows Imriel de la Courcel no Montreve, the adopted son of Phedre and Joscelin, and the biological son of Melisande Sharizai.

Imriel is now a teenager, coming into his majority at the royal court of Terre D'Ange. He's third in line to the throne, and as such has his allies, and his enemies at court, mostly just because he his mother's son. His mother was a traitor, but he has never known her, and shys away from his her...more

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Jun 09, 2007 Elizabeth rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: all fantasy lovers

I'd wondered if Jacqueline Carey would be writing any more in her Kushiel universe, and was thrilled to find that she's continued in a new trilogy centering on Imriel de la Courcel.

I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED. This book begins a new trilogy, one that blends with the previous storyline while forging ahead and making the reader love Imriel just as we've loved Phèdre. It's a treat to see this new perspective on life, and I found myself just as engaged with Imriel's story and character despite our diff...more

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Oct 01, 2010 Ben Babcock rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed, 2010-read, fantasy

So you wrote a highly-successful trilogy. Congratulations! What now? Well, you could write a sequel trilogy: new narrator, same old world and intrigue. Some writers want to milk the cash cow for all it's worth. Other writers, like Jacqueline Carey, create worlds compelling enough to justify returning to them time and again. Sinking into Kushiel's Scion is like having an old friend come to visit: all the things that you remember are there, but time has passed, and with it has come change. So you...more

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Feb 19, 2010 Christina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, 2009-reads, 2010-reads

I surprisingly enjoyed this much more than I thought I would.

Although not as wonderful as I remember the Phedre trilogy being, this story - in its own right - is just as intriguing. I know many people have complained that it's not what they were expecting, that Imriel isn't as great a narrator as Phedre. Perhaps they are right. I know after I finished Kushiel's Avatar, the thought of reading Scion felt like a betrayal. I bought the book, but I couldn't bring myself to actually read it. It took...more

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Sep 01, 2011 Virginia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: speculative-fiction, read-2011

Once again, Carey made me forget that I have a toddler at home who doesn't care if I didn't go to sleep until 4:30am reading this book. I am an idiot - but I had a great time reading this continuation of the Kushiel series. Instead of Phaedre, the series focuses on Imriel. He's a bit annoying at times, but who isn't when they're young? I am always amazed at how much stuff Carey crams into her books and I look forward to reading the rest.

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Mar 15, 2012 Leyoh rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've seen a fair amount of moaning about this 1/3 of an overall 2/3 not stacking up to the first trilogy and I have to disagree with it all. There are not many times I wish to be a man (bar waiting for the toilets at a concert) but reading this made me pine for a codpiece and facial hair. Imriel is a bad egg, readers of this series will know why but he's cut from very prestigious cloth and his fine breeding makes for a spectacular young man.

The pace is steadier, we've not got so much intrigue o...more

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Jul 08, 2010 Minh rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

My god, how long has it been since I started reading this series? The Kushiel series was originally released as a trilogy, the focus being on the character Phèdre nó Delaunay and her bodyguard, and eventual lover Joscelin Verreuil. There was no way I was remembering those names (lol), thank you wiki. The first three books are epic in themselves. Jacequeline Carey has a style of writing that usually I would not have patience with, but the sheer expanse of the storyline and the characters themselv...more My god, how long has it been since I started reading this series? The Kushiel series was originally released as a trilogy, the focus being on the character Phèdre nó Delaunay and her bodyguard, and eventual lover Joscelin Verreuil. There was no way I was remembering those names (lol), thank you wiki. The first three books are epic in themselves. Jacequeline Carey has a style of writing that usually I would not have patience with, but the sheer expanse of the storyline and the characters themselves have me capivated.

Book 4 shifts the focus to Imriel de la Courcel, Phèdre's foster son and son of the traitor to the throne, Melisande Shahrizai. I think it says a lot about this series, that although I have not read the first three novels for at least 2 years, the events and people mentioned came straight to mind during the book. It's a clever mix of past and present as Carey manages to subtly push the mind to remember events of the past while not drowning us in exposition.

I was truly surprised at how captured I was by this novel. I opened it only intending to browse through the first few pages and ended up reading it for 3 days. The structure of the book is in three parts. The first, the growl of Imriel from child to adolescence. It covers his time living with Phèdre and Joscelin at their home in Montreve, and once again hits my kink for that awkward growing up phase. The second shifts between Montreve and the royal court, where the burdons of his blood force Imriel away from his childhood.

The third and longest part of the book, concerns Imriel running away from his nature. As ever, he is pricked by Kushiel's thorn and unwilling to face his demons, leaves for Tiberium to join his friend Eamonn.

I had to admit, the final subplot in the book wore at me a little, and I didn't really see it as contributing all that much to the overall storyline. Book 5 is due out in a few months, which had me surprised as I saw this as a one-off, and indeed it could very well stand alone. Unfortunately I've already been a little spoiled for the next book, but that won't stop me from reading it.(less)

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Feb 22, 2013 Nexa rated it 5 of 5 stars

I will try to be good...
A volte le seconde trilogie sono una lenta strada in discesa, ripercorrono sentieri già percorsi rovinando quanto di bello era stato scritto, ma dopo aver letto 'kushiel's Scion' posso dire che la Carey non ha perso il suo tocco magico.
Ci racconta nuove e vecchie storie che continuano ad intrecciarsi attraverso gli occhi di Imriel nò Montreve de la Courcel. Il bambino che abbiamo abbandonato al ritorno da Saba cresce, nella consapevolezza di chi è, tormentato dal suo pas...more I will try to be good...
A volte le seconde trilogie sono una lenta strada in discesa, ripercorrono sentieri già percorsi rovinando quanto di bello era stato scritto, ma dopo aver letto 'kushiel's Scion' posso dire che la Carey non ha perso il suo tocco magico.
Ci racconta nuove e vecchie storie che continuano ad intrecciarsi attraverso gli occhi di Imriel nò Montreve de la Courcel. Il bambino che abbiamo abbandonato al ritorno da Saba cresce, nella consapevolezza di chi è, tormentato dal suo passato e dall'eredità di sua madre che aleggia su di lui come un fantasma dall'aura funesta e pesante.
Crescendo dovrà imparare chi è veramente Imriel, non la figura 'istituzionale' di principe del sangue, terzo in linea al trono ma cosa desidera, cosa vuole fare della sua vita, tutto questo mentre i desideri di un adolescente inquieto lo pungolano. Pian piano imparerà che non può sfuggire ai suoi desideri, al portare nel suo sangue l'eredità di Kushiel.
I will try to be good...
Finalmente abbiamo uno scorcio della famiglia Sharizai, soltanto accennata nei libri precedenti, uno scorcio che ci da' l'aspettativa di nuove scoperte, intrecci preparati per il futuro.
I will try to be good...
Conosceremo Alais e Sidonie, le figlie di Ysandre, di come il loro futuro è minacciato dal loro mezzo sangue, in un paese che resta sempre oroglioso del loro essere D'Angeline.
In questo libro si rivive la vita di corte attraverso gli occhi dei giovani rampolli della nobiltà. Ma se all'improvviso tutto cambiasse? se aprissi gli occhi e nulla fosse più come prima, cosa potresti fare? fuggire lontano dalla tua famiglia, dalle persone che ami non sarebbe così sbagliato..
così la Carey porta Imriel nella lontana Tiberium, e mentre il nostro principe cerca di confondersi tra la gente comune, facendosi passare per uno studente squattrinato che vive le lezioni all'università nell'antica capitale, le corde che si stringono attorno al fato di Imriel si stringono sempre di più..il passato si fa sempre più presente, l'ombra di Anafiel Delunay riappare, e di come abbia imparato l'arte della cospirazione e dello spionaggio. Intrigi e segreti antichi corteggiano Imriel attraverso Claudia Fulvia, come l'antico maestro di Phedre anche il giovane principe non sarà disposto a pagare il prezzo della Gilda, quetsa associazione segreta che muove le sorti dei popoli.
Verità, lealtà verso gli amici riporteranno il giovane principe dai propri amici, Eamonn, Lucius, Brigitta.
Conscio di ciò che conta Imri è pronto a tornare a casa, un'ultima tappa e poi il suo futuro prenderà forma, ha deciso finalmente di fare qualcosa per il suo paese e sposare la giovane Dorelei, futura regnante in Alba, per suggellare ancora una volta tra i due paesi.
Ed ecco che Imriel ed i suoi compagni si trovano in mezzo all'assedio di Lucca, guerra, morte ed onore toccano il nostro protagonista.
Prima della fine, prima del ritorno il tocco di Melisande non può mancare...aprendo nuovi scenari e nuove avventure.
Misteri, azione, sensualità, intrighi non mancano.
Ed Imriel è più che mai uno specchio oscuro e brillante, ogni volta dovrà rinnovare e scegliere.(less)

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Jul 06, 2012 Jilly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kushiel

I have to say that the other books in this series (before this one) were okay. I liked them enough to read them but at the same time I kept thinking maybe it wasn’t worth it to keep reading.

I’m so glad I did.

While the first three books are from Phedre’s point of view, Kushiel’s Scion is told from Imriel’s (Phedre’s foster son) point of view. He is a prince of blood. The third in line for the throne. The son of two traitors. Through distrust, rumors and bad memories Imriel tries very hard to grow...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Lord, this is hard.

If you're not familiar with Jacqueline Carey and her Kushiel's Legacy series, which is steadily approaching epic proportions.... well, let it suffice to say that if you're not familiar with it, you should be. The series is filled with everything that makes fantasy so great; an sub-alternate world that parallels our own wonderfully, a great historical feel, well-rounded characters, political intrigue, great scenery, epic travels, wonderful costumes, deep emotions, quests o whic...more Lord, this is hard.

If you're not familiar with Jacqueline Carey and her Kushiel's Legacy series, which is steadily approaching epic proportions.... well, let it suffice to say that if you're not familiar with it, you should be. The series is filled with everything that makes fantasy so great; an sub-alternate world that parallels our own wonderfully, a great historical feel, well-rounded characters, political intrigue, great scenery, epic travels, wonderful costumes, deep emotions, quests o which the fates of nations depend...

Carey manages to do it all. I've found that, in fantasy, it's easy to overwhelm the reader with all of this, something which Carey luckily doesn't do. She has always, for me, managed to hit the jackpot by pacing that incredibly thin line between epicness and humanity/humility in her characters. Some have argued that her prose is too description-and-adjective-heavy. I myself disagree and would much prefer descriptive prose to minimalistic prose, at least in fantasy, and even if her sentences sound a little loaded sometimes, for me that just adds to the feel of the book and makes it even easier for myself to lose myself in it.

That being said, I have to say that Kushiel's Scion is a lesser sister among its marvelous Kushiel's Legacy siblings. Most of this has to do with the fact that I am completely utterly in love with Phedre (for the uninitiated, Phedre was the narrator and main character of the first three Kushiel's Legacy novels - the next three, of which Kushiel's Scion is the first - are narrated by prince Imriel. Phedre still plays a part, but only a small one). She is my favourite fantasy novel character ever and I deeply regret having to say goodbye to her narrating.

But of course, there are many redeeming qualities to Kushiel's Scion as well - Imriel's inner struggle, the lovely, student-y, riot-y vibe of Tiberium, the character of Lucius and his later transformation-and-back into Gallus Tadius (I especially loved that), Master Piero and the way he thinks, Canis the mysterious philosopher-beggar... And most of all, the thing I've always loved most about Carey's novels; how she makes you care about every single character, because every single character is well-rounded; how every one of them is incredibly human with good and bad in a somewhat equal distribution - how even the smaller side-characters, like the widow Anna or Brigitta or Romuald or Helena feel real to you. How Carey always makes you feel like behind every story, around every corner, is another story waiting to be told and that the one she tells is only a facet of the full picture, yet an incredibly fulfilling and beautiful facet.(less)

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Jun 03, 2011 Shaya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: school-year-2010-2011, fantasy

Prince Imriel is a new and interesting hero for our story. He's perhaps not quite as complicated as Phedre but well worth reading about. He is dealing with his history: being Melissandre's son and the horros he faced in Darsanga. It wasn't too annoying to read about him as a moody teenager because he had enough insight to realize his moodiness. Really, this is a coming of age story. Imriel finds friends and enemies and lives on his own for a while in Tiberium. He also grows to understand what hi...more

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May 24, 2011 Vicky rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction, romance

"Kushiel’s Scion" takes the Kushiel's Legacy series in a new direction with Imriel as the new narrator. Carey uses beautiful rich language to impart the young Prince’s insights to the reader.

This is very much a coming-of-age story centering on Imriel. While many of the characters from previous books remain, they are not the focus of the story. Phedra and Joscelin are his adoptive parents and Imri adores them, but finds it difficult to live up to their reputation.

Still scarred by his abduction...more

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Dec 30, 2010 Lady K rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

http://antredeslivres.hautetfort.com/...

Venons-en aux faits ! Le livre en lui-même et ce que j’en pense. Sachez que je n’ai pas lu la première trilogie – on dirait que ça devient une habitude – qui raconte l’histoire de Phèdre, la mère adoptive d’Imriel. Et pourtant c’est tout à fait compréhensible. Le prologue s’emploi à nous rappeler les choses les plus importantes, et tout au long du récit, quand c’est nécessaire, on rappel le au lecteur ce qu’il doit savoir – qu’il ait ou non lu la première...more http://antredeslivres.hautetfort.com/...

Venons-en aux faits ! Le livre en lui-même et ce que j’en pense. Sachez que je n’ai pas lu la première trilogie – on dirait que ça devient une habitude – qui raconte l’histoire de Phèdre, la mère adoptive d’Imriel. Et pourtant c’est tout à fait compréhensible. Le prologue s’emploi à nous rappeler les choses les plus importantes, et tout au long du récit, quand c’est nécessaire, on rappel le au lecteur ce qu’il doit savoir – qu’il ait ou non lu la première trilogie – pour la bonne compréhension de la suite.

Ce roman est un sacré « pavé » - presque 800 pages- écrit petit, alors que ceux que ça effraie partent en courant, les téméraires peuvent rester et ils auront raison. Car ce livre est très plaisant à lire. On sent que le récit est travaillé, l’auteur a vraiment du talent. Certains indices sur la suite des aventures sont disséminés dès le début, mais on ne comprend pas tout de suite que ce sont justement des indices. Ce n’est que lorsque l’action se passe qu’on se dit « Ah ! Mais oui ! C’était évident depuis le début ».

Ce livre pose les bases pour ce qui sera ce qu’on peut appeler la « vraie histoire », celle qui sera sans doute le fil conducteur de la trilogie. Mais on ne s’ennuie pas un seul instant. On suit Imriel, le personnage principal, dans son apprentissage de la vie et des intrigues avec lui, on rit avec lui, on pleure avec lui, on enrage avec lui, bref on partage vraiment ses émotions. Il lui arrive bien des aventures à ce pauvre garçon. Au début on peut croire que c’est fortuit, mais on finit par comprendre que tout a plus ou moins un lien avec ce fameux fil conducteur et j’ai trouvé ça vraiment très réussi !

On en apprend un peu plus sur la mère biologique d’Imriel, prince de sang bien malgré lui, et elle devient de plus en plus intéressante et pourtant si mystérieuse, car on ne sait pratiquement rien d’elle. On ne la voit pas de tout le récit et pourtant elle est bien présente. Est-ce qu’elle manipule tout le monde ou bien lui prête-t-on des actes qui ne sont pas de son fait ? J’ai hâte d’en savoir un peu plus, voire beaucoup plus sur elle !
Les autres personnages que rencontre Imriel sont tout aussi intéressants, beaucoup sont attachants, d’autres moins … mais tous ont le don d’attirer notre attention. Chacun a sa particularité qui le rend si humain ou au contraire, inhumain. Ce qui nous amène à l’apprécier ou le détester. Des personnages, donc, très réussis et hauts en couleurs.

Ce tome mêle humour et gravité. Comme déjà dit plus haut, à la lecture, on sourit, on rit, mais on pleure également, notamment car les personnages sont si réussis qu’ils arrivent à nous toucher émotionnellement. J’ai eu plusieurs fois les larmes aux yeux au cours de ma lecture.

Enfin, une chose que j’ai beaucoup appréciée, surtout dans un livre aussi gros où il est parfois difficile de se rappeler de tous les détails, c’est que lorsqu’Imriel repense à une conversation qu’il a eu plus tôt ou à des paroles, les termes exacts sont rappelés au lecteur.

La seule petite chose que je pourrais reprocher, c’est le côté un peu Harlequin par moment. Mais ce n’est pas non plus le plus gros de l’action, l’histoire « à côté » est assez intéressante pour que l’on passe l’éponge sur ce détail et enfin, il me semble que ce sont des passages presque nécessaires à l’histoire. Je ne saurais pas expliquer pourquoi, mais je l’ai senti comme tel. C’est la mentalité de Terre d’Ange, le pays natal d’Imriel, dont la principale devise est « Aime comme tu l’entends ». Certains parlent de passages érotiques et non pornographiques, n’étant pas experte sur la question, je vais acquiescer à leur jugement …

En conclusion, un livre qu’il faut lire quand on aime le genre, tout comme moi. Par contre si vous comptez lire la première trilogie, attendez, car il y a tout de même beaucoup d’informations sur ce qui se passe dans les trois tomes précédents. Je recommande donc cette lecture à tous les autres. J’étais un peu sceptique au début sur ce que j’allais trouver, mais finalement j’ai beaucoup apprécié ma lecture !(less)

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Dec 30, 2010 Karissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

When I heard that the new trilogy in the Kushiel's Series by Jacqueline Carey was not going to be from Phedre's view but from her foster son, Imriel's, view I was a bit worried. Would the story be the same without Phedre leading it? I shouldn't have worried this is a very good book.

As soon as I started it I gave a sigh of relief. This book is again beautifully written and does justice to the three previous books that take place in the same world. This book is entirely about Imriel, Phedre's fost...more

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Aug 30, 2010 Didi rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is the 1st book of the second trilogy by Jacqueline Carey set in Terre d’Ange. The setting is great- Terre d’Ange sort of resembles renaissance France, except (1) everyone is descended from angels and is, for that reason, really beautiful, and (2) the society is very sexually egalitarian and liberated, so everyone has a really active sex life.

The protagonist is a young man named Imriel, introduced as a boy in the first trilogy. His mother is the villain and his foster parents are the heroes...more

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Aug 07, 2010 Starfire rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 9-10, fantasy, historical-fantasy

Oh, WOW. It's been... at least 4 or 5 years since I read the first three Kushiel books, and I'd forgotten just how much I love Jacqueline Carey's prose.

This set is told from the viewpoint of Imriel - Melisande's child, whom that Phedre and Joscelin rescued during the final book of the first trilogy. And where Phedre is an anguisette (a masochist, in contemporary parlance), Imriel finds himself on the other side of the Valerian Court equation.

Part of what really made this novel for me was the way...more

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May 17, 2010 notyourmonkey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-read, fantasy, kindle, owned

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Nov 30, 2009 Robin Wiley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: love-it-more-than-puppies, fantasy

I wasn't going to read this one. If it's not about Phedre, one of my all-time-favorite heroines, what's the point, Right?

Wrong.

I put a few weeks distance between me and the last book, Kushiel's Avatar (which I recommend doing). Then picked it up and started to read Imriel's story. The story picks up 5-6 years after the last book ends. And, bless you, Jacqueline Carey, there is just enough Phedre in it to help with the transition, but not enough to distract from our new hero.

Like the other trilog...more

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Sep 16, 2009 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

A big, sprawling, sexy romantic, heroic fantasy set in a truly inventive alternate reality--a pseudo-Renaissance version of Europe and countries beyond. This book is the middle installment of a trilogy that also includes Kushiel's Scion and Kushiel's Mercy.

The entire trilogy is a sequel to a previous one: Kushiel's Dart, Kushiel's Avatar, and Kushiel's Chosen. I read those three books long ago (pre-2004). Their strengths are the strong, multifaceted female heroine; the rich, fully developed alt...more

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Dec 09, 2011 Niall519 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-high-low-urban-and-horrific

I seem to have a soft spot for all of these. They occupy a space in my brain somewhere near Mary Stewart's Arthurian series; only with more sex, and an impressive amount of self-absorption displayed by the characters and D'Angelline culture in general. Mary Gentle's Ash and Illario would be in the same general brain space as well. Since I have a reasonably high tolerance for such absorptions and enjoy getting inside other people's brains, it works for me. I also enjoy the slightly warped and her...more I seem to have a soft spot for all of these. They occupy a space in my brain somewhere near Mary Stewart's Arthurian series; only with more sex, and an impressive amount of self-absorption displayed by the characters and D'Angelline culture in general. Mary Gentle's Ash and Illario would be in the same general brain space as well. Since I have a reasonably high tolerance for such absorptions and enjoy getting inside other people's brains, it works for me. I also enjoy the slightly warped and heretical alternate-history/world-building and metaphysics, although it also leaves me uneasy occasionally - a feeling in myself that I've come to accept and appreciate.

Imriel actually annoyed me less than Phedre as a protagonist and narrator. It wasn't what I was expecting. One of the things I enjoy when reading Carey's writing is the sympathy she seems to hold for her cast of main characters, and it worked well for a tortured and moody adolescent. Maybe I just felt that way more about Imriel than I did with Phedre because of the male character/male reader thing, but if that's the case then it's no mean feat in itself, given the author's sex and gender. Maybe it's because the author's gotten better too? I don't have the time to sit down and analyse that on a book by book basis, I just know that it was unexpectedly pleasant and easy to breeze through.

In terms of ideas, I think that Carey's conglomeration of various sources into the Master of the Straits storyline wins out over any other of hers that I've read yet. The dragon in Naamah's Kiss didn't carry nearly enough mythic... weight... for me, and yet the damned angel and doomed weather-mage did. Sad;y. there's little like that in Kushiel's Scion. It's much more like a return to the less fantastic parts of the first trilogy: angst and intrigue, travel and siege. Perhaps that come's in the subsequent books in this series. No doubt I'll discover if this is so, in my usual haphazard way, as I pick up the sequels from friends or the library over the next few years.(less)

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Nov 23, 2011 James marked it as did-not-finish

Shelves: wont-try-again

I stopped reading this about 180 pages in.

Having read the blurb I thought to myself, 'you know, this doesn't sound too bad'. It was though.

The storyline may have been all-right, may have been. I wouldn't know, what with it being hidden beneath a world and prose too obsessed with erotica that it made it hard work to read.

I don't mind erotica - if correctly used - but when literally jumping off of every page and smothering my face in it, I find it suffocating and horrible. I think in the end it...more

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Feb 18, 2011 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. This book focuses on Imriel who is the foster son of Phedre and Joscelin from the previous Kushiel trilogy. It follows Imriel, who had suffered a lot at a young age before being adopted by his foster parents, learning life's lessons and coming to terms with his being third in line to the throne. There is a lot of political intrigue as Imriel faces threats on different fronts, but I really liked the builing of his friendships with Eamonn, Lucius, and Gilot. I also enjo...more

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May 02, 2012 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Why I keep reading these books by Jacqueline Carey? Why I’m doing this to myself? Ah, yes. Because these books are AMAZING!! “Kushiel’s Scion” begins a new trilogy and this time the main character is Imriel! I’m glad for this because I really love him!

You know these books when the male leading character is a total badass, smart and has all the experience to deal the most difficult situations? This story is the “before” part. This book shows us how a man becomes a legend. This book is about a you...more Why I keep reading these books by Jacqueline Carey? Why I’m doing this to myself? Ah, yes. Because these books are AMAZING!! “Kushiel’s Scion” begins a new trilogy and this time the main character is Imriel! I’m glad for this because I really love him!

You know these books when the male leading character is a total badass, smart and has all the experience to deal the most difficult situations? This story is the “before” part. This book shows us how a man becomes a legend. This book is about a young boy with a very difficult childhood who becomes a great young man. Nothing is easy for him. Although, his was raised by Phedre and Joscelin, no one forgives him for his real parents, traitors to the kingdom. But he proves himself more than once. He fights his inner demons and sometimes he feels unworthy of Phedre’s and Joscelin’s affection.

Imriel is amazing! I love him because he’s smart and kind and he wants always to do the right thing. He has some bad times through the book but always understands the hidden truth. He’s afraid of his passions but he can’t realize that his passions make him what he is! I didn’t know what to expect from a child who has been abused by the most cruel person on earth, but Imriel succeeds to have a life worth living, with his beloved ones and he is very capable to fight his enemies.

I won’t lie. This book made me cry. A lot. River of tears. But you know what? I loves these moments too! What I really like about this series is that the reader doesn’t love only the main characters. I loved the secondary also! I cried for them and laughed with them and I was anxious about their futures. I won’t say their names now, but I want to tell that it’s like reading about the younger selves of the next generation in the world that Jacqueline Carey has create.

Amazing writing, plot and characters! I missed Joscelin, although he was a great part of the book, but, you know, he is my vice!! The world-building in this series is one of the best I’ve ever read and I can’t wait to read the next one!!
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Jan 10, 2009 Gregory rated it 5 of 5 stars

OK, so the first half of this book is brilliant beyond brilliant. The review that it quotes on the front cover that says "heartbreakingly human"--yeah, that's an understatement. Imriel no Montreve de la Courcel is definitely one of my top three all-time favorite characters, if not my number one. The only problem I have with it is that it feels the need to go and be an adventure story like its predecessors when it really doesn't need that--at least not for me. Imriel is such an interesting charac...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Tominda Adkins rated it 4 of 5 stars

I positively cannot get enough of the Kushiel's series. I'll not synopsize the plot here, as plenty of other readers have done so already. I'll just give you the benefit of the doubt and say that if you're looking at this review, you've likely already read the Phedre trilogy and know that 'Scion' begins Imriel's trilogy. For those of you who are loathe (as I was) to part with Phedre's narrative, loathe not. Imriel holds his own, and there is plenty of Phedre in this continuation. I enjoyed tread...more

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Sep 12, 2007 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars

High fantasy at its very best. The intrigue! The deceit! The chivalry! The smoldering sensuality! Man, I love Jacqueline Carey. This is the fourth novel in the Kushiel's Legacy series, and already I cannot wait for the fifth (fingers crossed; I wasn't expecting this fourth book so a fifth would be an absolute gift). Carey pulls you into her world with a sense of urgency, and the tales she weaves are rich and satisfying, and incredibly well written.

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Mar 07, 2011 Darlene rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: People with a curiosity of how far LOVE can take you.

Recommended to Darlene by: Chris

Shelves: audio, jacqueline-carey

The Audible.com version nearly threw me for a loop! It was Simon Vance who was narrating. Anyone who has read my other reviews for Jacqueline Carey's books knows how much I loved Anne Flosnik's voice and story telling abilities. When Simon began to speak, I turned off the audio. I couldn't get used to him. I understood why, but the way he read, the way he pronounced names and places, weren't like Anne's. I started reading on my own. My eyes get tired and soon I was ready to let someone else do t...more

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Mar 07, 2011 Darlene added it · review of another edition Recommends it for: People who want to see where true deep love can lead.

Recommended to Darlene by: Chris

Shelves: jacqueline-carey, kindle

Ah, Kindle. I love it so much! It doesn't hurt my hands, I can make the font a big as my poor eyes need it to be. The only problem is that on the Kindle version you don't get the map or the list of characters. I am so glad I have my husband's hardback copy to refer to. And occasionaly I would crack open the BOOK just for the other senses, smell, feel of paper. On the hardback it has font and spaces between lines so I can still track. But I fall back to the Kindle as soon as my hands or eyes get...more

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Mar 07, 2011 Darlene rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Those interested in seeing how other LOVE and the worship of their gods.

Recommended to Darlene by: Chris

Shelves: jacqueline-carey

I slid into this book a little hesitantly. It wasn't from Phedre's point of view. It is from her foster son's. That was unnerving and maddening. I had loved getting to know the deep and loving Phedre. 'Love as thou wilt' had put a small, slight woman in many dangerous adventures. But on my husband's urging I continued. I learned to love Imriel nearly as much as I loved Phedre. Though from a male perspective, this book led us to see a young prince develop into one who could love as deeply as his...more

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About Jacqueline Carey

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Jacqueline Carey (born 1964 in Highland Park, Illinois) is an author and novelist, primarily of fantasy fiction.

She attended Lake Forest College, receiving B.A.'s in psychology and English literature. During college, she spent 6 months working in a bookstore as part of a wo...more

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Kushiel's Justice (Imriel's Trilogy, #2)

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Quotes from Kushiel's Scion

“Even a stunted tree reaches for sunlight.” — 40 people liked it

“Love child!" What else? You will find it and lose it, again and again. And with each finding and each loss, you will become more than before. What you make of it is yours to choose.” — 8 people liked it

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Kushiel's Scion (Imriel's Trilogy #1)

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