Kushiel's Mercy (Kushiel's Legacy, #6)

by Jacqueline Carey

book data

968 ratings, 4.30 average rating, 150 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		49%
4		34%
3		13%
2		2%
1		0%

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published

June 12th 2008 (first published 2004) by Grand Central Publishing

binding

Hardcover, 653 pages

characters

Phèdre nó Delaunay, Joscelin Verreuil, Melisande Shahrizai, Imriel de la Courcel, ...more

isbn

0446500046 (isbn13: 9780446500043)

description

From Jacqueline Carey, New York Times bestselling author of Kushiel's Scion and Kushiel's Justice, comes the final adventure in the Imriel Trilogy.Hav...more

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06/23/08

Kelly rated it:

bookshelves: fantasy, fiction

Read in July, 2008

recommends it for: editors who need some reason to cry on cue

I write.
I write my review.
Jacqueline Carey taught me how to write like this.
Writing like this makes what the peons of the world would think of as sentences that would not be out of place in a "See Spot Run," children's novel seem awe-inspiring.
You cannot question the profoundity of what I have to say if I write like this.
Not only that, but it allows me to be as lazy as I choose as instead of depicting important events or actions, I can dispose of them in t...more I write.
I write my review.
Jacqueline Carey taught me how to write like this.
Writing like this makes what the peons of the world would think of as sentences that would not be out of place in a "See Spot Run," children's novel seem awe-inspiring.
You cannot question the profoundity of what I have to say if I write like this.
Not only that, but it allows me to be as lazy as I choose as instead of depicting important events or actions, I can dispose of them in three mysterious words: "So I did." And I can use them over and over again. That definitely will not frustrate my reader at all! It will enthrall them with the contemplation of the brilliance that those three obviously coded words hide.
Don't you see it?
Truly, I am not simple minded! I have not run out of things to say! You just do not appreciate the power of me eschewing descriptions of complicated feelings in favor of simple, black and white truths. Though, do not despair! I /do/ do some complicated descriptions. Mostly of how beautiful my heroines are, and repeated descriptions of horrible events in my hero's past. That have already been described in books past. But I thought I'd bring them up again to impress you with the reason why my hero can do anything he wants and should get anything he wants. And of course the extended and repeated declarations of love for our all knowing all clever heroine who learns languages in ten minutes, remembers obscure bits of history about a country at very conveinent moments, and figured out how to be a military strategist all by herself while recovering from an injury in extreme pain. At least, the reader believes it was extreme pain, but since I neglect to describe any feelings except for boring declarations of love and repeated descriptions of emo angst that I lifted from the last books, the reader isn't sure.
Oh, would you like to hear what I believe passes for sympathetic, complicated inner thought from a boy who will become king of my fake France?
This is essentially the extent of our wonderful hero's thoughts:
"And then Sidonie picked up her fork with all the grace of the goddesses above in her every gesture and stabbed it into a stick of celery with such hidden fierceness and yet queenly delicacy that I longed to take her where she stood!
Gods, I loved her!"
"After that, Sidonie took a shit while reciting brilliant ideas for a peace treaty with our enemy in an ancient, forgotten language, that language that nobody had remembered how to speak, but she found the keys to it in her copy of USWeekly in code and saved the world!
Gods, I loved her!"

Oh no!
I am sure that my sentences were too long there, describing all of this to you.
I am sure what I wrote there did not seem important enough to you because of that.

Alas!
And now you will probably go and read this book because I have not been able to impress upon you how much the quality of Carey's writing, characterization, plotting and description have fallen.
But if by some chance you have made it this far, heed my words: Stick with Phedre and Joscelin in the first trilogy and call it a day. It will save you many many dreams of holding an exquisitely carved dagger to Carey's head while making her write the words "So I did," on a blackboard for the rest of eternity.
(less)

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18 comments

04/23/08

Terence rated it:

bookshelves: sf-fantasy

Read in September, 2008

In L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt's Compleat Enchanter, Harold Shea is able to travel to the worlds of literature by focusing his mind on a mathematical formula, a mantra, if you will, that transports him to the worlds of the Norse sagas and Spenser's Faerie Queen, among others. If only that could happen. There are any number of worlds I would love to visit -- Tolkien's Middle Earth (of course), Cherryh's Union/Alliance universe, the Malazan Empire, the Hyborian Age, und so weiter...
...more

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12/25/08

Nikki rated it:

bookshelves: speculative-fiction

Read in March, 2009

It's odd to think how much I love the first trilogy and how much I struggled with the second trilogy. They're different kinds of stories, really, I think. The first trilogy definitely has love in it, and to some degree, magic, but there's also a lot of heroism-in-unlikely-places and politics. Politics and heroism definitely have their place in the second trilogy, but love and magic hold centre-stage. I wasn't expecting it. Another issue is that Imriel is a less mature hero than Phèdre, and his ...more It's odd to think how much I love the first trilogy and how much I struggled with the second trilogy. They're different kinds of stories, really, I think. The first trilogy definitely has love in it, and to some degree, magic, but there's also a lot of heroism-in-unlikely-places and politics. Politics and heroism definitely have their place in the second trilogy, but love and magic hold centre-stage. I wasn't expecting it. Another issue is that Imriel is a less mature hero than Phèdre, and his trilogy covers shorter spans of time.

The plot is definitely Jacqueline Carey all over, but Sidonie and Imriel just don't carry it as well as Phèdre and Joscelin, for me. All the same, I enjoyed it quite a lot, when I didn't stall with reading it. I think it's best to just bear in mind that it's a different kind of story. And that Imriel isn't Phèdre -- where Phèdre opens doors with her body, Imriel has to wait and chafe, and that carries through to the reader, I think!

In terms of this book alone, it definitely brings the trilogy to an amazing finish. The very last chapter made me grin and clap my hands. A lot of the events of the book are painful -- Jacqueline Carey, once again, spares the readers nothing. I think it's partly my hatred of lying/deceit/seeing people being deceived that makes this book very hard to read. There's a lot of that.

In terms of characters, Phèdre and Joscelin are unimpressive, in this book, for plot reasons. It makes me uncomfortable to see them so wrong, for once. I know they're spell bound, but I also feel like somehow they should doubt, somehow they should realise Imriel is right... Melisande is also another interesting point. It feels odd seeing her with much less ambition, content, mellowed out some by motherhood. I don't really like the point it makes about motherhood, in one sense. It shouldn't make you "soft". But I also like that she was redeemed somewhat.

I definitely liked this trilogy, even though I stalled with it, but my feelings are much more conflicted than with the first trilogy, and I don't think I'll be taking it up to reread very soon.(less)

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04/04/08

Ashley rated it:

bookshelves: fantasy

Read in July, 2008

I'm really on the fence about this book. I'm on the fence about the whole Imriel Trilogy, really. When I started reading it, I expected a grand tale about a journey into the darkness of the heart, exploring the power of Imriel's Kusheline blood and all building up to the search for Melisande. What Carey gave us was, at its core, a love story. Part of me wants to commend her for not making Imriel into Phedre Version 2.0 and having three novels of how he becomes a hero of the realm. In fact, she ...more

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03/25/08

Aubrey rated it:

Read in July, 2008

recommends it for: romantic/epic fantasy readers

Warning, contains spoilers

Overall, not her best book but entertaining, thought provoking and action packed. I kept hoping that she'd do something really different with the end of the book this time---instead of everyone ending up with a happy ending, perhaps the war would've taken place and then, when Ysandre eventually lost, that she, Drustan and the ensorcelled Sidonie would have been ferried over to Alba---OR, what if the stone was never found, L'Envers and Alais lost the war and...more

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12/09/07

Olivia rated it:

Read in June, 2008

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. When the stories started focusing on Imriel instead of Phedre, I admit I lost some interest. I soon grew to love him because he seemed a combination of my favorite characters: The sweetness/intelligence of Phedre, sexiness/ruthlessness Melisande, the undying affection/savior complex of Joscelin: Imriel is fucking hot. I finally admit and this is his coming of age story where he finds the one thing that he is jealous of his adopted mother for: love a...more

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01/31/08

Rebecca rated it:

Read in June, 2008

So, at 11pm on the same day i got the book, i finished it. And i would have finished it sooner if i hadn't have been working. Stupid job...interfering with my reading.

It was an AMAZING book. The "scenes" were wonderfully written and the personal growth of both Imriel and Sidone was impressive. I was expecting nothing less.

What i was not expecting however were the twists and turns and outright suprises. Carey did not fail to deliver as she brought the trilogy to...more

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01/16/08

Cameron rated it:

bookshelves: historical-fantasy

Read in June, 2008

I felt as if I was falling in love with this book - the blissful rapture, the shocking upheaval, the wrenching confrontations, the passionate adventure, the meditative reflections, the heartbreaking struggles. I felt as if this novel carried me along in its wake of events, as if I was enfolded within its history. Though often our guiding voice declaims a lack of poetic verve, this concluding chapter in the Kushiel's Legacy sextet brings us full circle, except it isn't until the end that we rea...more

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11/02/08

Ruhegeist rated it:

bookshelves: fantasy

Read in October, 2008

Very good end to the stories. Not that I wanted them to end. The whole series took a while to grow on me but I have come to really enjoy them. Not only for the obvious. The culture was rather captivating for me with the heavy emphasis on religion and worship. On the down side, I did rather miss Phedra in this last book. The characters/dialog, especially for Imriel, seemed a little cheesy and rather obvious in comparison to the first 3 books focused on Phedra. Could just be fond fuzzy memo...more

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01/11/09

Jill rated it:

Read in December, 2008

While the story is highly engrossing and is full of characters that make one's blood stir in one's veins... I just wish Carey would go back to less magic. Yes, there are things in our universe which defy explanation. But my feeling was always that the power of these novels was in the possibility that someone could actually accomplish the things that Phedre and Joscelin managed to do. Granted, this is highly unlikely in and of itself. But the themes of otherworldly, magical happenings affecti...more

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11/22/08

Leslie rated it:

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in June, 2008

recommends it for: Fans of the Kushiel's Legacy series

In reading and reviewing Kushiel's Mercy, I feel it best to keep in mind that I knew full well when I picked up this book the constant problems in Jacqueline Carey's writing -- her annoying tendency to catch a word or phrase and repeat it ad nauseum, her overwrought plots with a cast of characters big enough to sell out Madison Square Garden. I knew this and bought it anyway, paying full price and staying up until 2am for more than one night, tackling its over 600 pages, just as I had done with ...more In reading and reviewing Kushiel's Mercy, I feel it best to keep in mind that I knew full well when I picked up this book the constant problems in Jacqueline Carey's writing -- her annoying tendency to catch a word or phrase and repeat it ad nauseum, her overwrought plots with a cast of characters big enough to sell out Madison Square Garden. I knew this and bought it anyway, paying full price and staying up until 2am for more than one night, tackling its over 600 pages, just as I had done with the other books in the two Kushiel trilogies. And, so, the question must be asked -- why? What makes these books so appealing?

The answer, of course, is epic fantasy, espionage, and lots of sex. Jacqueline Carey knows what I want out of a guilty read and is prepared to contrive elaborate quest plots in order to provide/sell it to me. Kushiel's Mercy stays true enough to its roots to make for a compelling book. Having announced their love to the realm, Imriel and Sidonie de la Courcel face the challenge of bringing Imriel's traitorous mother to justice, but, before this can happen, a new threat... okay. Seriously, does the plot even matter? Suffice to say, it follows the theme of Imriel's long and complicated story, that he will find love and lose it, again and again.

Carey keeps the adventure going until the end, and there are enough spies and sex to satisfy the kind of itch that the Kushiel books traditionally relieve. Those looking for more about Phèdre and Joscelin would be better off rereading Kushiel's Dart, the original and still the best novel in this series. While the Imriel stories lack some of the steam and excitement of the Night Court, they bulge with swordplay and political intrigue. And although I wonder at the sheer number of people wandering around this book, Carey's new supporting characters, particularly Kratos, are welcome additions. All in all, Kushiel's Mercy is an entertaining end to the Imriel trilogy and will doubtless provide many hours of escapist pleasure for readers who have come to seek their thrills in Terre d'Ange. (less)

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03/10/08

Rebecca rated it:

Read in March, 2008

Ah! The final book in the whole Kushiel series. I can hardly believe it and yet it was SO worth reading (and honestly, this normally isn't my type of reading). Maybe it's the historian in me, maybe it's the romantic in me, or maybe I just love a good story but both trilogies in this series fascinated me, picked me up, and swept me away on a whirlwind of religious history, politics, intrigue, damn good sex, and above all else, love. Jacqueline Carey really is a storyteller, not just an author.

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07/04/09

Sueij rated it:

Read in July, 2009

Aaaaahhh. An amazing book that's the sixth in an amazing series. Though you'd really want to start with the first, the characters and story are simply glorious. I very nearly finished the last page and went back to the first to re-read it, but decided I'd rather dig up the whole series and read the entire story from the start.

An overview of the series as a whole: it's slightly fantasy (occasionally strongly fantasy, as I think the third, fifth, and sixth books are premised on some ma...more

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06/05/08

Sharon rated it:

Read in June, 2008

Hurray! Way better than the first two in Imriel's series, the final book in the Kushiel's Legacy series hearkens back to the good ole days of life or death political intrigue, saving Terre D'Ange at incredible risk, the feeling of "how are they ever going to get back!? the distractions and sideline littler quests are simply too much!" returns, and the complexity of the plot line is just greater. It is a pity that the first two were almost nothing but build up to this, but, i digress.

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06/22/09

Christina rated it:

(review of isbn 044661016X)

bookshelves: 2009-reads, fantasy

Read in June, 2009

The story:
The stunning conclusion to Kushiel's Legacy.

In the final chapter of Imriel's trilogy, Imriel and Sidonie have finally confessed their affair, much to the displeasure of Queen Ysandre and the peers of Terra d'Ange. The lingering effects of Melisande's betrayal still lies thick in the air, and the realm is immediately suspicious that Imriel is following in his mother's footsteps, planning to usurp the throne.

Refusing to either acknowledge or defy the relatio...more

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06/08/08

J. R. S. rated it:

bookshelves: 2008, all-time-favourites, epic-fantasy, high-quality-writing

Read in June, 2008

Excellent final book in the Kushiel series. It wraps up the entire series nicely, yet can stand on its own. A lot happens in this book yet it never felt like it was dragging, as happened occasionally in the previous two books. Within the entirety of all six books, it probably stands as one of the two or three best.

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03/25/09

Sheena rated it:

bookshelves: fantasy

This stunning conclusion to the second Kushiel series does not disappoint. Dark magic has cursed the City of Elua, separating two soul-joined lovers and plunging the realm into turmoil. Prince Imriel must face madness, sorcery, war and treason to win back his beloved Sidonie, none other than the heir to the throne of Terre D'Ange. Will his mother, a traitor sentenced to death, lend the help he sorely needs? Will his homeland tear itself apart before a cure for the madness can be found?
...more

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05/06/08

Kristen Bongard rated it:

Read in June, 2008

YES YES YES!!

Everything I always wished for and more!!

It all comes full circle! I couldn't imagine a better ending. :)

I am sated.

<sigh>

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03/14/09

Unwisely rated it:

Read in March, 2009

So...I've liked this series, although the last book didn't have the intensity to keep me up too late at night reading it the way the first few Phedre books did. This one brought it back. Imri and Sidonie have now acknowledged their relationship, and Ysandre says they can only get married if Imri's mother comes to justice. So...off he goes. Is the usual exciting international intrigues, wars, magic, all that. The end of this felt a lot like she was done with the whole world - very tying up l...more

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