Kushiel's Justice (Kushiel's Legacy, Book 5)
by Jacqueline Carey
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 954)
bookshelves:
fantasy
Read in June, 2007
Amazingly lush, lyrical, and beautifully drawn, like all of the books in this world; I always have to read them in one sitting, because they're so full-body immersive that to stop mid-way leaves me feeling like I've been hit with a bucket of cold water. And when I'm done, I always have to close the cover and sit for a while, quietly reflecting and trying to absorb and engage with the story. They make you think, and more than that, they make you feel.
This one is much better than...more
This one is much better than...more
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bookshelves:
fantasy,
fiction
recommends it for:
Kushiel series fans
I liked this one, but not as much as the original Kushiel's Legacy trilogy. I think the books are getting too heavy now. Jacqueline Carey spends half the book writing about memories of things that happened in other books, and having her old main characters dredge up storylines that really don't matter. Her recaps are too brief for someone who hasn't read the series, and the rest of us already know. She's trying to keep beloved characters from the first trilogy around, and yet she reduces them to...more
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20 comments
Read in August, 2007
SPOILERS below (although I've tried to keep them minor):
You know, I LOVED, I mean LOVED, the other books in the Kushiel series. This one, I just liked. I even got really bored partway through, because Imriel had been wandering around in the snow for what seemed like HUNDREDS OF PAGES. In a lot of ways this book felt like set-up for the next one. Despite the political implications of Imriel's marriage and quest and everything that was going on in Russia, it felt like the stakes for the wh...more
You know, I LOVED, I mean LOVED, the other books in the Kushiel series. This one, I just liked. I even got really bored partway through, because Imriel had been wandering around in the snow for what seemed like HUNDREDS OF PAGES. In a lot of ways this book felt like set-up for the next one. Despite the political implications of Imriel's marriage and quest and everything that was going on in Russia, it felt like the stakes for the wh...more
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Read in August, 2007
Carey has done a remarkable job in creating her lavishly detailed fantasy world and making it come alive for her readers. This is the second in the series devoted to Imriel, son of the greatest traitor in the realm and adopted son of it's greatest heorine, Phedre, the primary subject of the first three books in the series. Phedre is by far the more interesting and original character, so this 2nd triology does pale a bit in comparison for me, but still makes for very entertaining reading. I much ...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
Fans of Phedre and high fantasy alike.
Alright, I am going to write this review by comparing this installment of the Kushiel Legacy to the others past. When comparing Imriel's narrative to Phedre's there's no comparison, Phedre's is hands down better. I guess this could be because, being a woman, i can identify with her better. But i also believe her adventures were a little more interesting. I guess it could also be because i was fascinated by her gaining pleasure from pain but i stray.
Imriel's adventures in this b...more
Imriel's adventures in this b...more
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Read in July, 2007
Kushiel's Justice was one of my more eagerly-awaited books recently; even above a new Terry Pratchett or Christopher Moore title. Mich and I read Jacqueline Carey's first series and really enjoyed it - this is the second book in her second series.I would call this some of the best fantasy I've read in a while - ok, ever. Her books are well thought out, emotionally deep (heart-rending, sometimes) and thought-provoking, while maintaining a sense of humor. Addictive, sexy and fun. What more can you...more
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For the second book in a second trilogy, this is another strong offering from Carey. I love being back in Terre D'Ange, and I think Imri is a worthy follow-on to Phedre. On its own, this trilogy (starting with Kushiel's Scion) is head and shoulders above the average sci-fi-fantasy epic. Compared with the first trilogy, well, it suffers a bit.
I had two problems with Justice in particular -- one, there is an element of predictability here that I'm surprised by. I saw the fate of one partic...more
I had two problems with Justice in particular -- one, there is an element of predictability here that I'm surprised by. I saw the fate of one partic...more
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Read in October, 2007
I accidentally read a synopsis that revealed a major event and plotline in the middle of the book. I immediately understood that it was more than I wanted to know, but you can't unsee the thing, so I was anticipating the event. I was still surprised by the way it happened, but it hindered reading the first part of the book for me. Another thing that hindered reading, was the names: Vralia, Vralgrad, Vral. I kept wondering if Carey knew what thoughts these names would evoke in Russians (on which ...more
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bookshelves:
5-star,
fiction,
sff,
spirituality
Read in May, 2007
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
serious fans only
Kushiel's Justice is not a bad book. It's a solid story from beginning to end, well-placed in the world Carey created. It just suffers by comparison with what's come before it. The lush and archaic language that makes Carey's stories so much fun is muted here, like she heard the criticism about Imriel in Scion not having a voice distinctive from Phedre. By toning down what is, frankly, one of themost distinctive aspects of this series, she succeeds in giving Imriel an different voice, but it...more
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fantasy
Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
fans of the series
I could not put this down. I've enjoyed Carey's other Kushiel books greatly, but the previous book in the series was not quite as well written as the rest had been, so I was concerned that the series was in decline.
I am happy to report that I was mistaken. The character of Imriel develops richly into a fascinating young man assuming ever more adult responsibilities, including, as one would expect from a d'Angeline, an incredibly hot affair. The plot twists are delicious, and the supporting ...more
I am happy to report that I was mistaken. The character of Imriel develops richly into a fascinating young man assuming ever more adult responsibilities, including, as one would expect from a d'Angeline, an incredibly hot affair. The plot twists are delicious, and the supporting ...more
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bookshelves:
fantasy
Read in July, 2008
Carey is fantastic. Each of these Terre d'Ange novels rollicks through a series of adventures that are both breathtaking and relentless. This most recent is no exception. The main character, Imriel continues our outward exploration of the lands surrounding Terre d'Ange and each place is more vividly colorful and fantastically distinct than the last. I do find myself becoming just a little tired of it though. It's all great, but the pacing and the formula of how she whisks the characters from one...more
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bookshelves:
fantasy,
own
Read in June, 2008
These books are absolute trash, but they are totally engrossing. Each time I read one I get thoroughly sucked in to the world and the characters. The descriptions are lush, and the plot advances quickly for a 7 or 8 hundred page book.
The sex scenes are pretty key since the whole world is built around a society that considers sex and love the founding of their religion. Considering this, the books aren't full of graphic sex, and what there is is fairly quick. The series is about average bad-f...more
The sex scenes are pretty key since the whole world is built around a society that considers sex and love the founding of their religion. Considering this, the books aren't full of graphic sex, and what there is is fairly quick. The series is about average bad-f...more
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
Grown up Fantasy Readers
Okay, as usual, JC has crafted a kick-butt character in a kick-butt world. The entire Kushiel series from Dart to Justice is one of my all time favorites.
Justice, however, is coming off as my least favorite one.
There's wonderful political intrigue, there's gobs of character development, dialogue was great, tense situations turned unbearably delicious, nothing squicked. But...And you knew there would be a but...I just got tired of Imriel and the Bear-Man. After a while it was just, &quo...more
Justice, however, is coming off as my least favorite one.
There's wonderful political intrigue, there's gobs of character development, dialogue was great, tense situations turned unbearably delicious, nothing squicked. But...And you knew there would be a but...I just got tired of Imriel and the Bear-Man. After a while it was just, &quo...more
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bookshelves:
romance
Read in May, 2007
recommends it for:
fans of the awesome. And also fantasy lovers.
This series keeps getting better for me, particularly because I adore Imriel SO SO SO much more than I ever liked Phedre. Even when I liked Phedre, she struck me as the worst sort of Mary Sue. I was always told and never really shown why I should like her. Imri, though, I love. I loved seeing him grow up in the last book, I loved seeing him go through a mature, adult relationship in this book - even if the end to that relationship was so predictable I could see it coming even before the r...more
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2008,
fantasy
Read in February, 2008
There was a period in the middle of this book where I felt it dragged a bit.
Beyond that, I was riveted. The plot had a level of depth and subtlety that really touched me as it reached the climax and resolution. Imri really had to deal with issues of right and wrong that were beyond what one would expect to find in book that doesn't really try to be hard literature.
The story followed the basic structure of so many of her other books where a physical journey and quest is so closely l...more
Beyond that, I was riveted. The plot had a level of depth and subtlety that really touched me as it reached the climax and resolution. Imri really had to deal with issues of right and wrong that were beyond what one would expect to find in book that doesn't really try to be hard literature.
The story followed the basic structure of so many of her other books where a physical journey and quest is so closely l...more
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bookshelves:
fantasy,
m_for_mature
Read in January, 2007
recommends it for:
fans of the original Kushiel series
See also my review of "Kushiel's Scion", which covers this entire series.
Weaker than even its predecessor ("Kushiel's Scion"), this book really gets bogged down by the silliness of its predominant religion, which seems to imply that teenage hormonal attraction trumps duty and sacrifice as the ultimate good. Imriel spends the first part of the book moping that he doesn't get to continually bed his cousin, and the second part of the book so half-heartedly tracking a murdere...more
Weaker than even its predecessor ("Kushiel's Scion"), this book really gets bogged down by the silliness of its predominant religion, which seems to imply that teenage hormonal attraction trumps duty and sacrifice as the ultimate good. Imriel spends the first part of the book moping that he doesn't get to continually bed his cousin, and the second part of the book so half-heartedly tracking a murdere...more
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bookshelves:
fantasy-sf
Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
fans of the Black Jewels trilogy, or Eddings readers looking for something a bit meatier
I love, love, LOVE Jacqueline Carey's epic fantasies. The books are long and lovely and delve deep not only into the main character's psyche but their darker desires as well, all alongside a fantastic alterna-history rich in details.
The one thing that put me off the Kushiel's Dart series for so long was actually the cover. With a busty young woman in a demure pose, it looked like another romance-posing-as-fantasy. And yet again, the old adage (don't judge a book by its cover) was proved true...more
The one thing that put me off the Kushiel's Dart series for so long was actually the cover. With a busty young woman in a demure pose, it looked like another romance-posing-as-fantasy. And yet again, the old adage (don't judge a book by its cover) was proved true...more
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bookshelves:
fantasy
Read in June, 2007
It's honestly not a bad read. For the fifth book in a series dealing with the same characters, you'd almost expect them to go a little stale. Not so here, thankfully. Granted the main characters are the younger generation and the focus is, as it was in Kushiel's Scion, on Imriel. He's definitely matured since his previous adventure and, yet, still has a single minded, mostly self-absorbed focus.
I found myself rooting for him and sympathizing with him... to a point. And his voice was far...more
I found myself rooting for him and sympathizing with him... to a point. And his voice was far...more
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Read in June, 2007
recommends it for:
fantasy readers.
Kushiel's Justice is the second book of the Imriel trilogy, following Kushiel's
Scion. Imriel, the foster-son of Phedre and Joscelin (heroes of the first
Kushiel trilogy)and by birth, the son of Terre D'Ange's greatest traitors,
continues on his journey of self-knowledge, with great turmoil, joy and
despair. Kushiel's Justice is an epic, mythic fantasy novel told in a very
human, struggling voice. I love the complex alternate Renaissance Europe that
Carey has created in the Kushiel bo...more
Scion. Imriel, the foster-son of Phedre and Joscelin (heroes of the first
Kushiel trilogy)and by birth, the son of Terre D'Ange's greatest traitors,
continues on his journey of self-knowledge, with great turmoil, joy and
despair. Kushiel's Justice is an epic, mythic fantasy novel told in a very
human, struggling voice. I love the complex alternate Renaissance Europe that
Carey has created in the Kushiel bo...more
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