Kushiel's Dart (Phèdre's Trilogy #1)

Jul 24, 2012 Kat Kennedy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kat-s-book-reviews, too-painful-to-finish, romance-romance-romance, fun-fantasy

Did you cop a big eyeful of that? That's right. Those Tortoises are totally boning. Now, I'm sure there's many a tortoise out there who would find that image very appealing. Unfortunately, I don't.

And this is my BIG PROBLEM with Kushiel's Dart.

Not that it's full of tortoise sex, mind you. There's almost no tortoise sex at all! It's that the sex in this book just does nothing for me. In fact, I'd probably enjoy tortoise sex more.

I'm hardly going to elaborate on my proclivities in the bedroom. It'...more

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Dec 08, 2010 Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Intrepid fans of epic fantasy

Shelves: dark-fantasy, courtesan-prostitute-mistress, bdsm, not-for-the-faint-of-heart, virgin-hero, owned-copy, a-to-z-book-challenge-k, read-in-november-2010, heroine-i-adore, heroine-drop-dead-gorgeous, hero-to-die-for, spy, thriller-suspense, quest, captive-kidnapped, enslaved, favorites, flawed-hero, steadfast-hero, capable-heroine, glbt, memorable-villain, fantasy, epic-fantasy, alternate-history, angels, not-romance-but-has-love-story, non-traditional-romance, nun-monk-minister, bodyguard-protector, warrior, flawed-heroine

Just a disclaimer here: This will be a very difficult review to write. In order to truly review this book, I have to talk about my own views on things and how books affect me personally. I am opening myself up here, which always makes me squirm. If you are reading this review and you don't agree with my beliefs on things, that's totally fine. But, I am not going to deny how I feel, because that is very important to me when I review a book, since I read books emotionally and not from a detached s...more

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Jun 12, 2012 mark monday rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantastickal

once upon a time, in response to the question What Would You Like To See In Fantasy, i responded:

1. i would like to see an old woman as a protagonist.
2. or an interesting demon - but not a 'sexy' PNR demon.
3. or more epic fantasies set in steamy, wet jungles rather than european-style forests or meadowlands.
4. or a hero who is also a slut (male or female).
5. or a YA fantasy series in which the hero grows progressively more villainous.

________

i felt confident that Kushiel's Dart would allow...more

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Jun 17, 2012 Emily May rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, 2011

I don't care how long a book is, if it's failed to wow me by page 361 then I think it's time to give up, right?

I understand a few things about this book. Firstly, that Jacqueline Carey is actually not a bad writer, that the world created and the politics of it are well thought out... but I still don't understand why this book hasn't got more mixed reviews. Are there that many people into hardcore bdsm? Let's face it, that's what this book is really about.

Yeah, so... sex. I am open-minded about...more

I don't care how long a book is, if it's failed to wow me by page 361 then I think it's time to give up, right?

I understand a few things about this book. Firstly, that Jacqueline Carey is actually not a bad writer, that the world created and the politics of it are well thought out... but I still don't understand why this book hasn't got more mixed reviews. Are there that many people into hardcore bdsm? Let's face it, that's what this book is really about.

Yeah, so... sex. I am open-minded about it and like books that use it in moderation and don't swamp the story with it. Kink? No problem, spices up the dullest relationship... but even I have my limits. You see, there's a HUGE difference between a bit of handcuffs and hair-pulling, and flogging someone until they bleed (and have an orgasm!). No, I'm serious. I saw before I picked it up that this book had been tagged as "bdsm" but when I read the description and found out that the book's all about sex and violence, I thought the GR members were being melodramatic and silly.

But no, this is a fantasy world built upon some hardcore bdsm schmexing. Phedre (the protagonist) was born with a scarlet mote in her eye, thus making her "one pricked by Kushiel's dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one." Oooh, what a fanciful way of saying that she gets off on having the crap beaten out of her - literally! Not just that but she likes being mentally tormented as well, through harsh words and humiliation. I don't think I will ever appreciate this kind of sexuality, I only got so far into the novel because I was filled with a kind of morbid fascination.

I find it weird that this is so very highly rated. Books that contain subjects that are a bit edgy usually end up with mixed ratings but I constantly find this series on lists of the best fantasy books of all time... I'm clueless. Especially when it is pretty much all about sex. Yeah, it's about kingdoms and politics as well but even these matters are settled with sex. And more sex.

Also, the politics of the book I found to be very dull. It had no relation to politics in our world so I couldn't draw any parallels... just the politics of a sex-ruled world. Ah, sex and politics, two things that can add that special something to a book or ruin it. Guess which I think is the case here?
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Dec 31, 2007 Zen Cho rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sff

I enjoyed this a lot at first, in a stupid trashy way, but got bored after a while, which is why I took so long to finish it. I think it reaches its height of trashy fun in Terre d'Ange; all the bits with Phedre living with the Skaldic tribes, getting away from them in the wintry tundra etc. etc. drag a lot for me. Maybe it's just 'cos "swept away by a barbarian!" isn't my kink.

Carey has a habit of saying really obvious things in a hilariously portentous way, e.g.

I asked him to pass the butter,...more

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Oct 27, 2007 Keely rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, reviewed

This book is so overwrought, so full of tangled, convoluted prose, that I found it hard to take seriously. The world, instead of being built up as an original creation, seems to be taken fairly whole cloth from the French Court of Louis XIV. I know everybody steals, but the best writers steal the most, and I could have used some more depth of inspiration.

Then, of course, there is the sex. The constant rampant, submissive, fetishy, 'pain=pleasure' sex. Sex is fine, even porn is fine, but the shee...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Scribble Orca rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: multi-gender romance fantasists

Shelves: fantasy, historical, murder, romance, teens-above-12

This novel is one of those which could come carrying a warning label: "flammatory material", or a back cover blurb including: "no liability accepted for wanton acts of a prurient nature."

Kushiel's Dart is fantasy without the Elves, Dwarves etc, a pseudo mediaeval and feudal Europe in which each character claims allegiance to one of the ruling gods. It also constitutes soft/hard-core pornography of various persuasions, and is laced with scenes of brutal savagery - the heroine is delightfully reli...more

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Apr 09, 2011 Cassy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: physical-own, 2011, fiction-scifi-fantasy-paranormal, region-elsewhere, event-missed-author

There is this new guy at my office. The moment I learned he used to work at B&N, I wanted to run to his desk and start hounding him about books. Don’t scare him off, Cassy. Pace yourself. I started stealthy checking the cover of the books he’d read during lunch. I tested the waters before team meetings – dropping the names of authors from different genres. Turns out he reads a lot of fantasy, which is great. I have always enjoyed the genre and seem to lean heavily toward it this year. When I...more There is this new guy at my office. The moment I learned he used to work at B&N, I wanted to run to his desk and start hounding him about books. Don’t scare him off, Cassy. Pace yourself. I started stealthy checking the cover of the books he’d read during lunch. I tested the waters before team meetings – dropping the names of authors from different genres. Turns out he reads a lot of fantasy, which is great. I have always enjoyed the genre and seem to lean heavily toward it this year. When I mentioned this book, he started blushing. It piqued my interest immediately. He stammered a little and won’t out-right recommend it, but I knew. When I got back to my desk a few minutes later, there was the confirmation. An email clarifying that he really loved it. Read the series seven times.

I started the book two days later. I would hold it at weird angles to hide the half-nude woman on the cover from other (completely oblivious) people at the airport, in the hotel, outside museums, on the subway. I read 300+ pages during a weekend trip to NYC. This book distracted me from NYC, people!

I am impressed by this debut. It is beautifully written. Sure, the sentences are a little convoluted. Foreshadowing is rampant. The phrase “my lord” peppers the pages. “If only I’d known, in my naïve blossoming, then mayhap my beloved, my lord may have lived to see his oath satisfied and his dear homeland avenged and dipped in honey.” I’ll admit it got old.

I will also confess I was moderately confused throughout the whole book. Even now, I think I only really understood 85% of the intrigue. The book is intricately plotted (to borrow from Robert Jordan’s blurb). Battles, oaths, secrets, revenge, alliances, betrayals, and politics abound. It poses a healthy challenge to keep up. And the characters, oh, the characters. They are all well drawn. Not only could I tell them apart, I actually cared if they lived or died. Phedre’s relationship with Joscelin morphs in fascinating and subtle ways. Speaking of which, Carey has an excellent sense of pacing. The book spans over a decade and is already over 900 pages long. She craftily speeds up a few sections while telling me just enough. Last, there is strong world building. I normally find invented religions boring, but hers is poetic and important to the plot. In fact, everything is essential to the plot. For being so long, the book is oddly concise.

Given all these positive feelings, I am surprised the book is not better known. I would expect a Patrick Rothfuss-scale excitement when her name is mentioned. Well…okay…it is time for The Talk.

Maybe one sixth of the book is full of sex. Some of it is standard, tastefully written sex. The type and frequency you expect in this type of fantasy novel. Some of it could isolate readers. Think whips, punches, blades, humiliation. That kind of sex. Remember, in crude terms, Phedre is a prostitute who experiences pleasure through pain. (In more nuanced terms, she is a highly intelligent spy marked by their gods and respected by the highest echelons of society.) Bisexuality is also accepted in this world.

I’d say I am pretty prudish in my day-to-day behavior. But it takes a lot to offend me when reading. This sex tested my limits. It puzzled me too. She likes that? Upside down in chains? Really? But Carey’s writing is ever elegant and thoughtful. Even if I am not rushing out to buy a paddle, she helped me understand Phedre’s perspective and find the entertainment value. Most importantly, every scene is integral to the plot. They reveal Phedre’s strength of purpose, her occasional self-hate, her shrewd gauge of people, political intrigues, relationship progressions, and so forth. I cannot guarantee you can stomach these scenes. But I won’t let it turn you away from at least trying the book. They are not graphic and extended. If you can handle a standard torture scene, you can get through these. Just think of them as adding a little spice. A sprinkling of cayenne pepper on dark chocolate.

Beware that the book differs from a canonical fantasy novel in some aspects. There are no sentient creatures other than humans. Magic is limited to a couple fortune-tellers and a mysterious force who commands the waters between two kingdoms. There is, however, a medieval-type setting and lots of lore.

If you are a fan of epic fantasy novels and can handle this type of sexual content, I would 100% recommend this book to you. And although it is part one of a trilogy, the ending is conclusive. You can clearly see the direction of the next book, but there is no great cliff-hanger. I very much appreciate this. While I obviously enjoyed this one, I would have resented being forced into reading another 900 pages so soon. (less)

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Jun 10, 2008 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The first thing everyone usually talks about regarding the Kushiel books is the sex, so I'll get it out of the way first: S&M, not for the faint of heart, absolutely integral to the plot.

It's easy to summarize the book very briefly or very in-depth; it's almost impossible to do anything in between, so I'll keep it brief; Phedre is an elite courtesan in Terre D'Ange, a land whose residents boast traces of angelic blood in their veins. She is trained as a spy by a mysterious courtier, and mus...more

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Jun 03, 2010 Zeek rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chick-fantasy, fantasy-rom, fiction

Tight, intricate plotting, side characters with a mythological flavor (I swear The Master of the Straights came right out of The Odyssey), And Phedre- the heroine of the story.

Never would I have guessed I would like a character with masochistic tendencies who sleeps with "whoever she wilt". But I did.

I also liked the way the author weaves politics, war, betrayal, treachery and love into this story, and rather adeptly in my opinion.

Such intricate plotting can often get tangled and leave open ends...more

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Jun 18, 2012 Willowfaerie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, fantasy

Kushiel’s Dart is an epic book, which I truly enjoyed. In fact, I long to read another book of this epic scale. The world Jacqueline Carey presents is rich and beautiful, with its own mythology and its own customs. Little details like the exotic wines, elaborate tattoos, and breathtaking fabrics, make my mind swim with ideas. Truly the book is a feast for the imagination.

I was intrigued with all the characters too. Everyone, Delaunay, Alcunun, Hyacinthe, Joscelin and of course, Phedre herself,...more Kushiel’s Dart is an epic book, which I truly enjoyed. In fact, I long to read another book of this epic scale. The world Jacqueline Carey presents is rich and beautiful, with its own mythology and its own customs. Little details like the exotic wines, elaborate tattoos, and breathtaking fabrics, make my mind swim with ideas. Truly the book is a feast for the imagination.

I was intrigued with all the characters too. Everyone, Delaunay, Alcunun, Hyacinthe, Joscelin and of course, Phedre herself, all seem to have a mythology about them; a sort of larger than life persona, which reminds me a bit of Homer’s Odyssey. I enjoyed the intricate political plot too. There is a part in this book where the story completely changes direction and just takes off never slowing down. I was truly shocked by what happened.

I’m definitely giving Kushiel’s Dart five stars, because I enjoyed it immensely. But I do tend to nitpick what I love, so I want to point out some things I wasn’t too crazy about. One is… I think the book is a little bit too long. Carey sometimes describes unimportant things in exhaustive detail, and while I love her world building, her book would still have been lush and rich even if it was trimmed a little bit. I found myself anxious for the story to wrap up, and there is so much text before certain characters meet up again. It frustrated me.

I found the elitism about the D’Angelines a little off putting, but this could just be my own bias. Any society that is supposed to be superior and more beautiful than any other just annoys me.

Being a huge erotica fan, I would have liked to have had more detailed love scenes, maybe divulging a little bit more into the dominance and submission of Phedre’s craft. But I’m a big BDSM fan, so I’m sure the average reader won’t miss this. LOL

Other than that though, I think this book is excellent, and I cannot recommend this book enough. Jacqueline Carely made me want to read more fantasy novels.

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Mar 10, 2012 Sath rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, 2011-must-read, lgbt, bdsm, reviewed, favourites

Noticed this has been shelved several times as 'Romance' and even as 'erotica', but I think its important to note that there is a difference between books which are actually Romance, but contain fantasy elements; and books which are Fantasy but contain some romance. I'd say this book definately falls into the latter category. Certainly some parts are somewhat graphic on the bdsm parts, but thats where it's important for plot and character, a lot of 'encounters' were suprisingly of the tasteful f...more Noticed this has been shelved several times as 'Romance' and even as 'erotica', but I think its important to note that there is a difference between books which are actually Romance, but contain fantasy elements; and books which are Fantasy but contain some romance. I'd say this book definately falls into the latter category. Certainly some parts are somewhat graphic on the bdsm parts, but thats where it's important for plot and character, a lot of 'encounters' were suprisingly of the tasteful fade-to-black sort.

Phedre is a girl, born and raised among courtesans. Unfortunately Phedre is considered flawed, a single red mote in one eye spoils her appearance, and leaves her unwanted. This is until Anafiel Delaunay sees her and recognises the mote for what it is - Kushiel's dart - a rare mark bestowed by one of their patron angels, both a blessing and a curse. Delaunay takes Phedre into his household, and gives her an education beyond that of any other courtesan. At first it's confusing to Phedre, who doesn't understand what need she'd have of languages and history etc, but Delaunay insist she also learn the more useful skills of observation and deduction.. skills more appropriate for a spy than a courtesan. Delaunay can do his best to keep Phedre safe, but ultimately they must use all resources as the political plots go ever deeper.. murder, treason, war..

The story takes a fair while to get truly started; the novel follows Phedre's story from birth and through her childhood. But despite the long set up, it was never boring, in fact, it's a good method for world building. As Phedre speaks about the various night courts, and learns the myths and histories of her home country, we learn too, and the world has quite a fascinating background.

The Author has chosen to base her mythology on jewish and christian beliefs, the brief story is that at the crucifiction of J-sus, His blood mixed with the magdalenes tears, and out of the earth sprang Elua, who was a sort of mortal deity. He had a minor disagreement with the jewish/christian G-d and departed amicably taking several angels with him. They then founded a civilisation in a place called Terre D'Ange (geographically it seems to be france!). From a christian point of view, I actually found it an interestinc concept, to see a fantasy mythology based on something which I consider to be fact.. this made me think more seriously about all the times I've read fantasy stories based on norse or greek mythology! I have no criticism of the way it was done, there seems no disrespect in it from the author's point of view, and it makes for a new and innovative fantasy setting.

One of the most unusual things about the setting is the fact that their culture respects and revere prostitutes, in fact to be a courtesan is this society is an act of devotion to one of their patron angels. Theres also a high amount of acceptance for gay relationships, and their one tenet of faith is the phrase 'love as thou wilt'.

Overall I thought the book was absolutely brilliant, it's been a long time since I came across a fantasy series to rival my all time favourites but I could happily shelve this alongside my beloved George R.R. Martin, Robert Jordan and Elizabeth Haydon. The background was epic, the description was inspiring, and the characterisation was practically flawless. Just the right amount of sympathy for the heros/heroines and just the right amount of love and hate for the 'villains'. I really hope the rest of the series live up to the same standard!

I'd probably recommend it for anyone who like most kinds of fantasy, although.. it's hard to compare to other types of fantasy, but I'd say out of my own limited experience it's closer to Elizabeth Haydon than anything else.

See my other reviews of Kushiel's Legacy:
| #2 Kushiel's Chosen →(less)

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May 03, 2012 Christian rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

No. Didn't really like it. Still haven't gotten halfway into it. Sadly, I also bought the next two volumes. Just too slow and convoluted and uninteresting. Maybe I'll give it another try sometime, but...

Okay... so... three years later, I gave this novel a second chance, and my opinion of it could not have changed more drastically! Whereas the book began very, very slowly and introduced so many characters that they were difficult to keep track of, after I picked it up again and kept reading, I fo...more

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May 30, 2011 Kat Hooper rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

I read and enjoyed Kushiel’s Dart years ago after it won the Locus Award for Best First Novel and I’ve recently re-read it so that I can finish the series (I’ve read only the first trilogy) and move on to Ms. Carey’s newer books. This time I listened to Tantor Audio’s version, which was read by the incredibly talented Anne Flosnik.

The Kushiel series is set in an alternate Europe which is easily recognized by its geography, language, culture, religion, myth...more ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

I read and enjoyed Kushiel’s Dart years ago after it won the Locus Award for Best First Novel and I’ve recently re-read it so that I can finish the series (I’ve read only the first trilogy) and move on to Ms. Carey’s newer books. This time I listened to Tantor Audio’s version, which was read by the incredibly talented Anne Flosnik.

The Kushiel series is set in an alternate Europe which is easily recognized by its geography, language, culture, religion, mythology, and politics (e.g., ancient Tiberium is ancient Rome, Alba is England, the Yeshuites are Christians, the Tsingani are gypsies, etc.). The greatest difference in this alternate Europe is the religion, for when Yeshua hung on the cross, his shed blood mingled with the Magdalene’s tears and produced Elua, who roamed the Earth in the company of the angel Naamah who supported him by working as a prostitute. Eventually he was accepted in Terre d’Ange (France), a passionate land upon whom he bestowed his beauty and whom he taught to “love as thou wilt.” And so they do, with little restraint and without any pesky hang-ups about heterosexuality or monogamy. In fact, men and women serve Naamah as sacred prostitutes in the Night Court.

Phèdre has been rejected by the Night Court because of the scarlet mote in her eye. But scholar Anafiel Delaunay recognizes the blemish (it’s Kushiel’s Dart) and what it symbolizes: Phèdre is the first anguissette born in decades — she finds sexual pleasure in pain, and the unique services she can provide will be highly valuable to certain unconventional patrons. Anafiel purchases, fosters, and trains Phèdre for his own unknown political machinations and hires Joscelin Verreuil, a warrior vowed to celibacy, to protect her. And so Phèdre serves Naamah and Anafiel by loving as she wilt (and wilting as she loves) and she and Joscelin are soon caught up in dangerous court intrigues.

It sounds kind of sleazy, with all the BDSM and the bastardized version of Christianity, but in Jacqueline Carey's hands it isn't sleazy — it's decadent. Mostly what sets it apart is the writing style which is beautifully lush, and even more gorgeous when read by Anne Flosnik’s rich smooth voice in the audio version:

I was flawed... To be sure, it was my eyes; and not even the pair of them, but merely the one. Such a small thing on which to hang such a fate. Nothing more than a mote, a fleck, a mere speck of color. If it had been any other hue, perhaps, it would have been a different story. My eyes, when they settled, were that color the poets call bistre, a deep and lustrous darkness, like a forest pool under the shade of ancient oaks. Outside Terre d'Ange, perhaps, one might call it brown, but the language spoke outside our nation's bounds is a pitiful thing when it comes to describing beauty. Bistre, then, rich and liquid-dark; save for the left eye, where in the iris that ringed the black pupil, a fleck of color shone... And it shone red, and indeed, red is a poor word for the color it shone. Scarlet, call it, or crimson; redder than a rooster's wattles or the glazed apple in a pig's mouth... Thus did I enter the world, with an ill-luck name and a pinprick of blood emblazoned in my gaze.

I should mention that one issue I had with the audio version is that many of the unfamiliar French-sounding names seemed similar when read aloud and it took me longer to distinguish all the characters than it did when I read them in print. It will help to be able to look at the Dramatis Personae in the front of the book if you listen to the audiobook. There is a map in the book also, but this isn’t necessary since the geography is an alternate Europe.

The plot is complex and the political maneuvering is intriguing, there’s plenty of adventure, and the characters are colorful. But my favorite thing about Kushiel’s Dart is Joscelin. He is one of the best male heroes in fantasy literature. Tall, strong, quiet, serious, courageous, deadly, and passionate, all he has to do is stand there wearing his mail gauntlets and steel vambraces and I’m completely entertained.(less)

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Nov 22, 2008 Mary-Beth rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, romance

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

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Dec 01, 2007 Natalie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, fantasy-romance, fiction, kindle

Everyone recommends these books to people who liked Anne Bishop's Black Jewels Trilogy; they're both "dark fantasy" and have sex in them. However, I only got halfway through the first book before giving up completely.

I don't like Carey's writing style at all. It bores me to death. I don't mean to say there's anything in particular wrong with it, but it's just not my cup of tea. Instead of racing along, I find myself bogged down and rereading the same paragraph ten times and getting nothing from...more

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Oct 23, 2012 Nenia Campbell rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: x-2001s, x-series-bk-1, magic-and-sparkles-and-shit, pr0n, i-burn-i-pine-i-perish, court-intrigue, pedobear-seal-of-approval, icky-sex-fantasies, reviewed, repulsive-protagonist, did-not-finish-or-skimmed, island-of-hype, wtf-did-i-just-read, specialsnowflakes, gay-means-happy, chubby-chunksters

Phedre is perfect and beautiful except for one fatal flaw: a crimson mote in one eye that marks her as one for whom pain and sexual pleasure are one. Her...quirk...catches the eye of one of the lords who likes to keep a finger in each of the political pies. Since all the major politicos enjoy sadomasochism in one form or another, Phedre is an ideal candidate to probe them for information . But since this is an erotica novel, Carey does not shirk on the sex. The result is a non-stop BDSM party ,...more

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Mar 20, 2010 Célia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: saida-emergencia, own, 2010, 5-stars, gift, fantasy

Acredito que, por esta altura, a maioria de vocês já esteja “farto” de saber que adoro esta autora e, em concreto, a série Kushiel, que se inicia com este “O Dardo de Kushiel” (corresponde à primeira metade do livro original). Já li os três primeiros livros em inglês e foi com enorme prazer que soube que a Saída de Emergência iria publicar estes livros por cá, o que serviu de pretexto a uma entrevista que a autora, de forma muito simpática, nos concedeu.

Na altura que li o primeiro livro desta sé...more Acredito que, por esta altura, a maioria de vocês já esteja “farto” de saber que adoro esta autora e, em concreto, a série Kushiel, que se inicia com este “O Dardo de Kushiel” (corresponde à primeira metade do livro original). Já li os três primeiros livros em inglês e foi com enorme prazer que soube que a Saída de Emergência iria publicar estes livros por cá, o que serviu de pretexto a uma entrevista que a autora, de forma muito simpática, nos concedeu.

Na altura que li o primeiro livro desta série, deixei a minha opinião aqui, pelo que não vou resumir a história, mas apenas deixar as impressões que esta releitura me deixou. A verdade é que, nos últimos tempos, rara tem sido a ocasião em que me proponho reler livros que adorei, tanto por ter outras prioridades, como por receio que, com o tempo e o evoluir natural que qualquer leitor tem, a magia se perca. No entanto, curiosamente, parti para este releitura com um espírito diferente: o de reencontrar um mundo e as personagens que tanto gostei de conhecer, quando li os livros no original… quase como reencontrar velhos amigos.

Esta primeira metade do primeiro livro da série serve basicamente para nos dar a conhecer esta Europa Renascentista reinventada, cujo centro da acção decorre em Terre d’Ange (que corresponde à França real), o modo como funciona, os seus mitos e costumes. Acompanhamos o crescimento de Phèdre, a personagem principal, e o seu iniciar na dedicação aos dois deuses que parecem reger o seu destino: Naamah, a deusa do amor, e Kushiel, o deus da dor. Tem bastante intriga política, inúmeras personagens cujos nomes precisamos de seguir (valiosíssima, portanto, a listagem inicial de personagens), e uma protagonista que conta a sua história na primeira pessoa de uma forma quase hipnotizante.

Já tive oportunidade de referir noutras ocasiões e volto a repetir: adoro a escrita desta autora, a forma como ela vai tecendo a sua história, e como já sabia da sua tendência de deixar ao longo do texto pistas para o que o futuro reserva (porque é como se Phèdre estivesse a contar a sua história vários anos após ter decorrido), foi curioso lê-las e associá-las a coisas que já sei que vão acontecer – e isso não estraga a leitura, pelo contrário, torna-a ainda mais interessante. Curioso é, também, o surgir na história das minhas personagens preferidas, perceber como elas começaram e a forma como evoluíram.

Uma nota final para a tradução: tinha manifestado antes, numa das minhas opiniões, a curiosidade por perceber como iria o tradutor lidar com o estilo tão peculiar da Jacqueline Carey. Apesar de achar que, de um modo geral, foi um bom trabalho, não posso deixar expressar a sensação que tive de que se perdeu algo, talvez alguma da musicalidade… é difícil de explicar, até porque não sou nenhuma expert em tradução, mas a verdade é que me parece que esta autora é bastante difícil de traduzir, e por isso não sei se seria possível o resultado final ser melhor. De qualquer modo, é apenas um pormenor que não deve servir de impedimento a que possam começar aqui a acompanhar esta série fantástica.(less)

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Apr 16, 2009 Kat Hooper rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

I read and enjoyed Kushiel’s Dart years ago after it won the Locus Award for Best First Novel and I’ve recently re-read it so that I can finish the series (I’ve read only the first trilogy) and move on to Ms. Carey’s newer books. This time I listened to Tantor Audio’s version, which was read by the incredibly talented Anne Flosnik.

The Kushiel series is set in an alternate Europe which is easily recognized by its geography, language, culture, religion, myth...more ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

I read and enjoyed Kushiel’s Dart years ago after it won the Locus Award for Best First Novel and I’ve recently re-read it so that I can finish the series (I’ve read only the first trilogy) and move on to Ms. Carey’s newer books. This time I listened to Tantor Audio’s version, which was read by the incredibly talented Anne Flosnik.

The Kushiel series is set in an alternate Europe which is easily recognized by its geography, language, culture, religion, mythology, and politics (e.g., ancient Tiberium is ancient Rome, Alba is England, the Yeshuites are Christians, the Tsingani are gypsies, etc.). The greatest difference in this alternate Europe is the religion, for when Yeshua hung on the cross, his shed blood mingled with the Magdalene’s tears and produced Elua, who roamed the Earth in the company of the angel Naamah who supported him by working as a prostitute. Eventually he was accepted in Terre d’Ange (France), a passionate land upon whom he bestowed his beauty and whom he taught to “love as thou wilt.” And so they do, with little restraint and without any pesky hang-ups about heterosexuality or monogamy. In fact, men and women serve Naamah as sacred prostitutes in the Night Court.

Phèdre has been rejected by the Night Court because of the scarlet mote in her eye. But scholar Anafiel Delaunay recognizes the blemish (it’s Kushiel’s Dart) and what it symbolizes: Phèdre is the first anguissette born in decades — she finds sexual pleasure in pain, and the unique services she can provide will be highly valuable to certain unconventional patrons. Anafiel purchases, fosters, and trains Phèdre for his own unknown political machinations and hires Joscelin Verreuil, a warrior vowed to celibacy, to protect her. And so Phèdre serves Naamah and Anafiel by loving as she wilt (and wilting as she loves) and she and Joscelin are soon caught up in dangerous court intrigues.

It sounds kind of sleazy, with all the BDSM and the bastardized version of Christianity, but in Jacqueline Carey's hands it isn't sleazy — it's decadent. Mostly what sets it apart is the writing style which is beautifully lush, and even more gorgeous when read by Anne Flosnik’s rich smooth voice in the audio version:

"I was flawed... To be sure, it was my eyes; and not even the pair of them, but merely the one. Such a small thing on which to hang such a fate. Nothing more than a mote, a fleck, a mere speck of color. If it had been any other hue, perhaps, it would have been a different story. My eyes, when they settled, were that color the poets call bistre, a deep and lustrous darkness, like a forest pool under the shade of ancient oaks. Outside Terre d'Ange, perhaps, one might call it brown, but the language spoke outside our nation's bounds is a pitiful thing when it comes to describing beauty. Bistre, then, rich and liquid-dark; save for the left eye, where in the iris that ringed the black pupil, a fleck of color shone... And it shone red, and indeed, red is a poor word for the color it shone. Scarlet, call it, or crimson; redder than a rooster's wattles or the glazed apple in a pig's mouth... Thus did I enter the world, with an ill-luck name and a pinprick of blood emblazoned in my gaze."

I should mention that one issue I had with the audio version is that many of the unfamiliar French-sounding names seemed similar when read aloud and it took me longer to distinguish all the characters than it did when I read them in print. It will help to be able to look at the Dramatis Personae in the front of the book if you listen to the audiobook. There is a map in the book also, but this isn’t necessary since the geography is an alternate Europe.

The plot is complex and the political maneuvering is intriguing, there’s plenty of adventure, and the characters are colorful. But my favorite thing about Kushiel’s Dart is Joscelin. He is one of the best male heroes in fantasy literature. Tall, strong, quiet, serious, courageous, deadly, and passionate, all he has to do is stand there wearing his mail gauntlets and steel vambraces and I’m completely entertained.

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.(less)

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Jan 18, 2009 Nikki rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, lgbt, historical-fiction-alternatehistory, favourites, angels

I don't normally do a very long or thorough review for books that are part of a trilogy: I tend to wait for the end of the trilogy. But Kushiel's Dart is an exception, mainly because there's enough action and intrigue for a whole trilogy in the first book alone. A lot of people start their reviews by saying that this book is not for everyone. Well, bah to that. No book is for everyone. Kushiel's Dart does deal with a lot of sex. Kinky sex. I thought, on the whole, that part was well done -- and...more I don't normally do a very long or thorough review for books that are part of a trilogy: I tend to wait for the end of the trilogy. But Kushiel's Dart is an exception, mainly because there's enough action and intrigue for a whole trilogy in the first book alone. A lot of people start their reviews by saying that this book is not for everyone. Well, bah to that. No book is for everyone. Kushiel's Dart does deal with a lot of sex. Kinky sex. I thought, on the whole, that part was well done -- and a lot of Phèdre's assignations were also plot points. I think that even a person with no interest in BDSM in itself could enjoy the books, and just skim or skip the sex scenes if they're that troubling. Now, some of the torture scenes: they made me wince.

I wasn't fond of the narrative voice, at first, but once I got into it, I quite enjoyed it. The voice is quite distinctive, being decidedly not modern English, although it does remind me a little of Fitz and Nevare in Robin Hobb's work -- I think it's mostly that they and Phèdre tell their stories from the same distance.

This book is incredibly rich in terms of world building. There is so much depth to it, woven into the story. Perhaps a little more than is exactly necessary, but if you appreciate a lot of world building, it's brilliant. You probably have to lay aside any scepticism about a land where everyone is beautiful, having the blood of the son of Jesus, but if you suspend your disbelief and let the details build up, I think it's a very compelling world. The politics that drive the plot are also amazing, and this is one of few books that kept me guessing a lot. Melisande really does play a deep and subtle game.

The characters themselves, again, you have to be willing to buy into, I think. I know that some people think she's a "Mary Sue" because she's beautiful and she's special and she's marked by a god and all of it. Yes: okay. I can see that criticism. But once you're drawn into the story, once the setup is over, the characters become incredibly compelling. The complex relationships between them are very, very interesting, and I can't wait to see how things will play out. My favourite characters were Joscelin and Hyacinthe, fairly predictably. There's something I find incredibly compelling about the depth of loyalty Joscelin and Hyacinthe have for Phèdre in their different ways. Melisande is also incredibly interesting, of course.

I loved the subplot of Ysandre and Drustan, too, including the part with the Master of the Straits. Hyacinthe's subplot in that breaks my heart, and yet I love it.

Jacqueline Carey keeps a lot of threads on the loom, in this book, and I think she manages them all admirably. I'm eager to read Kushiel's Chosen -- though I might have to take a day or two to recover first!(less)

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May 09, 2007 Nowie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Adults

Shelves: fantasy, romance, favorite

This is one of my favourite books for these two reasons, "Love as thou wilt" and "That which yields is not always weak." This book (and the books that follow) is an incredibly detailed, involved, beautiful story and I can't really do it any justice. The plot is intricate, the characters are vivid and Carey rarely leaves you a moment where you're not anticipating... something. That said, it is graphic (to an extent. It's not quite romance novel graphic, but it's close) and it depicts violent acts...more

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Apr 30, 2013 Kasyap rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, fantasy

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. This book takes place in the land of Terre D’Ange, where people are descendents of Blessed Elua, their god. This is a world where prostitution is a sacred act and is a service to their goddess Naamah. Phedre the main character is a courtesan and is marked by birth by one of their god’s Kushiel to find pleasure in pain.

The Worldbuilding is great with carefully wrought culture and legends, and the story is compelling and is built very well. None of the sexual e...more

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May 20, 2012 Lamora rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone who doesn't mind a loooooong book (the multiple o's were very much necessary)

Recommended to Lamora by: Hyacinthe

Shelves: fantasy-aficionado, fantasy, favorites, own-ebook, reviewed

I have a lot to say about this book. Review to come soon!

---

Okay. So. Five stars.

My thoughts when I first delved into this book ranged from: "Hooooly crap, this book is looooong..." and "...*yawn.* This is boring."

Admittedly, this book has a preeeetty slow start, which is probably why a lot of people first put the book down.
Don't be fooled by this, though. The book WILL pick up, and after it picks up, it never sets itself back down again.

So, anyway, to the plot!
The protagonist of this story is...more

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Nov 17, 2012 Kerry rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Nobles rule by an implied Divine Right via angelic descent. Kushiel is one of these angels, no longer present, and the "Dart" is his mark. The main character, Phedre no Delaunay, has his mark and she finds bliss in pain, an anguisette (a Carey coined term) in this world's language.

Sexual content is mild and often implied. Phedra, a Lady of the Night, gets a tattoo after many of her encounters (see flower tattoo image). So in this respect, women gain their flower rather than lose it. Firefly fan...more Nobles rule by an implied Divine Right via angelic descent. Kushiel is one of these angels, no longer present, and the "Dart" is his mark. The main character, Phedre no Delaunay, has his mark and she finds bliss in pain, an anguisette (a Carey coined term) in this world's language.

Sexual content is mild and often implied. Phedra, a Lady of the Night, gets a tattoo after many of her encounters (see flower tattoo image). So in this respect, women gain their flower rather than lose it. Firefly fans might see aspects of courtesan(Oiran) Inara Serra.

Story slowly unfolds from 400 pages of world building expository narrative combined with Phedra's coming of age story. Piers Anthony in a little blurb says she is building the base of a large pyramid. Anyway, it takes awhile to introduce a nations nobility (with full titles)and their political and sexual proclivities.

Carey, like George R. R. Martin, is inspired by Middle Ages Europe customs and costume. Unlike Martin, Carey stays with something immediately recognizable as Western Europe.

To illustrate, Terre D'Ange (France) is threatened by Skaldia (Germanic Tribes) and has tenuous relationship with Picts of Alba (Scotland, later Britons) and Eire (Ireland). The period I might guess would be about 10th Century, well after 6th Century fall of Rome but before 1066 Norman Conquest. There is a map much like Western Europe. The main characters have French names. (Anticipate annoying silent letters.)

Phedra Tattoo

Fans at Jacqueline Carey's website have posted photos of tattoos inspired by this story. Kinda interesting on its own.

There is some potentially offensive religious content at very beginning. Not a classic, best if you like sprawling Martinesque novels. Luckily, Carey has an easy style that flows well. Magic plays a small part of story.

Carey is popular with female readers of romance, bondage/domination, royal intrigue. The Kushiel Trilogy with heroine Phedra made a NPR readers poll as an all-time top 100 sci-fi/fantasy book.

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Dec 19, 2011 Raquel Leite rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: meus

O Dardo de kushiel é a primeira parte do original livro Kushiel’s Dart.
Estando eu com grandes espectativas, mas com grande preguiça, em ler o livro, lá me juntei a leitura conjunta do fórum bang e acho que foi muito bom, adoro isto (venha o próximo lol)
Sendo este primeiro volume, um volume introdutório em que nos apresenta como é Terra D’Ange, e como a dita sociedade se organiza por lá, tal como os Deuses a que cada casa adora.
A história é contada pela personagem principal, Phédre. Uma menina...more O Dardo de kushiel é a primeira parte do original livro Kushiel’s Dart.
Estando eu com grandes espectativas, mas com grande preguiça, em ler o livro, lá me juntei a leitura conjunta do fórum bang e acho que foi muito bom, adoro isto (venha o próximo lol)
Sendo este primeiro volume, um volume introdutório em que nos apresenta como é Terra D’Ange, e como a dita sociedade se organiza por lá, tal como os Deuses a que cada casa adora.
A história é contada pela personagem principal, Phédre. Uma menina que foi trocada quando era ainda muito pequena, pelos próprios pais, e que por isso não se liga muito ao ambiente que a rodeia, mas que no entanto aprende tudo o que tem para aprender na primeira casa que se encontra.
Vendida posteriormente a Delaunay, a primeira pessoa a reconhece-la como marcada pelo Deus Kushiel, que lhe impossibilita de sentir prazer sem sentir dor.
Assim num mundo cheio de intrigas, Phédre aprende na casa de Delaunay todas as artes, como ter dotes de cortesã, como ser uma boa observadora, e especialmente ajudar Delaunay com as suas informações.
Confesso que no início estava a ver o caso mal parado pois estava a custar-me entrar na história, perdia-me muitas vezes com o nome das casas, do que queriam realmente e porque que faziam certas coisas, mas ao passar dessa fase e a medida que avançava compreendia melhor, tornando-se ate muito viciante.
Com personagens que parecem (ou pelo menos desejamos que fossem) reais, atenta a cada pormenor, Carey consegue com este livro dar-nos a conhecer um mundo que ela própria criou e que é parecido com o nosso, mas de outras maneiras.
Adorei a Phédre, que apesar do seu passado soube enfrentar o futuro, tornando-se astuta, dona de uma grande inteligência e que ao longo deste livro a vemos evolui e sentimos o que ela sente, porque ela própria nos diz, e como tornando serva de Namah era uma escolha dela. Nunca pensei que Delaunay a desse a escolher, mas fico feliz por o ter feito.
Senti realmente pena do Guy, e gostei de ver como Dalaunay tratou dele, tal como tratou do Alciun, e o que este fez pelo seu tutor.
Melisande, não sei bem o que dizer sobre ela, por vezes detesto-a, por vezes gosto dela. No entanto adoro a sua maneira de ser é uma vilã em pêras.
Aguardo ansiosamente por ter o próximo livro nas mãos.
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Jun 09, 2011 Rita rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: emprestados

“Dardo de Kushiel” é a primeira parte do livro “Kushiel’s Dart” e é também a estreia da escritora americana Jacqueline Carey.

Neste primeiro volume encontramo-nos em Terra D’Ange, que fica situada na actual França, contendo uma mitologia bastante presente e onde existem várias casas, adorando diferentes Deuses.

É num mundo carregado de intrigas que encontramos a nossa personagem principal Phèdre nó de Delaunay. Esta obra é, assim, contada por esta menina, que se vê rejeitada quando pequena pelos s...more “Dardo de Kushiel” é a primeira parte do livro “Kushiel’s Dart” e é também a estreia da escritora americana Jacqueline Carey.

Neste primeiro volume encontramo-nos em Terra D’Ange, que fica situada na actual França, contendo uma mitologia bastante presente e onde existem várias casas, adorando diferentes Deuses.

É num mundo carregado de intrigas que encontramos a nossa personagem principal Phèdre nó de Delaunay. Esta obra é, assim, contada por esta menina, que se vê rejeitada quando pequena pelos seus pais e que sente uma dificuldade tremenda de se integrar no mundo que a rodeia, muito devido ao facto de ter sido marcada pelo Deus Kushiel, que a impossibilita de ser feliz sem sentir dor.

A parte central desta obra é em volta de todo o reportório de intrigas e é neste mundo que Phèdre tentará, utilizando os seus dotes de cortesã, angariar informações, para ajudar o seu tutor Anafiel Delaunay.

Embora me tenha custado um pouco a leitura deste livro no início, tal como aconteceu inicialmente com autores como, Robin Hobb e até George Martin, devido à existência de várias casas e de várias vidas entrelaçadas, à medida que fui avançando na estória, fui-me sentindo cada vez mais rendida à mesma. É uma estória viciante, que nos faz agarrar a este mundo a cada virar de página.

Gostei de todo o mundo engendrado por Carey, os Deuses e todas as maquinações políticas. É um livro que penso que não deixa ninguém indiferente, muito devido às intrigas, às personagens que se encontram incrivelmente bem descritas e a todo aquele mundo, que consegue prender qualquer um.

A personagem que mais gostei foi de Phèdre, pois mostrou-se ser inteligente, astuta, determinada e possuidora de uma personalidade, que nos consegue ligar a ela, em especial porque a vemos a crescer e compartilhamos os seus medos, os seus dilemas de menina e não só.

Além dela gostei de Melisande que conseguiu baralhar-me porque tanto me dava a ideia de ser uma mais-valia para Phèdre, que a ajudaria acontecesse, o que acontecesse, como depois já se mostrava ser a sua desgraça.

Relativamente às restantes personagens secundárias penso que todas elas me agradaram, não houve nenhuma que pudesse dizer que desgostei, muito devido à forma como esta escritora descreve este mundo e estas personagens.

“Dardo de Kushiel” é, assim, um livro que conta uma estória original, interessante e que nos consegue surpreender constantemente com todas as suas revelações, referentes àquele mundo.
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Jun 11, 2010 Richard rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Romance + Mild BDSM Erotica + Kinda Fantasy

Recommended to Richard by: SciFi & Fantasy Group 2010-05 Fantasy Selection

Shelves: bookclub, fantasy, series, fantasy-epic

Here we've got a court-intrigue romance novel with a central element that is mildly kinky — well, mild to me, but then I'm from San Francisco.

The central character, Phèdre, is born into a religious guild that provides services of a sexual nature, i.e. sacred prostitution. But she's damaged goods, so she's sold by the guild to a private party who sees something very rare in her. What he sees is a flaw in her iris — a blood-red spot next to the pupil — that he recognizes as "Kushiel's Dart", meani...more

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Oct 13, 2009 Becky rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, library, 2009, disappointing, reviewed

This is going to be a very unpopular review. So, to all of you who may hate me after reading this, I apologize in advance.

From the rave reviews, and based on the vast number of people who seemingly loved this book enough to tattoo a representation of it on their body, I expected it to blow me away. I love fantasy, I love stories with a kick-ass female lead, and despite the fact that this might tell you a bit more about me than you bargained for, I was really looking forward to enjoying a bit of...more

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May 16, 2008 Sean rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, historical

This is one of those series I've seen around for years but have never happened to pick up. In my mind I linked it with the lusty-but-wholesome Outlander books, I think, so when I finally read the back of the first volume my eyebrows nearly climbed up into my hair. An alternate medieval Europe, where Christianity has not caught on, and where the (alternate) French have raised prostitution and pleasure to an art form and turned sex into a religious act? A heroine who is marked from birth as a tor...more

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Apr 09, 2008 Xeyra rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2005, fantasy

It's done. I have read this book. And I am not quite sure how to really put into words what it made me feel and what I thought of it. Sometimes words lack to really convey what you'd like to say, but I will try to the best of my ability.

This is one of the best books in the fantasy genre I've read in a while. I don't fancy myself to be very knowledgeable in the workings of the genre, since I haven't read half as many authors and books I would like to, but I can say without a doubt that few of the...more It's done. I have read this book. And I am not quite sure how to really put into words what it made me feel and what I thought of it. Sometimes words lack to really convey what you'd like to say, but I will try to the best of my ability.

This is one of the best books in the fantasy genre I've read in a while. I don't fancy myself to be very knowledgeable in the workings of the genre, since I haven't read half as many authors and books I would like to, but I can say without a doubt that few of the fantasy books I've read before in my life have made me feel quite the range of emotions this story has.

One might not be completely sure of what to expect when one starts to read the book. As you start reading, you realize that you're thrown into a society that seems strange at first but is actually reminiscent of medievel Europe, except when it comes to how it treats prostitution. In fact, the main character's views regarding her work as a courtesan was a source of occasional frustration, even more so due to her unique "gift", but you couldn't help but understand the culture and even come to accept it, for it was so well portrayed, especially as seen by the eyes of Phédre.

As you get into the reading, you start to see exactly how good Jacqueline Carey is, as you're drawn into an intricate story of politics, love, betrayal, and adventure, written in exquisite and breathtaking detail and pace. Despite its 900 pages, you never get bored throughout the reading, even during the "calmer" moments. The story is woven in such a way that you cannot put the book down until you've read just one more chapter, just one more... the history of the land is seamlessly told through Phédre as she goes through the events of her life, as she observes, analyzes and follows the path she was chosen to thread.

The characters are a breath of fresh air, and one of the great assets of this incredible book. I am a firm believer on the idea that you can have a great plot but if your characters cannot carry it, the book will be but mediocre. Carey's novel manages to have an intricate plot and amazingly three-dimentional characters, from the main to the secondary, each with their own multifaceted personalities, and distinctive desires, merits, flaws, and habits. A story that has a bit of everything, including a flowery speech that might become annoying to some but that I absolutely loved, as it fit perfectly with story and the world.

Granted, it was incredibly hard keeping up with all the characters in the story and since it took me a while to read the book in the beginning (quite a lot of other readings in-between for bookrings and the such), some of the initial details were forgotten. I could not remember how Alcuin came to be with Delaunay, for example, and I had to backtrack when I reached a part of the book where such information might have helped me understand why the boy would know anything about Isabel de la Courcel's murder... It is an incredibly complext novel, with so many plots and subplots you will be on the edge of your seat/bed/whatever trying to find how it ends but might confuse you at times if you don't pay attention (the intricate political games and plots within plots remind me of my favourite series of all, George R. R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, which I recommend to anyone who liked this novel).

The book is not one for the faint of heart, especially when one sees the back blurb and notices important descriptions like "experience pleasure and pain as one" and "trained equally in the courtly arts and the talents of the bed-chamber". It treats sex as a fairly normal, even revered, part of D'Angeline life, where the greatest tenet is "love as thou will". It is disturbing in some of its most shocking scenes of torture and sadomasochistic games... but these aspects are such a seamless part of the entire book and its main character that you accept it and understand it and love the novel no less for it.

All I can say, in the end, is that I absolutely loved this novel, even if sometimes I felt like slapping Phédre, especially when it came to her feelings regarding one Melisande... I highly recommend this novel. Of course, now I have to suffer until I can get my hads on a copy of the following two novels in this trilogy. Oh, Elua help me endure... (less)

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An Unexpected Pleasure	20	142	Feb 05, 2013 01:27am
Mostly Lesfic: Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey	18	36	Sep 06, 2012 10:57pm
Vaginal Fantasy H...: * VFH06: Kushiel's Dart Discussion	22	324	Jul 22, 2012 01:38pm

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