Karina's review
Kushiel's Justice (Kushiel's Legacy, Book 5) by Jacqueline Carey
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 that country was based): Land of Lies, Liar's City, Liar, respectively. Apparently not! At least it didn't play out in this book.
There were some nice tidbits that I enjoyed:
"I do not know if it is presumptuous to call a god a friend, but if there is any god who would not mind, it is Yeshua ben Yosef." (without attribution here for fear of spoiling things)
Imriel's reflections on how people shape gods into what they want gods to be. And later on looking upon an image of Yesh...more
There were some nice tidbits that I enjoyed:
"I do not know if it is presumptuous to call a god a friend, but if there is any god who would not mind, it is Yeshua ben Yosef." (without attribution here for fear of spoiling things)
Imriel's reflections on how people shape gods into what they want gods to be. And later on looking upon an image of Yesh...more
Vralia, Vralgrad, Vral. I kept wondering if Carey knew what thoughts these names would evoke in Russians (on which that country was based): Land of Lies, Liar's City, Liar, respectively. Apparently not! At least it didn't play out in this book. I wonder, actually . . . give Phedre's rather obvious discomfort to the event that takes place at towards the end right before they're allowed to leave. And Micah ben Ximon's general reaction to the same (that it may not count) . . .
And given that Micah generally told a lie of omission regarding how he learned the Casseline forms . . .
And given that everyone had been lying throughout Imriel's quest. . .
Perhaps there is the implication that Vral is a land founded on a lie. I think there are only so many parallels that one can draw between the lands in Carey's books and current geography. Terre d'Ange bears passing little resemblance to France, and Skladia seems much more like Norway than it does Germany and even then a Norway that seems to exist in a much earlier time than the Renaissance France of Terra d'Ange (and Alba calls to mind a pre-Roman England). So if there is a symbolism in the lies - I think it's much more tied to the land in her books than it is anything to do with current Russia.
