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Kushiel's Chosen

(Phèdre's Trilogy #2)

Jacqueline Carey (Goodreads Author)

4.27 · Rating details · 38,953 ratings · 1,087 reviews

Following hard on the heels of Kushiel's Dart, Jacqueline Carey's spectacular debut novel, comes Kushiel's Chosen, a glittering and riveting historical fantasy.

The land of Terre d'Ange is a place of unsurpassed beauty and grace. It is said that the angels found the land and saw it was good, and the ensuing race that rose from the seed of angels and men live by one simple r

Following hard on the heels of Kushiel's Dart, Jacqueline Carey's spectacular debut novel, comes Kushiel's Chosen, a glittering and riveting historical fantasy.

Phèdre nó Delaunay is a young woman who was born with a scarlet mote in her left eye and sold into indentured servitude as a child. Her bond was purchased by Anafiel Delaunay, a nobleman with a very special mission--and the first to recognize her for who and what she is: one pricked by Kushiel's Dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one.
Phèdre has trained in the courtly arts and the talents of the bedchamber, but, above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Having stumbled upon a plot that threatened the very foundations of her homeland, she gave up almost everything she held dear to save it. She survived, and lived to have others tell her story, and if they embellished the tale with fabric of mythical splendor, they weren't far off the mark.

The hands of the gods weigh heavily upon Phèdre's brow, and they are not yet done with their charge--for while the young queen who sits upon the throne is well loved by the people, there are those who believe that other heads should wear the crown. And those who escaped the wrath of the mighty are not yet done with their schemes for power and revenge. To protect and serve, Phèdre will once again leave her beloved homeland.

From the sun-drenched villas of La Serenissima to the wilds of old Hellas, from a prison designed to drive the very gods mad to an island of immutable joy. Phèdre will meet old friends and new enemies and discover a plot so dreadful as to make the earth tremble, masterminded by the one person she cannot turn away from.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

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Kindle Edition, 704 pages

Published May 1st 2003 by Tor Books (first published April 6th 2002)

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Jul 02, 2016 mark monday rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-modern

I was waffling between 3 & 4 stars on this one, but since the second book in this series was a marked improvement for me on the first book, 4 stars it is.

our intrepid heroine Phèdre - courtesan supreme with a very special talent for transmuting pain into pleasure - makes her debut redux as a titled Lady and so re-enters various schemes and plots at a very different level. and with that elimination of class issues (as well as the death of her charming ~~pimp~~ patron in the first book) came the erasu I was waffling between 3 & 4 stars on this one, but since the second book in this series was a marked improvement for me on the first book, 4 stars it is.

our intrepid heroine Phèdre - courtesan supreme with a very special talent for transmuting pain into pleasure - makes her debut redux as a titled Lady and so re-enters various schemes and plots at a very different level. and with that elimination of class issues (as well as the death of her charming ~~pimp~~ patron in the first book) came the erasure of a lot of what annoyed me previously. which is odd because I love reading books about class warfare. maybe I am just a softie though, because I'd prefer to read about such things from the perspective of a fully empowered and independent woman capable of making her own decisions rather than reading about it from the perspective of a woman used as a pawn and sex puppet-cum-spy. the word "cum" in that last sentence was used in the formal, non-pornographic sense so keep your minds out of the gutter, pervs. and it's not like there's much class warfare in either book anyway - the appeal of these books rest in the heavy-breathing erotic atmosphere combined with all sorts of courtly intrigue.

which is kept front and center. what a relief! no gallivanting off to versions of Germania and Brittania to have eye-rolling adventures involving barbarians and swordplay and torture. Carey does a fabulous job in making these intrigues as compelling as any battle. her versions of France and Italy are wonderful creations and I was salivating over the combination of ambiguous character motivations, political machinations full of sneaky feints and double-edged words, assassination plots, and a search for a thoroughly enchanting villainess, all delivered amidst delightfully lush descriptions of the various locales through which Phèdre and her retinue travel. it was all quite delicious - a tasty meal.

other observations:

magic was kept at a minimum. it was handled poorly in the first book; its appearance here (during a sojourn in a version of Crete) was a bit painful but thankfully brief.

love story was front and center. still rather annoying but this time I did sort of feel for poor Joscelin. must be hard to have a girlfriend who still rents herself out, despite being a Lady of the Court.

the mythology of this world, featuring Elua (Jesus' sorta son) and his fallen angel companions, was as absorbing as ever.

it was nice to see a sadistic top actually portrayed as a good guy. well, not a bad guy, at least. the first book's bdsm trappings ended up feeling a bit hypocritical when all of its s&m tops were clearly villainous assholes. that's not the case here. Severio (ha! that name!) may be a spoiled, grouchy fratboy of a prince, but he's not evil and is actually pretty supportive once he realizes his tastes don't automatically make him a monster. he just needed to find a partner like Lady Phèdre to make him feel okay with himself. aww! and all that said, I was thankful that the bdsm scenes that dominated the first novel were minimized in this book. I guess I'm just not a big fan of that sort of stuff (anymore).

I also finally began to understand why, sexually, our heroine is a very special person. in the first book, I found the assertion that no one like her had been born in hundreds of years to be a bit hard to swallow - getting some degree of pleasure from some forms of pain is not exactly a super-rare attribute. thousands of fetish sites can surely attest to that. however this book provided a couple eye-opening examples: Phèdre going into orgasmic convulsions when being angrily shaken by Joscelin and, more amusingly, after getting pricked by a seamstress' needle while being fitted for one of her typically gorgeous gowns. okay Phèdre, I get it, you are definitely a very special person. don't let anyone tell you otherwise! ...more

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Feb 03, 2018 Choko rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: alternative-history

*** 4.35 ***

A Buddy Read with the FBR group!

This second book in the Phedre Trilogy was, in my opinion, better than the first. The pacing was much better and it kept you on your toes throughout. It had some lull moments, but they were well spaced and gave the main heroine time for some angst and going through all the facts and things she had done wrong and has to plan to do still... The more dynamic format might have positively been assisted by the smaller page count, although at 678 pages it is ...more

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Jul 16, 2008 Nicky rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, queer, historical-fiction-alternatehistory, fantasy, favourites, angels

With the expectations Kushiel's Dart gave me, I might have been worried that Kushiel's Chosen wouldn't match up. I wasn't, but I wouldn't have needed to be anyway. I loved this book just as much as the first one. Everything I've said about how it's not for everyone still stands (see my first review), although there was less sex, I think, and perhaps more of the politics. Somehow, this book didn't feel as dense as that one, but there's still a lot of content considering it's the second book of a With the expectations Kushiel's Dart gave me, I might have been worried that Kushiel's Chosen wouldn't match up. I wasn't, but I wouldn't have needed to be anyway. I loved this book just as much as the first one. Everything I've said about how it's not for everyone still stands (see my first review), although there was less sex, I think, and perhaps more of the politics. Somehow, this book didn't feel as dense as that one, but there's still a lot of content considering it's the second book of a trilogy, and not a trilogy in itself. I think the feeling of less going on is mostly because there are fewer dramatic changes -- in the first book, there were a lot of milestones, and in this one, maybe not as much. It's still an incredible ride.

The stage is set, in this book, so there isn't such a flurry of characters being thrown at you. The new ones, such as Nicola L'Envers y Aragon and Sevario Stregazza, are quite interesting (not least because of the sex scenes, I have to admit). It's lovely to see how Jacqueline Carey weaves the characters so neatly into the plot -- there are no useless characters. I was sorry not to see anything of Hyacinthe in this book, and I was glad that he wasn't ignored. Ysandre was one of my favourite characters in the latter part of this book: she's written as such a strong, strong character.

The relationship between Joscelin and Phèdre was more painful than ever in this book, so I was very, very glad of the end. I'm not sure it could have continued as it was without getting needlessly painful and boring. While the new development makes me happy now, I have no doubts that Joscelin and Phèdre will find new ways to hurt my heart -- and that's good. The relationship between Melisande and Phèdre is still wonderfully handled. The thin line between love and hate that lies between them is perfectly walked. The scene where Phèdre smashes her head back against something to distract herself from Melisande's kiss is amazing.

Plotwise, it was so good. It seriously surprised me in various places, leaving me to flail and keyboard bash and fangirl at anyone willing to listen. The twists and turns are surprising, and yet brilliantly set up: once it's happened you think, "Oh. Yes. Of course."

There's a lovely conclusion, ending the book with some closure and yet also with threads still waiting to be tied up in the final book of the trilogy. I can't wait. I'm tempted to buy the Imriel books already, but I think I'll wait until they're all out in paperback -- painful as that will be.

I seriously recommend this trilogy, if you don't mind a bit of BDSM sex woven into the plot (you can skip it, after all). ...more

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May 19, 2010 Lightreads rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, erotica

Perhaps some day I will read one of these BDSM courtesan-spy epic fantasy doorstops and actually be able to talk about it afterwards, but today is not that day. Because right now, I am just so fucking grateful to this book, it has eclipsed the book itself – unintentionally hilarious, strangely unproblematic – almost entirely. This is what I read during the final two weeks of my last semester in law school. It’s what I read on the eight minute dog walking breaks, what I read when I snapped awake ...more

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Mar 27, 2022 Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 500-pages, fantasy

4.5 Stars
This was such a wonderfully immersive fantasy novel. I liked the first novel, but I really fell in love with the characters and the story in this second book. The worldbuilding is incredibly rich and the character work is equally as deep. I really appreciated the nuanced conversation surrounding culture, societal roles and sexuality. Once again I really enjoyed the steamy bit, which played with themes of consent and stigma.

The plot in this second book was absolutely engaging from start ...more

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Feb 28, 2011 Bob/Sally rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-epic, female-fronted-fantasy, female-author

It's funny what the years can do to your taste in books - and I'm talking about something deeper, something more profound than those books that just don't stand up to being revisited. Instead, I'm talking about those books that you appreciated back in the day, but somehow knew you weren't quite ready to enjoy. Books that linger somewhere in the back of your imagination, biding their time until you're ready to continue with the series.

Kushiel's Chosen, the second book of the Kushiel's Legacy seri It's funny what the years can do to your taste in books - and I'm talking about something deeper, something more profound than those books that just don't stand up to being revisited. Instead, I'm talking about those books that you appreciated back in the day, but somehow knew you weren't quite ready to enjoy. Books that linger somewhere in the back of your imagination, biding their time until you're ready to continue with the series.

Kushiel's Chosen, the second book of the Kushiel's Legacy series by Jacqueline Carey, was the first book to really open my eyes to this. I would have been in my 20's when I read Kushiel's Dart, just out of University, and stumbling my way into a career. I remember there being a definite taboo appeal to the story, with the book itself representing something of a game-changer for me at the time. It was a graduation of sorts from the pages of traditional fantasy to something . . . well, more.

It was late last year that I finally got around to reading the second book in the series (prompted by a review copy of the new trade paperback edition), and I was finally ready to appreciate it. This is a series that offers up a blend of fetish and fantasy, spiritualism and sadomasochism, hedonism and heroism. More than that, it is an epic fantasy with the most profound of messages at its heart - "Love as thou wilt.” As powerful and original as I remember the first book being, the second revealed itself to be an even stronger read. In moving beyond that taboo novelty of its sexuality, I was able to appreciate the characters, the politics, the mythology, and the storytelling.

Yes, it's a romantic fantasy, but the political intrigues are as strong as anything you'll find in more traditional fantasies. It's a big, sweeping series, often heavy on both the head and the heart, and one that I found I'd finally grown into. The taboo element is still there, and still permeates the series, but it's become an accent rather than the story's defining element.

Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins ...more

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Oct 18, 2021 Wanda Pedersen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2021, public-library, female-authors, reading-project, alternate-history, fantasy, speculative-fiction

I think Jacqueline Carey was channeling Mary Renault and Guy Gavriel Kay while she was writing this novel. The fantasy setting is recognizable as a version of historical Renaissance Europe, altered to accommodate Carey's plotline. Straight historical fantasy would be too limiting, so she makes adjustments like Kay does. She also includes supernatural elements, slightly more prominently than Kay's work. Once the action arrived at Carey's version of Crete, I couldn't help but think of Mary Renault ...more

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Mar 16, 2011 Sarah Mac rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: hoopy-good-reads, reviewed, saucy, zzz-2015-leftovers-completed, zzz-2015, epic-doorstoppers, fantasy, dark-fantasy, courtesans-high-and-low, keepers-fantasy

Another beautifully written epic fantasy.

Kushiel's Chosen picks up where Kushiel's Dart left off. But whereas Phedre is initially drawn into intrigue for the sake of her murdered mentor & foster-brother, the tragedies & travails in this second installment are a product of Phedre's own impetus. She doesn't have to become involved, but she makes that choice -- the same way she submits to a patron's whims, but on a larger political scale. Likewise, the intrigue in this book has a more personal note Another beautifully written epic fantasy.

Kushiel's Chosen picks up where Kushiel's Dart left off. But whereas Phedre is initially drawn into intrigue for the sake of her murdered mentor & foster-brother, the tragedies & travails in this second installment are a product of Phedre's own impetus. She doesn't have to become involved, but she makes that choice -- the same way she submits to a patron's whims, but on a larger political scale. Likewise, the intrigue in this book has a more personal note. Vanquished is the onslaught of brutal Viking-esque hordes; this time the peril is pretty faces & nobility in the heart of Terre d'Ange, & that duplicity spurs her decision to resume the chess game with Melisande.

Phedre is that rare breed in fantasy -- a strong female character who isn't a warrior, or even royalty. Rather, she's a highly-placed courtesan whose principle talents are looking beautiful on cue, submissive sex, unraveling of political tangles, dicing with soldiers, & a tenacious survival instinct. She has a definite prejudice toward the perfection of all things D'Angeline, yet she is quick to appreciate simple goodness & beauty in other cultures. And though she admits a preference for creature comforts, she values loyalty & kindred souls above all else.

I can't help thinking this author must have devoured bodice rippers when she was younger. Phedre's sprawling adventures -- bouncing from place to place & one impossible situation to the next, all the while repeatedly separated from Joscelin & her closest companions -- smack of classic bodice shredding. But her unabashed femininity & sexual responses are also reminiscent of free-wheeling doorstoppers with kaleidoscopic covers. So many heroines these days are ashamed of having sexual thoughts, let alone sleeping with men who aren't the primary hero. Where's the fun in that? Why is larger-than-life such a dirty concept these days?! The written world needs more Phedres, dammit.

...But I still hate that (view spoiler) were killed. ;____; Curse you, Jacqueline Carey.

Not as intense as #1, but still worth the high rating; the characters make up for any slow parts of the story, & the precisely elegant narration is a balm to my brain. ...more

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Dec 13, 2008 Kara Babcock rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed, 2010-read, fantasy

Screw magic. Give me some political fantasy any day, and I'm a happy reader.

I liked Kushiel's Dart. I'm not sure if there's a definite quality improvement or if I'm going too easy on this one, but I loved Kushiel's Chosen.

The Kushiel's Legacy series takes place in a sort of Fantasy Counterpart Culture world where it's Europe, only not. From this starting point, Jacqueline Carey creates a world that, while somewhat similar to our own, nevertheless has unique societies and politics. As she crisscr ...more

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Nov 08, 2014 Ellen Gail rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, doorstop

There is a wild and piercing sweetness in celebrating life after a long sorrow; all of us felt it that night. Spring is ever a time of renewal, and it seemed fit, after so long, to rediscover pure, unalloyed happiness.

I love this book as much in 2021 as I did in 2015. Perfection.

-------------------

[Mild non-specific spoilers for Kushiel's Dart below]

Top 5 Reasons I Loved Kushiel's Chosen

1) The first thing I see when I open the book is a map and a cast of characters sorted by location. I aske ...more

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Feb 25, 2011 Fey rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, lgbt, fantasy, bdsm

The second in the Kushiel's legacy series, continues on exactly where the first novel left off.

Phedre no Delaunay, now the comtesse de Montreve, comfortably living in her country home with Joscelin and her three chevaliers, and spending most of her time learning Habiru, in the hopes of discovering the key to freeing Hyacinth from the yeshuite curse. But then a parcel comes from Melisande Sharizhai - Phedre's sangoire cloak - and there is only one way to interpret it; Melisande's games of politic The second in the Kushiel's legacy series, continues on exactly where the first novel left off.

Phedre no Delaunay, now the comtesse de Montreve, comfortably living in her country home with Joscelin and her three chevaliers, and spending most of her time learning Habiru, in the hopes of discovering the key to freeing Hyacinth from the yeshuite curse. But then a parcel comes from Melisande Sharizhai - Phedre's sangoire cloak - and there is only one way to interpret it; Melisande's games of politics and treachery and not yet finished, and she is inviting Phedre back into the game if she dares. And so Phedre goes back to the city, to take up service of Naamah again, to become again a courtesan and a spy. The first and greatest mystery being, who was it that aided Melisande's escape from Troyes le mont, and how far will Phedre need to go to find out.

I have to say, I enjoyed this one just as much, if not more than Kushiel's Dart. Near the end of the previous I was almost lulled into thinking there would be no more adventure for Phedre, that she was settling down with Joscelin, and that would be it. But of course the adventure was far from over. And really what an amazing adventure this time.. So many new lands, cultures and people in this one. Which only makes me wonder how far she'd have to travel in the third book in order to beat it!

As in the previous book there was no mercy for the heart, I believe Carey is one of those writers that will ruthlessly kill off beloved characters if it's important to the plot. She makes me cry so much, but I'm masochistic and I love a good cry, I can't help myself. Not telling who of course, you'll have to read it yourself and suffer the same as I did!

Some of the aspects that interest me most about this series is the mythology and the magic. At times you could almost believe it's a fantasy world without magic, just myths and legends for them, and then - as with the master of the straits in the 1st book - something just jumps out at you to show you that magic can touch Phedre's world. And if magic can happen.. then are Phedre's visions of her deity Kushiel 'real'..? I am still hoping for this mythology to go further. I don't have as much interesting in the Yeshuite mythology, as so far it's a bit of a mimicry of Jewish/christian beliefs, and as just doesn't shine as much as the other more fantasy elements, but it still hasn't bothered me much, and it does create some interesting characters.

If you were one of those, like I was, worried that the 2nd book would not live up to the 1st book.. just don't worry, keep reading, I promise it's great. And now I've proved to myself that it's just as good, (and I've got this review out of the way - my personal rule) I am now so so ready to jump into the 3rd book!!

See my other reviews of Kushiel's Legacy:
← #1 Kushiel's Dart | #3 Kushiel's Avatar →
...more

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Nov 21, 2020 YouKneeK rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, completed-series

Kushiel’s Chosen is the second book in the first of three trilogies in the Kushiel’s Universe books. It picks up not long after the first book left off, and Phèdre decides to pursue one of the loose ends from that first book. As before, the story ends with a satisfying conclusion to the main issues, but with some loose ends left to carry into the next book.

I enjoyed this as much as the first book, but not as evenly. The first half was on the slow side and easy to put down, but things really pick Kushiel’s Chosen is the second book in the first of three trilogies in the Kushiel’s Universe books. It picks up not long after the first book left off, and Phèdre decides to pursue one of the loose ends from that first book. As before, the story ends with a satisfying conclusion to the main issues, but with some loose ends left to carry into the next book.

I enjoyed this as much as the first book, but not as evenly. The first half was on the slow side and easy to put down, but things really picked up in the second half and then I raced through to the end. Part of my frustration in the first half was (view spoiler). That grew tiresome fast. Once that was no longer a constant part of the story, I enjoyed it more.

The writing was a little more polished, I think. I didn’t find myself confused by certain sentences the way I did at times in the first book. It also didn’t feel as overly stylized as the first book sometimes did, if that’s the correct term for it. Part of that might just be because I’ve read over 1600 pages of it now and have become accustomed to it. She does continue to use “somewhat” in abundance, though. For example, ”No, I need somewhat else.”

For those concerned, there are 80 instances of “somewhat” in this book, compared to 79 instances in the previous and longer book. So the “somewhat” quotient has increased, but the boob quotient on the other hand (for those who read my reviews of Brent Weeks’ Lightbringer series) has remained low in both books, despite all the sex. ;) Speaking of sex, I thought there was quite a bit less of it in this book. Phèdre doesn’t solve quite everything with it this time, although her great beauty is still highly influential!

A character was introduced in this book whose name is the title for the second trilogy, so I can’t help but speculate about that. I look forward to reading the final book in this trilogy, and I hope for a satisfying resolution to some of the ongoing plot threads, but I suspect at least one plot thread will be left dangling to lead into the next trilogy. ...more

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Apr 14, 2010 Bibliophile rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, fiction, fantasy-and-scifi

Kushiel's Chosen was my least favorite of Jacqueline Carey's trilogy featuring the anguisette Phedre no Delaunay. In this novel, the action shifts from Terre d'Ange to Carey's version of Venice (La Serenissima) so Phedre is free to display her snobbery and chauvinism to a grating degree (no one else is as beautiful as Angelines, no other place is as lovely, cultured, fashionable or interesting, no other language is as beautiful, yadda, yadda, yadda. By the time I'd read 700 pages of this, I want ...more

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Jul 24, 2017 Cathie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Kushiel's Dart fans

Shelves: fantasy, chunkymonkey, series-ly, 2017-reads

A solid 3.5 stars.

This is the 2nd book in the series and while good and true to the story line, it just seemed to drag on.
It's a chunkster and I probably wasn't in the right head frame to be reading something that required me to remember a lot of names, places and previous story lines.

Jacqueline Carey is an excellent writer. It is her beautiful writing style that kept me going with this one.

This is part of an epic long series (7 books in all, I believe?) and each of them is well over 500 pages+. ...more

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Dec 05, 2014 Megan Baxter rated it really liked it · review of another edition

When I wrote my first review, I wondered for a while if this was really fantasy - or rather, said that up until one particular thing happened, there was nothing that made this particularly fantasy in terms of magic. I'm not sure what genre non-magical but certainly not Earth-based historical fiction would fall under.

Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.

In the meantime, you can read t ...more

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Apr 10, 2010 Dichotomy Girl rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, 2020, 2019, own-kindle-read, 2015, authors-i-love, 2016, favorites-previous-years, 2018, 2021

After 1st Re-Read:

In many ways this is the "hardest" for me to re-read because I find the first half just a bit tedious with all the stregazza politics, but the 2nd half more than makes up for it!

Original Review:

I read this in a day. And it leaves me wondering how in the world I thought her first book was average. I am already a few hundred pages into #3, and am very glad that she writes very long books, and that there are 4 awaiting me. ...more

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May 23, 2012 Benedict rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, fantasy

So, while I don't plan to give away any major plot twists, I'm reviewing the second in a series, so spoilers, of course, if you haven't read the first, and probably light spoilers here anyway.

I'll note that my copy of this arrived while I was 18 chapters into the first Game of Thrones book. NIGHT AND DAY. Carey's prose is so much richer, her characters so much more complex, her paragraphs so much more unified-in-a-single-thought (okay, that last is just uncharitable; sorry to Martin). Sincerely, So, while I don't plan to give away any major plot twists, I'm reviewing the second in a series, so spoilers, of course, if you haven't read the first, and probably light spoilers here anyway.

I'll note that my copy of this arrived while I was 18 chapters into the first Game of Thrones book. NIGHT AND DAY. Carey's prose is so much richer, her characters so much more complex, her paragraphs so much more unified-in-a-single-thought (okay, that last is just uncharitable; sorry to Martin). Sincerely, though, it was a breath of fresh air to pick this up.

I'll continue the Martin comparison a moment longer: Kushiel's Chosen is character driven and has a single protagonist; part of her agony and the reader's is not knowing what's going on with the other characters, and it's well-done. Unexpected things happen, but surprise is not the engine that moves the plot. There's a mystery, and there are good clues to its solution along the way, but Phedré is not Sherlock Holmes, and the ways in which she pursues her investigation are wonderfully consonant with her character as established in the first book and the early portions of this one. If she notices something, she notices it as Delauney's protégé and Kushiel's Chosen. If she misses something, she does it in the same way. If she makes a promise or breaks one, commits to someone or holds them at distance, suffers or rejoices, she does it as herself. And when she grows, she does it as herself, taking the experiences she gathers in this novel in, again, as Delauney's protégé and Kushiel's Chosen. Five star rating just for pulling that off with such a flourish.

The religious commitments in this novel are deeper than the first. The characters' traits are also more compelling to them, but without being at all charicaturish. Phedré continues to be a great heroine -- not talented at everything, but with a narrative voice that is incredibly mature and aware of her own strengths, weaknesses, successes and failings. It's fun to watch her grow. It's also fun to watch the other major characters grow: somehow this is accomplished in the background with elegance and grace -- no clunky exposition to catch you up to "Oh, now this person knows about her feelings and this one has killed someone in cold blood so he's a warrior now too."

I will say briefly that the fight Phedré and Joscelin have, and the playing out of its consequences, is SO much more satisfying than the idiocy between Bella and Edward in the second Twilight book, and a pretty clear illustration of what ACTUAL fantasy/romance can deliver (and we're talking the fantasy genre where there is a romance here, not checkout-aisle texts). Sadly, the sex and exploration of sensitive religious topics keep this pretty firmly beyond most young adult readers.

I heartily recommend the book to lovers of fantasy, epic, Tolkien, space opera (it's a different genre, but you'll find some familiar elements), and historical fiction. There's just enough magic, the religious landscape is incredibly well-developed, and the pacing's a lot of fun. I certainly intend to finish the series.

One note about that religious landscape -- Christ is known to have been the Messiah in this fantasy world's history, but there's also magic, other gods whose existence is left ambivalent but pretty-heartily endorsed, and the main character's national religious heritage is descended (as are the citizens of that nation) from angels who rebelled against God's disowning of a second son begotten accidentally of earth through the wounds of the Messiah. Carey doesn't fling this in your face, but if it's going to make you queasy, you're forewarned. ...more

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Mar 01, 2020 steph // bookplaits rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourite-favourites, read-in-2020

Although this isn’t a perfect book, it made me feel *so* deeply and think about the characters *so* much that I can’t rate it less than 5 stars!

I found Kushiel’s Chosen a lot easier to get into than the first book - because I knew the world and characters, it was easy to be swept away by the story immediately. Sure, the intricate politics still go over my head a bit, but I was captivated nonetheless!

Phèdre remains a compelling heroine and I still love her, despite her numerous flaws (e.g. how sh ...more

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Feb 08, 2017 Sotiris Karaiskos rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fantasy, fantasy

This second book of the series follows broadly the pattern of the first. We have a first part - almost one third of the book - especialy sexually charged where we are watching the political controversies and the various scheems that are knitting in Terre d'Ange, followed by a second where we go out on the road and wander around the world where the series takes place - who is essentially the world that we are living quite ... mixed - and we end up in the fight that resolve most things. In spite o This second book of the series follows broadly the pattern of the first. We have a first part - almost one third of the book - especialy sexually charged where we are watching the political controversies and the various scheems that are knitting in Terre d'Ange, followed by a second where we go out on the road and wander around the world where the series takes place - who is essentially the world that we are living quite ... mixed - and we end up in the fight that resolve most things. In spite of all these similarities, I believe that there will be several differences, and I dare to say that in this second book we are witnessing an upgrading as the writer becomes more daring - and I am not referring to the erotic scenes that are just a little more ... dangerous - in all areas, offering us something really epic.

But this that fortunately for us not change at all is the amazing writing of Jacqueline Carey that remains beautiful and touching. In this book, indeed, she is called to pass a test as the plot itself makes our dear Phedre wonder about many things as he goes through emotionally painful moments. This test, therefore, she passes it perfectly as she offers us with the description of very touching moments. That, you see, is also the main concern of this book: how emotional pain can one stand for something worthwhile, such as love. Difficult question, as you understand.

So the conclusion that comes out is that we again have an excellent result though I feel that this second part is slightly inferior to the former. Several times I felt that the writer repeats himself, recycling many of the ideas of the first book, while there are some excesses. Nevertheless for the second time Jacqueline Carey swept me away so much that I could not put anything less than five stars.

Αυτό το δεύτερο βιβλίο της σειράς ακολουθεί σε γενικές γραμμές το μοτίβο του πρώτου. Έχουμε ένα πρώτο μέρος - σχεδόν το ένα τρίτο - ιδιαίτερα φορτισμένο σεξουαλικά όπου παρακολουθούμε τις πολιτικές διαμάχες και τα διάφορα σχέδια που πλέκονται στην Terre d'Ange, το οποίο ακολουθείται από ένα δεύτερο όπου βγαίνουμε στο δρόμο και περιφερόμαστε στον κόσμο που διαδραματίζεται η σειρά - ο οποίος ουσιαστικά είναι ο κόσμος που ζούμε αρκετά... ανακατεμένος - και καταλήγουμε στο μαχητικό ξεκαθάρισμα. Παρά όλες αυτές τις ομοιότητες πιστεύω ότι θα βρίσκονται και αρκετές διαφορές, τολμώ, μάλιστα, να πω ότι σε αυτό το δεύτερο βιβλίο γινόμαστε μάρτυρες μία μιας αναβάθμισης καθώς η συγγραφέας γίνεται πιο τολμηρή - και δεν αναφέρομαι στις ερωτικές σκηνές που γίνονται λίγο πιο... επικίνδυνες - σε όλους τους τομείς προσφέροντας μας κάτι πραγματικά επικό.

Αυτό, όμως, ευτυχώς για εμάς δεν αλλάζει καθόλου είναι η καταπληκτική γραφή της Jacqueline Carey που παραμένει όμορφη και συγκινητική. Σε αυτό το βιβλίο, μάλιστα, καλείται να περάσει μία δοκιμασία καθώς η ίδια η πλοκή κάνει την αγαπητή μας Φαίδρα να αναρωτιέται για πολλά πράγματα καθώς περνάει συναισθηματικά επώδυνες στιγμές. Αυτήν τη δοκιμασία, λοιπόν, την περνάει με άριστα καθώς μας προσφέρει την περιγραφή πολύ συγκινητικών στιγμών. Αυτός, βλέπετε, είναι και ο βασικός προβληματισμός αυτού του βιβλίου: πόσο συναισθηματικό πόνο μπορεί να αντέξει κάποιος μπροστά σε κάτι που αξίζει τον κόπο, όπως για παράδειγμα τον έρωτα. Δύσκολα πράγματα όπως καταλαβαίνετε.

Οπότε το συμπέρασμα που βγαίνει είναι ότι έχουμε πάλι ένα άριστο αποτέλεσμα αν και νιώθω ότι αυτό το δεύτερο μέρος είναι ελαφρώς υποδεέστερο του πρώτου. Αρκετές φορές ένιωσα ότι η συγγραφέας επαναλαμβάνεται, ανακυκλώνοντας πολλές από τις ιδέες του πρώτου βιβλίου, ενώ δε λείπουν και κάποιες υπερβολές. Παρ' όλα αυτά για δεύτερη φορά η Jacqueline Carey με παρέσυρε τόσο που μου είναι αδύνατο να βάλω κάτι λιγότερο από 5 αστέρια. ...more

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Jan 05, 2015 gio rated it really liked it · review of another edition

-Phèdre's pms was terrible
- Joscelin is still a cutie patootie
- Melisande is the best villain ever

I liked it less than Kushiel's Dart. That's the only certain thing I can tell you to be honest.

The problem for me was Phèdre. Even in the first book I had liked her less than the so-called secondary characters and she certainly didn't do anything to "redeem" herself in my eyes this time around. It's not a matter of her beliefs or her personality, but simply of taste: I do not feel like I can care f ...more

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Aug 05, 2009 Allison (The Allure of Books) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009, other-adult-fantasy

I was almost scared to read this, because I was just sure it wouldn't be able to measure up to Kushiel's Dart. If I'd known how wrong I was, I wouldn't have waited two months to pick it up! I probably won't be able to wait even a week to start the third one.

So often, books in a series have different vibes, and the feelings you get while reading them are so varied that its hard to consider them connected. Not so with these, Kushiel's Chosen was very much a continuation of the first, and I can't r ...more

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Jun 27, 2019 Luiza rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Truth be told, there were a few small things in this book that annoyed me a little (mainly the 1373829 side quests inside each side quest), but in the end the amazing world building and the glimpses of so many different cultures, and especially the characters and the political intrigues made it so worth it!

It also made me enjoy Melisande a lot more as a villain, and I adore her complicated relationship with Phèdre.

And now I’m an even bigger trash for Phèdre/Joscelin lol.

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Feb 24, 2021 Ashley added it · review of another edition

Shelves: romantical, shop-on-your-own-shelves-2021, political-plots-and-maneuverings, audiobooks, fantasy, violent-and-epic, sexytimes

This is a joint review with book #2, Kushiel's Avatar.

I am not rating either of the second two books in this trilogy, and here is a review length treatise on why that is not at all actually a review:

Sometimes you make a mistake and then instead of admitting it, you just double down. Or, you know it's a mistake and you double- and triple down anyway. This is both of those in one instance.

I read the first book in this (well-written! imaginative! sexy!) series back in 2015 after my lovely internet This is a joint review with book #2, Kushiel's Avatar.

I am not rating either of the second two books in this trilogy, and here is a review length treatise on why that is not at all actually a review:

Sometimes you make a mistake and then instead of admitting it, you just double down. Or, you know it's a mistake and you double- and triple down anyway. This is both of those in one instance.

I read the first book in this (well-written! imaginative! sexy!) series back in 2015 after my lovely internet friend Malin gave it to me in a book exchange. I should have immediately read books two and three. Or, at least within months. (The mistakes made here were legion.) Instead, I leisurely collected books two and three from used bookstores over the next several years, and then let them linger on my shelves also for years, figuring someday I'd pick it back up and enjoy. I also in the back of my mind knew the longer I waited meant I would probably have to re-read because my brain is no longer a steel trap for fiction. I ignored this back of the head knowledge and allowed myself to get distracted by shinier (smaller) books.

Fast forward to 2020 when I was planning the first quarter of my 2021 TBR, when I somehow decided this was it, this was the year I finally needed to finish Phèdre's Trilogy. I also for some reason decided I wasn't going to re-read book one despite barely remembering anything, and KNOWING going in that I felt emotionally distant from the characters. This was the second mistake. Here are the rest in order:

*Knowing within twenty pages that I was helplessly lost and emotionally distant, a truly terrible combination when reading a book.
*Instead of capitulating and scheduling a re-read of book one for later in the year, I then decided to switch to the audiobook to see if that would make it better or easier. It did. Slightly. It was easier for me to make the decision to actually put it on rather than picking up a huge daunting book I was emotionally divorced from. But I still didn't really care. And also Anne Flosnik, one of the truly strangest narrators in the business, was doing the narration. I actually weirdly loved her strange performance of the first book in Robin Hobb's Liveship Traders series, but also switched to hard copies for the second two books in that series, so.
*After having to force my way through book two, instead of then stopping and scheduling a re-read of books one and two maybe for 2022 or even later at this point, I decided, no, let's just keep going! And let's do that audio thing again!
*Literally ten minutes into the first book I knew I wasn't into it, and was actively starting to resent having to listen to it. Did I stop?
*No, I did not.
*Goddammit, OCD.

So, that whole thing, hours of listening, was a complete waste. I am going to have to revisit this entire series in several years (at least three at this point so I can forget my resentment). I really do want to do it justice, and nothing about my approach here did that. I enjoyed the first book so much!

So that is what is happening in my head right now. Have a nice day! ...more

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Jun 18, 2015 Jeannette rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

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

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Jul 02, 2022 Cozy Reading Times rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: wishlist-for-later

4.5*
Despite the 150 pages Odyssey in the middle of the book, I'm too in love with Joscelin and Phèdre to give this less than 4.5*.
I can't remember the last time I rooted this strongly for a m/f romance.
I can't remember I tolerated this much drama in a fictional relationship.
But they did it.
They are perfection.

Aside from these rather gushy thoughts, I do believe this book is extremly good on many fronts.
Jaqueline Carey's writing is outstanding as always. There is so much compassion and tendernes 4.5*
Despite the 150 pages Odyssey in the middle of the book, I'm too in love with Joscelin and Phèdre to give this less than 4.5*.
I can't remember the last time I rooted this strongly for a m/f romance.
I can't remember I tolerated this much drama in a fictional relationship.
But they did it.
They are perfection.

Aside from these rather gushy thoughts, I do believe this book is extremly good on many fronts.
Jaqueline Carey's writing is outstanding as always. There is so much compassion and tenderness, so much feeling for timing in what she does with words.

"They are fools, who reckon Elua a soft god, fit only for the worship of starry-eyed lovers. Let the warriors clamor after gods of blood and thunder; love is hard, harder then steel and thrice as cruel. It is as inexorable as the tides, and life and death alike follow in its wake."

The other two elements Carey excells at, are relgious world building and political intrigue.
This book deepens the discussion of the "what if..." already started in book one. Here, we learn more about the Yeshuites - an interesting mesh of Christians and Jews. While in there believes and mission very much Christian, there are treated similarly to how Jews were treated by the Christians in Europe in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. I can't explain all of it here but be assured, it gave me alot to think about.

And then, there's the political intrigue. Seldom if ever have I read political machinations so subtle and yet so grand. Planned out meticulously and hinted at throughout the whole book without ever making it easy. Truly unmatched.

I did mention that there is and odyssey. It's the only thing I diliked about this book as I would it so obvious a method of time-stalling and rather boring. Especially as Phèdre is on her own and we're completely left without a plan or goal. Sure, there were things we needed to happen and it made more or less sense in the end... but it simply was too much time for my own taste.
With any other book, this might have been a deal-breaker.
Nto with this author. Not only did I come to really like the character we met on this side-quest, the finale to this book was fantastic. Filled with tension and plot-twists, emotional and epic... and eventually, very very sweet.

It felt earned, it truly felt earned. ...more

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Nov 04, 2009 The W rated it liked it · review of another edition

W Rating : B-(C+ is more appropriate)

Well, this was not a let down sequel, per say, but was definitely a lesser novel than the first. Your sequel really should always be better due to your readers knowing the characters and what the world is about so you, the writer, can spend more time on the rest of your story.

The first 350 pages are Phedre, blindly confident in her vision/hunting. She screws over Joscelin and continues throughout. Basically, she was selfish which is pretty annoying. Carey ha ...more

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Feb 12, 2011 Darlene rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Adventurers. Adult themes abound.

Recommended to Darlene by: Chris

Shelves: favs, erotic, adult, jacqueline-carey

Yes, there is erotica, and not necessarily the kind I like, but it is well within the plot and story so take no offense at this. Until you have started reading this books you will not understand their depth. Rather try to look at these books as an adventure in another Europe of such. Ladies and Lords and Queens and battles and deception, intrigue abound. The map and cast of characters are in the front of the book to keep you informed.

Then there is Kushiel, herself. Never have I met a follower of ...more

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Mar 18, 2015 Jamie Collins rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

3.5 stars. This is almost as good as the first book, with the same lovely overwrought prose that I am finding quite absorbing.

Unsatisfied with her triumph of the previous novel, our heroine travels to a foreign land seeking a traitor who escaped justice. It’s interesting to have a strong female character who isn’t a warrior, although making her a sexually submissive masochist is going rather far in the other direction.

I’m not quite convinced by Melisande’s supernatural power over Phèdre, and the ...more

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Sep 18, 2015 Lel rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A brilliant second instalment in the series. This one focus's on finding Melisande and some brilliant if predictable twists happen though out the book. I feel the character development is good and I found myself speeding to the end of the book eager to know what happened to everyone. This is definitely a series I recommend but would make no sense without reading the first one.
A great political intrigue book without all the hype of Game of Thrones and actually I prefer this series. ...more

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Jun 22, 2008 Liviu rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-fantasy, read_2009

Loved this one though after a great beginning it sagged a bit in the middle but the rousing finale more than made up for that. I plan to read books 3-6 faster since I want to have them done by the time book 7 is released later this year.

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Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
/r/Fantasy Discus...: Kushiel's Chosen (Phèdre, #2)	1	10	Feb 22, 2019 04:58AM
So who killed this character? (spoilers beware)	5	38	Mar 31, 2018 11:24AM
Fantasy Buddy Reads: Kushiel's Chosen [Feb 1, 2018 ]	115	46	Feb 17, 2018 01:48PM
SF/F Read Alongs: Kushiel's Chosen Read Along	21	21	Sep 09, 2015 11:29PM
Horror Aficionados : Kushiel's Chosen - Buddy Read (Spoilers)	52	51	Jul 15, 2013 11:14AM
Vaginal Fantasy B...: Jun 2012: Hangout for the later books?	1	39	Sep 06, 2012 09:42PM

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About Jacqueline Carey

Jacqueline Carey

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

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

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