Isabella Chen’s Reviews > Kushiel's Dart > Status Update

Okay, first patron encounter I am slightly *meh* about. The Twins are almost cartoonish- there are good moments (when Eamon finally gives in and practically begs Phedre to stay) but it's almost like they are from another book. The Dalraida on the whole rather undeveloped - possibly cut out during edits? This act should be about Hyacinthe.......

Like Sanderson's rule of magic, there's Carey's rule of sex - Phedre using her "talent" always comes at great cost to her & friends. And it's effects do not last (e.g. terms of contract expire/ wrath of a lover betrayed).

Our heroes have now left the valley of death and things have to look somewhat up for them before all turns to hell. So can forgive small coincidences.

Love how she crafted scene where villain passes the Tsingani camp without seeing Phedre. Fortunate coincidences usually a no-no, but Carey managed to temper it with a cost for one of our other heroes. Somehow it worked. Expertly crafted.

Surprised at the parallel symbolism between Phedre and Joscelin and Elua and his apostles (the sex in cave moment)Story has very little mystical elements, which make such glimpses really delicious. IMHO just expertly crafted. Great inclusion of intense moral dilemma a midst tense political scene. I'm just overwhelmed by Carey's ability. SO AMAZING.

Delaunay uses trained courtesans to get what he wants - I find it odd that other reviews view it as morally reprehensible compared to if he had trained and used killers to achieve his ends.

Basically BDSM, espionage and the boarding school fantasy. It even has super-heros in it (the Casseline brotherhood). Carey has put everything awesome into this world and made it work. Genius.

"As sophisticated as his knowledge and tastes might be, there was a threshold his own desires did not cross... Yet so thorough was his study of the desires of others that one forgot it was a comprehension of the mind only."

This feels a lot like Dune for some reason. I guess it's the ceremony, the emphasis on the experience and control of pain, the complicated political intrigue. The slightly florid prose. I love it.

Sucked in at page 1. Set in a world where sex is revered and prostitution is sacred. Main character a born sado-masochist trained to be a spy. Crazy ass premise, one of the craziest I've ever encountered but so incredibly well executed. Can't believe it took me this long to pick it up.