Rating: 
Summary: A Wild Ride
Review: I am not one for words....read this book...and let it speak for itself...You will not be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Different, Slightly Spicy
Review: I enjoyed this book. At first I was disturbed by the allusion to Christ as the "father" of Blessed Elua, founder of Terre d'Ange. Then I remembered the book is a work of fiction and moved on. That said, I found a very enjoyable book that I have read three times since receiving it in December.Phedre is a very intelligent and resourceful young woman who uses everything about herself: her mind, her political training and her sensual training to discover a conspiracy to invade her country and overthrow the throne. That the conspirators move in the highest circles of the land of Terre d'Ange (Land of Angels) helps to make it more interesting. Kushiel's Dart is a novel about the making of a spy. Phedre comes from a line of people who have chosen to become courtesans (whores to the untutored). She is gifted/cursed with the ability to find pleasure in pain. Phedre's life is forever changed when she is whisked from this sensuous world into the far more interesting world of politics and intrigue by a very skilled tutor. From there on, even though her sexuality is not covered over (it is "out there" for us to see), and she weilds it and her honed intelligence and observation skills taught her by her mentor like a sword against her country's enemies both within and without. Very much worth the price.
Rating: 
Summary: gifted author-- but not to my taste
Review: This book was lauded by the critics. There is some truth to the good reviews. Ms. Carey has an amazing talent for prose that reads more beautiful than poetry. Her fantasy world is intriguing and the characters are fairly well-developed. So why do I only give it 3 stars? Honestly, I was deeply disturbed by the sado-masochistic sex. Normally, I am not squeamish. I read horror and dark fantasy frequently, and considered myself fairly hardened towards graphic, violent sex. Not so. The sex scenes in this book got increasingly disturbing to me, so that I was skipping the sex entirely (which led me to miss major parts of the plot). Maybe I wouldn't have been as bothered if the BDSM scenes were limited-- but Phedre is a courtesan and therefore the whips, chains, razors, etc. are pretty much every page. Also, as much as I liked Phedre, I found it hard to respect her because she craves all of this pain-- she is a slave to her desire for it. I read one review that claimed this as a "feminist" novel, but I don't think a woman who longs for pain in sex is a good feminist role model. Most women don't have these intense yearnings, and it's not good for men to think that they do it. So this is just a warning to stand beside all of the praise for this book: it is CERTAINLY not for everyone. I see that there is a sequel now; I wouldn't read it.
Rating:
Summary: Mind-Blowing and Amazing
Review: Wow. I think I'm in love. Phedre no Delaunay may be the most unique and interesting heroine ever written. Masochist, bisexual, prostitute, spy, prisoner, ambassador... she is all of these and more.
Phedre's world shares our own history right up until the death of Jesus, when Jesus's blood, mingled with the tears of Mary Magdalene and the soil of Mother Earth, gives birth to a new savior, Elua. Together with his seven chosen angelic companions (including Naamah, who prostitutes herself to save him, and Kushiel, a former punisher of sinners) found the kingdom of Terre d'Ange, mingling their immortal blood with humans according to Elua's decree: "Love as thou wilt." A beautiful philosophy, and one that creates a land where sexuality in all its forms is holy, natural, and accepted. I found the d'Angeline religion fascinating, and a lovely backdrop for Phedre, who serves Naamah but has been chosen by Kushiel to find pleasure in pain. The first "anguissette" in three generations, she finds herself first a pawn and then a player in a deadly game of court intrigue.
The book is almost divided in half. The first, "pawn" half, focuses more on Phedre's education, both sensual and intellectual. Her teacher, Anafiel Delaunay, uses her as a spy, for reasons he won't entirely reveal to her. There are some graphically erotic scenes with Phedre's patrons, and whispers and intimations of plots and intrigues both past and present.
By the second half, Phedre is on her own, and must use what she's learned as she is cast out of home and country, first as a prisoner to the barbaric Skaldi (Norseman/Viking/Goth counterparts), then as an ambassador to the Albans and Cruithne (Celtic counterparts). This is where her personality finally takes shape, and although, as she laments, Kushiel's Dart never stops pricking, she uses her bedroom skills shrewdly and for a greater purpose.
Erotic, imaginative, lushly beautiful, intelligent... all these things and more describe both Phedre and this book. The villainess is seductive, the good guys are all too human, and everyone in between has their own motivations. With both a rousing climax (no pun intended) and enough strings left tantalizingly loose to make you eager for the sequel, it balances perfectly the edge between "good enough on its own" and "set-up for the rest of the series". Highly recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: Nice writing but ultimately hollow
Review: Jacqueline Carey has written a beautiful novel that is hollow at the center. The main flaw is her central character, Phedre, who spends most of her time reacting (submitting?) to events as they happen, rather than risking more to overcome increasingly negative events. In summary, a typical scene is as follows: Phedre goes to a patron, gets tied up and flagellated, has rough sex, then collects information which is used to further the plot (such as it is). Now as this is a fairly quiet novel and primarily a character study, we need to see inner conflict, hopefully manifested as outward events that are directly influenced by the character. Other than acknowledging Phedre's inherent conflict between pleasure and pain, and realizing that both drive her, we don't really learn much else about her, nor do we care. For some readers, the BDSM angle will seem "new, daring, pushing the boundaries," etc. and that's great -- if you're looking for literature that echoes your own inner thoughts or fantasies. It's just not enough to drive a character, though, and while I give Carey plus points for using beautiful language to describe what some readers might find disturbing, it's not enough to sustain a novel-length work. On the plus side, the pseudo-Europe is well-researched, crafted, and described in beautiful detail; for me it's one of the more memorable fantasy worlds to come into print recently. But a travelogue can hold attention for only so long, then readers need to see something more. For those of you on the bubble as to buying this book, I'd suggest borrowing it from your local library or waiting for the paperback, then deciding whether to spring for the hardcover. Interestingly, there seems to be a cadre of seven or eight Carey fans who downgrade any review of less than four stars, and uptick only the five-star ones. If nothing else, this should be a caution sign that you should consider carefully the bad reviews along with the good before you make your buying and reading decision.
Rating:
Summary: WAY overrated
Review: Perhaps it is because of the origins of the d'Angelines [from Mary Magdeleine's tears and the blood of Christ] that I started out finding this book offensive. But after reading through it, I decided it is really because it is CHEAP. And there is no reason for it to be. Jacqueline Carey is certainly literate enough to craft a good sentence, and perhaps even build a decent story, though the world she draws is pretty on the surface but lacking depth, like her characters. She could have done this with a lot more class, however, if she had not relied on the gimmicky sex. Yes, those who wish for more BDSM will thrill to it. Good for them. They are the same ones who swear Terry Goodkind is the world's greatest author, but they only read him for the jollies the sex and gore give them too. I can't really see there being much of a call for this sort of story past the trilogy. I hope it stops there, because I for one am really disturbed at what passes for epic fantasy these days. The fact that the reviewers all fell over themselves, without noting that the characters are cardboard and the world makes little sense, proves to me that you can fool a lot of people by appealing to the lowest common denominator, even when you don't have to.
Rating:
Summary: Was better the first time around when it was called MAIA
Review: After reading all the great reviews, I paid for the hardcover expecting a great fantasy read. However, I was disappointed overall. While I admire many of the descriptives - the author has crafted some beautiful passages, I think this book is very similar to Richard Adams' Maia. It is difficult to read Kushel's Dart and not compare it to Maia. Unfortunately, it doesn't measure up to Maia in the comparison. What I look for in a good fantasy read is a believable fantasy world. I don't think the fantasy holds up.
Rating:
Summary: A dizzying tale of power, powerfully told!
Review: This book has so many different levels that I sometimes felt almost dizzy. On one hand it is a sensual tale set in a place and time where beauty and sensuality is everything and the only rule is "Love as thou will". The sensuality and freedom that this land offers is heady reading and enjoyable in it's own right. But on top of that the story becomes one of political intrigue, royal secrets and ploys. This adds to the book's excitement and keeps the pages flying late into the night. Then suddenly there is an added bonus of a darn good adventure story, where the sensualist heroine and her moral bound companion must survive through slavery and a wildrness journey of adversity and hardship. AND THEN...the story turns again, now becoming a tale of war and leadership and politics. Yes, it's a dizzying ride, but well worth it for the unique and unforgettable characters and master crafted story telling. Overall, the story for me was one of power. The power exchanges between the BDSM-driven heroine and her patrons, the unifying and sometimes merciless power of leaders, the struggle for power from those who crave it. The book is a beautiful description of protagonists who at first seem to lack power (by circumstance or by choice), but manage to rise well above themselves and become forces to be reckoned with. It kept me reading way after my bedtime and has stayed with me long after I turned the last page.
Certainly one that I will re-read in years to come.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful
Review: A spine tingling, toe curling, heart racing, tear jerking, novel that keeps you up way past bedtime just to find out what happens next and why. This story runs the gamut of emotions, and makes you feel each and every one with it's intense descriptions of people, places, events, and actions. Definately not intended for the close minded individual. If you think you're open minded, this book could make you rethink just how accepting you are to alternate lifestyles. Leave your inhibitions at the cash register if you take this book home. If you open the cover, you bettter have opened your mind beforehand.
Rating:
Summary: Enthralling, Beautiful and Passionate
Review: After reading the reviews on Amazon I decided to take a chance and buy Kushiel's Dart(it was hard cover and not cheap), but it was worth it. I was unable to put this book down, as I was drawn into the detailed web of beauty, power and intrigue. It is amazing that this a debut novel as it is stunningly written, with flowing descriptions and imagery and unforgettable characters.
As it has been said in previous reviews, the novel does focus on the arts of pleasure which Phedre employs, and that some are violent and rather disturbing. However this is part of the character, the pain of these acts is almost a neccessity for her. She may despise the reactions of her body in certain situations but it an integral aspect of her which makes her who she is. Carey uses her skill for vivid imagery to describe some of the scenes, however it is not porn. Instead she describes the situations with rich words which cover more than graphic blow-by-blow accounts do. The novel is not masochist porn, but rather a different aspect to such actions.
I will admit I did not care much for the protagonist at the start of the book, she was rather willful and self-centred instead I preferred the surrounding characters who are just as important and as richly described. You will love some and hate some, but they will remain vividly in your mind long after reading. Whether it is the subtle deceptiveness of Delauney, the cruel cold beauty of Melisandre or the heoric stubborness of Josclin, they will stay with you long after you have closed the book.
Take a chance like I did and buy this amazing book. It will spellbind you with its intricate plots and wonderous people. A true gem to fantasy.
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