Rating: 
Summary: Terry Goodkind's younger sister
Review: Ok, everybody, calm down. Once again we have breathless abandon of praise that is really very overblown [though explicit sexuality and S$M sometimes does that to people--I'm convinced that's why Terry Goodkind has a following.] To be fair, Carey is a better writer than Goodkind, but she has the same tendency to exploit the sex rather than really thinking out the society. In addition, her heroine has no vulnerability, and it's hard to root for such a know it all on any but the parody level. The "we're Phedre's boys!" song to me was SO anachronistic it made me want to scream.On the other hand, the sex is not the offensive part of this stroy. It's the reliance on it and the fact that this somehow yields praise.
Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding Debut Novel
Review: Jacqueline Carey has an outstanding fiction debut in 'Kushiel's Dart'. Her plot is fascinating and keeps the reader involved at all times. Her characters are real and believable with a depth that's not often seen in fantasy novels. Her world is a fascinating one. At first it appears to be a world where sensuality rules all. Youngsters are trained in sensual arts to the exclusion of much else (except for the protagonist). Such a striking contrast to our world! Yet as the novel progresses the main character, Phedre, is reviled by many for being a whore. The two views are so different that I found it difficult to believe in Carey's fictional society. But that was a minor quibble and certainly did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the novel. Another thing I noticed while reading the book was its familiarity. At various times 'Kushiel's Dart' read like novels by Lynn Flewelling, George R.R. Martin, Bernard Cornwell, & Anne Bishop. When Phedre lives among the barbarians it read much like Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles. When Phedre was dabbling in political intrigue it reminded me of George R.R. Martin's epic 'Fire and Ice' series. Delauney's tutelage of Phedre was very similar to Flewelling's 'Nightrunner' books. Taken as a whole this is a successful novel. There are no flat moments. As I mentioned earlier, both the plot and characters are fascinating and believable. Most refreshingly, this is a stand-alone novel. There are hints of a future novel, but this is unlike the dozens of interminable never-ending series. This will most assuredly be one of the best fantasy debuts of 2001. Recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: An Unforgettable Tale
Review: This is the first fantasy novel in many a year that focuses on the story instead of on the magic, which only enhances the political intrigue beautifully set in a skewed Renaissance-world. Phedre is a heroine whose humanity, loyalty, and honesty truly touch us, and Carey should be enormously proud of her accomplishment. I urge you to pick up this book, because you won't regret it.
Rating:
Summary: The BEST Classical Mystery Romance Novel
Review: This book was FANTASTIC! I could not put it down. Jaquiline Carey refines the art of vastly intricate plotlines made famous by Robert Jordan, and combines it with intrigue, romance, magic, and paints it against a race to stop a war and unite two great lands. Each thread of the story ties in delicately and exquisitely into the larger tapestry, without overly confusing the reader. The first person narrative offers an incredibly unique perspective, and it flows seamlessly throughout the entire book. The heroine Phedre is superbly written, following her life through from birth to about age 20. Her profession as a god-marked dominatrix dream colours the book with sensual and erotic interludes that are neither trashy nor vauge. There is mystery, intruige, pleasure, passion, pain, and a SUPERB love story running underneath it all. I'm drooling in anticipation for the companion to this enthralling novel. You won't be able to put it down. Kudos and standing ovations to Carey; she will be one the giants.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Book!
Review: I've read through the reviews here, and noticed one thing - either you LOVED or HATED this book. I loved it. It was, in fact, one of the best fantasy books I've ever read. I took a chance on it --- and was well rewarded. I won't get into details of the plot (there are already many in-depth reviews here..) But I will say - to those of you out there who enjoyed Kushiel's Dart - try author Tanith Lee. I am a huge fan of Lee's and her work has the same dark, sensual and engrossing quality as Carey's book. I can't wait for the next one! Bravo, Tor!
Rating:
Summary: Amazingly intricate and diverse
Review: Kushiel's Dart is simply fantastic. The story is set in a world that is basically Europe, called Europa, but with a few changes: countries' names differ, yet remain related to the model, such as Alba for England, Eire for Ireland, and Terre D'Ange, for a France-like nation; a pantheon of gods and godesses rules Terre D'Ange, the main setting, whose leader god is the union of the Mother Earth and the tears wept by Magdalene for a Jesus-like Messiah. Into this world Phedre no Delauney is born, sold into indentured servitude but raised in the Night Court, a group of Thirteen Houses, which are bascially high class brothels, whose adepts can only be called courtesans, though that does not quiet define the service these men and women perform, for they serve the goddess Naamah in their doings, the goddess of prostitution and sexuality, and retain a degree of respect that is not usually associated wiht prostitution. The books runs through several facinating plots. When each ones ends, what comes to mind is what can possibly come next? Being raised in the Night Court and being a bond-slave, is one; another, plots of treason, conspiracy, war and betrayal. Being sold into actual slavery to a barabarian tribe, and escaping that situation and fleeing through impossible weather and terrain; becoming an ambassador to a hard-reached nation and fighting for two seperate thrones. All this with threads of sexual wiles accomplishing more than imaginable; all this with love, friendship, romance, and passion. All said, an incredible mix of everything one could wish for in a novel; impossible ot put down. And best of all, the story ends with another implied to follow. Do not overlook this first-time author's novel, for it is a true gem, the magnificent tip of potential great iceberg.
Rating:
Summary: A Guilty Pleasure, but Love as Thou Wilt
Review: I purchased this book because it was highly recommended by my book club, and I got it for free. I thought it sounded interesting, but I was little prepared for the all-encompassing aura the book would cast on the reader. My body and mind became wrapped up in Phedre's story; I even brought it to work, though I knew the content was both so involving and inappropriate that I would not be fit to answer phones after reading it. The narration seemed designed to keep the reader in Phedre's head; I could tell that there were many other actions taking place, right on the periphery of Phedre's knowledge, even though I could never be sure what they were. I felt that I grasped as much of the court intrigue as Phedre, an amount that gradually increased as the novel went on. And with Phedre, I came to feel the complex connection of pain and love. I don't think anyone has a choice but to surrender to this book.
Rating:
Summary: Overhyped to the max
Review: I am always suspicious of books with a billion 5 star reviews that are heavily on the text by authors who have never reviewed anything but that one book. It makes me wonder if the author, and/or his/her friends and writing them all. I suspect this may be the case here. This is not a bad book. It's ok. The sex is overdone as a gimmick, when it could have been handled as a theme, if that's what the author really wanted, without being so gross. Subtley handled sometimes, but gratuitous in many cases. It's not the sex that left me unimpressed. It was the author's reach exceding her grasp. The "dramatis personae" at the beginning of the book, as if we cannot possibly keep track of the characters as we read, made me irritated to begin with. After that, I found glancing characterization of that cast of thousands, not really making most of them necessary to the story. Finally, I agree with the reviewer who pointed out the tendency to promote "debuts" so that it can make reviewers like Storm Constantine say "wow, amazing for a first book." Unless there's another Jacqueline Carey, this is NOT a first book. I hate being manipulated like this.
Rating:
Summary: I am underwhelmed
Review: Based on the ravishing reciews, I thought I was reading the new Great American Novel. Uh, no. It's certainly readable writing, and if you can stomach the sex, and the fact that the author uses S&M as her gimmick, than this book will probably fascinate you. It's a little like watching a train wreck at first; the first few instances can be seen as daring. After a while it gets old. Outside the sex there's little to recommend this book. I found the god imagery unimaginative and the character development lacking. I also want to know why Tor is marketing this as a debut, making everyone say, "WOW! What a wonderful first book!" when it's NOT.
Rating:
Summary: "Kushiel's Dart" - Jacqueline Carey
Review: How can a person's mind and soul be so thoroughly drained and depleted while concurrently being replenished to the point of overflow? Thank you, Ms. Carey for providing this reader with the answer to that question. In this compelling epic, the author draws upon many classical literary traditions and introduces the reading world to her own intriguing concepts and artful methods, the combination of which, leaves the reader begging for more. The language used to bind it together and to set the tempo is one of Carey's greatest strengths. It is as rich and eloquent as it is intelligent and playful. And if the author's command of language is powerful in its own right, then her intimacy with the subtle ways in which it can be used to send the reader on his own journey within the story is a gift as rare as Phedre's scarlet birthmark. With "Kushiel's Dart," Jacqueline Carey drives toward the very nature of divinity and humanity, her story a celebration of the countless ways in which the two inter-relate. Carey's gift to the reader is not only that of a well-crafted tale. She uses the story to let the reader experience for himself the magnitude of mortality and immortality. Carey draws a map to the place where Art and Beauty are housed, then she leaves the reader with the key to the front door to come inside and explore; to "Love as thou wilt."
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