Rating: 
Summary: Alternate History+Erotica+S&M+A really good plot
Review: How to review this book? It has something for everyone. There is a great storyline, based on an alternate reality Europe, with enough of real history thrown in, to keep you trying to guess at the final outcome. The writing is elegant and baroque. The plot, has been well described by others; no need to delve into it.
Phedre, our heroine, is a servant of Naamah, or in other word a sacred prostitute, indentured into the service of a nobleman, who is half spy, half poet. From this unauspicious beginnings, she will go on to become a heroine of her land.
There has been meticulous research done, in the writing of this book. The language of the Tsingani (The gypsies) does approach the Romani that real gypsies speak, and the Habiru (Hebrew) that the Yeshuites (the Jews have accepted Jesus (Yeshua) as their Messiah in the story, go figure) is indeed Hebrew.
There is erotica and S&M in the story, but it is unobtrusive, and should not offend anyone, unless he is a real prude. Ms. Carey smartly uses French terms for some of the erotic terms, such as "languisement" and this, not only keeps it exotic, but probably prevents some of the more easily offended readers from taking real offense.
The cultural research is accurate, the plot moves along, and I felt drawn into it from the beginning. The large number of characters, and the complex relations between them do not pose a problem; there is a dramatis personae at the beggining which is helpful, if you get lost.
If you like high fiction, you will love this. If you are looking for an erotic kick, this is not for you.
I would not recommend this book for anyone under 15-16 though. (18 if you are really conservative)There are some homosexual scenes in the story, elegantly related, and non-explicit, but be warned.
Rating:
Summary: A book to read over and over
Review: ..and that's no exaggeration.
Frankly, I don't understand why some people think that Carey is attempting to sound over-intelligent at her reader's expense. Sometimes, Phedre's diction is a little archaic, that's all: it doesn't impede understanding, and it adds to the atmosphere over all.
This is a wonderful book, a rich tapestry of a fantasy novel, with a multitude of multifaceted and diverse characters, each one with their own views, motives and beliefs. Carey does an excellent job of blending the real world into the fantastical in her books, making countries that are remarkably like ours ((and sometomes even using their names.. ie Venice as La Serinissima.... which is really another name for Venice, you know?))
The book begins the story of Phedre, (...)cast off in a Court of courtesains, unfit to serve, due to a single flaw -- a red mote in her left eye. It's not until she is adopted by the powerful Anafiel Delaunay that her true worth is revealed. An 'anguissette', bearer of pleasure through pain, the fist in hundreds of years, with stuning beauty and the capacity to look, learn and remember. She is cast into the net of political intregue, seeking out answers through her unique talents. Answers to age old feuds, and traitorous plots. It will lead her farther than she could have ever imagined....
Carey creates very realistic and deep characters, that you'll begin to empathise with as they endure hardships, and come out more experienced. My personal favourite is Joscelin, but every character plays a vital part to the story : the mischivious Hyacinthe, the beautiful and cunning Melisande, the clever and noble Delaunay, the kind Alcuin, the willful Phedre and the exasperated Casseline priest (...)>The best part? it's only the beginning....
Rating: 
Summary: Boring
Review: First of all, this is really not a 'fantasy' book as there is very little magic or fantastic creatures. If you are looking for these, skip this book.Secondly, there are only two aspects of which this book is about: The bondage-sex that the main character Phedre is addicted to, and political intrigue. As to the first aspect, the bondage, you may like it or hate it. You may like it because S&M is rarely done in a mainstream fantasy book, or you may hate it because Phedre is a kind of prostitute who gets turned on by anyone and everyone who slaps her around physically. As to the political intrigue, you may like it if you crave for the Robert Jordan style (past the 6th book of his series) where there are a whole lot of characters each with a whole lot of motives. You may hate it if you hate this writing style because there's way too many characters with different and confusing names, titles, or nicknames who all act melodramatically at every political event that much of the time the reader may not even understand, because it's so confusing in the first place. Personally, I hated the book in both cases. There were so many characters with so many confusing names that I felt I had to take notes just to keep track of the motives of everyone involved. And since there are so many characters involved they all became so shallow that it's difficult for me to care one way or another for any of them. The only way you can give this book 5 stars is if you understood exactly what was going on and who was doing what. And if you could do that on your first casual reading of the book, you are a lot more patient and more intelligent than I.
Rating: 
Summary: Top rate novel.
Review: This novel was amazing, it was thrilling how Phedre` no Dalunay was a "whore's unwanted get." How she came to be the hero of the novel. Although the novel was a little hard to understand it was verry discriptive it painted an exact picture of what was happening. The characters were so strange and yet I was able to relate to some of them. This novel will definatley go in the history books. Many people have stated facts about the story when I think they should be stating more on what they beleive the novel has done for them. Has it changed their views ect. Phedre` is a young woman emotions wheeling inside her, Anafiel helps her understand them and also teaches her the potential she has of being the chosen. Phedre` displayed some heroisim but she is paralyzed with fear when she is confrounted by Mellisandra.
This novel is the greatest thing that ive ever read and everyone should read it. You may learn something.
Rating:
Summary: My absolute favorite!
Review: I absolutely love this book and the books after it. I think they're beautifully and eloquently written, and I personally found them easy to read. If you're used to books written on a 6th grade reading level, then no, this book isn't for you. Where some authors use a paragraph or more to describe a physical setting, Carey conveys emotions, sights, smells, etc in a sentence or two. I just really admire her style of writing and how well it complements her story. I feel it's also a well balanced novel. Phedre, the main character, is a highly trained courtesan with a proclivity for pain, but also a keen intelligence geared towards spying for her master and teacher. Some erotic scenes are described in detail, but if you're looking for a trashy novel, this isn't it. Although Phedre is a prostitute, her life evolves around much more than sex, and intrigues are complex and very widespread, requiring her talents outside the bedroom as often as inside.
Rating:
Summary: This series has everything
Review: This series is by far the best that I've read. I've read several reviews that feel the books are confusing and that the authur is trying to sound smart. I highly disagree. I found that the Kushiel books are very well thought out. They contain a mixture of romance, adventure, political intrigue, humanity and humility that I have found in very few books. I enjoyed the fantasy world that in many was parrelled our own histroy. I found the "s&m" type sexual scenes were provocative and added to the characters strength. I hope that Carey will give us more books of this caliber and soon! I encourage that those that are interensted in fantasy, romance, and/or historical fiction read these books.
Rating:
Summary: Lovely, Sexy and Intelligent
Review: Not an easy trilogy to describe. It certainly is not like anything else out there. There maybe comparisons, but nothing is quite like Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel trilogy. The words sexy and intelligent come to mind. Elegant. Beautiful, dangerous. Fancy, but also real, because all characters have the capacity to grow beyond the rigidity of their beliefs. Phedre is a woman marked by the gods with a red speck of color in one eye. She is beautiful beyond compare, but the mark is considered a curse upon its barer. It is called Kushiel's Dart. Phedre is the first to be thus afflicted in many generations and, because she is, she is shunned, sold into servitude and raised with the awareness of being marred beyond repair. Until, that is, her path crosses with a person who recognizes the mark and sees Phedre's potential. So what is Kushiel's Dart? It gives one the ability to find physical, sexual pleasure in pain - both physical and emotional. It sets Phedre well apart and gives her a unique place in a society that embraces sexuality, ornamented with religion, ritual, education, art, wealth and status. The society of Terre d'Ange is exquisite, refined - both original and believable. Anafiel Delauney is the man who raises Phedre from indenture. He is an incomparably interesting, complex character. Delauney is a nobleman, but not in favor with the royal court for certain indiscretions in his past. He has an interesting amount of influence over the goings on of the society, yet you are forever wondering why and how. A part of the how is Phedre. Aside from continuing their education in all matters sexual, Delauney trains Phedre and Alcuin, a young man of his household, to be elegant, cultured, intelligent and irresistible spies. There is so much delicious intrigue in this work, so much fun, so much playacting and indulging one's impulses... and so much real danger, real loss, real love. The characters are so well defined, their voices so very distinct. Phedre, Delauney, Alcuin, Joscelin - Phedre's reluctant protector, Hyacinthe - her best and oldest friend, Cecilie - Phedre and Alcuin's teacher in the arts of... Well. There is much, here - too much to tell. The books - all three of them - are lovely. They have complexity, beauty, depth. Carey has that rare gift of being able to fully allow for her readers' intelligence as well as that of her characters. Another rarity - the series begins on a phenomenal note and gets much, much better. Savor it.
Rating:
Summary: Lovely, Sexy and Intelligent
Review: Not an easy trilogy to describe. It certainly is not like anything else out there. There maybe comparisons, but nothing is quite like Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel trilogy. The words sexy and intelligent come to mind. Elegant. Beautiful, dangerous. Fancy, but also real, because all characters have the capacity to grow beyond the rigidity of their beliefs. Phedre is a woman marked by the gods with a red speck of color in one eye. She is beautiful beyond compare, but the mark is considered a curse upon its barer. It is called Kushiel's Dart. Phedre is the first to be thus afflicted in many generations and, because she is, she is shunned, sold into servitude and raised with the awareness of being marred beyond repair. Until, that is, her path crosses with a person who recognizes the mark and sees Phedre's potential. So what is Kushiel's Dart? It gives one the ability to find physical, sexual pleasure in pain - both physical and emotional. It sets Phedre well apart and gives her a unique place in a society that embraces sexuality, ornamented it with religion, ritual, education, art, wealth and status. The society of Terre d'Ange is exquisite, refined - both original and believable. Anafiel Delauney is the man who raises Phedre from indenture. He is an incomparably interesting, complex character. Delauney is a nobleman, but not in favor with the royal court for certain indiscretions in his past. He has an interesting amount of influence over the goings on of the society, yet you are forever wonder why and how. A part of the how is Phedre. Aside from continuing their education in all matters sexual, Delauney trains Phedre and Alcuin, a young man of his household, to be elegant, cultured, intelligent and irresistible spies. There is so much delicious intrigue in this work, so much fun, so much playacting and indulging one's impulses... and so much real danger, real loss, real love. The characters are so well defined, their voices so very distinct. Phedre, Delauney, Alcuin, Joscelin - Phedre's reluctant protector, Hyacinthe - her best and oldest friend, Cecilie - Phedre and Alcuin's teacher in the arts of... Well. There is much, here - too much to tell. The books - all three of them - are lovely. They have complexity, beauty, depth. Carey has that rare gift of being able to fully allow for her readers' intelligence as well as that of her characters. Another rarity - the series begins an a phenomenal note and gets much, much better. Savor it.
Rating:
Summary: loved it
Review: this is the first book in the series ive read, and i really loved it. at first i was just looking for a book to occupy my time, but i got more then i bargend for, i could scarsly put it down, i cant waite tell i get enough money for the next two. if your looking for a nice book, grab this. tho there are some things i didnt really like. i didnt really like the names, the titles of the people were really hard for me to keep straight and pronounce, but eventually i got it down. i loved phedre and her cassiline joscelin, they are my favorite, well hyacinthe too i think i loved him most of all, and i cried a bit when misfoutune fell upon him, but i wont say too much, youll love the charactures, i did, injoy
Rating:
Summary: Kushiel's Dart Aims True
Review: Heroics, desire, despair, torture, violence and tenderness. These are just some of the elements you will find contained within Kushiel's Dart. I picked this novel up on a whim, as I am forever in search of good fantasy fiction, especially those with strong flawed female heroines. Phedre is a magnificant heroine. She is flawed, tormented by her God's mark to forver receive pleasure from pain, and yet seeking to do good. Her mentor, who bought her when she was but a girl uses her for her special gift and makes her a spy. Phedre and the other characters in this novel are as three dimensional and complex as the novel itself. Jacqueline Carey takes the story of Jesus Christ and transforms it into the story of Emanuel and his followers. The people that inhabit Phedre's world are descendant from Angels, and these Angels play a heavy hand in their life and culture. Phedre herself has been pierced by Kushiel, a mark visible to all because of the red mote in her left eye. Phedre's journey is only beginning in this novel that is full of court intrigue, deception, and betrayal. But even within these cruel elements there is love and tenderness, for sometimes even Phedre herself must use deception and betray those she cares for in order to what must be done. This novel is not for the faint of heart, as it is 800 plus pages. Length alone is not the only challenge this book presents, but the sheer complexity of the story requires excellent attention to detail. For those of you in the market for good fantasy fiction and enjoy reading the time will fly by, too quickly. I finished this novel in a one day power session, it took me a few hours, but it was well worth it.
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