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Summary: Eroticism, Religion, Politics, and Intrigue, All In One Plac
Review: This is one of the best fiction novels I have ever read. I reccommend it highly to lovers of fantasy, erotica, mystery, romance, and/or historical fiction. The characters are so very human, flawed and conflicted and beautiful and deep. Be warned, the book is full of S&M, "alternative" sexualities, and religious beliefs that would sound heretical to many conservative Christians (the savior in this series is a child born of the blood of Christ, and the tears of Mary Magnalene, birthed from Mother Earth's womb, and cast out of heaven by God, with a scion of damned angels, who create their own Eden). The plot is sufficiently complicated, as are the characters, and the book paints detailed pictures of the geography of this alternative Europe/Asia, the gods/goddesses that rule over them, and the peoples that live there. Unlike many fantasy authors that attempt an alternative Earth, Carey does not get too caught up in the exactness of parallels. For instance, the people called Yeshuites are much like the Jews of Europe in culture and language, but in Carey's world, they are the only believers in Yeshua (Christ) as the savior of mankind. Nearly all others from Phedre's country follow his son, Elua. This novel pulls the reader into exotic and savage lands, tantalizes them with rich tastes and sights and sensations, exposes them to a variety of cultures based on everyone from the Rom (Gypsies of Eastern Europe) to the French and Russians, and allows them a window into the mind of a delightfully willfull and passionate courtesan. Dramatic sword fights, sex-art training, royal spys, traitors, priestesses, courtesans, fortune tellers, voyages, slavery, assasinations, and trysts all find easy niches in this lovely book. 5 stars!
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Summary: Wow! Phew, finished....where is the next one?
Review: When I first started this book....I thought what is this, a fantasy book or a history lesson? This is the most thorough made up history for a fantasy book I've ever read,besides Tolkien. At first it was slow going but then the action picked up. I love this book. It was full of richly written characters and locations that were described like a traveler's log. I want to go to Terre d'ange, I'm pretty sure it exists, I mean nobody writes that much detail about a made-up place right? Wrong, Ms. Carey you are a truly gifted and imaginative writer and I highly recommend this book to any fantasy reader. Phedre' is a strong and sexy woman, with a powerful capacity for both pleasure and pain. A little racy for some tho'. But I AM buying the next two in the series, Kushiel's Chosen and Kushiel's Avatar. Loved It!!!!!!!!!!
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Summary: Truly a beautiful work...
Review: I have never read such a beautiful piece of work. I recommend it for anyone who loves beauty, intrigue, love of fantasy...I can't explain it...I am in love! I love the next book as well, but I am still waiting on the last book because I am poor! I need it in paperback!
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Summary: Incredible story - a great read!!
Review: I will not repeat the storyline as many others here have already given great synopses. Let me just say that I did not expect to like this fantasy novel all that much but I LOVED it!! (This, despite the really awful, tawdry cover art. The woman depicted doesn't even resemble Phedre; my husband thought this book was about some Egyptian love-slave.) It is brilliantly, intelligently, and lyrically written, so evocative and just beautiful! Yes, the sexual elements are S/M-ish (and bisexual in nature, in case that offends) but IMO they're really not graphic and aren't gratuitous at all, but rather are integral parts of the story which are enmeshed in the characters' religous and spiritual outlooks. (Sounds weird I know, but it works!) Also, I happily found that the majority of the book is comprised of an intriguing and complex political plot which is soooo absorbing that I often found myself reading into the very wee hours. Though I admit the last third of the book was not quite up to rest of the book's standards, I cared about these characters and can't wait to read the two sequels!
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Summary: There had better be more from this author
Review: The setting isn't anything new: it's almost, but not quite, medieval Europe, and that's been done, and done well (Think Guy Gavriel Kay.) The plot isn't anything new, either: political intrigue, beautiful women, plots to topple thrones, a nation on the brink of war, unlikely heros and impossible quests. What IS new is the focus. Phedre no Delaunay is a child abandoned by her parents, sold into identured servitude at the age of four to one of the houses of the Night Court, an influential network of high-priced and highly trained courtesans. She is trained well, but she cannot fit in because she is marked with a scalet spot in her left eye -- the mark of the Devil, some say. But her luck changes when a nobleman who deals in information recognizes the spot as a sign of the god Kushiel, and buys her marque, taking her into his household and teaching her to listen, observe, and connect. Her special gift, she soons learns, is also her special curse, for Kushiel's dart marks her forever as one who will experience pain and pleasure together. From here, I cannot reveal the plot, but suffice it to say that Phedre is now a courtesan who listens, and who thinks, making her a dangerous political weapon. Her adventures are always interesting, and once you get past the first third or so of the book, it's impossible to put down. Reading toward the end is like running a race: you pull faster and faster, desperate to get there, but equally desperate that it not end. Trust me, it's that good. Carey deftly mixes sex and politics in a way it's not quite been done before, especially with regards to Phedre's particular sexual preferences, and her writing is lovely. She picks up Judeo-Christian mythology, but elaborates upon it for the divine underpinnings of the story, and what she comes up with is quite fantastic: among other things, a fallen angel from the line of "Yeshua ben Yosef" who wandered the countryside bidding his followers to "love as thou wilt." Buy this one in hardback; you're going to read it more than once. It leaves you with a flavor at once harsh and lush, of ripe fruit, steel, and salt...or tears.
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Summary: Complex, beautifully crafted novel
Review: I inadvertently started reading the second book before I knew that it belonged to a trilogy, and had to backtrack to read Kushiel'd Dart before I could finish. The world Carey has created -- an alternate-reality of the middle-european Renaissance (sort of) -- is detailed and full of interesting cultural conventions and social rules. Without being overbearing and obvious, she builds the rules of this world through the observations of Phedre, the spy-cum-courtesan who drives the convoluted but well-mapped plot. This is primarily the story of political intrigue in the class of a good Ludlum or leCarre novel -- just enough twists and turns to be very interesting, yet not require re-reading to figure out all the puzzles. Setting the novel in this mythic world populated by the offspring of fallen angels and other christian icons lends a lush feel to the novel that Carey pulls off without being corny. I literally could not put this one down, and moved from the end of Dart to the second book, Kushiel's Chosen, in one sitting. It is, obviously, for mature readers -- a masochistic courtesan is the main character -- and not for the easily shocked or overly religious, I think. All in all, worth every minute.
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Summary: Different is Not Always Worse
Review: When I picked up this book in the bookstore, I read the jacket and was immediately intrigued. I bought the book in hardcover, which I rarely do, and when I sat down at home to check out my new acquisition, I read the whole thing in about eight hours, which I do quite often. I loved this book. It was set in an almost alternate Europe where people worship "Blessed Elua" who reminds me of Jesus, and many other gods. Look carefully, and, if you're Jewish, or know enough about the Jewish faith, you will find many references to Judaism and to other cultures. It is a hodgepodge of realty and fantasy that, if for no other reason, keeps you reading just to find out how much of reality is truly present. Phedre no Delaunay is called an anguisette, basically a fancy name for a masochist. Yes, she enjoys pain as much as pleasure, and in some cases, pain gives her pleasure. The sex scenes are graphic, but not tasteless. They are all done with some decency in mind, and never once was I horrified enough to put the book down. The book takes Phedre down the road of life in many unique ways. Not only is she a courtesan, she is also a spy, using her skills to gain information on the intrigues of the court around her. There are 12 courts in the land of Terre D'Ange, land of angels, where Phedre lives. Every court has certain qualities that allow them to become distinctive, and each court conspires and conives to bring down the others. Phedre, using her talents as the only anguisette in a hundred years, gains information and passes it on to her mentor, who tries to untangle the mysteries of the court. This book was fabulous in all ways. The land is clearly detailed, the people are all unique, and Phedre is a heroine that you will NEVER forget. This book is the epitome of all fantasy, and the sequel is even better.... but that's another review.
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Summary: Deep, intriguing herione draws you in.......
Review: I picked up this book to read while on a long flight (my husband always brings several books,and only started to read it out of absolute boredom. And then, I don't know what happened-----I just couldn't put it down!! I have only read a few fantasy authors to date----Tolkein, of course, Raymond E. Feist, and George R. R. Martin, but I have to say that I rank this series right up there with these authors. This story is very complex----I found myself having to reread sections to understand, only to later see the big picture and think to myself "Wow". I am eagerly awaiting the third book of this series with great impatience!
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Summary: K.I.S.S.
Review: I will keep this review short and simple, as others have writen enough to let you know what the storie line is. THIS BOOK IS INCREADABLE, it will keep your interest from cover to cover, and the second book in the series is, if possable, even better! I can hardly wait for the next book to come out!
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Summary: Incredible! That is the only word for it.
Review: I will admit it, I was getting bored with fantasy. It just seems that recently, things have been getting too predictable to care about. Then I picked up Kushiel's Dart. I can't begin to tell you what a breath of fresh air this was, and how relieved I was to find an author worth looking up on the internet.
...I will say that this is not a book for children. Age limits are irrelevent seeing as how every person is different, so just make sure that your child is ready for the content of this book.
Phedre is right up there with Lessa and Rowan as far as my favorite heroines go. She is amazingly deep and introspective without being sappy. Her trials and tribulations don't just make her grow as a person like so many others in fantasy, they add layers of personality, both good and bad, that you don't find very often in contemporary fantasy. For character development, scene setting, politcal intrigue and above all, exquisite culture building, I recommend this book to everyone who wants something different, or just to anyone with an open mind!
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