Rating: 
Summary: Stunning and sophisticated
Review: When I read 'Kushiel's Dart', I was deeply thrilled and fascinated. 'Kushiel's Chosen' proved to be equally amazing, although not as revolutionary as the 'Dart'. When I started 'Kushiel's Avatar', I still loved it, though I felt that some of the magic had expired.However, I kept on reading and I could not put it down. When I was done, I was as thrilled as I had been with the 'Dart', though for a completely different reason. While the first novel is amazing for its plot, the second one for its characters, the third one, 'Kushiel's Avatar' is fascinating for its concept. If the topics in the first two books are intrigues and strenght of personalities, the third one concentrates on the topic of love. How deep can love go? What can a person do out of love? "Love as thou wilt", the 'Dart' said. But what, in the end of ends, is love? Carey's interpretation on the issue left a lasting impression on me. I adore Phedre and Melisande not only because they are beautiful, dangerous, charismatic and smart. They are also very complex characters. Phedre isn't merely a merry 'whore's unwanted get' with a fondness for the sharper edge of love. Melisande isn't only an evil genuis with plans to rule the whole world against all odds. I love the feeling that they are mirror twins - they have taken exactly the opposite side, though their driving force is the same. What truly fascinated me about this book is the historical accuracy in it, however. At a few spots I was thinking to myself "oh, THIS is weak"; especially the scenes in the zenana. It wasn't until I started working on my own project about the Ottoman harems that I realized it all sounded very familiar. I was stunned to see how accurate it actually, so unlike what I thought! The cliques in the harem, the eunuches, the fortune-telling, the opium, the constant water and the despair that killed the women - it's just incredible! I could not believe how well Carey told a real story in a fantasy dress. If you liked the first two books, you're definitely going to like this one as well. Phedre grows a lot from the little cute anguisette girl that she is in "Kushiel's Dart" to become the mature character in the "Avatar". The ending was pretty good as well - it was well completed. I believe that no more sequels should be written about Phedre and Joscelin, though, as true masterpieces should be preserved as they are.
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