Rating: 
Summary: I miss Joscelin's character traits...
Review: This sequel to Kushiel's Dart is not quite as good as the original. While the first book was very well thought out, there are some flaws in "Chosen". The biggest of these is with the character of Joscelin Verreiul, Phèdre nò Delaunay's beloved, her oath-sworn protector, and eventually, her lover. While their conflicts at the beginning are believable, if less mature than one would have expected, the ending is hardly plausible. Some of Joscelin's actions, abandoning Phedre and the like, are hard to believe in one who is usually so adamant about keeping his oaths. And at the end, after a touching, if brief, reunion, these problems just vanish....why? It could have been much better xplained if Joscelin's point of view was expresed more, but it wasn't. In that, the book was not as good as its predecessor.
The sex scenes were a bit more erotic in this book, so, once agian, not a book for children.
Rating: 
Summary: Who says sequels can't deliver
Review: Kushiel's Dart was GREAT! Kushiels Chose was equally GREAT!Once you pick up this book, you may find out just how quickly you can read a 700 page book. This is truely a great storyline, with well developed characters in a fantastic setting. Phedre and Joscelin of course return in this book (right on the heels of where the first book ended). Will they find the elusive Melisandre? Read this book and find out, you won't be at all sorry.
Rating:
Summary: Successfully occupied my time.
Review: Kushiel's Chosen seemed to me a worthy follow-up to Kushiel's Dart. I wasn't disappointed in it (unlike many of the other reviewers) largely because I wasn't that impressed with the first book. I think the series is a reliably well-written historical fantasy-- no more and no less. For people who haven't read the first-- this isn't a swords and sorcery fantasy, really. There's very little magic as such and what there is is fairly constrained to priestly magic. Many fantasy books set magic as the foregrounded element where here it can be best compared to the spice in the food. Also worth noting is that the sex in Kushiel's Chosen is at least a little bit more explicit than in Kushiel's Dart. It's still not disruptive to the story, but this probably isn't for your pre-teen (or even teenage) reader. And (if you haven't figured it out from the back of the book already) Phedre isn't a vanilla kind of girl, so if power games in sex disturb you pick up another book. So why isn't this five stars? Lots of bad things happen to Phedre, but in the end you never really believe (even for a moment) that she's going to fail. She's too beautiful, speaks too many languages, and is too good at political intrigue. I tend to prefer my heroines (even in escapist fiction) with more flaws to overcome.
Rating: 
Summary: Still waiting for the author to let loose
Review: This novel is a capable sequel: Jacqueline Carey gives her readers more of what they've come to expect after Kushiel's Dart. Therefore, if you enjoyed the first book, you will probably enjoy this one, too. However, if you're like me, Carey will continue to leave you a little disappointed, given the story's potential. She has developed an intriguing alternate reality Europe, in which the child of Jesus and Mary Magdalene fostered a kingdom in France, built around the credo: "Love as thou wilt." She has a compelling character concept in Phedre, a masochistic courtesan and adept spy. She immerses her heroine in a web of political intrigue, as well as giving her an unlikely lover in the form of Joscelin, a warrior monk sworn to protect her despite his distaste for her way of life. These elements are all familiar from Carey's previous work, but I still feel that she has yet to exploit them fully. The tension between Phedre and Joscelin feels too artificial; we don't see enough of Joscelin's struggle among his love for Phedre, his vows of chastity, and his seeming destiny among the Jews. The resolution here is far too facile. I similarly wish that Carey would give us more direct confrontation between Phedre and her nemesis, Melisande, whose power over Phedre is the only force that makes our heroine seem truly vulnerable. The relationship between these two women also bridges the gap between the plot Phedre's masochism, which otherwise plays far too small a part in the story, outside of some rather enticing scenes with some of her patrons. If you're into that sort of thing. Honestly, Kushiel's Chosen works well enough as a tale of adventure, but I feel that Carey has laid too much groundwork to ignore her heroine's more internal conflicts. I still intend to read the last novel in the trilogy. Perhaps then Carey will not be afraid to bring these conflicts to a head.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Sequel leaves you begging for the conclusion...
Review: This book was the first sequel in a very long time which I've read and enjoyed so much. The intrigue, the suspense, the love, the terror, the faith, of humankind are amazingly captured on each page by Carey. I look forward to reading Kushiel's Avatar...
Rating:
Summary: A great book, but it didn't live up to my expectations
Review: The first book in this series, Kushiel's Dart, was a beautifully written beginning to the Kushiel's Legacy series. It left me eager for her next installment, and I probably built it up too much to have it fulfill what I was hoping for. It moved slowly in the middle, and the intrigues were not nearly as interesting for some reason. I think it was that there were unfamiliar names or that the book began in the relative peace of Ysandre's rule. It is a mark of how beautiful Carey's writing is that I was disappointed by this book and still give it four stars. Her language is amazing, and the settings she's created are amazingly detailed. The plotting in this book, although just as intricate, was slightly more difficult to follow. Overall, it's my least favorite of the three, but still well worth buying and reading, both of which I have done.
Rating:
Summary: A new worshiper of Kushiel!
Review: I actually borrowed this book from a friend, and liked it so much that I went searching for a first edition hardcover online. *Great* new series! Interesting world, original characterization, exciting storyline, everything one could wish for in an intelligent adult fantasy novel. Jacqueline Carey doesn't make her female characters into men with breasts or helpless princesses--they are real women, with real minds and strengths and weaknesses just like everyone else--in other words, just human. Keep in mind that this is an adult oriented series--no real shocking sex scenes, but many adult themes are explored, so this book would be appropriate for mature teenagers or older. Five stars!
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not amazing
Review: All 3 of the books in this series are great to read with the rich detail of the world, and all the great intrigue. Kushiel's Avatar is a good ender book, full of action and the author frantically trying to tie up all the loose ends. Like the first two, there are so many political threads flying around, that after a time you either get it and love it, or you give up on trying to keep track of it all and focus on what is happening with the characters. If you are looking to get into this series, definately start with the first book. If you are browsing for a new series to read because you just finished one, or you have a break between books, this would be great for you. The quality of this book compaired to Dart and Chosen, is very weak. Yes, it is written well, but there are certain things that aren't of the same standard. However, the story is still wonderful, and it is definately worth purchasing just to find out the rest of what happens to the people.
Rating:
Summary: If Possible, Even Better
Review: I'm not one for extensive reviews, and if people are going to read this review, then they already know what the story is basically about. This book, the sequel to Kushiel's Dart, is as good, if not better than it's predecessor. New lands and new people assail Joscelin and Phedre, who are pushed together unwillingly, even though their love stays strong. Some mysteries are unravelled, and more entwine, but all along, Phedre remains that stalwart and unwavering heroine that we met and loved in the first book. All we can hope now that Ms. Carey has set our expectations so high, that the third book will be as good as the second.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Spectacular
Review: My disillusionment with fantasy has only deepened these last few months, but this book and it's predecessor...are incredible! I can't say this enough, I love these books! This sequel to the amazing Kushiel's Dart is every bit as good as the first. Phedre has somehow become even more magnetic and enthralling. Her adventures take her everywhere in this book, opening up the alterna-world of Carey's creation. The world is sublime, the cultures rich and textured and the people are fantastic. The action scenes and plot twists are enough to make you gasp outloud and scare the cat sleeping at your feet. It's been so long since a book has really and truly surprised me, I almost forgot what it felt like. This book has everything fantasy fantatics need and want, while throughing in things you didn't even know you wanted! I'd better stop before I run out of adjectives. Just one more thing, if you really want to try something different, please, please pick this book up, I promise you won't regret it.
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