Kushiel's Dart: A Fantasy Romance Full of Magic and Desire (Kushiel's Legacy: Phèdre Trilogy, #1) (Kushiel's Legacy, #1)

by Jacqueline Carey

Winner of the Locus Award for Best First Novel.

'Rich, intricate worldbuilding meets swoonworthy romance. . . Phédre and Joscelin’s story is the beating heart of every romantasy to follow' Olivie Blake

Servant. Seductress. Spy.

All Phèdre nó Delaunay has known is a life of servitude – until now. When her bond is purchased by a nobleman, Anafiel Delaunay, he transforms her into a charming courtesan and skillful spy. He’s also the first to recognize what she is: one touched by the god Kushiel’s dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one.

But when Phèdre uncovers a plot that threatens the very foundations of her homeland, she’s thrown into a world of deadly courtiers, heroic traitors and one truly Machiavellian villainess. Her journey will take her to the edge of despair and beyond. For false friends, loving enemies and beloved assassins all wear the same glittering masks – and Phèdre will get but one chance to save all that she holds dear.

‘Sophisticated fantasy, intricately plotted and a fascinating read’ Robert Jordan

‘Superbly detailed . . . sometimes unbearably intense’ Kirkus Reviews

‘Brilliant and daring . . . an assured and magnificent book’ Publishers Weekly

Kushiel’s Dart is an intoxicating fantasy of intrigue, betrayal and desire – perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout.

Continue the journey with Kushiel’s Chosen by Jacqueline Carey.

• ISBN10: 144720820X
• ISBN13: 9781447208204
• Publish Date: 6 July 2011 (first published 23 June 2001)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Imprint: Tor
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 1040
• Language: English

Reviews

[nannah]

DNF at like way too little percent to put up here.

Uhh, I wish I'd read the reviews here or looked at the goodreads shelves for this book before I picked this up. I'd remembered that a friend years ago told me to read this trilogy, so I checked it out.

. . . and as a sex-repulsed asexual, I was more than uncomfortable. And even though I rarely leave a book unfinished, I'm going to have to with this one. I googled it a bit more, and after seeing how much sex (incredibly graphic sex) was in it, I decided that leaving it early was a good idea for me.

The writing is lovely, though, and I was very much invested in the characters. It's just definitely not my kind of book.

[ibeforem]

Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel’s Legacy series is, so far, a trilogy of trilogies, so to speak. A couple of summers ago, I read the first book in the latest trilogy, Naamah’s Kiss, and really enjoyed it. This first book in the entire series showed me that I have a lot to look forward to.

Phèdre nó Delaunay’s world is one that is both familiar and not. Carey has given us a reimagined Earth with elements that are familiar. There is a lot of known religion and mythology in her fictional religion and mythology. The countries are almost recognizable as Scandinavia and the Middle East and parts of Europe. The problem is timeless – who will rule Terre d’Ange?

(As a side note, when I read Naamah’s Kiss, I compared Terre d’Ange to France, but after reading this book, I thought it was more like England. Anyone else have any opinions?)

Phèdre is not your typical fantasy heroine. She is a courtesan, and an unusual one at that – her specialty is pain, and the scarlet mote in her eye makes her unique in her time. The first third or so of the book is really about her and her journey from a young child sold into indentured servitude to a young woman who has earned her freedom. Once her real quest begins (along with her companion, the religious warrior), she finds out just how much she has learned along the way, and that she’ll need every last tool in her arsenal in order to survive.

[mitabird]

3.5 stars