Kushiel's Dart, Kushiel's Chosen, Kushiel's Avatar
Books One, Two and Three of the Kushiel's Legacy Trilogy
Jacqueline Carey
Pan Macmillan
Paperback, paperback, trade paperback; R69, R110, R157
Reviewed by Gail Jamieson, 4 March 2005
Phedre no Delaunay was born an "anguisette" marked by the "Dart of Kushiel"
- one of the companions of the god Elua, after whom the provinces of "Terre
D'Ange" (more or less modern day France on the map supplied) are named.
"Love as Thou Wilt" is the Angeline motto.
Her parents could not afford to keep her so she was sold into "The Night
Court" to be brought up and trained as a Courtesan. But she has a serious
flaw. Her left eye is pierced by "Kushiel's Dart", a red fleck which marks
her as unsuitable to work as a normal courtesan but which convinces Anafiel
Delaunay to take her into his employ as he understands the value of an
"anguisette".
She learns history, theology, foreign languages and how to observe and
listen. But most important for her is instruction in the art of pleasure for
an "anguisette" gains her fulfilment in life out of pain and especially
sexual pain.
An unlikely heroine, Phedre is betrayed into captivity in the frozen
Skaldia, along with a disdainful young Casseline warrior priest, Joselin
Verruil.
The first novel is the story of how they manage to escape and flee back to
Terre D'Ange to warn the Queen, Ysandre, of an invasion plot. It is set
in an almost medieval world of Courts and Courtiers.
Phedre is a likeable if not at all humble heroine and the villainess of
the piece, Melisande, is her nemesis in more ways than one. It is a very
readable book and I would certainly recommend it to those who enjoy historical
fantasy.
"Kushiel's Chosen" is the second volume. In this one Phedre must save the
Throne for her beloved Queen, even though she has been thrown into an
unbearable prison. Once again she comes up against Melisande, her nemesis and
temptress, who aches to be Queen. She must also see her first childhood friend,
Hyacinthe, trapped on an island to live there forever. She is captured by
pirates but wins over their captain and she prevails by the end of the novel.
She also comes to realise that "anguisette" though she is that she loves her
protector, Joselin and that he loves her too.(I'm not giving anything away).
She declares him her consort even though they both know that they will cause
each other great pain at times. The Queen names her a "Companion of the
Realm" and promises a "boon" which Phedre declines to take as she does not
need anything at the moment.
This novel is still entertaining but reads rather more like a "Mills and
Boon" than the first one.
And so onto the third - over 700 pages "trade paperback" pages. A little
too "wordy" at times and I have to admit I skimmed in places.
Phedre and Joselin have had ten years of relative peace, during which she
has been searching the archives for a way in which to release Hyacinthe
from his eternal bondage. She receives a letter from Melisande and this sets
her off on a quest to find Melisande's son, Imriel, who has been kidnapped.
Melisande claims that she has the answer to Phedre's search and will give it
to her if she can find out what has happened to Imriel.
Her search leads her to a barely disguised Egypt, (complete with Pharoh,
whom she captivates) and then into central Africa into the clutches of the
madman Mahrkagir, who hold Imriel captive.
The Mahrkagir has turned his nation from light to darkness and seeks to
sacrifice perfection to his evil god. It goes without saying that Phedre is
this perfection, but she turns the table on him and kills him. Then aided by
the women and eunuchs of his harem they escape, taking Imriel with them.
The novel drags a bit at this point as she returns the slaves to their
homes and finally gets the clue they need from Melisande.
Off they go again and after much travail and fanfare get the answer to the
puzzle that will free Hyacinthe. With this and the aid of Dristan nab
Necthana, Ysandre's King, they finally succeed in doing so.
This last novel is too long. In general the novels are well written and
readable. Carey has a slightly annoying habit of saying, "I won't describe
this part of the voyage", but I suppose the story is already too lengthy. I
haven't been able to give your even the smallest part of the detail of this
trilogy. The description of people, places, clothing and food is
vivid indeed. I think that anyone who enjoys this type of fantasy will find
this trilogy well worth reading.
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