I have been dying to read this book ever since I heard it was coming out. I've read the entire series. The first three books (Kushiel's Dart, Chosen aI have been dying to read this book ever since I heard it was coming out. I've read the entire series. The first three books (Kushiel's Dart, Chosen and Avatar) are about Imriel's foster parents, Phedre and Joscelin. While I loved their story my favorite is the first book about them. However, it is the third book that brings us to Imriel, a child, stolen from all he knows and sent to be a slave. He ends up in the worst place of all, a madman's home where there is a harem of women and Imriel is harshly abused.
The next three books are then about Imriel. We see him grow and deal with the fact that he is a traitor's son. Imriel also must come to terms with the horrors of his past and the dark thoughts and desires inside of him. One of the few things that helps him be happy is Alais, the youngest of the Queen's daughters. Alias and Imriel play together and find themselves wanting to be related.
Sidonie, the eldest of the Queen's daughter's; however, doesn't trust Imriel in the beginning. But we see as Imriel fights to be the good person he wants to be that he is a hero at heart when he throws himself over the heir, Sidonie, to protect her from a boar. Sparks ignite and Imriel and Sidonie are caught up in something they never expected, love.
They've fought it. Imriel's even gone off on his own to wed another, seek a murderer, go to University, battle for a city and fight dire magics that have threatened to consume him. And in the end, both Sidonie and Imriel are left with the guilt of fighting the love the gods gave them number one rule is to Love As Thou Wilt.
It was a long road getting to this point but I'm so glad I read the books. While I enjoyed Dart, Scion and Mercy the most I'm very glad I've read them all because then I'm not lost when they mention other things in the story.
Scion was about watching Imriel grow up and discover who he is. Justice was about Sidonie and Imriel both trying to deny the love they had for one another because it would upset her parents and the kingdom (because of his mother's betrayal). It was also about the consequences of not following your heart.
This book is all about coming to terms with those consequences and following the heart through every hardship thrown in your path. While at times I thought the adventure Imriel and Sidonie go through it the perfect excuse to make the Queen accept Imriel, it is also a wonderful story packed with a grand adventure, love, danger, intrigue, and magic that is so worth the read.
Imriel has grown into a great character who is strong and fierce and loves deeply.
Sidonie is a character you've never really gotten to know in the past but this book really shows her strengths. She might be royalty but she's willing to get into the action to save her people and the man she loves. She's delightfully strong, smart and wicked. Imriel and she are wonderful together.
A new friend popped up in the form of an ex-slave, named Kratos. He's loyal and smart and I love how people find themselves so intrigued by Imriel the stick by him to see his adventures through.
Unfortunately, I had to borrow it from the library because it first came out in hardback and I wanted the paperbacks so I have to return it... but I adore this book and really want it. I would definitely recommend though I must warn there is kink in these stories....more
This book was by now means as good as Kushiel’s Scion which is the first installment of Imriel’s stories. Of course, having said this, I can’t say it This book was by now means as good as Kushiel’s Scion which is the first installment of Imriel’s stories. Of course, having said this, I can’t say it is worse. I rather enjoyed the story though in the end it became very drawn out.
Imriel is forced into a marriage of state. He marries his King’s niece and while he cares about her and even comes to love her there is no one in the world like Sidonie to him.
Imriel becomes cursed by an ancient people of Alba because of his inability to forget Sidonie. Because of this heart wrenching things take place. I have to say that I’ve not cried once while reading this series except in this book. The things Imriel must endure are beyond anything anyone should ever have to experience.
Now we just have to see if the Queen (Sidonie’s mother) will allow their love or violate the Blessed Elua precept to Love as thou wilt.
I must admit that this book has made me curious about Talorcan (??) and Alais’s story. They are bound to marry and rule Alba and the small parts where they are mentioned of interact are intriguing. I think they should be included in the next installment because there is room for a grand romance there....more
I have to say that the other books in this series (before this one) were okay. I liked them enough to read them but at the same time I kept thinking mI have to say that the other books in this series (before this one) were okay. I liked them enough to read them but at the same time I kept thinking maybe it wasn’t worth it to keep reading.
I’m so glad I did.
While the first three books are from Phedre’s point of view, Kushiel’s Scion is told from Imriel’s (Phedre’s foster son) point of view. He is a prince of blood. The third in line for the throne. The son of two traitors. Through distrust, rumors and bad memories Imriel tries very hard to grow up and be good. The pain inside of him grows until the only thing he feels he can do is leave.
Imriel sets off to University hoping some time on his own will help him deal the pain and memories left from his abduction when he was ten. Instead, Imriel finds an adventure of his own. Through intrigue, woman, battle and learning Imriel discovers that everything he’s endured had made him stronger and now his fondest wish is to find real love like his foster parents.
I have to say this book was worth my time and I’m a little sad it is over but I can’t wait to read the next installment which is also about Imri....more
This one was at times a bit lighter and darker than the others of the series. Phedre, being Kushiel’s Chosen, experiences pain as pleasure more often This one was at times a bit lighter and darker than the others of the series. Phedre, being Kushiel’s Chosen, experiences pain as pleasure more often than not. So this gets pushed to limits that were a bit hard to deal with but luckily nothing so overpowering that I couldn’t deal. My biggest issue was there were children in this harem Phedre gets herself into. Of course, her purpose is to change this situation so I’m okay with it.
As for the lighter, some of the adventures were simple and less involved which was refreshing, some of the longer adventures were simpler and more interesting and Hyacinthe’s plight was something a reader and fan will be interested in as it is a long standing issue sitting over Phedre’s head.
I’m intrigued by the adventure, the love between Joscelin and Phedre, and the story of this ‘world,� though I can’t say this is the most fascinating book to hit the shelves.
I can’t decided really how much I like this story. I liked the woman of the Harem rising up to thwart Death’s Lord and their was the turmoil of the situation coming between Joscelin and Phedre but all in all I’m not sure the story was told well� of course, I did rather enjoy the journey to save Hyacinthe, though the actual aftermath of this was rather anti-climactic. And of course, they sent Hyacinthe off with Drustan’s (Queen’s hubby) sister who has loved him for a long time, but that didn’t really seem real but rather convenient. And yet I hurriedly moved to the next in the series. Go figure....more
**spoiler alert** My confusion with the politics and royal lines weren’t exactly cleared up by the second volume in the Kushiel Series. I do think; ho**spoiler alert** My confusion with the politics and royal lines weren’t exactly cleared up by the second volume in the Kushiel Series. I do think; however, that I have a better understanding of our heroine’s, Phedre, world.
This story is very reminiscent of Dune’s intricate character weave but relying more on a god system that seems based a bit in Christianity and mythology using angels at the base. I can’t claim to follow this religion as it seems a bit confusing at times but I understand enough to get through the story.
SPOILERS to previous book
Phedre, now the Comtesse de Montreve, has learned of a traitor in her Queen’s mist by the return of her tell tale cloak that was taken on her last encounter with the traitor Melisande Shahrizai. Her cloak is a challenge for Melisande to figure out who the traitor among them is.
Phedre rises to the challenge with Joscelin and Phedre’s Boys at her side.
The achingly slow romance between Joscelin and Phedre is struggling as Joscelin tries to come to terms with breaking his oaths to the Cassieline Brotherhood.
The story is packed with adventure, intrigue, and a web of deceit that is sometimes hard to follow and no always worth the effort, though the lingering feelings between Joscelin and Phedre made it enough. And the constant adventure pushed me through.
I can’t say this is the best story but it grabs the attention much like Dune....more
**spoiler alert** Something I wasn’t as fond of was the Slashy aspects of the story but I dealt with it. Phedre is as turned on by pain as she is a ca**spoiler alert** Something I wasn’t as fond of was the Slashy aspects of the story but I dealt with it. Phedre is as turned on by pain as she is a caressing touch so there are extremes in this story. I could have done without the Slash stuff because I’m not inclined towards it but beyond that I’ve rather enjoyed the intrigue and danger of the story. The book doesn’t see as look as it looks and she swiftly moves through the tale of Phedre and Joscelin (her Cassieline).
There did come a point of panic as a seriously sinister woman became Phedre’s patron and made her give her signale (which is her word for the pain to stop so she doesn’t become seriously injured). Phedre doesn’t like giving it and hasn’t until this woman who also gives her the patron gift to have her marquee finished. As she is being inked a message comes that Delaunay must hear. She and Joscelin rush back home to discover Delauney dead and Alcuin dying. They rush an urgent message to the Princess (who is about to be betrayed) but are intercepted by the very patron who finished Phedre’s marquee.
Phedre has become at favorite to said patron and is thus sold into slavery in a neighboring country with Joscelin. The two do all they can to survive which includes Phedre having to endure their captors bed. She maybe a courtesan but she always takes patrons willingly and now she has no choice if she wishes to survive. It isn’t long before she is taken to the man who plans to invade her own country and becomes his unwilling playmate.
What I liked about this situation is it brings Joscelin and Phedre closer. They rely on each other for everything and Joscelin will behave if Phedre’s safety is insured. All the while they work together to flee growing closer with every passing moment until the only vow Joscelin hasn’t broken is to protect and serve.
But getting home isn’t the end, they must then travel at the Princess (now Queen’s) behest to her betroths land to insure his thrown and then bring his army to her aid. And if that wasn’t enough, the encounter the Master of Straits, a god who rules the sea and who must consent to your crossing his waters.
This book is so packed with adventure, intrigue, danger and just a touch of romance that it is far worth the long read. Of course, I could only give it a 3.5 because I didn’t like the slashiness� but my love for Joscelin could outweigh that! There is so much to this story, I’m not even sure I could really do it justice!...more
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