Kushiel's Dart - Jacqueline Carey

Reviewed By: Kashiko Black
Review Date: May 25, 2012
Category: Fiction, Entertainment, BDSM, Kink, Queer, Heterosexual, Sex
Fetishes/Kinks Found Within: Caning, Control, Knife, Oral Sex, Power Exchange, Riding Crops, Role Play, Spanking, Toys, Whips

Back Cover Summary:

The land of Terre d'Ange is a place of unsurpassing beauty and grace. It is said that angels found the land and saw it was good... and the ensueing race that rose from the seed of the angels and men live by one simple rule: Love as thou wilt. Phedre no Delaunay is a young woman who was born with a scarlet mote in her left eye. Sold into indentured servitude as a child, her bond is purchased by Anafiel Delaunay, a nobleman with a very special mission and the first one to recognize who and what she is: one pricked by Kushiel's Dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one. Phedre is trained equally in the courtly arts and the talents of the bedchamber, but, above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Almost as talented as a spy as she is courtesan, Phedre stumbles upon a plot that threatens the very foundation of her homeland. Treachery sets her on her path; love and honor goad her further. And in the doing, it will take her to the edge of despair and beyond. Hateful friend, loving enemy, beloved assisn; they can all wear the same glittering mask in this world, and Phedre will get but one chance to save all the hold dear. Set in a world of cunning poets, deadly courtiers, herioc traitors, and a truly Machiavellian villianess, this is a novel of grandeur, luxuriance, sacrifice, betrayal, and deeply laid conspiracies. Not since Dune has there been an epic on the scale of Kushiel's Dart.

Reviewer Comments on Rating:

This book is a fascinating world in which the characters of guided by what they consider their most important precept: Love. The refreshing thing about this series is that is does not discriminate against same-sex unions or poly relationship structures so long as love is being honored. It displays BDSM and kink in a positive but sexy light and some of the BDSM scenes described are very riveting. for There is some excellent character development and plot that keeps you interested and guessing. The first 100 pages of the book are a little tedius to get through as there is a lot of plot set up and when you first begin reading the book, this set up seems dull and unnecessary but stick with it, the book does get significantly better. The only other negative thing I have to say about the writing is that the author does tend to recap the story and repeat herself quite a few times but this only becomes troublesome after the initial reading. This is among my favorites on my bookshelf and a book I have returned to again and again. I would (and have) recommended this book to others.