Kushiel's Chosen (edition 2002)

After reading [b:Kushiel's Dart|153008|Kushiel's Dart (Kushiel's Legacy, #1)|Jacqueline Carey|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41X0K18PHBL._SL75_.jpg|2990010] I knew what to expect in this book so I was not surprised with BDSM sex scenes. I think they were even a little bit tamer and lighter than in a first book. But they are not the point of the book, they are only here to help us better to understand the character of our main heroine Phèdre.
My problem with [a:Jacqueline Carey|9237|Jacqueline Carey|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1205262579p2/9237.jpg] and why I did not give her greater rating is because she takes too much time explaining and developing the plot... In this second book even more than in the first one. Honestly, I felt like first 40% of book was introduction. But when adventure begins it is breathtaking: Venice and gloomy prison and pirates and kríavbhog and Greek islands and of course epic fight scenes... ( )

With the expectations Kushiel's Dart gave me, I might have been worried that Kushiel's Chosen wouldn't match up. I wasn't, but I wouldn't have needed to be anyway. I loved this book just as much as the first one. Everything I've said about how it's not for everyone still stands (see my first review), although there was less sex, I think, and perhaps more of the politics. Somehow, this book didn't feel as dense as that one, but there's still a lot of content considering it's the second book of a trilogy, and not a trilogy in itself. I think the feeling of less going on is mostly because there are fewer dramatic changes -- in the first book, there were a lot of milestones, and in this one, maybe not as much. It's still an incredible ride.

The stage is set, in this book, so there isn't such a flurry of characters being thrown at you. The new ones, such as Nicola L'Envers y Aragon and Sevario Stregazza, are quite interesting (not least because of the sex scenes, I have to admit). It's lovely to see how Jacqueline Carey weaves the characters so neatly into the plot -- there are no useless characters. I was sorry not to see anything of Hyacinthe in this book, and I was glad that he wasn't ignored. Ysandre was one of my favourite characters in the latter part of this book: she's written as such a strong, strong character.

The relationship between Joscelin and Phèdre was more painful than ever in this book, so I was very, very glad of the end. I'm not sure it could have continued as it was without getting needlessly painful and boring. While the new development makes me happy now, I have no doubts that Joscelin and Phèdre will find new ways to hurt my heart -- and that's good. The relationship between Melisande and Phèdre is still wonderfully handled. The thin line between love and hate that lies between them is perfectly walked. The scene where Phèdre smashes her head back against something to distract herself from Melisande's kiss is amazing.

Plotwise, it was so good. It seriously surprised me in various places, leaving me to flail and keyboard bash and fangirl at anyone willing to listen. The twists and turns are surprising, and yet brilliantly set up: once it's happened you think, "Oh. Yes. Of course."

There's a lovely conclusion, ending the book with some closure and yet also with threads still waiting to be tied up in the final book of the trilogy. I can't wait. I'm tempted to buy the Imriel books already, but I think I'll wait until they're all out in paperback -- painful as that will be.

I seriously recommend this trilogy, if you don't mind a bit of BDSM sex woven into the plot (you can skip it, after all). ( )

9/2010: Same as it ever was. I sink into this book and luxuriate.

2008: Re-read. Still dig it.

The second book in the trilogy. Lush, rich, sensual, escapist. Layers of details, plots within plots. Perfect for taking one's mind away from one's worries. ( )

I liked this one a little better than the first, Kushiel's Dart. The story of Phedre, a masochist trained as a spy, continues as she once again tries to save the throne of her country.

There were still a few S&M scenes, but I don't think there were as many and I don't think they were quite as detailed as they were in the first book. Still, if you're squeamish about these kinds of things, you should probably stay away from this whole series.

I liked this one better for a couple of reasons. I think the big thing for me was that I didn't have to wade through all the background story of her childhood and her training. The action started pretty quickly. And also, Phedre didn't rely quite so much on the men in her life to do things for her. But........


*******************SPOILER ALERT***************************











I really wish that this whole thing with Melisande was over already. She's a "good" villain, but she's not such a strong character that I'm looking forward to reading one more book about yet another attempt on the throne she's going to make. Why can't they send assassins into her sanctuary and just kill her? Then the third book could be focused on finding Melisande's son and getting Hyacinthe off the island.

I'll definitely read the third book in the trilogy, but I am tired of Melisande. ( )

Summary: Phèdre nó Delaunay helped save her beloved homeland of Terre d'Ange from a barbarian invasion, and now Ysandre de la Courcel is safe on the throne. Phèdre has been adjusting to life as the Comtesse de Montrève, but when a mysterious package arrives from the city of La Serenissima, she knows that her brief respite is at an end. Because the barbarian invasion was defeated, but Melisande, its mastermind, escaped from custody... which means that there is a traitor in the very highest echelons of the government, and Ysandre's throne may not be secure after all. In order to find out, Phèdre must re-enter Namaah's service - something that does not sit well with Joscelin, her loyal yet conflicted guard and sometime lover. But even as Phèdre's decision drives them apart, it will take her deep within the politics not only of Terre d'Ange, but La Serenissima as well.

Review: Oooooh, these books are so good! I didn't love this one *quite* as much as I loved Kushiel's Dart (for reasons I'll get to in a minute), but overall: SO GOOD. These books are big and fat and totally absorbing, drawing me into the story even when I'm scatter-brained and otherwise short of attention. They have a good mix of sexytimes and scheming and action. Phèdre's voice is wonderful and rich and evocative, even more so the more I read. Carey's writing continues to be wonderful, and there are these little sparkling lines or moments or scenes that are simply perfection. The books manage to be epic in scope and yet very immediate in feeling and detail. The characters are absolutely wonderful, completely winning me over and then breaking my heart, again and again. In short, every wonderful thing I said about Kushiel's Dart applies here, just as much.

So why dock it a half-star? Joscelin. Or rather, the lack of Joscelin. I understand the narrative reasons why Phèdre and Joscelin had to spend most of this book apart, but I got surprisingly attached to him by the end of Kushiel's Dart, so it felt like the story was missing that little spark when it was just Phèdre by herself. I also thought the subplot with the Yeshuites (i.e. what Joscelin was doing in the meantime) was not as well developed as it could have been, although I don't know that I would have been completely happy with any explanation.

Even so, I loved the pants off this book, and can't wait to dive into the third one in the series. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: Oh my goodness, yes, highly recommended to people who like epic fantasy. Read this book. Well, read Kushiel's Dart, since they are not at all stand-alone, and then you will be totally hooked like I was, and not need my advice to read this one too. ( )

The sequel to Kushiel's Dart does not disappoint. The first in the series introduced Phedre no Delauney as an anguisette, the red mote in her eye indicating that she's been chosen by Kushiel to follow a path of pain and pleasure. Trained in the skills of a courtesan of the Night Court, she is also trained to be a spy for the master of her marque, Afaniel Delauney.

In this, the court intrigue continues as traitor to the crown, Melisande Shahrizai escapes from prison. Suspecting another traitor within the court of Queen Ysandre de la Courcey of having assisted in the escape, Phedre, now a Countess having inherited Delauney's Montreve title and estate, and her merry band of ex-sailors and her Cassile protector, Joscelin, once again embark on a secret quest to find answers, find Melisande and to save the Queen. Phedre, now experienced in palace intrigue, war strategies, and having suffered the loss of friends and love, finds herself taking on the mantle of a leader, suffering the consequences of certain decisions and understanding not just the weakness of her enemies but also her own.

This book literally kept me up all night. I could not put it down until I had come to the last page despite its rather hefty size. ( )

Disclaimer: Since this is the second book of the series, please don't read this review if you haven't read the first book yet. Unless you really don't care about spoilers, then go right ahead.

Sorry, had to go back to the beginning to see where I can start without significant spoilers. Anyways, the majority of the book is about Phedre chasing after Melisande and trying to stop her devious plots. In addition to that, Phedre and Joscelin have problems that have Phedre mopey. If it sounds like I didn't like the book, that is far from my true feelings. The book may have been a tad slow in the beginning, but midway through the book, it picked right up until the very end.

It was interesting to read about how Phedre adapted to her various surroundings (different countries and such). She dealt with new trials and tribulations. Her growth as a character really shown through in this book, in my opinion.

One thing I do admire in this series is the weaving of religion into the plot. Even though the different countries follow different gods, they are all somehow intricately related, perhaps an allegory to our own world and its religions? It's a possibility, if only a suggestion. Anways, I digress.

If you liked the first book, you will probably like this book as well. I will now be off to twirl my thumbs, awaiting the arrival of the third book of the series. ( )

Appena ho letto sulle anticipazioni dei libri in uscita che la Nord avrebbe pubblicato il seguito de Il dardo e la rosa, stranamente ho incominciato a fare la posta in libreria. Il romanzo precedente mi era sicuramente piaciuto, ma non credevo ad un livello sufficiente a creare un’aspettativa del genere, che invece dev’essersi creata a livello inconscio. Il dardo e la rosa era un bel libro, ma non un capolavoro. Sicuramente lo stile della Carey è impeccabile e da quanto posso dedurne la traduzione è di alto livello. Così eccomi di fronte a La prescelta e l’erede. Seguito che sostanzialmente è superiore al primo romanzo. A distanza di un anno i dettagli della lettura si erano annebbiati e mi ricordavo vagamente l’intreccio. Incominciando questo romanzo è tutto riaffiorato alla mente in maniera prepotente, dimostrandomi che i personaggi, le situazioni e il mondo alternativo della Carey non erano così deboli come potevo aver creduto. La prescelta e l’erede gode di un equilibrio che il suo predecessore non possedeva: l’elemento erotico, prima preponderante nella prima parte, ora trova la sua giusta dimensioni nella trama di intrigo che la Carey tesse, destraggiandosi tra casati di ascedenza angelica e nazioni che ricalcano il nostro Settecento. Questa volta Terre D’Ange mi ha convinto decisamente di più e così pure l’elemento mitologico alla base dell’ambientazione. I personaggi invece non deludono le aspettative, presentandosi sempre in modo tridimensionale e verosimile. Inoltre come ho già detto la penna della Carey è di un’eleganza che sa di altri tempi, pur essendo perfettamente moderna.
La scorrevolezza di un romanzo così voluminoso è sorprendente: l’intreccio è così ben costruito e avvicente da tenere letteralmente incollati alla pagina.
Tenendo conto che La prescelta e l’erede è un romanzo rivolto comunque a un pubblico adulto, fa veramente piacere vedere che un fantasy finalmente prenda una strada originale e alternativa confermando le premesse del primo volume. ( )

Appena ho letto sulle anticipazioni dei libri in uscita che la Nord avrebbe pubblicato il seguito de Il dardo e la rosa, stranamente ho incominciato a fare la posta in libreria. Il romanzo precedente mi era sicuramente piaciuto, ma non credevo ad un livello sufficiente a creare un’aspettativa del genere, che invece dev’essersi creata a livello inconscio. Il dardo e la rosa era un bel libro, ma non un capolavoro. Sicuramente lo stile della Carey è impeccabile e da quanto posso dedurne la traduzione è di alto livello. Così eccomi di fronte a La prescelta e l’erede. Seguito che sostanzialmente è superiore al primo romanzo. A distanza di un anno i dettagli della lettura si erano annebbiati e mi ricordavo vagamente l’intreccio. Incominciando questo romanzo è tutto riaffiorato alla mente in maniera prepotente, dimostrandomi che i personaggi, le situazioni e il mondo alternativo della Carey non erano così deboli come potevo aver creduto. La prescelta e l’erede gode di un equilibrio che il suo predecessore non possedeva: l’elemento erotico, prima preponderante nella prima parte, ora trova la sua giusta dimensioni nella trama di intrigo che la Carey tesse, destraggiandosi tra casati di ascedenza angelica e nazioni che ricalcano il nostro Settecento. Questa volta Terre D’Ange mi ha convinto decisamente di più e così pure l’elemento mitologico alla base dell’ambientazione. I personaggi invece non deludono le aspettative, presentandosi sempre in modo tridimensionale e verosimile. Inoltre come ho già detto la penna della Carey è di un’eleganza che sa di altri tempi, pur essendo perfettamente moderna.
La scorrevolezza di un romanzo così voluminoso è sorprendente: l’intreccio è così ben costruito e avvicente da tenere letteralmente incollati alla pagina.
Tenendo conto che La prescelta e l’erede è un romanzo rivolto comunque a un pubblico adulto, fa veramente piacere vedere che un fantasy finalmente prenda una strada originale e alternativa confermando le premesse del primo volume. ( )

This sequel was just as good as the first novel, if not better. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was so good that once finished, I immediately purchased the third novel in the series. ( )

sentimental, overblown, brilliantly mangled history, chock full with prose that dares you to call it anything but lush, and an absolutely adorable read.

I was not sure how well Carey would pull off the follow up to her wildly inventive debut, "Kushiel's Dart." As I got a few chapters into the book, I found myself breathing a deep sigh of relief, because Phèdre's personality and wit were intact, and so was Carey's lush prose. The only challenge that remained was for the plot to equal or surpass the first book in urgency and intrigue. In a roundabout way, I'd say that it does match up to its predecessor, but takes a slightly different tone in doing so.
I think that the most intelligent thing Carey did was to take the action beyond the borders of Terre d'Ange. The first book did take Phèdre to her country's nearest neighbors, but in "Kushiel's Chosen," she finds she must travel even further to continue her game of wits with the escaped traitor of the first book. This is also a great strength of Phèdre's character arc; Carey is relentless in her exploration of the thin line between love and hate, and Melisande is the perfect vehicle. Through her we see the depths of Phèdre's capacity for love, as well as for strength of character and determination.
"Kushiel's Chosen" takes the characters to whom we've grown quite attached, and throws them into something of a swashbuckler of a tale. Considering the act it had to follow, I think this was the best possible choice of narrative. All in all, it's a worthy sequel to "Kushiel's Dart." ( )

In the second book of the Kushiel's Legacy series, Phedre and her Cassiline, Joscelin, journey to La Serenissima in search of Melisande. But, as always, there is more to the game than anyone suspects at first. Phedre must learn to navigate her way through a whole new politcal climate and use all her wits to try and decipher the clues she has which lead her on a not so merry journey across the seas, where she encounters pirates, gods, and ancient rituals. She is forced to look at herself in a new light time and time again, and make sacrifices she never thought she would have needed.

I was happy to see so many of my favorite characters back for a second book. The change of scenery and introduction of the La Serenissiman characters was the perfect addition to her already fantastic mix. The people and the setting meshed in a way that improved the flow of the story. Throwing in the action, which never seems to stop for Phedre, you have the perfect combination for an amazing book.

5/5 ( )

Kushiel's Dart is the first book in this series, and if you haven't you really should read that first. There is a lot of adult material in these books--of a kind frankly I'd ordinarily find off-putting. The heroine is an anguissette--a masochist for whom pain is not just an integral part of her sexuality but her profession--she's a prostitute. Despite that, I loved these first three books centered around Phedre among my favorite books in the fantasy genre, and this middle book in my opinion doesn't fall off from the first.

In this book we travel to an land reminiscent of Venice and the political intrigues is deftly done--it helps that this book features Melisande, a terrific and complex villain.

This novel is a fast-paced read and Phedre's voice is so engaging and Carey's writing often so evocative and sensuous I just fell into the book and it didn't let go onto the end. The concluding book after this, Kushiel's Avatar, in my opinion is even stronger. ( )

I can never seem to stop with re-reading just the first book in this trilogy. :) Phedre is challenged by Melisande to reenter the service of Namaah in order to thwart yet another plot. She ends up in this world's version of Venice, afloat amidst plots and counter plots, trying to resist falling prey to Melisande yet again. ( )

A truly great series. It's got everything: court intrigue, sex, fantasy.... ( )

Perhaps this is 2nd book syndrome or some such, and groundwork needed to be laid to address the incompleted arcs (Hyacinthe), to be found in Avatar.

Might be that I sound harsh. I'm still quite a fan of Carey. I'm disappointed, yes, but I tore through the last 300 pgs in a day. Carey is still a goddess of prose, of world building, and of lush, relevant, provocative intrigue - even her sub-par efforts are still exceptional compared to most others.

If you're a fan of the first tale, the mild disappointment won't outweigh the gains achieved for the heroine, her status and the further development of world events and political machinations. It'll be very easy to burn through this and keep going on to the next.

http://wolfandrain.blogspot.com/2010/08/review-kushiels-chosen-by-jacqueline.htm... ( )

Book Description: Tor Books, 2003. A Format Paperback. New.

A villain from the first novel throws a gauntlet at Phedre's feet, a message that our heroine interprets as a challenge, both to her skills and to the safety of her queen. The ensuing story pushes the boundaries of Carey's world, taking us out of Terre D'Ange and into La Serenissima, a reflection of medieval Venice.

In glancing at the professional reviews on Amazon, I see that they found this an inferior work to the first - I disagree. I think Carey grows stronger here, her world richer and more interesting, and her characters deeper.

I also think that Carey's ability to write political intrigue saw a marked improvement in this novel. While it helped that I already knew the important names of Terre D'Ange, she still had an entire country's worth of important figures to dump, and not once did I feel boggled or baffled. The mysteries and secrets flowed much more naturally here, and as a result, Phedre also felt much more competent.

What I really adored about this novel, though, was the thick tension between characters, and the way difficult circumstances forced them to grow, both in each other and as individuals. Their struggles felt very real and very intense.

I also adore the way Carey keeps adding to her world brick by brick. The reflection of cultures we know - Roman and Greek gods have counterparts in this world, as do Nordic and Gaelic deities - makes it fairly easy to follow, but doesn't grow dull, primarily because Carey isn't afraid to let her characters truly and completely /live/ in a world shaped by these individuals, and she isn't afraid to tackle questions of religion, of devotion, honor, blasphemy. Because of this, the cultures we encounter and the gods they worship remain, always, something more than window dressing.

Which is probably what appeals to me most about these books - they feel so vibrant and alive, in place, in character, in rich emotion. It's hard not to want to live there. ( )

This novel picks up directly where the first left off. Phedre and Joscelin each seem to reach a peace with who and what they are in the end of the book. Phedre has all new adventures as she searches for the traitor Melissande-who has not stopped playing her yet. ( )

Once again Ms. Carey immerses us in the world or Terra D'Ange - and gives us more of it. Our lovely Phedre gets pulled back into the fate of the realm after she gets her beloved cloack in a package, and from the onely person who would have it - Melisandre. so the traitor is still somewhere, and puts Phedre on notice that she is up to something. Phedre sets out to find out what, with old friends and new, gets proposed to, locked up in jail, sees close friends killed, captured by pirates, promises to clean a Goddess's temple, and much more. The reader cannot helped but be pulled in quickly, in this well paced tale, with incredible detail. ( )

A sequel to Kushiel's Dart, wherein Phèdre attempts to find out what happened to the beautiful traitress Melisande Shahrizai. The search brings her to the republic of La Serenissima, to the terrible prison island of La Dolorosa, to the archipelagoes of Illyria, and to the brink of madness and death...

The book starts off well, but a little more than 200 pages in I got stuck for over a month. For nearly a hundred pages, the only thing that really happened was a lot of scheming in Serenissiman politics, a young Serenissiman (one-quarter D'Angeline) nobleman unsuccessfully wooing Phèdre, and Phèdre and Joscelin quarrelling, which bored me stiff in the long run and almost killed my desire to finish the bloody thing.

Once I got through that part, the pace picked up again, and it took me only a few days to finish the rest. Overall, I'm not too displeased, but those 100-ish pages were almost too much by being too little, as it were. ( )

The Queen of Terre D'Ange, Ysandre de la Courcel, once again is in need of the services of the lands most herioc courtesan, Phedre no Delauney de Montreve. This time Phedre and Joscelin must travel to La Serenissima, where the game of political intrigue, while played with less finesse than in Terre D'Ange, is still played with ferocity. There Phedre must flush out the latest conspiracy against her queen, while ensuring that her own life remains in the balance. ( )

The second installment in the Kushiel's Legacy series continues the high quality and gripping qualities of the first. The world gets a bit larger here, and Carey adds several new cutures to her fascinating alternate history. The intricacy and detail is astounding -- you really get the sense that the world could have turned out this way, given the alterations to history she makes several centuries before the story's timeline. Added to that is Phedre's increasing awareness of her role in the universe and no end of romantic entanglements. A truly brilliant novel.

(And Ysandre's climactic scene -- but that would be telling! -- is still my favourite part of the entire series). ( )

Kushiel's Chosen has all of the attractive elements found in Kushiel's Dart, wonderful storytelling, attractive settings, complex politics, and fascinating characters and lots of adventures. While it maintains a slower pace than 'Kushiel's Dart', in the end it does not disappoint, in spite of the perhaps too frequent episodes of digging up past thoughts and deeds. The teasing familiarity of the "real world" past is nicely mixed with the fantasy element. The plot twists, and reality spins. It is not easy to deliver successful story telling in the first person, but Carey makes it look like a breeze.
Phedre ne Delauney, the courtesan/masochist/spy heroine of the superb "Kushiel's Dart" is back. This time, Carey treats us to her version of Italy, Greece and Crete, complete with her signature and lavish attention to detail. The descriptions are detailed and allow the reader to really see the characters, their homelands, and their cultures. Phedre finds herself enmeshed in a plot in La Serenissima (Venice), hatched by her old enemy Melisande de la Courcel, which threatens both the local leadership and her own homeland. To defeat, it she will have to survive being captured by pirates, thrown in prison, and even the desertion of her beloved Joscelin.
Phedre has learned a lot from her previous adventures and has matured quite a bit but I found myself wishing that she and Joscelin would just throw away their differences and make up. The story thread around Kazan and the pirates was well written; and Phedre’s Boys were fabulous. I know part of the attraction of this tale is the realism – in that not everything has a happy ending. Nonetheless, I was devastated at the demise of Fortun and Remy. Ysandre becomes a more rounded person throughout this tale, and she will bear watching. I struggle a little to understand Phedre’s relationship with Melisande, but I am prepared to simply accept it. I wanted to know more about Hyacinth’s fate, but I have a feeling that this is what the final novel in the trilogy will be about.
Jacqueline Carey is an original and excellent writer. Her stories are compelling and her characters are engaging and she has a great talent for portraying the world of politics, cultures, and intrigue.
I put down this book and immediately picked up the final instalment in the trilogy. ( )