In this fourth book of the Kushiel's Legacy series, Carey skips ahead six years and switches her first-person narrator to Phedre's foster-son, Imriel. The switch works; Imri is wonderful mix of contrasts... son of a traitor but raised by his coutry's greatest living heroes, he struggles to find out what it means to be good. ( )

This book doesn't quite work as well as those in the previous trilogy. The reason? I don't think Ms. Carey writes Imriel as well as she wrote Phèdre - I think she's struggling to write adolescent male as the central character, and her desire to make him clearly different to Phèdre has taken him too far away from a place she feels comfortable writing.

Despite those reservations, there's a solid story, there's a fair bit of intriguing and there are some lovely new little bits of the world shown. There is also a nicely done sense of growing up and making friends and some nicely done battle scenes.

It's interesting enough that I will look for the next one to come along. ( )

I read the original trilogy a long time ago and wasn't sure if I'd be able to pick up the series without rereading the older books, but have no fear - Carey catches you up without boring you. I also wasn't sure if I'd like a book focused on Imriel and not Phedre, but, wow was I wrong. This book is great reading. Gripping plot, beautiful setting, fascinating alternate history, and well-thought-out characters. Although it's long, the writing is spare and lovely and never slow. This book deals extremely frankly with alternate sexuality and will be hated by bible thumpers and prudes everywhere. It is not appropriate for younger readers. I think anyone else will find it enchanting. ( )

I only discovered Jacqueline Carey a few months back, as her book 'Kushiel's Dart' appeared on a list of top 50 fantasy reads I came across somewhere. I fell in love with Phedre and Joscelin and the cast of amazing characters; the world Carey created was intricate and believable; and the plots fast paced and addictive. I ordered the next two in the series before I was even a third of the way into the first.

On that basis, I waited until I had all three in this series before starting - because I knew I would not want to wait! And that was a very good plan. The three volumes are all more than 700 pages - and I read the lot in a week. It helped that I spent a fair bit of time in airports and on planes, but I would have read through the night if I had to!

I've now ordered copies of everything else she has written - and will be watching the post box every day.

Now, to my review of the first in this series, 'Kushiel's Scion'.

One of the strengths of the first series was the intelligent voice of Phèdre nó Delaunay, the anguissette marked by Kusheil. Such a strong female voice is unusual and Carey took a big risk by moving the emphasis of the series away from Phedre. But she succeeds admirably. She dramatically and skillfully changes her point of view from the mindset of a mature woman to that of an adolescent boy with an unusual amount of baggage.

Imriel is the son of the treacherous Melisande and third in line for the D'Angeline throne. After his heartbreaking trials as a youngster in the first series, he was adopted by Phèdre and her consort, the brooding Casseline warrior, Joscelin. At the outset of this tale, Imriel is a much less complex character than Phèdre – as a young teenager, he has yet to acquire her life experience. However, this trilogy is about his coming of age.

We meet Imriel again as an adolescent who manages to be heartbreakingly fragile in one moment and ridiculously brave at the next. He's boyish with an innocent yearning to fit in and be ordinary, but at the same time he's moved by dark, violent desires that he doesn’t understand. He possesses a keen intelligence that can sense and manipulate the flaws in others but is haunted by the shadow of his traitorous parents and his time as a slave Darsanga. He wants more than anything to be a good person, but fears his heritage and his history mean he is fated to be something else. The poor kid basically couldn't be boring if he tried.

He is a strong protagonist, and a fitting heir to Phèdre’s legacy. However, fans of Phèdre can rest easy, as she is a strong presence in the book, if not the lead character. There are many familiar characters in the book, and several wonderful new faces. We also get a look at more of the world beyond Terre d'Ange and the equivalent of our Rome, Tiberium, as Imriel seeks out answers to questions of the past. Phèdre has taught him the art of Covertcy, as her mentor Anafiel Delaunay had done for herself, but who and where had passed these teachings to Anafiel Delaunay? Imriel will seek answers for this and other questions - and find even more puzzles along the way.

The plot and subplots are unique and stunning. The excitement just doesn't stop. Carey effortlessly combines swashbuckling adventure, romance, eroticism, political intrigue and world building. Her imaginative use of historic detail, diverse cultures, the creation of many varied characters and their development, make this series so special. There are enough complexities in this tale to satisfy the most demanding and discerning reader. ( )

Beginning of a new trilogy in the world of Terre D'Ange. Do yourself a favour & start with Kushiel's Dart, an intricately woven world with a heroine you'll fall in love with. Still can't believe this was a debut novel!