Kushiel's Scion

Summary: Imriel de la Courcel has been through much darkness in his young life. Born the son of Melisande Shahrizai, Terre d'Ange's most hated traitor; raised as a temple orphan; kidnapped and sold into the darkest and most degrading slavery imaginable; then finally rescued by Phèdre and Joscelin, two of Terre D'Ange's fiercest and most-loved champions. Imriel has been formally recognized as a Prince of the Blood by Queen Ysandre, third in line for the throne after her own daughters. But he is not trusted, and except for Phèdre and her household, he is surrounded both by people who would prefer to see him dead because of his mother's tainted bloodline, and by those who would use him as the center of their plots to restore the throne show more to one of pure D'Angeline blood. But apart from these external machinations, Imriel must struggle with his own internal conflicts. Torn by dark desires and haunted by the horrible events of his past, he must find out for himself who he is, and how he can accomplish his greatest aim: to overcome the darkness within himself, and to be good.

Review: I have been struggling to write this review, rather than just pouring out a page's worth of "Aaaaaaaah ohmygods you guys this book is so good and Carey is amazing and aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh SO GOOD!" So I will try to quiet down the squeeing fangirl in my head long enough to get my thoughts about this book into coherent order, but rest assured, she's definitely still in there.

The three things I love most about Carey's books, and the Kushiel series in particular, are her characters, her writing, and her world. So I'm going to start with that last one, even though it's less important than the other two in terms of my overall enjoyment, because it's what drew me back into this series. I read the first three Kushiel books at about this time last year, but I'd left Kushiel's Scion sitting on the TBR shelf, mostly because my time available for reading has dropped dramatically in 2013, and I was leery of starting another trilogy of chunksters, even though I knew I'd love them. But then August rolled around, and maybe it was the time of year, I don't know, but I found myself craving Terre d'Ange. And so despite my limited reading time, despite the imminent start of a new semester, I dove in, and oh my goodness, it felt like coming home. I love Terre d'Ange, love its love of beauty, and of desire, and of love itself, and I was able to slip back into Carey's world as if I'd never been away. The first half of the book is not particularly action-packed - it's much more of Imriel growing up, and coming to terms with himself and his place in D'Angeline society - but I did not care in the slightest, I was so happy just to be immersed in Carey's world again. In the second half of the book, Imriel goes to Tiberium, and the pace of the plot picks up a bit, and while I certainly enjoyed that part of the story as well, there's just something special about Terre d'Ange.

Imriel going to Tiberium also meant an influx of new characters, as well as the absence of many familiar ones - most particularly, Phèdre and Joscelin. I love Imriel as a narrator - he's fascinated me and broken my heart ever since he first showed up in Kushiel's Avatar - and he's as exquisitely drawn as I've come to expect from Carey's characters. But at the same time, Phèdre and Joscelin will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will admit that the parts of this book that made me the most teary-eyed always involved them, and their love for each other, and for Imriel.

(That said, as much as I love Phèdre, I don't understand why she's on the cover of what is clearly Imriel's book. Were they worried that fans of the first trilogy wouldn't buy a book without her on the cover?)

All of this, of course, my love for the characters and the place and the story and the book as a whole, flows primarily from Carey's gorgeous writing. Her prose is lush and lovely and descriptive and evocative and resonant. It reminds me quite a bit of Guy Gavriel Kay's writing, actually; not that their stylings are necessarily similar (although in some ways they are), but they both have a way of crafting scenes and characters so that something that should be minor becomes rich and emotionally powerful and resonant to where it just catches you right in the gut and takes your breath away.

So, in short: Aaaaaaaaaaaah SO GOOD! 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: Imriel does a good job of summarizing the pertinent events of his past, so I don't think readers that started with this book would be totally lost, per se... but this book is infinitely richer for having read about those events first hand, plus the Phèdre trilogy is so amazing that I can't recommend anyone start anywhere but at the beginning. The series as a whole, though, gets my highest recommendation for anyone who likes complex and mature epic fantasy. show less

When I heard that the new trilogy in the Kushiel's Series by Jacqueline Carey was not going to be from Phedre's view but from her foster son, Imriel's, view I was a bit worried. Would the story be the same without Phedre leading it? I shouldn't have worried this is a very good book.

As soon as I started it I gave a sigh of relief. This book is again beautifully written and does justice to the three previous books that take place in the same world. This book is entirely about Imriel, Phedre's foster son. It is basically a coming of age story and there is a lot of character development. Imriel changes a lot from the beginning of the book to the end. There is a lot of intrigue as in the previous books. Although this book is less about show more ordinary people doing extraordinary things and more about the importance of ordinary people doing ordinary things.

All the above being said this book could have almost been broken down into maybe two books and I think it would have been better. If the book would have ended when Imri set off on his voyage to the University, that would have been perfect. As it stands the last third of the book started to drag on for me. Once they started with the siege, I was bored and hard pressed to even finish the book. This usually isn't a problem for me as I love these books. The end of the book didn't really deal with Imri that much and I thought that most of the siege was unnecessary. I understand that the siege had both some plot development points and was supposed to drive home the fact that you don't have to be *the* hero to be important. Still, I found it boring and laborious to get through.

If it hadn't been for the slow last third of the book I would have given this book 6 stars if I could. But the last part really hurt my opinion of the book. I am still excited to read the next book, but I will need a break before I delve into that book. show less

Ever since reading Jacqueline Carey's first published novel, Kushiel's Dart, I knew that I would be reading anything by her that I could get my hands on. While none of the other books have grabbed me in quite the same way so far, I've thoroughly enjoyed each and every one. Kushiel's Scion is the fourth book of her Kushiel's Legacy series and the first book of the second trilogy. Even though I loved the first three books, it took me a while to start Kushiel's Scion--the books are lengthy and require a significant amount of time devoted to reading them. But, for me anyway, it has been totally worth it, and Kushiel's Scion is no exception.

Imriel nó Montrève de la Courcel only wants to be good. He never wanted to be a prince of Terre show more d'Ange, third in line to the throne. In fact, he was quite content with his life as a goatherd, oblivious to his true identity. But that was before he was kidnapped as a child and sold into soul-shattering slavery. He was rescued and fostered by the heroes of the realm--the Comtesse de Montrève, Phèdre nó Delaunay, and her consort Joscelin Verreuil--but not before being physically and spiritually scarred. His mother, Melisande Shahrizai, is the land's greatest traitor, and there are many at court who would like to see Imriel disgraced or dead. Imriel struggles to accept his heritage and terrible past while trying to avoid the worst of the intrigue, speculations, and underhand dealings at court. Thrust into a life as a member of the royal family, and with all the responsibilities that accompany it, he seeks to leave, hoping to discover and accept himself, both the good and the bad.

Beyond the first trilogy of the Kushiel's Legacy series, I have yet to read any of Carey's other books (though I do plan to), so I wondered how well she would handle a different protagonist. The answer--quite well indeed; Imriel is definitely a different character than Phèdre. Carey's writing is still elegant (and I still love it), but Imriel's perspective is more straightforward and a little less flowery than his adoptive mother's. Carey also did an excellent job of introducing the back-story from the previous three books. Because the past events are seen through Imriel's eyes, it wasn't as repetitive as it could have been for those who read the first trilogy while still allowing newcomers to fully enjoy the story. It is not necessary to have read the previous books, though it adds quite a bit. Unlike most of the books that came before it, Kushiel's Scion isn't quite an epic save-the-kingdom tale but a slightly quieter coming of age story.

I rather liked Imriel as a protagonist, but, like most teenagers, I wanted to smack him upside the head more than once. His personality is much more passive than that of Phèdre's, especially towards the beginning of the book, but by the end he is more at home with himself as a person. The changes he goes through and the maturation of his character are handled very well--it is clear that he is different from when he began. Overall, Kushiel's Scion fits in very nicely with the previous books even if it is a different kind of story. The writing is still beautiful, there's still plenty of intrigue, and the plot and characters continue to be deep and complex (there's a reason that a detailed dramatis personae and map are included). I'm definitely looking forward to spending more time in Carey's world and watching Imriel continue to grow as a young man in Kushiel's Justice.

Experiments in Reading show less

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 show more 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. show less

Kushiel’s Scion is the first book in the second of three Kushiel’s Universe trilogies. This trilogy focuses on Imriel, the son of traitors, third in line for the throne of Terre d’Ange, who wants more than anything to just be a good person and do the right thing. We met him in the previous trilogy when he was ten or eleven and he was a great character. I liked him even more in this book, reading from his own perspective this time.

We spend a lot of time growing up with Imriel in the first part of this book, with a little bit of recapping from the previous trilogy but mostly moving forward past that time. For a few hundred pages maybe, I wasn’t really even quite sure what the plot was since the little bit of dramatic news in the show more opening chapter didn’t really seem to go anywhere. Despite that, I was never bored. I was interested in Imri’s smaller-scale troubles and minor political intrigues while he was growing up, and I was interested in the later parts when the action picked up and reached a larger scale. I was more consistently entertained with his book than I had been with the previous trilogy. I did enjoy those books too, but they had some slow and sloggy parts. I didn’t think this book did.

For those who read my Lightbringer reviews earlier this year, you might remember the Boob Quotient chart. Jacquelin Carey is trying to give Brent Weeks some competition with her Phallus Quotient. She’s not quite there yet, but she’s closing in. Actually, Carey’s books were published first, so I guess she was the body part trendsetter and Weeks was just trying to dethrone her…

Sarcasm aside, I enjoyed this story a lot and I look forward to seeing what happens next. As with the previous books, this one has a mostly-complete story with some plot threads I expect to be carried throughout the trilogy. I’m rating it at 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 on Goodreads. show less

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 read this monster in a day and a half, almost in one straight sitting on a fine Saturday afternoon. It's fairly clear that I liked it, a great deal.

Kushiel's Scion is at its heart a coming-of-age story, and as such, I can see how it may be a less-favorite for some. The focus here shifts starkly from Phedre and Joscelin and settles on their foster son, Imriel.

Imriel's coming of age is not easy, and it's filled with a lot of angst. However, I found it to be a fascinating tale of overcoming your past and the demons and fears that live there. Imriel is a survivor of some pretty intense abuse, something that may sit uncomfortably with some in how frankly it's dealt with, but that's also what I found interesting. Most of this book is about show more Imriel learning who he is and who he can become, and how to integrate the things that happened to him with the person he wants to be.

Unfortunately, there are some side pieces shoved into this more interesting tale, and those side pieces are the center pieces of the remaining novels. His 'romance' with Sidonie is abrupt and appears to be related entirely to hormones. After Phedre and Joscelin, I expected an interesting and nuanced love story. Instead, we mostly get 'we decided we are in love and so we are'.

While it doesn't hurt this book much, it most certainly hurts the next - I never bought the foundations of their love, so it becomes almost impossible to buy it as epic.

Still, I liked Imriel's growing-up and Carey's Terre D'Ange so much that I can't much regret any time spent there. show less