It's been quite some time since I last posted anything to this blog - I'm hoping to get back on track with the coming of the fall season!

Kushiel's Legacy by Jacqueline Carey. This is probably the first book series in quite some time that's thoroughly engrossed me, I'm pleased to report! Kushiel's Legacy - starting with Kushiel's Dart - is a reinterpretation of Renaissance Europe and Christianity. Terre d'Ange, this world's France, the D'Angelines are connoisseurs of all things beautiful and luxurious, and live by a single religious precept - Love as Thou wilt. So it was decreed by Blessed Elua, an Earthly angel born from the blood of Yeshua ben Yosef (aka Jesus Christ), the tears of the Magdalene, and the soil of the Earth. For years this Christ like figure wandered the earth, an outcast from the One God's heaven, spreading his doctrine of love until he gained seven companions, angels who turned their back on the One God in order to attend to Blessed Elua. Now fast forward a few thousand years and the story focuses in on Phedre, a girl who is sold by her parents into the indentured servitude of the Night Court, a place where girls and boys train themselves in the arts of Namaah, one of the Seven Companions who used her body and lay with strangers in order to make sure that Elua was always provided for. Now, the arts of love, sex, and essentially prostitution have become a sacred calling in Terre d'Ange. Always considered imperfect due to the brilliant scarlet mote in her left eye, Phedre is destined to live only as a servant, but is soon brought into the house of Anafiel Delaunay, who recognizes her as one pricked by Kushiel's Dart, destined to experience pain and pleasure as one. Anafiel ensures her tutoring in the arts of Namaah, but also covertcy. As Phedre grows and becomes more proficient as a courtesan, as well as a spy, she finds herself emrboiled in the middle of plots of political intrigue, power, sex and more and Phedre comes to know the special role she'll play in shaping the course of future events, for others as well as herself.

I have to say I've actually known about this book series for years now, but I was reluctant to pick it up because it sounded so..... extreme might be the word I'm looking for. I wasn't looking for some alternative reality laden with themes of S&M, but it was quite remarkably rich. Carey has a natural gift as a writer and an excellent mastery over the English language, so it was a particularly good treat because although it is a plot driven story it definitely exceeded my expectations in terms of the writing. The characters, though, are what make this series the absolute best! I LOVE Phedre, and the author does an excellent job of making sure she is not a one-dimensional character. Another thing I loved was that Carey was willing to take certain risks to ensure the integrity of her story (i.e. like killing off well loved characters...) and it works beautifully (although I am momentarily depressed). It's a hefty first book, some 900 pages, so you'll have your hands full with this one! My recommendation is DEFINTELY READ THIS SERIES! You won't regret it!

***** 5 Stars!

Series Includes:
1. Kushiel's Dart
2. Kushiel's Chosen
3. Kushiel's Avatar

and a second trilogy around another character is as follows
4. Kushiel's Scion
5. Kuhsiel's Justice
6. Kushiel's Mercy

I'm actually reading Kushiel's Scion right now, so if you liked the first three I imagine you'll be doing the same.