On glasses and a book review: Kushiel's Chosen
I just want to say…that I went into the optical store to find out whether or not they carry my insurance plan (no more)…
And walked out having bought glasses and contacts. CRAP why does being myopic have to be so EXPENSIVE?!?
Sigh. Merry Christmas to me. And at this rate, only me.
Kushiel’s Chosen by Jacqueline Carey
Spoilers for the first book in the trilogy, Kushiel’s Dart.
Phedre no Delaunay has achieved what no other courtesan of the Night Court has ever accomplished: saving the nation of Terre D’Ange from the invading forces of the savage Skaldi to the east, as well as from the grasping ambition of its most dangerous traitor, Melisande Shahrizai. After a brief period of rest, she thought her work was done and she could retire in newfound comfort with her unlikely partner, Joscelin Verreuil-but then her cloak was returned was to her, a gift that Melisande herself gave to her. Convinced that it's a sign that Melisande is plotting once more to take the throne, Phedre and her companions embark on a journey to La Serenessima to hunt down Terre D’Ange’s most wanted traitor, and the journey will test everything and everyone she holds dear.
To be honest, it’s tough at first to get into Carey’s thick, intricately-detailed novels, whether it’s the first one you’re reading or the third. In the first hundred or so pages, characters, places, and events swirl around in a fog, and even the archaic accent of the language-with clunky phrases like betimes and bespoke and what not-seem a further impediment to truly being able to immerse yourself in the story. But it’s a testament to Carey’s fantastic world-building, adept characterization, and steady plotting that once you begin to map out who’s on what side, you are hooked.
Every step of Phedre’s journey was engaging, eye-opening, and even at times surprising. Carey covers a wide swath in her alternate medieval world-from southern France to Venice to the Greek isle of Crete-and every niche of her world that she carved out was unique and fascinating in its own right. For simplicity’s sake, I used obviously the modern day equivalents for the places Phedre journeys to, but don’t let that fool you into thinking that Carey adheres strictly to Venetian history, or Cretan mythology, etc. She is a master at creating a mythology and culture all her own yet still strongly influenced by that place’s real history. For instance, the citizens of La Serenissima worship a powerful sea goddess known as Asherat, yet are also the cunning gatekeepers of trade from all points east. Phedre’s journey through these new lands is truly Odyssean in scale. The only aspects that threaten to bog down the story are the clunky medieval phrases, and certain “traveling from point A to B” chapters that could’ve used more editing.
I also have to admire how deftly Carey handles the erotic aspects of her story, which could’ve turned the story very pointless very quickly. As the only living anguisette, Phedre finds utmost pleasure in plain, an aspect which lends itself to frankly kinky scenarios that were personally not to my taste, much less to the average person’s. But I kept reading because Phedre is strong enough and wise enough to reaffirm the difference between love and sex, and moreover, to use her courtesan skills to be a spymaster. Such scenes don’t become gratuitous, but propel the intrigue forward or develop the characters. And when it comes to Phedre’s partner, Joscelin is a worthy foil: trained as a Cassiline brother, he was supposed to be dedicated to a celibate life-before he was assigned to protect her, of course. The obstacles and self-doubt they have to overcome to be with one another was a journey that I personally relished reading.
I’m sad that I have one book left in the series, so I’m going to take a break before plunging into that last tome. In the male-dominated world of epic fantasy, where George RR Martin and Joe Abercrombie types set the standard, it’s refreshing to have a heroine use her wits and sexuality to get down and dirty (err…literally).
And walked out having bought glasses and contacts. CRAP why does being myopic have to be so EXPENSIVE?!?
Sigh. Merry Christmas to me. And at this rate, only me.
Kushiel’s Chosen by Jacqueline Carey
Spoilers for the first book in the trilogy, Kushiel’s Dart.
Phedre no Delaunay has achieved what no other courtesan of the Night Court has ever accomplished: saving the nation of Terre D’Ange from the invading forces of the savage Skaldi to the east, as well as from the grasping ambition of its most dangerous traitor, Melisande Shahrizai. After a brief period of rest, she thought her work was done and she could retire in newfound comfort with her unlikely partner, Joscelin Verreuil-but then her cloak was returned was to her, a gift that Melisande herself gave to her. Convinced that it's a sign that Melisande is plotting once more to take the throne, Phedre and her companions embark on a journey to La Serenessima to hunt down Terre D’Ange’s most wanted traitor, and the journey will test everything and everyone she holds dear.
To be honest, it’s tough at first to get into Carey’s thick, intricately-detailed novels, whether it’s the first one you’re reading or the third. In the first hundred or so pages, characters, places, and events swirl around in a fog, and even the archaic accent of the language-with clunky phrases like betimes and bespoke and what not-seem a further impediment to truly being able to immerse yourself in the story. But it’s a testament to Carey’s fantastic world-building, adept characterization, and steady plotting that once you begin to map out who’s on what side, you are hooked.
Every step of Phedre’s journey was engaging, eye-opening, and even at times surprising. Carey covers a wide swath in her alternate medieval world-from southern France to Venice to the Greek isle of Crete-and every niche of her world that she carved out was unique and fascinating in its own right. For simplicity’s sake, I used obviously the modern day equivalents for the places Phedre journeys to, but don’t let that fool you into thinking that Carey adheres strictly to Venetian history, or Cretan mythology, etc. She is a master at creating a mythology and culture all her own yet still strongly influenced by that place’s real history. For instance, the citizens of La Serenissima worship a powerful sea goddess known as Asherat, yet are also the cunning gatekeepers of trade from all points east. Phedre’s journey through these new lands is truly Odyssean in scale. The only aspects that threaten to bog down the story are the clunky medieval phrases, and certain “traveling from point A to B” chapters that could’ve used more editing.
I also have to admire how deftly Carey handles the erotic aspects of her story, which could’ve turned the story very pointless very quickly. As the only living anguisette, Phedre finds utmost pleasure in plain, an aspect which lends itself to frankly kinky scenarios that were personally not to my taste, much less to the average person’s. But I kept reading because Phedre is strong enough and wise enough to reaffirm the difference between love and sex, and moreover, to use her courtesan skills to be a spymaster. Such scenes don’t become gratuitous, but propel the intrigue forward or develop the characters. And when it comes to Phedre’s partner, Joscelin is a worthy foil: trained as a Cassiline brother, he was supposed to be dedicated to a celibate life-before he was assigned to protect her, of course. The obstacles and self-doubt they have to overcome to be with one another was a journey that I personally relished reading.
I’m sad that I have one book left in the series, so I’m going to take a break before plunging into that last tome. In the male-dominated world of epic fantasy, where George RR Martin and Joe Abercrombie types set the standard, it’s refreshing to have a heroine use her wits and sexuality to get down and dirty (err…literally).