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ojoy's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence and Violence
Minor: Rape and Torture
evgeorge's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
storyorc's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Despite being an alternate Earth setting, Kushiel's Dart demands you set aside your idea of morals and norms more than many a fantasy novel bursting with magic and fanciful landscapes. D'Angeline culture systematically grooms children for careers in sex work, auctions off virginities at fancy parties, and sees nothing wrong in otherwise very likeable people sleeping with those whom they have a huge amount of power over. It also doesn't blink at queerness and is built around the radical commandment to "love as thou wilt". These positives and negatives are explored at a character level too: Phèdre is enthusiastic about her job as a prostitute/spy but is clear with her beloved master that he is not her friend, and is very aware that even though he invites her to decline clients, she is not truly free to choose.
Although there are only a couple instances of literal magic in the story, it is best to view the D'Angeline beauty and sex as magic. They are literally descended from angels. Characters of other cultures often respond to them as if bewitched and the D'Angeline bend wills and learn secrets through seduction as much as through political maneuvering. This could easily become ridiculous (and there are times when it does verge on it) but, like enchanting faeries in folklore of old, the D'Angeline are bound by their own rules. Phèdre is a victim of her own desires as much as she uses her appeal for influence, and even villains fall prey to their own lusts at times. This also applies to honour. Even D'Angeline traitors and thieves have some sliver of a noble spirit that can be played to, as if they were all beautiful actors in a grand tale. It's an interesting look at the drawbacks of pinning your whole culture on chivalric ideals of beauty, love, and honour.
The book is almost as interested in beauty on a line-level as its characters are and the flowery language for the most part enhances the feeling of being told a romantic tale of heroines and knights. Carey finds a way to breathe life into her descriptions of parties and gowns long after I would have thought I'd grow numb to them. Phèdre is constantly finding beauty in people and things that other narrators would skim past, even in people who abuse her or foreigners her countrymen find ugly. She does so partly by finding something to respect in their personalities but, markedly, will also usually highlight an aspect of their physical features, too so it is not just a cop-out 'they have a beautiful soul' kind of thing. At first, I dismissed Phèdre as overly obsessed with aesthetics but her showing us the beauty in everyone is what makes it so painful to see them do evil, or endure it. I had so much more anguish and heartache and love for the characters of in this book than I expected.
Perhaps more even than the character work and political plot machinations, this book is interested in the intersection of love and pain. One is never far behind the other. The world Carey has crafted demands equally that people love and that they suffer for that love, to the point that Phèdre's identity as the once-in-a-generation anguisette (sexual masochist) takes on the space that would be occupied by a farm-boy Chosen One in any other novel. If that subject matter interests you at all, I can't think of another popular fictional work as invested in the question of whether pain is necessary - even good for - love.
Although there are only a couple instances of literal magic in the story, it is best to view the D'Angeline beauty and sex as magic. They are literally descended from angels. Characters of other cultures often respond to them as if bewitched and the D'Angeline bend wills and learn secrets through seduction as much as through political maneuvering. This could easily become ridiculous (and there are times when it does verge on it) but, like enchanting faeries in folklore of old, the D'Angeline are bound by their own rules. Phèdre is a victim of her own desires as much as she uses her appeal for influence, and even villains fall prey to their own lusts at times. This also applies to honour. Even D'Angeline traitors and thieves have some sliver of a noble spirit that can be played to, as if they were all beautiful actors in a grand tale. It's an interesting look at the drawbacks of pinning your whole culture on chivalric ideals of beauty, love, and honour.
The book is almost as interested in beauty on a line-level as its characters are and the flowery language for the most part enhances the feeling of being told a romantic tale of heroines and knights. Carey finds a way to breathe life into her descriptions of parties and gowns long after I would have thought I'd grow numb to them. Phèdre is constantly finding beauty in people and things that other narrators would skim past, even in people who abuse her or foreigners her countrymen find ugly. She does so partly by finding something to respect in their personalities but, markedly, will also usually highlight an aspect of their physical features, too so it is not just a cop-out 'they have a beautiful soul' kind of thing. At first, I dismissed Phèdre as overly obsessed with aesthetics but her showing us the beauty in everyone is what makes it so painful to see them do evil, or endure it. I had so much more anguish and heartache and love for the characters of in this book than I expected.
Perhaps more even than the character work and political plot machinations, this book is interested in the intersection of love and pain. One is never far behind the other. The world Carey has crafted demands equally that people love and that they suffer for that love, to the point that Phèdre's identity as the once-in-a-generation anguisette (sexual masochist) takes on the space that would be occupied by a farm-boy Chosen One in any other novel. If that subject matter interests you at all, I can't think of another popular fictional work as invested in the question of whether pain is necessary - even good for - love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Torture
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Sexism
Racism: There is a minority culture of travellers within D'Angeline society called the Tsingano whose portrayal is multi-faceted. The main Tsingano character is held in great regard by the main character (I personally found him extremely winning) but he is also a little side-lined compared to white characters. Their culture has a taboo against sleeping with indentured servants that the D'Angelines are sorely lacking but is more hung up on women remaining virginal. Some Tsingano have the very stereotypical gift of prophecy but even D'Angeline characters respect and fear it. Casual racism toward them is common but the narrative does not endorse it. Just keep in mind it was written in 2001 when people were still naming their pets the g-slur.levesc17's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a wildly long tale! It could have been two or three books easily. This was on my radar because Sarah J Maas had mentioned in an interview in 2015. You can definitely see some inspo from this book in Throne Of Glass.
I had read other reviews about not liking how sex was so central to the book. I wish I had known before I started the origins of this complaint. To be ultra clear, the fantasy place this is set in completely de-stigmatizes sex. The origin of the fictional universe is based loosely on Jesus and Mary Magdalene— except that Mary Magdalene’s role as a prostitute is exemplified as the holiest work you can do. So the whole culture worships sex as a holy activity with no stigmas. Sex work is the primary focus of the first third of the book- the main character is birthed by a sex worker and grows up in the trade. Children as young as ten learn about sex in this fictional world.
The second third of the book has the MC sold into slavery by a court rival. The final third of the book has no onscreen sex and is about saving their country from invasion.
I hope this helps you decide to read this book, going in with a better understanding of what the book is about.
I had read other reviews about not liking how sex was so central to the book. I wish I had known before I started the origins of this complaint. To be ultra clear, the fantasy place this is set in completely de-stigmatizes sex. The origin of the fictional universe is based loosely on Jesus and Mary Magdalene— except that Mary Magdalene’s role as a prostitute is exemplified as the holiest work you can do. So the whole culture worships sex as a holy activity with no stigmas. Sex work is the primary focus of the first third of the book- the main character is birthed by a sex worker and grows up in the trade. Children as young as ten learn about sex in this fictional world.
The second third of the book has the MC sold into slavery by a court rival. The final third of the book has no onscreen sex and is about saving their country from invasion.
I hope this helps you decide to read this book, going in with a better understanding of what the book is about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Slavery, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, and War
Minor: Abandonment
This book has a lot of sex, but it’s not as graphic as it could be. Mostly, it has the start of a sex scene and then fades to black. There’s some BDSM content as well, but again just the first minutes or so of a liaison and then fades to the next chapter.rmkg's review against another edition
adventurous
I thought lots of this was really wonderful. First off, I have to say I was impressed with how the sex scenes were necessary to the plot, not just tacked on for fun. Lush descriptions of people, clothes and food, especially in the first part of the book, had me feeling like I was in a fairy tale. And then it gave way to serious adventure, with mythological elements, travel, politics, military strategy, romance—Kushiel’s Dart really has it all. I did think it was a little weird that the world mapped so neatly onto stereotypes of Earth cultures and nations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and War
Consensual BDSM is integral to this story. Many explicit descriptions of sexual acts ranging from oral sex to whipping to knife play.willow1113's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Vomit, Antisemitism, Grief, and Medical trauma
hardbackednooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was a really great read, with the exception of about 20-25% of the book. I blitzed through the first 65%ish, then everything came to a screeching halt for the next 20%. The last portion of the book moved pretty quickly, comparatively, though it also got to be much easier to predict at that point.
With the first-person past tense narrative and occasional breaking of the fourth wall, it was hard to feel any tension about Phedre's fate, but my heart was in my throat any time one of the other characters was threatened or involved in some machination. There are some truly shocking parts of this story and I found my jaw hanging open on more than one occasion.
If you're one for worldbuilding, politicking, and fantasy religions, this might be the perfect fit for you. The layers and maneuvers playing out throughout the world are endless and fascinating; even with all the info now that I'm done, there were still things that surprised me when I was able to piece it all together. Overall, this could've been a 5-star read with more editing towards the middle/later third, but still very deserving of a read. I'll be continuing the series once my hold comes in.
All that being said, this is a very intense book. Definitely NSFW and 18+, and absolutely do not read if you are triggered by pain, abuse, or assault of any kind.
With the first-person past tense narrative and occasional breaking of the fourth wall, it was hard to feel any tension about Phedre's fate, but my heart was in my throat any time one of the other characters was threatened or involved in some machination. There are some truly shocking parts of this story and I found my jaw hanging open on more than one occasion.
If you're one for worldbuilding, politicking, and fantasy religions, this might be the perfect fit for you. The layers and maneuvers playing out throughout the world are endless and fascinating; even with all the info now that I'm done, there were still things that surprised me when I was able to piece it all together. Overall, this could've been a 5-star read with more editing towards the middle/later third, but still very deserving of a read. I'll be continuing the series once my hold comes in.
All that being said, this is a very intense book. Definitely NSFW and 18+, and absolutely do not read if you are triggered by pain, abuse, or assault of any kind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and War
arnoldrm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25
I love this book. Very intense world building, complicated characters, dense plot. I love the setting and the alt-history feel. This book is long, but it used every page. I’ve never read anything like it. It takes a very dark premise and treats it with respect. When I realized what the book was about, I almost gave up on it - the main character is sold into sex work as a child, although she doesn’t actually have sex with patrons until she’s of age in the world’s culture. The tone and style make it so that as a reader I never felt like a voyeur, or complicit in the things the protagonist faces. Phedre is one of my favorite fantasy protagonists of all time. It’s not for everyone but to me it’s a masterpiece.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Torture
alexalily's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Death, Gore, Blood, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
keishbby's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Sexual harassment, and War