Kushiel's Chosen

By: Jacqueline Carey

Narrated by: Anne Flosnik

Length: 27 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

The land of Terre d'Ange is a place of unsurpassed beauty and grace. The inhabiting race rose from the seed of angels and men, and they live by one simple rule: Love as thou wilt. Phèdre nó Delaunay was sold into indentured servitude as a child. Her bond was purchased by a nobleman, the first to recognize that she is one pricked by Kushiel's Dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one. He trained Phèdre in the courtly arts and the talents of the bedchamber---and, above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze.

When she stumbled upon a plot that threatened the very foundations of her homeland, she gave up almost everything she held dear to save it. She survived, and lived to have others tell her story, and if they embellished the tale with fabric of mythical splendor, they weren't far off the mark. The hands of the gods weigh heavily upon Phèdre's brow, and they are not finished with her. While the young queen who sits upon the throne is well loved by the people, there are those who believe another should wear the crown...and those who escaped the wrath of the mighty are not yet done with their schemes for power and revenge.

©2008 Jacqueline Carey (P)2009 Tantor

Critic reviews

"There is seemingly something for everyone here: a great love story, intense spirituality, high eroticism, and lots of adventure, intrigue, and swordplay." ( Booklist Starred Review)
"Reminiscent of the best efforts of Tanith Lee and Anne Rice.... Highly recommended." ( Library Journal)

I'm in love with this series!

The writing and voice acting are well paired and phenomenal. I'm hooked and can't wait to devour the next one!

Kushiel's Chosen is a delightfully impressive tale

When u first read Kushiel's dart I was enamored with the verbose lexicon, the entertaining twist on religious history, and the fact it was embroiled in political intrigue. This story kept that strength and added to the world. it was beautiful.

Keeps Getting Better

I have read/listened to this series 5 times now
and I love it more with each reading.

great story. Long!

The narrator does a wonderful job. This is a very long book with lots of characters that sometimes are hard to keep straight however overall it's a great story and I very much enjoyed it.

part 2 of a complex and beautiful saga

I loved this book as much as its predecessor, Kushiel's Dart. I have read all the books of this series, but the brilliant narration of Anne Flosnik breathes new life into the much beloved characters. The story has many twists and turns, but the heroine, Phedre no Delauney de Montreve, has no end of loyalty, cleverness, courage, resourcefulness and the help of the gods on her side.

I love this book!

I have read this book several times over the years, it was a joy to hear it... even if just to know how to pronounce some words and names :)

great series

I didn't care for the accent or lack there of. but it's one of my favorite series so i did enjoy listening while i work.

It just gets better

The story is AMAZING and the reader brings the entire story to life. Her voice, and the MANY voices she brings to life, draws you in and never lets go.

Entertaining story w/action, adventure, and love.

Better than the first. Without needing to spend time on lengthy character introductions and historical explanations, the adventure and excitement came quickly (no pun intended). The mostly unpredictable storyline unraveled at a good pace, with new personalities and themes woven throughout. Overall, an entertaining story with an excellent balance of action, adventure, and love.

Anne Flosnik is amazing.

Ph??dre and Joscelin, heroes of the realm, are living happily in Montr??ve until Ph??dre receives a package from the traitor Melisande. Obsessed with this clue to Melisande???s whereabouts, and pricked by Kushiel???s Dart, Ph??dre decides to return to her role as kinky courtesan and spy. As expected, this decision hurts Joscelin deeply and his reaction ??? to protect and serve, but to back off emotionally ??? sets the tone for the rest of the novel.

As Ph??dre hunts for Melisande, we get to explore more of Jacqueline Carey???s alternate Europe, including her versions of Venice and Crete. We also spend time aboard a pirate ship and in the pirates??? island hide-out. My favorite geographical feature, though, is the island prison of La Dolorosa, where the most intense and exciting scenes in Kushiel???s Chosen occur.

As for the plot, the political intrigue is pleasantly complex with a couple of unexpected twists, though it???s a stretch for me to believe that Ph??dre solves the mysteries so easily, and some of the clues she???s given are just silly (e.g., the clue from Serena Buonard). It???s also hard for me to understand Ph??dre???s continuing love for the nasty and traitorous Melisande.

The best part of Kushiel???s Chosen is the developing characterization, especially of Joscelin. His predicament ??? his love for Ph??dre despite his hate for what she does ??? is compelling. I ached for him and found myself almost hoping he???d accept the redemption he knew he could have if he abandoned her and followed Yeshua (Carey???s version of Jesus Christ). He deserves something better, but this story is Ph??dre???s and I knew that if Joscelin left her, he???d be out of the story and, since he???s the reason I read the Kushiel books, that just won???t do. Fortunately, Ph??dre realizes that she???s about to lose Joscelin and her horrified realization that his pain gives her pleasure leads to her own maturation as she begins to deal with the sin and guilt caused by the nature she can???t repress. For me, this aspect of the Kushiel series is what makes it a painful, but beautiful, story of love and forgiveness. It reminds me of the allegorical story of Hosea and Gomer in the Old Testament.

I highly recommend Tantor???s version of Kushiel???s Chosen. It???s read by the incomparable Anne Flosnik. She???s amazing.