Kushiel's Dart

By: Jacqueline Carey

Narrated by: Anne Flosnik

Length: 31 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

The land of Terre d'Ange is a place of unsurpassing beauty and grace. It is said that angels found the land and saw it was good...and the ensuing race that rose from the seed of angels and men live by one simple rule: Love as thou wilt.

Phèdre nó Delaunay is a young woman who was born with a scarlet mote in her left eye. Sold into indentured servitude as a child, her bond is purchased by Anafiel Delaunay, a nobleman with very a special mission...and the first one to recognize who and what she is: one pricked by Kushiel's Dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one. Phèdre is trained equally in the courtly arts and the talents of the bedchamber but, above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Almost as talented a spy as she is courtesan, Phèdre stumbles upon a plot that threatens the very foundations of her homeland. Treachery sets her on her path; love and honor goad her further. And in the doing, it will take her to the edge of despair...and beyond.

Hateful friend, loving enemy, beloved assassin; they can all wear the same glittering mask in this world, and Phèdre will get but one chance to save all that she holds dear.Set in a world of cunning poets, deadly courtiers, heroic traitors, and a truly Machiavellian villainess, this is a novel of grandeur, luxuriance, sacrifice, betrayal, and deeply laid conspiracies. Not since Dune has there been an epic on the scale of Kushiel's Dart - a massive tale about the violent death of an old age and the birth of a new.

©2008 Jacqueline Carey (P)2009 Tantor

Critic reviews

"This brilliant and daring debut catapults Carey immediately into the top rank of fantasy novelists." ( Publishers Weekly)
"A very sophisticated fantasy, intricately plotted and a fascinating audiobook." (Robert Jordan, author of the Wheel of Time series)

A fascinating literary experience

As a first book in a series, it’s rather long! Not a bad thing, as the story is quite interesting. As a fan of high/epic fantasy, this goes into a new direction for me as a reader.

First person and more intrigue rather than third person limited and sword and sorcery. It was well worth the time invested in its listening/reading. An adult fantasy, placed in a world not unlike our own. Steeped in a religion based on Christianity with a strong twist, the world is wrapped in nobles with French sounding names and a protagonist born to extreme proclivities.

Well written and quite compelling, the most interesting thing at the end of it all is how do you make this better?

Ms. Carey has my attention.

Worth it

If you’re looking to spend some time with an interesting cast, in a great settling stop here. The narrator is perfect and while the start is a lot of background all I can say is worth it. This series all three arcs are near if not on top of my fall back comfort reads. Have read and listened to all the books multiple times and will likely do so many more.

Not the best narrator but the book is great

Really excellent telling of political intrigue wrapped around and through stories of romance and a world that's almost ours.

wonderful listen

wonderful listen to a book I have read many times. Narrator is very easy to listen to.

Forever a favorite to listen to again and again

Love this series. The author creates a beautiful world and narrator does an excellent job also.

Absolutely AMAZING!!!!!

Firstly, the narrator is the best performer I've EVER heard. She brought this story to life in such a vivid way, I've never been so emotional over a fictional book before. This story was rich, the world felt real, the characters incredible, the language intricate and beautiful. Can't even say enough about this book, or its performer, and I'm off RIGHT NOW to buy the rest of the series!!!! Wow, just WOW.

Exceptional

This has and will always be one of my favorite books. I can't say how many times I have read it both in print and now on Audible.com. It has everything intrigue, danger, heroics, romance, battles with plenty of blood and gore and just a hint of historical meaning to make you think "may be"

epic and beautiful

This story has all of my favorite elements. Magic, destiny, love, war, journey and kink.

Epic

Thses books are epic tales, and hold your attention so much that you don't want to ever stop. I love them, and have read, and re-read them multiple times. The audio version is wonderful, and allows me to enjoy them and not have to stop living while reading them (because with the book version, I did little else but read till I was done).

Where spirit and sensuality meet

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook and would recommend it. At some points this story lagged and it could have been a little bit more quick and paced. this book is a great example of how a main character can be both very sensual and very spiritual at the same time. I will be listening to the second book in this series.