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)

Epic fantasy with a BDSM twist

If I were judging this book by the first third, the score would have been a 3. The next third increased it to a 4, and the final third pushed it all the way up. This was a long, slow moving audio book. The first two parts of the book lay out a lot of information, and can be heard to get through. The effort is worth it for the overall story and the resolution. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and will likely continue in the series.

Time after Time

This is the 3rd time I've listened to this audiobook. . .I keep coming back to this world of Ms. Carey's creation. I love Game of Thrones, and this series is just as good!!!

Intrigue is not for the faint of heart.

Oh, but the rush of finding out what all was about, is truly worth the journey!

Long and slow, but ultimately worth the wait.

This story is definitely something else. Unexpected and full of intrigue. It starts off very slowly, I mean it will make you contemplate giving up and moving into a new story. But just when you're about to give in, things start to happen. There are so many obscure names tossed about, so many details to keep up with, it's almost like a well thought-out version of the Game of Thrones, but told from the 1st person, so the author can't really kill the protagonist off. As for the sexual stuff, there really isn't much, so if you're in it for that, it would be disappointing. What stuff is in there is just enough to supplement the interesting story that unfolds. Overall, I would recommend this to anyone with enough time and maturity to appreciate it. I might even call it a hidden gem.

Starts Slow but Then Hard to Put Away

Like several of the other reviewers, I found the first quarter of the story a bit slow. In addition, the early (but usually short) episodes of BDSM sex scenes really weren't doing it for me. However, the story soon picks up and becomes an excellent "read."

I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention the *fantastic* narrator. One of my few complaints with most audio books is that having a single narrator often jars me out of the story, particularly when a male narrator tries to do a female voice, or vice-versa. Anne Flosnik has no such trouble. She easily covers multiple characters of every sex believably and flawlessly.

Overall, this book was real treat. I'm looking forward to the second book in the series to see where our heroes end up next.

NOT my usual cup of tea

What did you love best about Kushiel's Dart?

Intricacies of the plot. Kept me listening beyond my comfort zone.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Kushiel's Dart?

The throwing of the necklace/collar.

What does Anne Flosnik bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The passion.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Nope. Needed time to digest.

Any additional comments?

Get it. Will definitely get the "rest of the story(ies)"

Great story spoiled by horrible narration

I've loved this series for years, and it's nice to revisit right now with the whole world is so weird. Still love the book but ye gods the narrator leaves a lot to be desired. Why does Hyacinth speak with a cockney accent? For that matter, why do people from fantasy France speak with English accents at all? Her tone for Phedre is just completely wrong. Great story, but you're better off reading the physical book without the burden of this wretched narrator.

Juicy

I really enjoyed this read. A group I'm in chose this book to read together and I'm happy they did. It started off kind of slow for me the first time through the book but the second time around was easier. I think I was caught up on the different houses and what they stood for. All in all this book has passion, war, love, violence, strategy, mystery. Just a really great read.

I love this series

This is one of my favorite series. I listen to it again and again. I have read and owned all 9 books. And will continue to listen to it whenever I want to hear a well written love/war/intrigue story. This is called a fantasy book, but it has more facets then the world could ever know.

My All-Time Favorite

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I have recommended this audiobook to at least three friends. Possibly more. I have listened to this book somewhere in the realm of 10 times since I made my purchase.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Kushiel's Dart?

Spoiler Alert:

The death of Anafiel and Alcuin. It ripped through me.

Have you listened to any of Anne Flosnik’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the only series where I have listened to Anne Flosnik. I greatly enjoy her narration. I felt that she really lent character to the series and I can no longer read the book without hearing it all in her voice. I think she did really well.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If I could have listened to nearly 26 hours in a single sitting, I would have.

Any additional comments?

Listen to it, love it.