Kushiel's Justice

I have read all the books preceding to this one. Carey is a detailed author so if at this point you haven't found that out or this is your first - beware. The story does not reveal itself in an hour and end in the next.
Carey weaves intricate lines of lineage, history, and associations to create another masterpiece.
The sensuality, the adventure, and dedication was wonderful. I felt like the listener literally grew up a little more with each of Imriel's years and experiences. I did also enjoy Simon Vance - just wait till Kushiel's Mercy to see his talent bloom even more.

Justice is a good book, but there is very little of some of the characters I loved from the last book. There are some new, good characters though. This is not the best written book I've ever read and it drags a bit at times. Plus, the lead can be so whiney. Yes, you're a tragicly tortured boy... we get it. Despite this, there are some excellent scenes and the love story makes you root for the romance. All in all, worth the read if you've got nothing better to do.

The narration of this story was wonderful, I love Simon Vance! But, even under his excellent narration, the story line was weak and inconsistent, sounding more like a shallow romance novel and much less like the intricate adventure stories that preceded it. This book was not nearly as interesting as the previous books, and in some parts was painfully predictable, cliche, and sappy. Phedre and Joscelin are barely a part of this story, with Phedre coming off more like Mary Poppins and Joscelin spouting an inane comment here and there in her wake. She has none of her whit or cunning and poor Joscelin has practically been neutered he's so bland and unimposing. And what happened to Hyacinthe! Why bring him into the story at all if you're not going to develop his character somewhat? It's just way more irritating than interesting, and it certainly doesn't help the story. It would have been better to leave out some of the characters, rather than water them down to a shadow of what they'd been in the previous books. What happened?

I adore this series! I love the characters, the plot, the SEX! And Simon's voice is perfect for this story. Not for people who are faint at heart about love making though.

I enjoyed the continuation of this series but I do wish that the original characters played a stronger part. I wouldn't actually consider it a part of the series, rather a continuation of the fictional world of the first 3 books. But, a great listen none the less.

Imriel was raised a goatherd, stolen away into horrific slavery and rescued by two of his realm's greatest heroes. Both his parents were traitors, and a desire to mete out suffering is his heritage from his angelic ancestor, Kushiel. Constantly, he struggles to live up to his adopted parents. He prays to be good. He never wanted to be a prince of the blood, and he wants even less to marry a woman he barely knows for political reasons, especially since he's fallen madly in love with the one woman he can't have.

But for the good of his kingdom, he marries out of duty and goes to live in his wife's country. Once he arrives, he learns that not all the inhabitants welcome their union. A group of mysterious, magically gifted folk seek to drive him out, or failing that, to control him. When they cannot, they take drastic steps to prevent a future that their visions warn of, at a terrible cost to Imriel and themselves.

Seeking vengeance, he finds justice and mercy, and compassion and love.