Kushiel's Avatar

By: Jacqueline Carey

Narrated by: Anne Flosnik

The land of Terre d'Ange is a place of unsurpassed 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 woman pricked by Kushiel's Dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one. Her path has been strange and dangerous, and through it all the devoted swordsman Joscelin has been at her side. Her very nature is a torturous thing for them both, but he is sworn to her and he has never violated his vow: to protect and serve.

But Phèdre's plans put Joscelin's pledge to the test, for she has never forgotten her childhood friend Hyacinthe. She has spent ten long years searching for the key to free him from his eternal indenture, a bargain he struck with the gods - to take Phèdre's place as a sacrifice and save a nation. Phèdre cannot forgive - herself or the gods. She is determined to seize one last hope to redeem her friend, even if it means her death.

The search will bring Phèdre and Joscelin across the world, to distant courts where madness reigns and souls are currency, and down a fabled river to a land forgotten by most of the world.And to a power so mighty that none dare speak its name.

©2008 Jacqueline Carey (P)2009 Tantor

So good

This series is still the one of my favorite reads ever. Will some network PLEASE develop it into a tv series?! PLEASE????!!!

I love this series

amazing third book to what could easily just be a trilogy. wonderfully written, beautifully read!

Amazing end to Phedra's story

Not sure if I'll continue the story as I've heard the reader that took over the story isn't very good, and grossly mispronounces names we've heard in the last 3 books.

Keeping true to the roots of the story

Beautiful continuation and resolutions found. What an amazing story I'm so happy with this 3rd installation

Big adventure

A huge adventure for our beloved characters. This book just kept giving. If you're a fan don't miss this one.

beautifully written historical fiction that grabs

what a wonderful mysterious story of a young heroine spy through our Europe Africa and the Middle East set in a time of queens and knights. beautifully written to enthrall your senses and leave you waiting on the edge of your seat. great for alone time and deep thought. you'll want your one on one time to contemplate the characters and scenes occurring.

Outstanding!

This was an audio book that I didn't want to end. It did get complicated as the politics and regions were rolled out in the story, but the obvious similarities with present day were there to help.
character development was good as well.

Lushly-written and engrossing

This is one of my favorite fantasy series, and Anne Flosnik's narration really helps to bring Phedre, Joscelin, Imriel, Melisande, and others to life. The first Kushiel trilogy comes to triumphant conclusion as Phedre and Joscelin embark on a quest to find the kidnapped boy Imriel, son of Melisande and third in line to the throne. Their search leads them to Ptolemaic Egypt, then to Khebbel-im-Akkad, as they pursue a dangerous and degrading undercover mission to the harem of a mad cult leader.

Carey's alternate-history Europe, where Christianity remained a minor Jewish cult and Islam never rose in the Middle East, is brilliantly realized, as are her landscapes and cultures. The D/s themes and frank sexuality of these books mean they're not for everyone, but they are an amazing escape to another world... Highly recommended, and I look forward to starting the next Kushiel trilogy.

The best of the Trilogy

Ive read all the books. This is my 2nd time through and this is still my fave if the first trilogy. Laugh out loud, cry fat tears. Love as thou wilt

One of the best series I’ve ever read!

I cried many times during the last hours of this third book in the series. I didn’t want it to end!!! My friends 😭