Kushiel's Avatar - Jacqueline Carey

I reread the first two parts of this trilogy in 2011 so I thought it was past time to wrap it up. Kushiel's Avatar is the third novel featuring the darkly sensual heroine Phèdre and a reimagined renaissances Europe infused with mythological and religious figures and practices from many cultures. It is an irresistible mix and one that definitely launched Carey's career as a fantasy novelist. The first time through, I felt the second and third volumes didn't quite live up to the standard set in Kushiel's Dart. This reread hasn't changed that but I must admit I do appreciate these novels a bit more the second time through. Just a bit mind you, I still think this book has more than a few problems.

Ten years of rest Phèdre is promised after her adventures in Kushiel's Chosen, most of which she dedicates to studying the mystery of the Master of the Straits and the angel Rahab that is keeping her friend Hyacinthe captured. She learns a lot in those ten years but the key to solving the mystery eludes her. Then, a message from Melisande, traitor to the realm and convicted to death in absentia, arrives at Phèdre's estate. Melisande's son, whom she has kept hidden for a decade, has disappeared and since she can't leave the temple in which she has sought refuge, she is asking for Phèdre's help. In return, she will provide information that may lead Phèdre to the name of God, the one missing piece of the puzzle that would give her a chance to free Hyacinth.

Structurally, this book must have been a challenge for Carey. Phèdre is sent on two quests simultaneously basically. One to find Imriel, Melisande's missing son who would go on to star in his own trilogy, and the other to free Hyacinth. Since they force Phèdre to travel to very different parts of the world, they frequently conflict and she spends a great deal of time agonizing over which one to give priority. In the end, she is more or less forced to go after Imriel first. On one level, that was a logical choice but I thought the climax of that particular quest was a lot more powerful than the attempt to free Hyacinth. Some readers might be a lot more invested in Hyacinth's story line, he's been with us from the very start after all, but for me it felt the last couple of hundred pages where just tying up loose ends. It makes for a very long epilogue.

The search for Imriel takes Phèdre to the Middle East and the Caucasus. Interesting enough for a series so full of religious symbols and stories, Islam has not made an appearance in Carey's world. The middle east is dominated by a reflection of the Persian Empire (Khebbel-im-Akkad) and Egypt, where the Ptolimaic dynasty is still ruling. There is an Arab/desert culture (The Umaiyyat) mentioned but that is one of the places Carey doesn't visit in the novel. It would have been interesting to see what Carey would have made of an Islamic culture.

I am not entirely sure what Carey's historical inspiration for the culture in the Caucasus she describes in this novel is, but the area Phèdre visits would be in Georgia today (although for some reason I associate the Land of Fire with Azerbaijan.) In the novel it is referred to as Drujan. It is without a doubt one of the darkest parts of the story, dealing with insanity, crubelty and abuse on a level we haven't seen in the books before. Phèdre's sexual preferences are not everybody's cup of tea. In previous books I have been able to see the appeal of what she is doing, even if I feel Terre D'Ange's attitudes towards sex are a bit romanticized. In this book Carey looses me. What Phèdre is willing to endure voluntarily, or because her gods ask it of her, it defies comprehension really. What I did think was very convincing was the way all that fear and the pent up aggression is finally released. If you like tragic endings this would have made a very good one. I would have been happy if this book had been split.

But Carey didn't do that, she pushes on. Phèdre continues on her way to find the name of God and in this story line we dive deeply into Habiru (Jewish) mythology. People more familiar with the subject will probably see more of Carey's inspirations but the Tribe of Dan definitely shows up in the Torah. Phèdre needs to travel deep into the interior of Africa to find what she is looking for. It is a terribly long journey and as some points it feels a bit rushed. The author also takes a lot of time dealing with the fall out of events in Drujan, which only reinforced my impression that this section of the novel is mostly tying up loose plot lines. Vast stretches of Africa get a cursory glance at most, and with so many places being visited, the cultures Phèdre encounters along the way do not receive as much attention as some of the cultures described earlier in the trilogy.

I guess I still feel Carey was trying to wrap up things a little too neatly, resulting in a book that delivers the real climax of the story too early and drags in later parts, despite rushing though some of the world building later on in the novel. Of the three books with Phèdre as the main character this one is definitely the darkest. Readers who have enjoyed the previous two books will most likely not be bothered by this but Carey pushes it further in Kushiel's Avatar than earlier in the trilogy. Overall I felt it was a mildly disappointing ending of the series. Kushiel's Avatar is a decent read but cannot compete with Kushiel's Dart which is an exceptionally good one. Phèdre will return as a secondary character but Carey is done with her part of the story and that was probably a wise decision. She has taken Phèdre as far as the character could go really. And perhaps the entire series as well.

Book Details
Title: Kushiel's Avatar
Author: Jacqueline Carey
Publisher: Tor
Pages: 750
Year: 2004
Language: English
Format: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN: 0-765-34753-9
First published: 2003i>

Saints Astray - Jacqueline Carey

Jaqueline Carey's novel Santa Olivia was one of the surprises of 2009 to me. Published in 2009 between Kushiel's Mercy, the final volume in her Imriel trilogy, and Naamah's Kiss, the first in the Moirin trilogy, it broke away from the rich fantasy setting of the Kushiel series and introduced a bleak, near future setting with a distinct post-apocalyptic feel to it. A break from fantasy clearly did Carey good. It was fresh, interesting and surprisingly successful. Obliviously there had to be a sequel. Carey delivered the manuscript for this sequel pretty soon after the publication of Santa Olivia but had to wait for a publication slot to open up in the publisher's schedule. Almost two and a half years after Santa Olivia, the sequel Saints Astray was published. It turned out to be a lot lighter read than Santa Olivia in many ways.

After their escape from Outpost no. 12, or Santa Olivia as the town used to be called, Loup and Pilar make their way to Mexico City were various people are interested in talking to them. A US senator looking into the Outpost situation, their existence is still being denied by the military, wants them to testify when he has gathered enough proof. Loup also receives an offer to work as a body guard, for which her superhuman strength and speed make her supremely suited. After a visit to her cousins in Mexico, Loup and Pilar decide to accept that offer but despite the luxury and glamour of their new life, the plight of the people in Santa Olivia and Loup's genetically manipulated cousins keeps drawing their attention. Something must be done to rectify that situation.

Santa Olivia was a pretty dark novel. It portrayed the poverty and severe shortages as well as abuse of power in the confined setting of this one small community. In Saints Astray the whole wide world opens up to Loup and Pilar. Girls who have never experienced any kind of luxury, suddenly find themselves in a world where a lot is possible. What's more, they quickly acquire the means to enjoy these luxuries and are not afraid to spend their money, or anybody else's for that matter. It gives the whole novel a bit of an air of wish fulfilment.

Something that adds to this is their new career in security. Having the only genetically modified bodyguard in the business does not come cheap and soon Loup and Pilar are introduced into the world haute couture, rock stars and spoilt little rich girls. Unsurprisingly, the two turn out to be very good at their job. I must admit the was the story unfolded in the opening chapters of the novel is so predictable I feared the worst for this novel. Things get a bit better when Loup develops a kind of celebrity of her own. Attention that will help her bring the injustice of the situation in Santa Olivia and her own precarious legal status in the US to light.

Somewhere around the halfway point of the novel, it clearly shifts into a more serious mode. We leave the big spending, glamorous secret agent part of the novel behind and move into territory that is a bit more science fictional. The US is portrayed as a fairly closed country. One that, after the pandemic that swept across the world decades earlier, is still ruled by paranoia and where state security is seen as a great excuse to cover up all sorts of dubious practices. It could be seen as criticism of the way security in a post 9/11 world is seen as an excuse to curtail all kinds of liberties. Loup's own legal status is perhaps even more interesting. It delves into the question if one can actually own DNA (or the patent to genetic alterations I suppose). There have been science fiction novels that dig a lot deeper into this. Most notable is probably Paolo Bacigalupi's The Windup Girl. Carey mostly uses this matter to turn Loup's situation into a civil rights struggle but the consequences of considering DNA property go far beyond that.

Although not a particularly challenging read, there is only one thing that really bothers me about Saints Astray and that is the relationship between Loup and Pilar. Both of them seem to be in need of constant confirmation that the other still loves them. it's a scene that, in one guise or another, returns frequently. In fact, just about every time a remotely attractive secondary character shows up. Their love for each other is then confirmed in a round of  spectacular sex which, in case you are wondering, is not described explicitly. For that you really want the Kushiel novels. It sounds like the two of them have a lot of fun confirming their love for each other but I don't think the reader needs to hear about it quite so often.

I didn't enjoy Saints Astray as much as I did Santa Olivia. As a sequel, this novel comes with expectations the first novel was not burdened with and it simply does not live up to mine. That being said, if you take this novel for what it is, a light, somewhat fluffy read, it is not a bad read. This novel is fun in the way a James Bond movie is fun. Not because it is realistic but because it's an entertaining bit of daydreaming. If that is the sort of thing you are looking for, Saints Astray will work very well.

Book Details
Title: Saints Astray
Author: Jaqueline Carey
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pages: 356
Year: 2011
Language: English
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-446-57142-5
First published: 2011

Kushiel's Chosen - Jacqueline Carey

Kushiel's Chosen (2002) is the second novel in Carey's Kushiel's Legacy series. This series started with what is arguably one of the most successful débuts of the decade and one of my personal favourites, Kushiel's Dart (2001). The ninth and most recent volume, Naamah's Blessing came out in June. It's been six years since I last read Kushiel's Chosen and back then, I wasn't nearly as impressed with it as I have been with the first novel. Kushiel's Chosen relies even more on intrigue and does not rely on an outside threat. My taste ran more towards epic fantasy at that moment, and I guess you could say Kushiel's Dart is decidedly more epic than its sequel. I appreciated the book a bit more the second time around, although I still think the first novel is the stronger of the two.

Phèdre has been well rewarded for her role in turning the Skaldic invasion of Terre D'Ange. She has been made Comtesse de Montrève and owns a modest and quiet county estate some days from the capital. She spends her days researching the myths surrounding the Master of the Straits and the lost book of Raziel, trying to find a way to free her childhood friend Hyacinthe. Her old enemy Melisande Shahrizai sends here a sangoire cloak, a shade or red, typically reserved for an Anguisette. From that moment on, Phèdre knows that their game is not over. Much to the dislike of her lover Joscelin, she returns to the capital to take the service of Naamah again and try to figure out where Melisande is hiding. The trail, it appears, leads to La Serenissima.

As I mentioned earlies, Kushiel's Chosen depends a lot on court intrigue. The unsolved mystery of Melisande's escape, make a lot of people suspicious. She must have had outside help and whoever helped is likely influential. Phèdre gathers clues the way Delauny taught her to, which leads to a number of inventive erotic scenes early on in the novel. Although the dark eroticism of the series no doubt attract some readers, I think this first section of the novel is rather slow. It takes Phèdre forever to begin to see the shape of the conspiracy and it is not until the half way point of the novel that Melisande's gambit becomes clear to her. The observant reader might figure it out a bit sooner but probably not by a lot.

The second half of the novel is quite a contrast to all the manoeuvring and scheming in the first part. Once Melisande's plans become clear to Phèdre, things move a lot faster. This section of the novel involves lots of travelling, learning a new language (the eight or ninth I believe, if only it were that easy), lot of live threatening situations and of course a final confrontation with the villain. I consider myself a fairly patient reader but by the time I reached the halfway point of the novel I thought Carey needed to get on with it. In terms of pacing this novel is one of the poorer ones in the series.

In terms of world building Carey does a lot better. La Serenissima, her version of Venice, is particularly well realized. Carey pays a lot of attention to the republican politics of the city state, which I rather enjoyed. We also visit Illyria, which in our world would probably be Dalmatia, a region heavily influenced by Venice in the renaissance period. Finally Phèdre pays Kriti (Crete) a visit. That place had a bit of a Minoan atmosphere about it, although other parts were more clearly classical Greek. It made me wonder if the Thera eruption happened in Carey's time line.

Another thread woven into the story is the troubled relationship between Phèdre and Joscelin, once her bodyguard, now, having broken all but one of his vows, he is her lover. Understandably he is not amused when she decides to pick up her old trade, even if it is in the interest of the nation of Terre D'Ange. It is one of the overarching story lines in these novels that I liked least, mostly because I think Joscelin is acting like a complete idiot. Not that Phèdre doesn't do her bit to make things impossible but I have serious trouble understanding Joscelin's responses and motivations. I guess it is to an extend the reflection of the problematic position of the (celibate) Cassiline Brotherhood in a society that has 'love as thou wilt' as the highest commandment but the tug of war between Joscelin's perception of honour and duty, which are clearly still Cassiline, and his feelings for Phèdre don't make all that much sense after the point he has decided to break his vows. Remorse I could understand, but there seems to be very little of that.

All in all, I didn't think Kushiel's Chosen was a great book and certainly not as good as Kushiel's Dart. That being said, I liked it a bit better than the first time I read it. The intricate plotting early on in the novel may test the reader's patience a bit, but I have to admit, there is a very rewarding climax to this novel. One that is certainly worth showing a bit of patience with the book. It is also quite clear that Kushiel's Chosen is the middle book in the trilogy. Carey ties up all the plot lines relating to the immediate threat to the realm but also clearly indicated the direction the next book will take Kushiel isn't done with Phèdre yet.

Book Details
Title: Kushiel's Chosen
Author: Jacqueline Carey
Publisher: Tor
Pages: 687
Year: 2003
Language: English
Format: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN: 0-765-34504-8
First published: 2002

Naamah's Blessing - Jacqueline Carey

Naamah's Blessing is the third book in Carey's Moirin trilogy and the ninth in the Kushiel's Legacy series. Carey has indicated that it will be the last book in the series, at least for the moment, and that she intends to write an unrelated series after this, which will be more of an urban fantasy. She also has a second book coming out later this year. Saints Astray is the much anticipated sequel to Santa Olivia, one of my favourite books of 2009, and is scheduled for a November release. I very much look forward to reading that one. As for the Kushiel Series, it has had its ups and downs, personally I think it is a good idea that Carey is going to focus on something else for now. I wasn't terribly impressed with Naamah's Curse. This book is a bit better but still nowhere near the level of Kushiel's Dart, the outstanding first novel in the series.

After a long journey back form the east, Moirin and her husband Bao arrive back in Terre D'Ange. Although Moirin has followed her destiny and overcome the challenges she faced in Ch'in, she knows her adventures are not over yet. In fact, there is quite a lot of unfinished business to be taken care of. For one thing, Moirin is confronted with the daughter of the Queen, one of Moirin's many lovers who died in childbirth while Moirin was travelling. The King has not recovered from the death of his second wife well and it is turning into a full blown political crisis when the King's chancellor shows a bit more ambition than is proper for his position. There is also the matter of Raphael de Mereliot, another former lover who has developed decidedly megalomaniac tendencies. Resolving this loose end will require another long journey. One to the recently discovered New World.

Carey again takes us to a previously unexplored part of her world. We visit the Aztec and Inca empires in this novel, recently discovered by the Aragonians. It is mentioned that these new lands have been discovered in Moirin's lifetime, which is one of the most precise historical markers in the entire series. It would put this novel in the early 16th century. It also shows how much liberty Carey has taken with historical developments in over the course of the series. In Naamah's Blessing for instance, the suppresses the use of gunpowder in the Ch'in civil war, something that in our history was already pretty well established by that time in Europe. There's lot of historical details in these novels but for the sake of the story, Carey didn't attempt too much historical accuracy. Personally I would have appreciated it if some of the key elements in the series had been a bit more consistent but we have to keep in mind it is a work of fiction.

One of the works Carey used in researching this novel is Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs and Steel, which, to my shame, I have to admit I haven't read. I'm familiar with its central thesis though, that the dominance of Eurasian cultures can be explained by environmental and geographical factors rather than genetic or intellectual superiority. Of the three elements in the title, Carey has already taken care of the guns. She further levels the playing field by having Raphael offer a cure to the pox to the Nuhuatl (Aztec) Empire, much to the dislike of the Aragonians (Spanish). It inserts an interesting shade of grey into what would have other wise have been a classic evil overlord type of villain. Steel is also mention as something both the Aragonians and D'Angelines try to keep out of the hands of the Nuhuatl. She spoils the effect a little by having one of the characters behead someone in a single stroke using a maquahuitl (an wooden sword-like weapon with obsidian embedded in the blade), which strikes me as rather unlikely. Still, armour and horses are a great advantage.

In a world where the gods of many people seem to be able to influence life on earth, the way Carey deals with the human sacrifices a Aztec empire was known for is interesting. Carey has never shied away from behaviour that would be considered taboo in most cultures. This one is a bit more problematic than most though. Structural human sacrifice is rare in human history, certainly on a scale the Aztecs seemed to practice it. In a world where many of the sacrifices made to the gods are necessary, does this extend to human sacrifice as well? Early on in the novel it seems the Aragonians are attempting to stop the practice but human sacrifice is key to solving Moirin's problems. Until now, the sacrifices made by the main character in the book, no matter how horrible, where mostly personal in nature, Carey definitely enters into new territory here and not all readers will appreciate it.

Once we reach the stronghold of Raphael, my suspension of disbelief collapsed entirely in the space of a few pages. This was not actually caused by something the author did but rather a strange association my mind insisted on making. Rapheal, in Naamah's Kiss, acquired the language of ants from a demon he tricked Moirin into summoning for him. It turns out to be a curse as they don't have anything intelligent to say. When we meet Raphael again, he has turned this annoyance into a weapon and managed to find a way of controlling the ants by somehow having his body produce the right chemicals. Not this is a bit of a stretch already but it gets worse. Maybe 20 years ago I read a number of books in a series of absolutely dreadful westerns that were very popular here in the 1970s. They were written by a German author using the pen-name Conrad Kobbe and to my knowledge they have never been translated in English. Most of them were set in the American West but once in a while, the main character, a bandit hunter by the name of Conny Coll, ended up in South America as well. In one of those adventures features a voracious horde of army ants insisting on overrunning a fort of some kind. It was entertaining but also completely ridiculous. I can't remember how Coll overcame this obstacle but no doubt his aim was impeccable. Much to my amusement, Raphael does indeed order his ants to serve him as an army. Ouch!

One of the things I didn't like about Naamah's Curse is that for most of the book Moirin obediently obeys the instructions of the divine guide. This novel doesn't escape that entirely in this novel but at least the gods are a bit more cryptic. I also have to hand it to Carey, she knows how to plot a novel. In the finale of the trilogy, things fall in place very nicely indeed. Not a loose end in sight. That being said, I don't think the trilogy as a whole lives up the the promise of the first novel, which is without a doubt the strongest of the three. The gods manage to thoroughly douse the spark that made Moirin such an interesting character in Naamah's Kiss. Fans of the series will no doubt devour this book and love it. Personally, I think the plot is a bit too far-fetched even for a fantasy novel. All things considered, Carey has written better novels but it is far from her worst as well.

Book Details
Title: Naamah's Blessing
Author: Jaqueline Carey
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pages: 610
Year: 2011
Language: English
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 978-0-446-19807-3
First published: 2011

Kushiel's Dart - Jacqueline Carey

Kushiel's Dart is the first novel in the Kushiel's Legacy trilogy. This novel is the basis for a successfully series, the ninth book set in this universe is expected this summer. Personally, I feel the series fades a bit in later books, the second trilogy, based on a different main character than Kushiel's Legacy, is not nearly as strong as the earlier books. With the third trilogy, bases on main character Moirin and set some generations after the first two trilogies, Carey seems to have breathed some new life in the series. I rather liked Naamah's Kiss. I have no idea if Carey means to continue the series, although the final book in Moirin's trilogy has been delivered, she hasn't mentioned what her next project will be be yet. But let's get back on topic.

This first novel in the series takes us to the land of Terre d'Ange, a nation founded by rebellious angels, creating a people of unsurpassed beauty. They live by one commandment: love as thou wilt. At the beginning of the story we are introduced to Phèdre, who at the tender age of four, is sold into servitude to House Cereus, one of the houses of the Court of Night-Blooming Flowers. Phèdre's beauty is flawed by a small red mote in her eye, she does not meet the standards to become an adept in the House of Cereus. This means she will have to earn her marque, pay off the debt incurred by raising and educating her. The red mote may be a flaw in her beauty, Anafiel Delaunay sees a mark of the angel Kushiel, one of the founders of Terre d'Ange, in it. He immediately guesses Phèdre's potential and buys her marque from House Cereus. At the age of ten, Phèdre moves to his household to begin her training in earnest.

During her time in the Delaunay household Phèdre is taught many things. Languages and history, the art of a spy but also the arts of Naamah, in which Phèdre develops a curious taste. It appears that she is one of the few people capable of experiencing pleasure through pain. Her talent, Delaunay knows, will make her one of the most desired courtesans of her generation. He keeps his pupil carefully in the dark about his true motives but once Phèdre is introduced to high society and start earning her marque, it quickly becomes clear Delaunay is deeply involved in court intrigues. With an ageing king on the throne and succession by no means assured, it is a dangerous activity. When one of the other players makes a bold move, Phèdre's world is turned upside down and she needs every bit of knowledge Delaunay to survive.

What makes Kushiel's Dart an interesting novel is the mix of alternative history, romance, fantasy and spirituality Carey uses to tell the story. Phèdre's tale is quite romanticized and that is something the reader will have to get used to. Carey covers it in pretty phrases such as Night-Blooming flowers, servant of Naamah and a number of others, but when you get right down to it, Phèdre is a prostitute. There's quite a lot of sex in this novel and some of it is quite explicit. D'Angelines take the commandment 'love as thou wilt' serious and do indeed do just about everything two consenting adults can engage in. There are no labels such as straight or homosexual, just preferences and a wide variety is generally accepted. On the one hand I very much appreciate this acceptance of a variety of sexual practices, on the other hand there is not a trace of the problems sex can cause. No unwanted pregnancies (Carey has a supernatural solution for that), no sexually transmitted disease and little jealousy or prejudice (among the D'Angelines anyway). A little piece of heaven on earth, but then, the nation was founded by angels.

The nation of Terre D'Ange is clearly modelled on France. The map in the front of the book shows us a somewhat simplified western Europe. I mentioned this story containing elements of alternative history but maybe that is a bit too strong a statement. There doesn't seem to be a single point of divergence for one thing. Terre D'Ange's neighbours are echoes of various cultures that once existed across Europe. On the Italian peninsula a number of city-states reminiscent of the Renaissance period exist, still hanging on to the analogue for the Roman Empire that is mentioned in the book. To the east of Terre D'Ange is the vast realm of the Skaldi tribes, clearly based on Norse/Germanic culture. On the British isles we find a Celtic-like culture that developed in isolation in recent centuries. Apparently there was no migration period after the fall of Tiberium (Rome), or at least not as bad as the one in our world. To a point, these cultures are a bit stereotypical, something that will will plague the series in later books, but I have to admit they are comfortably recognizable and well realized.

Carey created a uniquely spiritual atmosphere in her novels. Phèdre is tied to two angels in particular. Kushiel, in Judeo-Christian mythology one of the seven angels of punishment, and Naamah, an angel or demon associated with prostitution. The author worked these two and a number of other angels and demons into the tale, connecting them to the figure of Elua, earth begotten son of Yesua Ben Yosef (Jesus). In a way, Phèdre embodies both the stern, forbidding punisher of the One God Kushiel as well as the warm, accepting and sexual Naamah. Given their contrasting personalities, it isn't an easy burden to carry, something Carey will cover in more detail in Kushiel's Chosen and Kushiel's Avatar. The angels shape Phèdre's character. Although absent as characters themselves, they are as much a driving force in the story as the plotting for the throne done by mortals.

The writing style Carey adopts is very rich in descriptions. She uses a lot of old fashioned forms, giving the text a slightly archaic quality. For a second language reader that is a bit of a challenge but it does add to the atmosphere of the entire novel. The tale is told entirely form Phèdre's point of view, in the first person. The language Carey uses also reinforces the feeling that Phèdre received a good education and is used to move in the higher circles of society. The language will change slightly in later books. Carey grows fond of phrases like "Mayhap" and "'Tis" in later books for instance. It's not as noticeable when you read them in order of publication but I did notice when rereading this first novel. She has also become a bit more concise. Kushiel's Dart takes a while to get going, resulting in a 900 page novel. Personally the slow start didn't bother me but it is a much heard bit of criticism directed at this book. So for readers who grew impatient with this book, subsequent novels will take off a bit faster.

You can only read a novel for the first time once, and that truly is a unique experience. I loved this book during my first read for the historical parallels in particular, after a reread I am slightly less enthusiastic. Not so much because of the novel itself but because I can see the seeds of a number of developments that will make later books less than satisfactory reads. That, of course, is not a fair bit of criticism to direct at this book. Kushiel's Dart remains a remarkable début. It's a book that carries a dark sensuality that will appeal to many readers. It combines elements of romance with a truly epic struggle for succession, complete with betrayal, heroism and tragedy. It's very easy to be swept away by Carey's tale and that is probably the best way to approach this book. Immerse yourself in Carey's world and you're in for quite a ride.

Book Details
Title: Kushiel's Dart
Author: Jacqueline Carey
Publisher: Tor
Pages: 912
Year: 2002
Language: English
Format: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN: 0-765-34298-7
First published: 2001

Naamah's Curse - Jacqueline Carey

Jaqueline Carey managed to surprise me twice last year. Her novel Santa Olivia, a novel that is very hard to put into a category, was one of the better books I read in 2009. In her Kushiel setting Naamah's Kiss appeared. Something of a fresh start for a series that hadn't managed to convince me in the previous three instalments. The new trilogy is noticeably less dark. Carey has changed direction the direction of the series and while Naamah's Kiss will certainly appeal to readers of her earlier books, I appreciated the new course the author set. I had high hopes for the second book in this trilogy. Naamah's Curse didn't quite live up to them.

After the events in the previous book our young heroine Moirin is a favourite at the Ch'in court. The gods ride their champions hard however, her next challenge is already lined up for Moirin. Her love Bao has disappeared. In an attempt to find the man who raped his mother with Bao as the reminder, he has left for the Tartar steps. Moirin hesitates. Bao has his own destiny to follow after all. With winter approaching the choice can no longer be postponed and Moirin decides to follow him. Even with the blessing of the Ch'in court, currently at peace with the Tartars, this in not an easy journey.

Hit by the first snow storm of the year, Moirin is forced to seek shelter with a band of Tartar nomads for the winter. When spring finally comes she travels with them to the gathering of the Tartar Khan, where she expects to find Bao. She does indeed find the Khan and her love appears to be one of his favourites. So much so, that he has given one of his daughters to him. The Great Khan is not pleased with Moirin showing up and attracting Bao's attention. The humiliation to his daughter is too much to bear. Moirin must be gotten rid of, the sooner the better.

Moirin has grown considerably as a character. Her youthful mistakes of the previous book have made her more cautious in her dealings with the supernatural as well as a lot more aware of what Naamah and the Bear Goddess of the Maghuin Dhonn. For Moirin this is something of a blessing and, as the title suggests, a curse. These two divine presences provide Moirin with something of an unfailing compass. Following these divine instructions gets Moirin in trouble more than once, not everybody appreciates the teachings of Naamah in particular, but they are always presented as a necessary step in Moirin's development.

In Naamah's Kiss Moirin does not always heed the divine warnings she receives. Sometimes she just fails to pay attention to them, sometimes she consciously ignores them. More often than not these decisions turn out be costly mistakes but she does not regret it in every instance. In Naamah's Curse Moirin has learnt to heed the goddess' warnings and apparently the price is generally to high to ignore them. For each and every difficult choice Moirin faces she consults the goddess and unfailingly chooses the path that meets with her approval. It generally leads to a favourable outcome (at a price). This approach took a lot of the tension from the book for me. Moirin rarely questions the intentions of Naamah or the Bear Goddess, instead focussing on the beliefs and cultures she meets along the way. A little more introspection would have suited her at times. Being a Goddess' chosen doesn't generally come with a roadmap to success. I guess I miss the rebellious spark that the teenager Moirin possessed.

As in previous volumes, there is quite a bit of travelling in this book. Carey explores a number of places not seen in previous novels. The Tartar territories are prominent early in the book but Carey also shows us parts of what in our world would be called Tibet. Given Moirin's focus on religious matters her interest in local religions is not surprising. Carey draws from Buddhist traditions as well as the Hindu pantheon in these chapters. Bhodistan (India) has been mentioned in a number of books now but it does not look like Carey means to travel there in the next volume. She has dropped hints that Moirin's destiny will take her to the New World next. Throughout the story Moirin acquires another couple of languages. I will admit that this is a bit of a pet peeve of mine but learning to speak a foreign language is not quite that easy for most people. Moirin seems to be headed in Phèdre's direction, she speaks at least half a dozen languages at this point, most of them from different language groups.

Although sexuality in general is a theme in the series and the book, the sexual content of this entry is quite modest compared to the previous part. With Moirin chasing her beloved for most of the book there aren't that many opportunities. Moirin isn't precisely celibate but if you read these books for the steamy sex then Naamah's Curse is not going to be your favourite. Personally, I think Carey was wise not to force it. The story does not lend itself to more sexual content and sex for the sake of it is not really something I appreciate in a novel.

While Naamah's Kiss was a promising start of a new trilogy, Naamah's Curse does not quite match the standard set in that book. The fresh, inquisitive Moirin of the first book has grown up considerably and in the process has lost something of her appeal. This book is not a bad tale but a little less dependence on the divine in Moirin's quest would have made it much more exciting. Her complete acceptance of her destiny is a little too much of a good thing. Interesting characters are generally more than a well trained pet of the Gods but in this book Moirin is in danger of becoming just that. It makes one wonder what would happen to her if the Bear Goddess does not guide her through a difficult decision or what will happen if the two deities disagree. Perhaps Carey will show us in Naamah's Blessing.

Book Details
Title: Naamah's Curse
Author: Jacqueline Carey
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pages: 567
Year: 2010
Language: English
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 978-0-446-19805-9
First published: 2010

Naamah's Kiss - Jacqueline Carey

Naamah's Kiss is the seventh book in the fantasy/alternative history series of epic proportions that began with the excellent Kushiel's Dart. It is also something of a new beginning for the series. While the first six books tell the story of Phèdre and her adopted son Imriel, Naamah's Kiss is set much later. It tells the story of Moirin, great-great-granddaughter of Alais the Wise. I was not impressed by Carey's previous effort Kushiel's Mercy, it was the poorest book in a trilogy that was a lot weaker than the previous one to begin with, but a fresh start got my hopes up that the series had reached a turning point. To a point that has proven true. Naamah's Kiss is not without it's flaws but definitely better than the books in Imriel's trilogy.

The heroine of this book is Moirin, through her ancestor Alais a descendant of both D'Angeline and Alban royalty. She does not grow up in a palace though, Alais' descendants chose to follow the way of the Maghuin Dhonn. Moirin grows up living in the wild in a cave with only her mother for company. This solitary lifestyle means she does not learn of her mixed blood until she and her mother visit a gathering of the Maghuin Dhonn. Her mother reveals that she is the result of a dalliance with a travelling priest of Namaah. Moirin's D'Angeline blood is more recent than she thought.

Moirin fervently hopes the Bear goddess of the Maghuin Dhonn will accept her as one of her people despite her mixed blood but there are signs that she is not the only goddess watching over her. Naamah, the bright lady as Moirin thinks of her, stakes her claim as well. Her gift of desire manifests itself in Moirin. When the then sixteen year old Moirin goes through a rite of passage of the Maghuin Dhonn, one that will show if the Bear goddess will indeed accept her. The result is confusing. The goddess accepts her but it is clear that her destiny does not lie on Alba. The young, sheltered and somewhat naive Moirin decides to depart for Terre d'Ange in search of her father. Her voyage will take her much further than Terre D'Ange though, further than she ever expected. All the way to Ch'in in fact.

In the previous six books, the leading divine force driving the characters has been Kushiel, one of Elua's companions who sees chastisement as an act of love. In Judeo-Christian mythology he is one of the seven angels of punishment. A very hard god to worship indeed. In this book we shift to Naamah, the companion who laid down with strangers when Elua was hungry to provide food. Her priests, Namaah's servants, worship through the holy act of prostitution. In Jewish mythology Namaah is a demon associated with prostitution. An altogether different creature. This shift is noticeable in the book, although it is never easy to serve one of Elua's companions, Naamah's Kiss is not as dark as some of the earlier books.

Picking Naamah is something of a risk for Carey. Her presence in Moirin usually manifests itself as desire. It is a challenge to make sure the reader does not see her as a character who is constantly horny and very impulsive (come to think of it, this is an apt description of a lot of teenagers). Moirin takes quite a few male and female lovers in the course of the book, Carey's books are not something people with a conservative sexual morale would enjoy, but I think she stays just short of overdoing it. I suppose you could say her sexual experiences guide her to the destiny she is seeking. They are definitely experiences that help her learn and grow and, like previous books, they are very much romanticized. I will admit whether or not Carey manages to keep the Moirin's sexual escapades within limits the story can handle is a debatable matter though.

The destiny Moirin is chasing is one of the two major problems I have with this book. It is absolutely unclear to Moirin what it is she is looking for. Apparently it is something of a you'll know it, when you see it experience. It does mean that Moirin spends a lot of time waiting for the next clue form her Bear goddess. She sets herself several limited goals in the course of the book but the direction of the story very much depends on this divine guidance. Not until we are some 380 pages into the book (out of 645 in my copy), do we even get an idea of the true challenge Moirin will have to face in this novel. Which leads me to the second flaw, in my opinion Carey takes too long building up to this point. Once we get there the story moves very quickly to the climax of the book. Battles are not Carey's forte but some more attention to the threatening civil war would have been an option. Or perhaps some digging into the past of Moirin's teacher Lo Feng? Given the importance of the events in Ch'in in the book, some more effort on fleshing out this culture would have been justified. Hopefully Carey will pay some more attention to this nation in the next two books in this trilogy.

All in all I thought this book was a whole lot better than the previous three books. Unlike Imriel, Moirin is a very likeable character. She's impulsive, inquisitive and smart (and also unreasonably gifted in the language department but let's not get into that), a very lively character. Naamah's Kiss misses the dark, somewhat threatening, presence of Kushiel. A change in atmosphere that may take some getting used to for some readers. I think this shift in time frame and atmosphere has done the series a lot of good though. A fresh start is what the series needed and a fresh start is what Carey delivers. Let's hope she can keep moving away from the low that was Kushiel's Mercy.

Book Details
Title: Naamah's Kiss
Author: Jacqueline Carey
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pages: 645
Year: 2009
Language: English
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 978-0-446-19803-5
First published: 2009

Santa Olivia - Jacqueline Carey

When I read Kushiel's Dart in 2005 I was very much impressed with the mix of history and fantasy Carey put into her story. Unfortunately none of the subsequent Kushiel books managed to reach that level (although I haven't read her latest effort Namaah's Kiss yet). Earlier this summer Santa Olivia, novel that is not related the the Kushiel series, was published. It is in fact quite different from everything else Carey has written. Santa Olivia is a fairly short novel set in a near future town of the Texan-Mexican border. I was very much impressed with style in which this novel is written. It's the best book by Carey I have read so far.

The cause of the situation that the town of Santa Olivia finds itself in remain unclear in the novel. What we do know is that Mexico is highly unstable, violence and disease kill large numbers of people. The US government decided to close the border entirely. The inhabitants of Santa Olivia are given the choice. Head north to the US or stay and end up in a no man's land, guarded by a large military base in the area. Many people have nowhere to go and so they remain in the town. Cut off from and forgotten by the rest of the US the town is entirely dependant on the military base for supplies. Electricity becomes scares, cars can't be maintained, air-conditioning becomes to expensive to run, education is reduced to the very basics, in short the town is slowly falling apart. Many dream of escape but to prevent the condition of Santa Olivia becoming well known, nobody is allowed out.

In this town Carmen tries to raise her two children. Tommy, son of one of the soldiers of the base who like so many of his comrades has a local sweetheart, and Loup, daughter of a military man on the run. Part of a genetic experiment he's part wolf much stronger than a normal man and is incapable of feeling fear. Traits his daughter will develop as well. Both Carmen's children turn out to offer the town hope of release from their situation. The odds they face are overwhelming however, the deck is stacked against them. When Tommy finds out how far the commander of the base will go to keep the secret, Loup is left behind alone and more determined than ever to beat the odds.

There's an awful lot to like about this novel. It's surprising in many ways. You'd expect a fairly conservative community but the people of Santa Olivia display a very high level of pragmatism. Society does not break down, no fights erupt about the scarce resources. The threat of military intervention should riots break out keep the town reasonably save. Many people do the best they can even though they are not strictly speaking qualified for the job. Where many stories that display this level of post apocalyptic events see society fall apart completely, Santa Olivia maintains a sense of community that keeps society running on a basic level.

The language Carey uses is fairly direct, with a lot of dialogue and riddled with profanity, a great deal different from the flowery speech of the D'Angeline characters in the Kushiel series. It suits the main characters, who never had much of an education, pretty well. The book is written in the third person but you could almost believe it being their narrative. This style keeps the book, that is set over a period of several decades, moving at a fast pace.

Carey also does some very interesting things with Loup. She does not feel fear and therefore responds quite differently to situations than we would. Fear is not a consideration in any of her actions and while Tommy did his best to make sure she considers the consequences before she acts, Loup still does things we wouldn't even consider. The most interesting interaction that shows Loup's lack of fear is her relationship with Miguel Garza. As the son of one of the more powerful characters in the town, Miguel is used to bully and intimidate. None of which works on Loup. It exposes a side of Miguel's character not many people get to see. Carey also uses her inhuman strength and fearlessness as a contrast with the patron saint of the town, the child Santa Olivia.

Carey obviously chose to write something different from what she's know for and the result turned out very well indeed. Santa Olivia is book that is very hard to include in a genre. I've seen it called science fiction or urban fantasy, some drew a parallel with superhero comics and others even wondered if it was meant to be young adult (given the content I'd say no). Personally I think it has a distinct post-apocalyptic flavour. Whatever genre you put it in the result is a great read. Do not expect the rich, erotic fantasy of the Kushiel series however. I certainly hope Carey will keep on writing other books besides Kushiel. While I see the (economic) appeal of keeping that series going, a fresh start in a new setting obviously did her writing a world of good. This book may well end up on my best of 2009 list.

Book Details
Title: Santa Olivia
Author: Jacqueline Carey
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pages: 341
Year: 2009
Language: English
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-446-19817-2
First published: 2009