The Griffin or the Agate

As a general rule I'm not enamored of starting a series on book two. Even if I like the book, I'm rarely moved to rush right out and pick up the precursors. Kushiel's Chosen is one of those rare exceptions.
     Jacqueline Carey's sequel to her debut novel, Kushiel's Dart, is intriguiing, engrossing, and very sensual. Our heroine, Phedre no Delaunay, has risen from whore's bastard to Comtesse by virtue of her wits and her nature. Due to the first person presentation, her sharp mind is quickly revealed via internal debates. Revealed a bit more slowly is the fact that she is a trained masochist, one that has been chosen by a god to be able to bear repeated physical pain and torture. Though she had retired from the prostitution business (accepted and encouraged in her country, where the motto is "Love as thou wilt"), she is lured back by the arrival of a package that can only have come from one person. That individual once plotted to overthrow the throne and Phedre fears she is up to her old tricks again. Phedre returns to the capitol, and falls deeper and deeper into intrigue as it becomes clear that a plot is indeed afoot.
     Kushiel's Chosen spans several countries and religions and Ms. Carey weaves them effortlessly together. She includes a fairly detailed map as well as a cast of characters, making it considerably easier to keep track of who's who and where's where. She avoids the common errors of first person presentation and actually throws a few things in that strengthen the effect, such as giving Phedre an irritating repetitive phrase that is found only in narrated areas, never in the speech of other characters. Since I did, in fact, run right out and buy the precursor to this novel, I can pretty safely say that Kushiel's Chosen is no fluke. Ms. Carey is going to be a name to watch in the Fantasy world.   §

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Author's website: http://www.jacquelinecarey.com/