Kushiel’s Dart: Angels, Anguissettes, and Adventure

Kushiel’s Dart (2001)
Written by: Jacqueline Cary
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 912 (Paperback)
Series: Phèdre’s Trilogy Book #1
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

Why I Chose It: I first heard about Jacqueline Carey through Speculative Chic and since I enjoyed George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) series, I figured that I would enjoy another medieval-based fantasy series. I first read Kushiel’s Dart in 2017 and loved it. My 2019 Speculative Chic resolution was practically made for me when my local library’s book sale had eight of Carey’s nine books set in the world of Terre d’Ange. I reread Kushiel’s Dart to refresh my memory for this review.

The premise:

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.

No Spoilers

Discussion: Jacqueline Carey’s world-building in Kushiel’s Dart is exquisite. Not only does she create thrilling and memorable characters, she invents an entire religion. Born from the blood of Jesus and the tears of Mary Magdalene, Elua is the god of Terre d’Ange. Rejected and imprisoned during his time on Earth, eight angels rescue him and serve as his companions. Kushiel is a cruel angel who flogs sinners, Cassiel loves Elua but is racked with guilt for rejecting God, and Naamah has sex with strangers to help Elua. The story of Elua is fascinating but I wanted a more straight-forward history instead of getting the details in bits and pieces throughout the book.

The world of Kuhiel’s Dart is clearly based on medieval Europe, with Terre d’Ange being a substitute for Renaissance France. The Skaldi are a war-like people comparable to Vikings and the traveling Tsingani are stand-ins for Romani people. Kings, queens, and nobles rule the land. The most critical difference between this world and actual medieval Europe is that the people of Terre d’Ange take a very open-minded view of sexuality. They live by Elua’s credo, “Love as thou wilt.” Bisexuality is their norm and sadomasochism is nothing shocking. Courtesans, known as servants of Naamah, perform a sacred service. They receive elaborate back tattoos, called marques. “It is said that Naamah so marked the backs of those lovers who pleased her, scoring her nails against their skin. They bore the traceries of those marks of ecstasy all the days of their lives. We do it in homage, and out of memory.” (p. 585).

Phèdre nó Delaunay, the main character, truly makes this book. The story is entirely told from her point of view and she is a strong yet sympathetic heroine. She is sold as a child because of the scarlet speck in her eye, an imperfection that makes her unfit for service in the Thirteen Houses of courtesans. Little did her parents realize that the scarlet mote is the sign of Kushiel, which marks Phèdre as an anguissette (extreme masochist). Anafiel Delaunay purchases her as an indentured servant to train as a courtesan and spy, but he becomes a beloved father figure to her. Phèdre changes from a vulnerable abandoned child to a passionate, resilient young woman. Her personal journey is just as compelling as the game of thrones that the royals and nobles play.

When I first read the premise of Kushiel’s Dart, with its holy courtesans and masochistic main character, I thought that it would be all about the sex. Although the sex scenes are more graphic than the average fantasy novel, the book is more about political intrigue than romance or sex. Phèdre’s relationships with other characters are finely drawn, complex, and often rooted in genuine affection. She truly loves Anafiel Delaunay and Alcuin (her foster brother and fellow courtesan spy) and they form a devoted if unusual family. Phèdre also has real friendships with Joscelin, a Cassiline bodyguard who has taken a vow of celibacy, and Hyacinthe, her Tsingani childhood friend, even though matters do become complicated.

The comparisons between this series and Game of Thrones practically make themselves. Both are loosely based on medieval Europe and deal with the struggle for the soul of a beloved homeland. Both feature seductive, scheming characters plotting against the throne. The violent, barbaric Skaldi reminded me of the Dothraki. Phèdre and Daenerys share a similar character arc, evolving from outcast children to power players. However, I think Kushiel’s Dart is a much better book. Telling the entire tale from Phèdre’s point-of-view gave me more of an emotional connection to her and the story. There are always a few narrating characters that bore me in every book in A Song of Ice and Fire and Bran’s storyline is always dull. Kushiel’s Dart is also less convoluted than George R.R. Martin’s series.

The only thing that I can criticize about this book is that the foreshadowing is so heavy-handed that an event that should have been shocking feels expected. All the foreshadowing completely negates the emotional impact of an incident with enormous consequences. I wish that Carey would have just let the story unfold naturally.

In conclusion: If you’re searching for an epic fantasy that you can really sink your teeth into, look no further. I don’t think I can give a more ringing endorsement than the fact that Kushiel’s Dart convinced me to read all nine seven hundred page books set in this universe.