Kushiel's Chosen

Kushiel's Chosen continues the story of Phèdre nó Delaunay, a courtesan-spy in an alternate medieval France known as Terre d'Ange. After the events of Kushiel's Dart, Phèdre pursues a dangerous traitor whose schemes threaten the realm while seeking to free her closest friend from a mystical curse. The novel expands the world beyond Terre d'Ange's borders, taking readers to new territories inspired by Renaissance Italy and Greece. Political intrigue meshes with religious mythology as Phèdre navigates complex alliances and betrayals in foreign courts. The story combines elements of epic fantasy, romance, and espionage while exploring themes of faith, sacrifice, and the relationship between pleasure and pain. This second installment builds on the unique theological and cultural framework established in the first book while raising the stakes for its protagonist. The novel examines questions of loyalty, destiny, and the price of serving both gods and country through its distinctive blend of sensuality and political maneuvering. It maintains the series' focus on consent, power dynamics, and the intersection of the sacred and the profane.

Readers rate this second book in the series slightly lower than the first, while still giving it strong scores (4.24/5 on Goodreads, 4.6/5 on Amazon). Readers praise: - The complex political intrigue and espionage - Character development, especially Phèdre's growth - The vivid descriptions of different cultures and locations - The balance between romance and plot Common criticisms: - Slower pacing in the first third compared to Kushiel's Dart - Some readers find the detailed descriptions excessive - Multiple readers note it can be hard to keep track of all the political players From reviews: "The middle section in La Serenissima is worth pushing through the slower start" - Goodreads reviewer "More focused on spy craft than the first book, which I preferred" - Amazon reviewer "The romance takes a back seat to politics, but that's not necessarily bad" - LibraryThing review Total reviews: Goodreads: 45,000+ Amazon: 850+

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🔹 The novel draws heavily from Renaissance Venice, with the city of La Serenissima closely mirroring the real-world maritime republic in both culture and political structure. 🔹 Author Jacqueline Carey developed the series' unique theology by blending elements of Christianity, Jewish mysticism, and Classical mythology, creating the distinctive figure of Kushiel as an angel of punishment. 🔹 The language of Terre d'Ange, spoken by the main characters, is based primarily on French, reflecting the novel's alternate version of medieval France. 🔹 The distinctive scarlet mote in Phèdre's eye, marking her as Kushiel's chosen, was inspired by the concept of "witch marks" from historical witch trials in Europe. 🔹 The novel spent six weeks on Publishers Weekly's bestseller list and helped establish Carey as a leading voice in historical fantasy, particularly in the subgenre of politically-focused fantasy romance.