Kushiel’s Dart Review: Don’t Let the Size Scare You
My honest review of Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey. Yes it is long, and yes it is worth it. Epic fantasy, intrigue, and a heroine I loved.
I think most peoples’ takes on this book either oversells the spice or undersells the story. So here is my honest take on Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey. It is a lush, intricate epic fantasy full of political intrigue, a divinely marked heroine, and a love story throughout. It earns every bit of the obsession people have for it. So if you’re trying to decide whether to start, let me tell you what this book did to me.
Captivated from page one and quite frankly I didn’t want to put this down. ~ Under the Covers
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. This post contains affiliate links. That means we receive a small commission at no cost to you from any purchases you make through these links.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Phedre Trilogy #1
June 23, 2001
Read this if you want:
- a heroine who breaks your heart and gets back up stronger
- lush, lyrical epic fantasy
- political intrigue and a love story, with a dash of BDSM
This is one of those series that has been on my to-read shelf for ages. I’ve always been intimidated by the page count. After over 800 pages of heartbreak and perfection, I am left quite speechless. Please don’t let that be a deterrent for you as well. KUSHIEL’S DART was everything I thought it could be but then it was so much more. It’s such a deep and emotional story that had me completely riveted with its lyrical prose and intricate story. Captivated from page one and quite frankly I didn’t want to put this down.
“Harm her,” he said under his voice, “and you will die. That I promise.”
“Do you? De Morbhan raised his brows. “But she was born to be harmed.”
Phèdre Is the Heart of This Story
I fell in love with our heroine Phedre from the very beginning. As we follow her life of struggles from the time she’s nothing but a small child. She’s suffered loss, she hasn’t experienced love, and she has to deal with her own nature. A nature of service, but a path that won’t be easy for her or those around her. And through it all she makes the best of things. Her innocence is slowly broken down and just when I thought things had to start looking up, she faces yet another struggle… and another… and another. My heart broke for her. Many times. And then she picked herself back up and came out stronger. Which only makes Phedre take a spot as one of my favorite heroines I’ve read lately. She’s different, but once you let her charm you, she’s pretty amazing. And she’s the core strength of this story.
“When Love cast me out, it was Cruelty who took pity upon me”
An Epic Fantasy With Real Intrigue
The world building also stands out from a crowd. Jacqueline Carey’s masterful writing paints beautifully the story and in so much detail, from the settings to the culture. I admit that with all the different names and places, I would get a bit confused at times, but by the end of the book everything was starting to fall into place in my mind where those moments didn’t cause a standstill and rewind in my reading flow. I am in absolute awe at the ease in which the religion sub-themes and intricate politics are woven in the story. How to classify it?! This is an epic fantasy intrigue. There is romance, although it’s not the main plot. Betrayal, lust and courage. This is just the story of one Phedre no Delauney, who rises to her spiritual calling and saves a nation. There are battles along the way, and many loses. But in the end, a happy ending. And an ending that Jacqueline Carey wraps up incredibly, tying almost all the loose ends we needed.
“Pain obliterates everything else. In pain, there is only the eternal present.”
Who Should Read Kushiel’s Dart
Although I can’t say this story is for everyone, I highly recommend you give it a try. Let this story take you on a ride. Don’t have any preconceived ideas of what to expect. Just let it flow, let it swing your emotions. Think of it as a mix of Games of Thrones with a dash of BDSM. After reading KUSHIEL’S DART is as if you’ve experienced it instead. I can’t wait to read the next installment as soon as my heart recovers.
Feeling intimidated to start?
Come read the whole series with us for our Kushiel’s Legacy readalong, and start with the Kushiel’s Legacy reading guide if you want to get oriented first.
Kushiel’s Dart Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kushiel’s Dart worth reading?
Yes, and I say that as someone who let it sit unread for years because the size scared me. It should not have. It is one of the most rewarding epic fantasies I have read. Go in without preconceptions and let it carry you through.
Is Kushiel’s Dart a romance or a fantasy?
Epic fantasy. There is a love story running through it, one of the most epic ones I’ve read and it matters, but it is not the main plot. Come for the world, the intrigue, and Phèdre, and let the romance be the thread it is.
Is Kushiel’s Dart spicy or explicit?
Yes. It is an adult book with explicit content, and BDSM is central to the heroine and the world. It is written with real intention, not for shock, but go in knowing it is there.
How long is Kushiel’s Dart?
It is a big one, around 800-900 pages depending on your edition. That length is exactly what kept me away for years and exactly what I now tell people not to fear. This is also why I created the Kushiels Legacy readalong and we take one year to finish the series.
What order should I read the Kushiel’s Legacy books?
Start here with Kushiel’s Dart, then Kushiel’s Chosen, then Kushiel’s Avatar for Phèdre’s trilogy. Although Jacqueline Carey herself told me in a recent interview that you could start with Cassiel’s Servant for an easier to digest version of Kushiel’s Dart from a different POV. The Kushiel’s Legacy reading guide lays out the full world if you want to map it out.
What is an anguissette?
Phèdre is an anguissette, chosen by the angel Kushiel to experience pain and pleasure as one. It is the core of her character and her world’s theology, and Carey builds it with a care that is part of why the book works.
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