Kushiel's Dart

I received my copy of Kushiel's Dart as a moving present of sorts and after glancing over the back cover I wasn't in any hurry to read it.Finally, for lack of anything better to do, I sat down and started reading the first book in Jacqueline Careys' Kushiel's Legacy series and I was pleasantly surprised.

The book is told through they eyes of Phedre, a young woman who is fated to find pleasure in pain.Initially labeled as 'flawed' because of the scarlet mote in her eye Phedre's flaw is discovered to be the mark of a God.The person who first recognizes this mark trains Phedre to be a skilled courtesan and spy in order to use her in his own deep game.

While the novel includes a variety of spicy love scenes with a BDSM flavor it doesn't rely on graphic love scenes to drive the story.The overall plot is well written with a great deal of political intrigue, romance, and a bit of mysticism.As a lover of romance and fantasy this novel combines the best aspects of both genres.