30 in 30: Day 03 (in which I review PORN — I mean, part of the Kushiel series)

The best book you’ve read in the last 12 months

This one is harder to answer because I’ve read fewer books in the past year than I usually have. (Yes, you read that right.) Most of the books I’ve read have been non-fiction, which usually means that I haven’t actually finished them yet. And I have trouble picking a non-fiction book as the “best” that I’ve read, because that’s not how I measure their worth — I measure their worth in how USEFUL they are to me (also what KIND of useful — Silver RavenWolf’s books are good as doorstops or toilet paper, so are a lesser kind of useful than ones I’d actually get good knowledge out of…also SRW’s books could probably be classified as fiction, so I guess it’s sort of a moot point).

So. I haven’t read that many fiction books in the past year. That I can remember. I actually don’t really remember much from week to week.

Which means I’m choosing a book I just finished, because it’s fresh in my mind and it’s by one of my favorite authors. Kushiel’s Justice, by Jacqueline Carey.

Kushiel’s Justice is the fifth book in the series, and it follows the story of Imriel, foster-son of the heroine from the first 3 books. It follows the first book about him, Kushiel’s Scion, and is followed by the last book, Kushiel’s Mercy, which I have yet to read. I also read Kushiel’s Scion in the past 12 months (last month, actually), but it’s not as good as Justice.

Why?

Because in Justice Imriel isn’t such a whiny little bitch.

The entire first book is about him trying to escape his past and his family and who he is. He’s like Luke Skywalker with a sword of metal instead of lazers. I’MMA CHARGGINNNNN MAH LAAAZZZHER. “Wah, my mother’s a traitor! Wah, I get off on beating people! Wah, I’m infatuated with the ONE WOMAN IN THE ENTIRE WORLD I CAN’T HAVE! Wah, I’m not as cool as my friend Eamonn! Wah, my family members are safe with being themselves!”

Ok, fine, Imriel, you were abused horribly as a child and yes, I get that and I respect that. But my gods it took you a book and a half to get to be a character I actually liked. (I’m not counting your appearance in Kushiel’s Avatar because that wasn’t from your point of view; also you were pretty cool for a kid who’d just been through what you’d been through.)  Less with the Whiny McBitchPants Luke Skywalker Syndrome and more with the hot beatings, yes?

Anyway. I’m not here to talk about Scion; I’m here to talk about Justice.

Justice has much the feel of the first trilogy, though it’s still not as good as the books about Phedre (cause it’s not about Phedre, natch). New lands, a quest carried out alone, danger, intrigue, even some sex! Not a lot, but some. (The second trilogy, so far, is not really PRON like the first is. Imri’s not an anguissette or a courtesan; he’s just a Shahrizai.)

I’m not going to get into details, because spoilers suck, but I did enjoy Justice far more than I enjoyed Scion. I actually stayed up all night reading Justice. With a flashlight. Under my covers. (It feels more important and dangerous when you do it that way.)

If you’re a fan of J. Carey’s work…you could probably skip Scion. I wouldn’t, but I have a deep-seated neurosis about reading books out of order (Discworld drives me NUTS). If you like boys kissing, however, don’t skip Scion. 😉

If you’ve never read J. Carey’s work, but you like richly painted fantasy worlds, sex, and/or BDSM, pick up Kushiel’s Dart and GET THEE TO A NUNNERY! I mean, reading room.

Anyway, regardless Kushiel’s Scion being rather lackluster, J. Carey is still one of my favorite authors. I honestly can’t wait to see the conclusion to Imriel’s story in Kushiel’s Mercy. (I have to finish my World of Warcraft novel first. ….yes, I’m reading a novelization about the rise of the Lich King. Shut up.)