If you enjoy intricate and detailed worldbuilding, combined with political intrigue and conspiracy flavoured with dark eroticism, then Jacqueline Carey is an author you should read. She is best known for her Kushiel series, now at nine books, set primarily in the land of Terre D’Ange which is analogous to medieval France. Other European nations are represented… Alba [Britain] and Caerdicca Unitas [Italy], for example, although characters travel much further afield to Menekhet [Egypt], Ch’in [China], and Bhodistan [India] over the course of the series. Each nation is recognisable to the reader but there are imaginative twists and alternate histories abound. Political intrigue is a core feature, with the central characters of each trilogy (Phedre, Imriel and Moirin respectively) playing key roles.

Terre D’Ange was founded by the fallen angel Elua, also “’The Misbegotten’ son of Yeshua, the Magdalene, and Mother Earth”, from whom the current monarchy is descended. Each province was founded by one of Elua’s Companions and have their own ruling elite, answerable to the Crown.  Society, culture and religion are all based on the teachings of Elua and his Companions, with the motto “Love as though wilt” being the central tenet. Because of this, love and physical pleasure are held in the highest regard by the D’Angelines. All aspects of sexual behaviour are embraced and indeed incorporated into both society and religion, with some interesting cultural and moral standards resulting from this. [Note: age restrictions do apply and breaches of this are not acceptable] One fascinating feature of Terre D’Ange society is the Court of Night-blooming Flowers, comprising thirteen Houses, each dedicated to a particular aspect of physical pleasure. All adepts of the Houses are ‘Servants of Naamah’ or courtesans and are highly respected within D’Angeline society. Phedre, whose story is told in the first trilogy, grows up in the House of Cereus but once identified as an anguissette (she finds pleasure in pain) is apprenticed outside of the Court and is both educated and trained physically, mentally, and sexually to be a scholar, spy and Servant of Naamah.

The depth of fascinating detail that Jacqueline Carey gives us about D’Angeline culture and society permeates the entire series. Yet when her lead characters travel abroad, for example when Imriel (second trilogy central character) moves to Alba, this rich descriptive style is applied to the new location. The Alban mythology, similar to Celtic, is central to that culture and Carey uses the new location to provide us with another society where again politics and intrigue feature. For me, this is one of the strengths of this author. She takes a known, real-life culture and twists it in such a way that it becomes something more than the original, yet remains familiar. Her plots are layered with politics, relationships, betrayal, and hope, and provide sufficient twists and surprises to keep the reader hooked throughout. This is intelligent fantasy on a grand scale, full of imagination with memorable characters and fascinating locations. Jacqueline Carey writes for adults and has strong erotic themes in her books, but if you are looking for a fantasy series that is different from the usual fare, then this is an author you should definitely read.

Thief Eyes begins with a spine-tingling scene of sorcery, in which Hallgerd, a young girl in ancient Iceland, calls upon dangerous powers in order to avoid an unwanted marriage. With this scene, Janni Lee Simner sets an ominous mood, gives us some background information, and provides a few tantalizing hints about what might unfold later… Thief Eyes paints a vivid picture of Iceland and alludes to many of its myths. You may find yourself wanting to travel there or to read the classic sagas. I know I did! This is a well-researched and thoroughly enjoyable young adult novel, not to mention refreshingly original. (No vampires!) Read the rest.

The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart

… The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart is not a book I would recommend to many people. I would be too afraid that whoever I asked to read it may no longer want to associate with me. Jesse Bullington has worked very hard to be highly offensive in almost every way imaginable, and I loved every minute of it…  If you are a religious person, I highly recommend you burn this book upon it entering your household. If you don’t want to burn things then just give it to someone you wish to have spend an eternity in hell. The mere possession of this book will quite likely taint your soul… I would quite possibly give everything I own to see this listed on Oprah’s Book Club… Read the rest.

Perdido Street Station

… Perdido Street Station and its sequels have made China Miéville one of the most acclaimed fantasy writers of the 21st century. Perdido Street Station is an outstanding urban fantasy full of unconventional plot twists and the most unlikely of heroes… there is a great deal going on here, and Miéville clearly enjoys introducing his readers to all of the back alleys and shady bars that make up New Crobuzon… Miéville has achieved a great deal in this novel, and it’s a story that has earned him a loyal fan base, not to mention numerous awards. The excitement of Perdido Street Station is very much the excitement found in a truly urban city, one where even the hippest residents struggle to keep up with what is going on. Read the rest.

Welcome, Ryan!

The Children of the Lost

The Children of the Lost is David Whitley’s follow-up to last year’s The Midnight Charter, which I reviewed as a weak three: strong in ideas but weaker in characterization and plotting. The Children of the Lost is a stronger book, though it also has its flaws. One thing I feel compelled to point out upfront, however, is that The Children of the Lost ends in a true cliffhanger of an ending, and so those who find such endings annoying may want to hold off until the third book comes out… The Children of the Lost shows improvement in nearly every aspect save for its close. If the same level of improvement occurs between this and the next book, it looks like the series will be a winner, but at this point, I think I’ll wait for that next one before recommending whether readers should start the series or not. Read the rest.

Dead Beat

… Jim Butcher’s Dead Beat is another one of the “middle” Dresden books that I love so much. Just about the time when most series start getting stale, The Dresden Files gets better. Dead Beat continues the tradition of one-upping the action from the previous novel. Harry seriously gets to unload on the bad guys, and the battles take place around some of the most iconic Chicago landmarks. While I was at a Jim Butcher book signing, someone asked Jim which of the books he would like to see turned into a motion picture. His answer was Dead Beat. The story is still early enough in the Dresden universe to begin a movie with, and the effects and action would be amazing… Read the rest.