Helpful Score: 1
A beautiful, sensual, intelligent addition to Kushiel's Legacy series.
As with the other stories, this book is epic, a journey over a couple of years and thousands of miles. Imriel and Sidonie begin an ill-fated love affair, destined to break hearts when Imriel marries Dorelei the Alban princess to whom he is betrothed. Kushiel's Justice tells of how Imriel and Sidonie come together, how they break apart, what happens with Dorelei and eventually how Imriel returns to Terre D'Ange.
Most of the book was very tight and heart wrenching. The snippets of life in the Delaunay household, sections of the story featuring Phedre and Jocelin were a nice treat. Imriel tries very hard to be good, to overcome the legacy of his mother's treason. But trouble follows him wherever he goes, and like the Phedre books, there is angst and danger wherever he turns.
The first two thirds of the book were deeply engrossing. And then I felt like Jacqueline Carey began to stretch the story only for the sake of delaying any reunion between Imriel and Sedonie. Like Kushiel's Scion, the last third of the book became a series of endless trials and wanderings for Imriel. I found myself skimming many pages, wanting to get back to the main story. I felt much this way about Scion, where the travails in Lucca had little to do with Imriel and served no purpose but to prolong his absence from home. While Justice at least keeps the story directly about Imriel, his quest toward the end of the book felt more like a device to prolong the agony, perhaps to make the return to the arms of his family and love that much more sweet. But I turned impatient with the story and Carey's style and soured the reunion for me a bit.
I was satisfied with the ending of this book. You read it knowing there is another in the trilogy so this story is one without an "ending" (or at least a HEA). However Carey wrapped it up nicely and left you feeling like you'd had a good meal.
Four stars.
As with the other stories, this book is epic, a journey over a couple of years and thousands of miles. Imriel and Sidonie begin an ill-fated love affair, destined to break hearts when Imriel marries Dorelei the Alban princess to whom he is betrothed. Kushiel's Justice tells of how Imriel and Sidonie come together, how they break apart, what happens with Dorelei and eventually how Imriel returns to Terre D'Ange.
Most of the book was very tight and heart wrenching. The snippets of life in the Delaunay household, sections of the story featuring Phedre and Jocelin were a nice treat. Imriel tries very hard to be good, to overcome the legacy of his mother's treason. But trouble follows him wherever he goes, and like the Phedre books, there is angst and danger wherever he turns.
The first two thirds of the book were deeply engrossing. And then I felt like Jacqueline Carey began to stretch the story only for the sake of delaying any reunion between Imriel and Sedonie. Like Kushiel's Scion, the last third of the book became a series of endless trials and wanderings for Imriel. I found myself skimming many pages, wanting to get back to the main story. I felt much this way about Scion, where the travails in Lucca had little to do with Imriel and served no purpose but to prolong his absence from home. While Justice at least keeps the story directly about Imriel, his quest toward the end of the book felt more like a device to prolong the agony, perhaps to make the return to the arms of his family and love that much more sweet. But I turned impatient with the story and Carey's style and soured the reunion for me a bit.
I was satisfied with the ending of this book. You read it knowing there is another in the trilogy so this story is one without an "ending" (or at least a HEA). However Carey wrapped it up nicely and left you feeling like you'd had a good meal.
Four stars.
Helpful Score: 1
Oh Imri! He loves so deeply that you can't help but love with him. I'm glad he finally got the push needed to accept his place in Kushiel's line, even though it was near torture to get him there. I loved the change of scenery in this novel, but Imri and Sidonie are perfect and need to be able to remain together.
