(no subject)
Yay. ‘tis a quiet day in the office, which means that I actually got to (discretely) finish Kushiel’s Scion.
I’m not normally a fan of coming-of-age stories, regardless of genre. Especially not when the protagonist is an incredibly attractive young Prince. Way too often, they’re just incredibly whiny. Except I really do like Jacqueline Carey’s work, and she did a pretty good job of getting most of her points across without becoming too preachy or whiny. Character, sex, conflict, tension, humour, love, sacrifice, violence, violent sex.
Everything you could ask for, and then some. Along with some unusual tensions that you don’t normally run into.
I mean, consider the following:
1) The protagonist, Imriel. Devastatingly attractive, son of traitors, third in line for the throne and a definite dom, albeit one who keeps it very much under wraps, courtesy of (significant) childhood trauma.
2) Imriel’s natural mother, Melisande. Where Imriel gets all his devastating good looks, one of the most Machiavellian schemers I’ve ever had the pleasure to read about and very very much a dom. Apparently, it’s a family thing. Also, one of Phedre’s former patrons who made a very strong impression on Phedre back in the day….
3) Phedre. Imriel’s youngish (mid-30s) foster mother. National hero, confidante of the reigning queen, bookworm and foremost courtesan of the age, celebrated in song and poetry. Incidentally, the one true sub of her age, blessed by the powers that be to heal quickly and cleanly and to find pleasure in pain…
Needless to say, there were some very interesting moments. Hilarious, really.
Will probably have to go back and read it again some point soon, just in case I missed anything. Its been a while since I’ve gotten my grubby paws on a book that kept me up all night. Think I might have dozed off and skipped some bits at some point last night…
Trouble is, right now, my mind is going all sorts of places it really should’nt be wandering into. And certainly not at work!
One would have thought that one would have learnt by now… but no… oh well. Pure thoughts. Pure thoughts.
I’m not normally a fan of coming-of-age stories, regardless of genre. Especially not when the protagonist is an incredibly attractive young Prince. Way too often, they’re just incredibly whiny. Except I really do like Jacqueline Carey’s work, and she did a pretty good job of getting most of her points across without becoming too preachy or whiny. Character, sex, conflict, tension, humour, love, sacrifice, violence, violent sex.
Everything you could ask for, and then some. Along with some unusual tensions that you don’t normally run into.
I mean, consider the following:
1) The protagonist, Imriel. Devastatingly attractive, son of traitors, third in line for the throne and a definite dom, albeit one who keeps it very much under wraps, courtesy of (significant) childhood trauma.
2) Imriel’s natural mother, Melisande. Where Imriel gets all his devastating good looks, one of the most Machiavellian schemers I’ve ever had the pleasure to read about and very very much a dom. Apparently, it’s a family thing. Also, one of Phedre’s former patrons who made a very strong impression on Phedre back in the day….
3) Phedre. Imriel’s youngish (mid-30s) foster mother. National hero, confidante of the reigning queen, bookworm and foremost courtesan of the age, celebrated in song and poetry. Incidentally, the one true sub of her age, blessed by the powers that be to heal quickly and cleanly and to find pleasure in pain…
Needless to say, there were some very interesting moments. Hilarious, really.
Will probably have to go back and read it again some point soon, just in case I missed anything. Its been a while since I’ve gotten my grubby paws on a book that kept me up all night. Think I might have dozed off and skipped some bits at some point last night…
Trouble is, right now, my mind is going all sorts of places it really should’nt be wandering into. And certainly not at work!
One would have thought that one would have learnt by now… but no… oh well. Pure thoughts. Pure thoughts.