Naamah's Kiss

May 11, 2009
The seventh installment in Carey's bestselling Kushiel series (after 2008's Kushiel's Mercy
) follows its youthful protagonist, Moirim, from bed to bed as she worships sexuality goddess Naamah. Following a tragic affair, Moirim travels to Terre d'Ange, this world's France. There she takes a variety of lovers, from the aristocratic occultist Raphael de Mereliot to Queen Jehanne herself. The elderly but wise Lo Feng befriends Moirim and leads her to the distant land of Ch'in and the true love of her life, the gruff but affectionate ex-bandit Bao. Moirim and her friends endeavor to save the Ch'in emperor's daughter Snow Tiger from a curse, but their efforts come at terrible costs, not least of which is the certainty of multiple sequels. Carey's triumph as a writer lies in her ability to turn these stock—nearly stereotyped—components into an engaging, fascinating novel.

Starred review from June 1, 2009
Carey here returns to the sensual, Renaissance-inspired world of her best-selling "Kushiel's Legacy" series. Moirin knows little of the world outside the forests and caves of Alba, but when she undergoes the Maghuin Dhonn's rite of passage, a powerful destiny is partially revealed to her. In Terre d'Ange she finds her father, a priest serving Naamah, the goddess of desire, and meets Raphael de Mereliot, a talented doctor and the queen's favorite lover (until her majesty meets Moirin). Raphael wants Moirin to use her special powers on his behalf, but Moirin's diadh-anam, or soul, blazes that her path lies elsewhere. Instead, she joins visiting scholar Master Lo Feng and his companion Bao on their return to Ch'in to save the emperor's daughter. VERDICT Carey begins her new series with a bang. Moirin is an exciting heroine who, like Ph]dre n Delaunay, playfully and passionately explores the sacredness of sexuality. Highly recommended for Carey fans and mature readers. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 2/15/09; Carey has also just published an urban fantasy, "Santa Olivia".Ed.]Karen Kleckner, Deerfield P.L., IL

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from June 1, 2009
Taking place generations later in the world of Careys six Kushiel novels, this coming-of-age fantasy focuses on Moirin, one of the Maghuin Dhonn. Raised in the wild by her loving mother, Moirin learns to cloak herself in concealing twilight and also exhibits magic from unknown gods, which leads her to discover she is half DAngeline. Though her heart belongs to the Great Bear, the DAngeline gods Naamah and Anael have also claimed her. During the rites of adulthood, Moirin is shown a vision of a sea, or seas, that she must cross to fulfill her destiny. With minimal guidance, she journeys to Terre dAnge to find her father, a priest of Naamah, and then to Chin to free a celestial dragon trapped inside a princess. This novel is epical in the cultures, histories, religions, and characters brought to life in its vibrant world. Moirin is a nuanced, sympathetic protagonist, and as she grows in awareness of her sexuality and magic, shes drawn to a series of powerful, contradictory relationships that shape the woman she becomes. Carey writes with meditative grace, eroticism, and excitement, equally assured with the intricacies of court and the bloody nature of battle. While Careys fans will clamor for this, its also a good entry point for new readers to the world she has realized.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)