Terre d’Ange, Alba, the Flatlands, Skaldia and Vralia - Medieval Times

Imriel de la Courcel is a Prince of the Blood, the blood son of traitors to Terre d’Ange and the adoptive son of Terre d’Ange’s most beloved heroes. Imriel himself is both admired and reviled for his ties to all of these people. Blessed Elua founded Terre d’Ange with but one rule, love as thou wilt, but when Imriel realizes that he loves Sidonie de la Courcel, it’s not so simple. For Sidonie is the heir to Terre d’Ange and Imriel has already agreed to a political marriage suggested by Sidonie’s mother, Queen Ysandre de la Courcel. Can a love born under these circumstances ever come to fruition?

Sidonie de la Courcel never wanted to fall in love with Imriel; in fact, for many years the two of them didn’t even get along. But then one day, something just changed, and though their passion is strong and Elua wouldn’t approve of their denying it, there is no other choice. Imriel’s marriage must occur to cement ties with Alba and as the heir of Terre d’Ange, Sidonie understands this better than most. Their only hope is that the passion between them will flicker and die away. It’s surely a futile hope, but it’s better than none.

A magnificent tale of love in its many forms, treachery, magic, and the hidden depths of a man’s soul, KUSHIEL’S JUSTICE is fantasy at its best. Imriel was just a child in the last installment of Kushiel’s Legacy, KUSHIEL’S SCION; now he is a young man ready to face up to his responsibilities and the facts of both his past and his present. By the end of this tale, Imriel will have discovered much about his own nature, and those of the people surrounding him; many of these discoveries will be surprising indeed. Sidonie is an intriguing character; though many view her as cold and unapproachable, she’s actually fiery and intense behind closed doors. She and Imriel make a wonderful couple, and though things occur throughout the book that made me wonder if they should really end up together, at no time was there any doubt that if they did, it would be fitting.

There are so many important secondary characters that I’m hard pressed to pick out just a few to name here, but I should, so, here goes. Joscelin Verreuil and Phèdre nó Delaunay de Montrève are Imriel’s adoptive parents and their help and love are invaluable throughout the book even when they’re not present. Sidonie’s parents are Drustan mab Necthana (leader of Alba) and Ysandre de la Courcel (queen of Terre d’Ange). Dorelei, Drustan’s niece and a princess of Alba, is the young woman to whom Imriel is betrothed. She is an admirable girl, determined to aid her country in whatever manner she can. Alais de la Courcel is Sidonie’s younger sister and a great friend of Imriel’s. She’s engaged to wed Talorcan, Dorelei’s brother. Maslin de Lombelon, a lieutenant in Ysandre’s guard, is also in love with Sidonie.

Fans of Kushiel’s Legacy are bound to enjoy KUSHIEL’S JUSTICE; however, I must warn you, there are some definite “grab a tissue” moments. Sadness aside, there is much to enjoy in this book and I highly recommend it. Although this is the fifth book in the series, the author does a wonderful job of referencing the past to help the reader understand the intricacies of Imriel’s world. That being said, I would definitely suggest you read KUSHIEL’S SCION at the very least to get a better understanding of Imriel and the world he lives in. KUSHIEL’S JUSTICE is over six hundred pages long, so you’ll have time to savor this fabulous addition to your library.

Lori Ann