Kushiel's Legacy: Difference between revisions

All seven-plus books are probably examples of [[Your Mileage May Vary]], at least on the erotica part, but are still interesting stories without the sex. ''Kushiel's Legacy'' is widely lauded by reviewers for having complex societies, likable characters, and a continuous onslaught of politics and intrigue which blend seamlessly with the sex.

 

 

* [[Affably Evil]]- Melisande may be the villainess, but she's also exceedingly beautiful, charming, and clever, and might have gotten away with a lot more if she wasn't half in love with Phèdre.

*** There's also a subtext that strongly implies that {{spoiler|it was all part of the plans of the Gods to prevent the destruction of the world}}.

* [[The Alcatraz]] - The prison island of La Dolorosa in ''Chosen''.

*** Confirmed with the newest trilogy. Moirin is just as sexually active as Phèdre and Imriel, but she has yet to show interest in BDSM and is thoroughly baffled that it exists.

**** [[It Makes Sense in Context|It makes sense in context]]. Fetishes occur when something that isn't "supposed" to be sexualized is. Feet aren't "supposed" to be sexy, but they are for foot fetishists, [[All Psychology Is Freudian|for some reason or another]], and the taboo associated with that enhances its sexiness. The only taboo thing, sexually, at least, in Terre d'Ange, is pain: that which isn't "supposed" to be pleasant is. Hence, sadism and masochism are the only recognizable kinks.

* [[Babies Ever After]] - Eventually, after Imriel and Moirin [[Earn Your Happy Ending|earn their happy endings.]]

** Subverted, however, with Phèdre and Joscelin, who never do have biological children.

* [[Big Damn Heroes]]: The biggest [[Big Damn Heroes]] moment in the series is when {{spoiler|Barquiel L'Envers charges out of Troyes-le-Mont to rescue Phèdre and Joscelin, just as Joscelin is about to perform a [[Mercy Kill]] on himself and Phèdre to save them from Waldemar Selig.}}

** Also, {{spoiler|the Albans arriving along with Isidore d'Aiglemort's armies to break the siege of Troyes-le-Mont & defeat the Skaldi.}}

* [[Bodyguard Crush]] - Joscelin is originally hired on as a bodyguard to protect Phèdre during her assignations.

* [[Bodyguard Betrayal]]: {{spoiler|Nearly gets Queen Ysandre killed during the climax of ''Kushiel's Chosen.''}}

* [[The Masochism Tango]] - Phèdre and Joscelin's relationship to a T.

** However, it tones down eventually, once Joscelin loosens up, and Phèdre stops getting yanked around by Melisande every three seconds.

* [[Master Swordsman]]: Several, most notably Joscelin. It's noted in ''Kushiel's Chosen'' that he's better than even the most practiced of the [[Warrior Monk|Cassiline Brothers]] for a very good reason--he's fought for his life many more times than they have.

** I'll give you Delaunay and Alcuin but Melisande is about ten years older than Phèdre, so [[Your Mileage May Vary]]

* [[Meaningful Echo]] - Kinda. After the second book Melisande's reply to Phèdre's accusation of treason gets said in one form or another at least once per book. It's usually mentioned that Melisande said it first.

** Justified in that once you've picked up three or four languages, the rest become somewhat easier--especially if you're dealing with "Romance languages" that have similar pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.

* [[Older Sidekick]] - Imriel seems to get a new one in every book to help him out.

* [[Oracular Urchin]] - Hyacinthe, sorta.

* [[Orphanage of Love]] - Imriel grows up in the Temple of Elua, living a very simple and happy existence.

* [[Perfectly Arranged Marriage]]: Ysandre and Drustan. Also Nicola and her husband.

* [[Pet the Dog]] - Mahrkagir literally has a dog statue which he gives to Phèdre because he loves her. Also Melisande's love for Imriel.

** Other characters get to wear these as well, especially in the books that don't have Phèdre as a main character.

* [[Plot Tailored to The Party]] - Phèdre is able to solve a lot of problems by having sex with people, but equally, if not more important, are her skills as a clever spy, linguist, and diplomat.

* [[Redemption Equals Death]] - In ''Kushiel's Dart'', {{spoiler|Isidore d'Aiglemort}} goes on a suicide mission to avoid being remembered as a traitor (and foil the plans of [[Chessmaster]], {{spoiler|Melisande}}).

* [[Rescue Romance]] - Subverted. Imriel attempts to save Sidonie from a boar, but it turns out to be just a deer.

* [[Romanticized Abuse]]- Melisande and Phedre's relationship certainly qualifies.

* [[Rope Bridge]] - In ''Kushiel's Chosen'', island prison [[The Alcatraz|La Dolorosa]] is connected to the mainland only by a rope bridge, which has two guards on the island side armed with axes, who can cut the bridge long before anybody gets across. Joscelin's solution? [[Badass|Climb along the underside of the bridge]].

* [[Sacrificial Lion]] - {{spoiler|Dorelei. And arguably Alcuin and Delaunay qualify as this as well.}}

* [[Safe Word]]: Known as a ''signale.'' Not heeding it is considered heresy.

* [[Semi Divine]]: The D'Angeline people are like this; descended from God's son and his angelic companions.

* [[Sex As Rite-Of-Passage]] - Patrons pay extra to take the virginity of a new courtesan. And it's typically part of an aristocrat's 16th birthday celebration for them to visit the Night Court for the first time.

* [[Someday This Will Come in Handy]] - Or as Delaunay and Phèdre like to say, "All knowledge is worth having".

* [[Stalker With a Test Tube]]: Imriel gets stalked/harassed in various ways by a Maghuin Dhonn witch, who at one point thinks she can [[Screw Destiny]] by getting pregnant with Imriel's child. Boy, does he not want to.

* [[Taking You With Me]] - {{spoiler|Galladus}}, not to another person but to a ''flood'' when he returns to the underworld after protecting Lucca.

* [[Throwing Your Sword Always Works]]: Sort of. In ''Kushiel's Chosen'', Joscelin makes a dagger throw that disrupts the aim of an enemy on the other end of a large temple filled with fighting men. Phèdre comments that she thought the throw was impossible.

* [[Unusual Euphemism]] - "I/you should catch a fish" between Joscelin and Phèdre.

* [[Warrior Monk]]: Joscelin and the other Cassiline brothers--complete with vow of chastity. Which one do you think Joscelin breaks first?

* [[What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart Anyway]] - The ability to speak the language of ants was originally given as a prank by an irritated spirit. In Terre D'Ange, it's this. In the Amazon Rain forest, [[Lethal Harmless Powers|it's]] [[Heart Is an Awesome Power|a little]] different.

* [[We Could Have Avoided All This]] - Almost as soon as he sets foot on Alba in ''Justice'' Imriel is stalked and harassed by the Maghuin Dhonn. They keep mentioning they are trying to prevent a future disaster, but instead of just talking to Imriel they stalk and bind him with magic. When they eventually reveal that the disaster would be {{spoiler|Imriel's son killing off the Mahguin Dhonn and becoming a conqueror due to his and his father's hatred for them}}. Imriel was understandably not impressed and immediately called them out as idiots for not just ''talking'' to him.

* [[When the Planets Align]] - used by the Carthaginians in ''Mercy'' to put a spell on the entire city.

* [[Wife Husbandry]] - Variation. Delaunay adopts Phèdre and Alcuin with the plan that he wants them to work as spies/courtesans and believes that the kids see him as a mentor/boss figure. Instead both of them fall in love with him. Alcuin waits until he's free and legal to make his move.

* [[Winds of Destiny Change]] - How the Aka Magi explain their power to kill with a glance. Everybody is just a step a death at any moment, they could have a heart attack, they could trip and break their neck, a clot could form in their brain or any other hundreds of other accidents. All the Aka Magi do is give fate that little push.