Jacqueline Carey series

John F · 11-10-2010, 10:38 AM

I'm thinking of reading the Imriel Trilogy by Jacqueline Carey (the books are available in ebooks at the library) and was wondering if I should read any of her other books first, like the Kushiel's Legacy series. Does the trilogy stand on it's own? Would I get a lot out of reading the other series first?

Thanks.

poohbear_nc · 11-10-2010, 10:47 AM

Jon - it would be much more helpful if:
1. You actually addressed the OP's question
2. You provided reasons or comments addressed specifically to an author's writing style, choice of subject matter, etc. - rather than just drop in disparaging comments.

JSWolf · 11-10-2010, 11:15 AM

I did try to read Kushiel's Dart. I got to chapter 15 and had to stop. I found there was little to nothing going on. The characters were wooden and stiff. They had little to offer to keep me interested. It felt like I was reading about high society having tea parties and fancy dress parties. It wasn't interesting.

Also, the reading order is as follows...

Kushiel's Legacy series and companion Naamah Trilogy:
Kushiel's Dart
Kushiel's Chosen
Kushiel's Avatar
Kushiel's Scion
Kushiel's Justice
Kushiel's Mercy
Naamah's Kiss
Naamah's Curse
Naamah's Blessing (forthcoming June 2011).

John F · 11-10-2010, 11:38 AM

Jon, thanks.

I would still be interested in opinions (in regards to the original question) from people who read the two series.

ShortNCuddlyAm · 11-10-2010, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I did try to read Kushiel's Dart. I got to chapter 15 and had to stop. I found there was little to nothing going on. The characters were wooden and stiff. They had little to offer to keep me interested. It felt like I was reading about high society having tea parties and fancy dress parties. It wasn't interesting.

Chapter 15's quite early into it, iirc - there's a bit more action a little later on

Spoiler:

However, I do find Phedre to be something of a Mary Sue. I think I enjoyed and was annoyed by the first trilogy in equal measure!

Back to what the OP wrote - the first trilogy deals with Imriel's adoptive parents, and his real ones, so that backstory might be of use (I'veonly read the first book of the second series, so can't really comment on whether it is neccessary to read the first to enjoy the second)

issybird · 11-10-2010, 05:55 PM

The first trilogy held my interest; I thought the first two books were more enjoyable than the last. Epic final battles are a little too predictable.

It probably helps if you have a kink or two, frankly.

viviena · 11-10-2010, 10:02 PM

I was about to say you could read the Imriel trilogy by itself, but I realised that you would be missing a lot of background information if you skipped the third book of the first trilogy. So there's that. Reading the first trilogy also lets you appreciate the worldbuilding as well, which is easily the thing I liked the most about these Terre d'Ange series. I found her prose annoying in comparison.

Anyway, the Imriel trilogy might be worth a read. The character of Imriel is more realistic (the people I know who 'loved' Phedre found him boring in comparison), and there's less... confronting scenes than in the first trilogy. I think a lot of the first book in the Imriel trilogy in particular is devoted to setting things up though, so the slow pace might be off-putting.

fantasyISbetter · 11-13-2010, 12:05 AM

I read the first 3 books in the Kushiel series and enjoyed them- I thought the characters were interesting and memorable, and the sex scenes were not annoying. I lost interest when the kids (Imriel et al) got older, so I haven't read about the adult Imriel. I would try Kushiel's Dart if I were you.

lilac_jive · 11-13-2010, 01:41 PM

I read the first trilogy several years ago, but never started the next series. I think the final book in the first trilogy soured me a bit.

If you are looking for something similar but are dismayed by the number of books (and their size, holy crap), may I suggest The Bridge D'Arnath series by Carol Berg? Series is as follows:
#1- Sons of Avonar
#2- Guardians of the Keep
#3- The Soul Weaver
#4- Daughter of Ancients

It's been a while since I read them, but from what I remember she has the good elements of Carey's series without the bad (vague, I know).

pholy · 11-15-2010, 09:57 AM

Quote:

It probably helps if you have a kink or two, frankly.

One person's kink is another's curl... you just have to be flexible. "Love as thou wilt" in books as in other matters.

I enjoyed the first series, which is all that I have found time to sit down with.

Anarel · 11-17-2010, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I read the first trilogy several years ago, but never started the next series. I think the final book in the first trilogy soured me a bit.

If you are looking for something similar but are dismayed by the number of books (and their size, holy crap), may I suggest The Bridge D'Arnath series by Carol Berg? Series is as follows:
#1- Sons of Avonar
#2- Guardians of the Keep
#3- The Soul Weaver
#4- Daughter of Ancients

It's been a while since I read them, but from what I remember she has the good elements of Carey's series without the bad (vague, I know).

I second the Carol Berg series recommendation, that series was AWESOME!

As to Jaxqueline Carey's books, I read the first one, but with some difficulty 'cause in the Kindle store they are (or were at least when I bought the first) in topaz format and I couldn't bear to read it anymore after reading the first....

jehane · 11-19-2010, 02:10 PM

I've read all six, and you really need to read the first set to understand what's going on in the second. There's some backstory at the start of the second series, but you'll spend a lot of time wondering why certain characters would behave in certain ways which make sense if you know the detailed backstory (ie the first trilogy). Personally, I feel that the second series is not as strong as the first, and even then the subsequent novels were not as strong as the first novel. Though I do really like the Darsanga section of the third novel. However after the first novel the rest start to feel like a travelogue - I'm just waiting for one of the characters to make it to Australia!

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11-10-2010, 10:38 AM	#1
John F Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,941 Karma: 70766125 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo Clara 2E	Jacqueline Carey series I'm thinking of reading the Imriel Trilogy by Jacqueline Carey (the books are available in ebooks at the library) and was wondering if I should read any of her other books first, like the Kushiel's Legacy series. Does the trilogy stand on it's own? Would I get a lot out of reading the other series first? Thanks.

11-10-2010, 10:47 AM	#2
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 63,398 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	Jon - it would be much more helpful if: 1. You actually addressed the OP's question 2. You provided reasons or comments addressed specifically to an author's writing style, choice of subject matter, etc. - rather than just drop in disparaging comments.

11-10-2010, 11:15 AM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,750 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I did try to read Kushiel's Dart. I got to chapter 15 and had to stop. I found there was little to nothing going on. The characters were wooden and stiff. They had little to offer to keep me interested. It felt like I was reading about high society having tea parties and fancy dress parties. It wasn't interesting. Also, the reading order is as follows... Kushiel's Legacy series and companion Naamah Trilogy: Kushiel's Dart Kushiel's Chosen Kushiel's Avatar Kushiel's Scion Kushiel's Justice Kushiel's Mercy Naamah's Kiss Naamah's Curse Naamah's Blessing (forthcoming June 2011). Last edited by JSWolf; 11-10-2010 at 11:20 AM.

11-10-2010, 11:38 AM	#4
John F Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,941 Karma: 70766125 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo Clara 2E	Jon, thanks. I would still be interested in opinions (in regards to the original question) from people who read the two series.

11-10-2010, 05:55 PM	#6
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,292 Karma: 234636059 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	The first trilogy held my interest; I thought the first two books were more enjoyable than the last. Epic final battles are a little too predictable. It probably helps if you have a kink or two, frankly.

11-10-2010, 10:02 PM	#7
viviena Evangelist Posts: 412 Karma: 520610 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Canberra, Australia Device: Currently Kobo Clara HD and Aura One, iPad	I was about to say you could read the Imriel trilogy by itself, but I realised that you would be missing a lot of background information if you skipped the third book of the first trilogy. So there's that. Reading the first trilogy also lets you appreciate the worldbuilding as well, which is easily the thing I liked the most about these Terre d'Ange series. I found her prose annoying in comparison. Anyway, the Imriel trilogy might be worth a read. The character of Imriel is more realistic (the people I know who 'loved' Phedre found him boring in comparison), and there's less... confronting scenes than in the first trilogy. I think a lot of the first book in the Imriel trilogy in particular is devoted to setting things up though, so the slow pace might be off-putting.

11-13-2010, 12:05 AM	#8
fantasyISbetter FantasyisBetter Posts: 66 Karma: 1221124 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: none	I read the first 3 books in the Kushiel series and enjoyed them- I thought the characters were interesting and memorable, and the sex scenes were not annoying. I lost interest when the kids (Imriel et al) got older, so I haven't read about the adult Imriel. I would try Kushiel's Dart if I were you.

11-13-2010, 01:41 PM	#9
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	I read the first trilogy several years ago, but never started the next series. I think the final book in the first trilogy soured me a bit. If you are looking for something similar but are dismayed by the number of books (and their size, holy crap), may I suggest The Bridge D'Arnath series by Carol Berg? Series is as follows: #1- Sons of Avonar #2- Guardians of the Keep #3- The Soul Weaver #4- Daughter of Ancients It's been a while since I read them, but from what I remember she has the good elements of Carey's series without the bad (vague, I know).

11-19-2010, 02:10 PM	#12
jehane Book addict Posts: 441 Karma: 2650464 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Antarctica/Australia/Ohio Device: Sony PRS-300/T1/Asus TF101	I've read all six, and you really need to read the first set to understand what's going on in the second. There's some backstory at the start of the second series, but you'll spend a lot of time wondering why certain characters would behave in certain ways which make sense if you know the detailed backstory (ie the first trilogy). Personally, I feel that the second series is not as strong as the first, and even then the subsequent novels were not as strong as the first novel. Though I do really like the Darsanga section of the third novel. However after the first novel the rest start to feel like a travelogue - I'm just waiting for one of the characters to make it to Australia!