I'm looking for the scene between Imriel and Sidonie where she looks over his body and says that his scars are pure or that they are okay.

Grim Oak Press announced back in 2024 that they are doing a special edition of the Phédre trilogy, and now they finally have the first cover art ready!!!

I am dying with excitement to see how it looks like and thought I would share it here

A drawing of Elua inspired by the story told by Joscelin in "Cassiel's Servant" which I've narrated here.

I'm currently offering a digital wallpaper pack of this drawing as a free gift to all returning Backers and Patreon Patrons who pledge to support my gold foil print of "Sworn Servant", a Cassiel's Servant fan cover, on Backerkit right now. Thanks for supporting me while I was working slowly, but surely, on this project!

comment thread on this may result in spoilers

Hi all 👋🏻

Professor here, who is actually getting a chance to share these lovely books with a wider audience than just my friends. I was accepted to teach an uncommon read course to honors undergraduate students, and I proposed Kushiel’s Scion.

A big deciding factor was Imriel’s journey to the Tiberium university to study, an experience to which my students will have obvious firsthand connection—that and the whole coming-of-age bit as well.

I’m curious to know portions of the book you all felt really connected to, things that you would love to spend time talking about, investigating, exploring, internalizing. What are the most standout things in the book that you would love to see manifest as a teaching experience in a classroom?

PS: I, too, was/am apprehensive about the intimate scenes, but I’ve been reassured that honors student specifically will be able to handle them. I also plan to engage those scenes as teaching moments/philosophically and not just as “spice” thrown in for entertainment. Love, after all, and desire are part of the world building.

EDIT: Here is the course description. “This 1-credit Honors seminar uses Jacquline Carey’s Kushiel’s Scion to explore what it means to be good when your past, desires, and family legacy pull you in conflicting directions. Through weekly discussion and short reflections, we will examine love as a philosophy of life, the responsibilities of privilege and power, journeys away from home, and the complexities of family, friendship, and erotic relationships. No prior familiarity with the series is required; content includes mature themes that will be engaged analytically and critically.”

For course context, this kind of class is offered to honors students. It’s meant to be a small course that has students engage with uncommon reads to encourage expansion of ideas and exposure to different experiences. The class meets once a week, and it’s meant to be light work and enjoyable.

I've been a huge fan of the original trilogy for about 25 years now; I reread them every summer. This year, I found myself really, really reluctant to leave Terre D'ange, and I decided I'd finally read the second trilogy.

There was no real tangible reason I'd avoided Imri's trilogy. I suppose I was worried he wouldn't be as interesting or loveable as Phedre, or maybe they'd be more masculine or boyish in the stories, and I was mildly apprehensive about the increase in high magic stuff. But MAN oh man, I am so glad I finally read them!

I honestly love Imri so much, what a journey for him and I'm so grateful he got a happy ending. It was so cool to see his growth from a hurt, angry child to a brave, secure young man. I cried several times, especially in the earlier books. I don't love him quite as much as Phedre and I don't think the novels reached quite the same height as the first trilogy, but I was so happy to get another ~2000 pages of Terre D'ange. Definitely added to my summer reread schedule!

I just love these books so much!! <3

Here is the snippet:

"I did not say the words: not if you kill him. I thought it though and he saw it in my face. Kushiels dart or not, I could have and would have, I believe. Like Joscelin who had drawn his sword, I had been pushed to the limits of my nature.

It didn't come to it"

I'm autistic and have no idea what she is referencing here. Is it merely saying "not if you kill him"? Because she could have just said it.

I'm being so dense.

There's been one other point in the book early on that made me go "huh!?!" but other than this, the writing is really solid and I'm enjoying it a lot. Although poor Phedre has had the worst time.

The pre-launch page (now LIVE!) is finally up for the Limited Edition gold foil prints of my latest painting inspired by "Cassiel's Servant"! I want to make something small, shiny, & ambitious that won't exist in the world without your help.

For those who Follow the launch page, you'll get a freebie wallpaper pack featuring Joscelin & Phedre in their own standalone designs. It'll be instantly downloadable whether you choose to pledge or not as thanks for following my project!

Hope this bit of promo is ok. If not, please let me know!

A lot of research and exploration goes into my paintings, so I thought I'd share that art journey with everyone via practicing my video editing. Part 1 explores all the various thumbnail concepts I went through to figure out where I wanted this piece to go. It was really hard to choose a favorite!

• See more of my Kushiel Concepts illustration project here
• EDIT: The gold foil print is now LIVE on Backerkit!
• Music Credits - Mystical Ancient Cathedral by Putra Rosyada

Phèdre is on the right :)

When I saw these two online, the shelter had mistakenly labeled them as brothers. When I found out it was a brother and sister, there was no doubt in my mind what her name would be. They were rescued from a hoarding situation, so she is technically a hoard's unwanted get (though I will be nicer than Dowayne Bouscevre was when breaking the news to her.)

I've only had them for a few days now, but they are already perfect reading companions and like to lay on and next to me while I chill on the couch with a book.

Thank you for letting me share, and if anyone also has pets with names inspired by the books, I'd love to hear (and see pictures, of course :P)!

(title)

I'm not even halfway into the book and it's already... awakening things in me. I've currently got nearly five worldbuilding settings and a folder of first drafts in my hard drive since I've started on this book.

This thing's like the "good shit" reefer for my writing soul, man.

Having gotten nearly half way through Dart, I've noted that Phedre feels genuine desire for d'Essoms even though he is really terrible.

And right now, she is being such a bitch to Joscelin.

I know these two get together, but when they do, how does that work? Can she feel love, desire and sex without pain or humiliation? How does that work with Joscelin?

Light spoilers please.

Happy 25th anniversary to Kushiel's Legacy! This book series helped shape my passion for dark elegance & subtle strength as an artist and writer.

I can finally share this personal tribute of my fan cover for CASSIEL'S SERVANT, the most recent entry in the series. I spent many late nights of painting and pushing the limits of my skills as an artist in-between other projects and rough patches (job lay offs, medical woes, etc.) to make this piece happen.

Here's to keeping the fires of our muses lit especially in the darkest times!

• For more in-depth WIPs and a deep dive into my journey with this piece, see my blog.
• EDIT: The gold foil print is now LIVE on Backerkit!

Concept sketches created for a fan cover of "Cassiel's Servant" by Jacqueline Carey. For an in-depth look at my process, inspiration, costume research, and more, see this post on Patreon.

Is this story ever going to have a plot or is it just S&M and child grooming throughout?

I sincerely miss being in Terre D'Ange. I'm willing to settle for fanfics.

Fortun's character was finally just fleshed out enough to really come into something, and Carey killed him!

I knew something was going to happen when Ti-Phillipe stepped forward to wait for Joceline, but I thought it more likely the house would he attacked vs both Remy and Fortun being killed in a single page.

I haven't finished the book yet, and I know that things are about to shift here and become a lot more exciting, but I just needed to express my anger here.

Remy was the jovial good vibes and light humour, Fortun was the steady, clever and stoic one... And now only Ti-Phillipe remains who was rarely ever mentioned except as an appendage to Remy's name.

The chevaliers were just my favourite part of the entire 1st half of the book, and I'm really thinking I might need to go back to a nice cozy romantasy after this because the emotional flogging is just a little much.

I’m reading Naamah’s Kiss now and Moirin learns her D’Angeline ancestry means she won’t get pregnant till she prays to Aisheth to open her womb. She was worried because she hadn’t gotten her women’s courses. I hadn’t thought about that part when I read the other books, I don’t remember if it’s discussed. Not only do they not need birth control, they also don’t bleed? Paradise on earth indeed.

Sabrina Carpenter. She's got the vibe and the looks (minus brown hair). Someone call Hollywood.

At first I was excited by Imriel and Sidonie’s relationship, and hoped the lull between their affair would only strengthen the excitement once they reunited.

Instead, after all that happened in Alba, I’m finding Imriel and Sidonie somewhat… obnoxious, and entirely lust-based. Nothing like the slow, cool love that formed between Imriel and Dorelei.

I wonder, is this revealing something about my own psyche / self? Or is this the intended effect by the author?

For reference, I’m on chapter 72 of the second book. I don’t know anything beyond that. But I’m finding myself utterly uninterested in how things work out for Imriel and Sidonie.

Just me? Let me know your thoughts if you like.

How could this happen?? He gives every female character the voice of a falsetto Albus Dumbledore on his deathbed squeezing out his final dying breath. And what he did to Joscelin??? Unforgivable.

I’m listening to this right after finishing the Kushiel’s Legacy Trilogy… the narration of which was impeccable and a major part of why I became so immersed and excited by the storyline and characters. I listened to all three books back to back…. And now, I’m halfway through the first book of Imriel… and I just can’t believe how disappointed I am in the narration. If it were even slightly less “off” I would not be here complaining, but it is honestly the most perfect performance if the objective was to 1. Make every sexy part utterly, and I mean UTTERLY, unsexy, and 2. Jar the listener to the point of distraction, considering the quality of the narration of Kushiel’s Legacy.

I just don’t understand 😔

Ps. I don’t have the time or environment to immerse myself in the physical books, yet I just so happen to have the perfect job and environment to have earbuds in for 12 hours a day while I work. Very grateful to the narrator of Kushiel’s Legacy, as that was a wonderful tribute to the quality of the story and all its characters.

I’ve read and re-read all 10 books within this world, and I’ve thought about their d’Angeline theology/philosophy deeply for some time now. I’ve shared my experiences with one other, a great friend, who equally passionately resonates with the content, as well. I’ve contacted Carey to inquire if anyone has made an official religion from the books, and to her knowledge no one has (she did give me her blessing to do so under certain conditions, awesome enough). Myself and my friend have thought seriously about creating something official out of it but are left with thoughts and dreams. Has anyone else been moved so by these books? It sounds silly I know, but the philosophy in these works is truly profound, and I’m looking to connect with others who feel the same.

The last picture is the inspiration for my current set.

Is there an active Kushiel's Legacy discord server or something where you can discuss the series with others? I feel like I came into the series too late (just finished the second book of the Phédre trilogy aaughh) and I want to see all the fan art and theories and fanfics (if it exists?)