Kushiel's Scion (Kushiel's Legacy) - Hardcover

Jacqueline Carey is the author of the critically acclaimed Kushiel's Legacy series of historical fantasy novels and The Sundering epic fantasy duology. An avid reader, she began writing fiction as a hobby in high school. After receiving B.A. degrees in psychology and English literature from Lake Forest College and realizing she still didn't know what she wanted to be when she grew up, she took part in a work exchange program and spent six months working in a bookstore in London. While living abroad, surrounded by books, the desire to write professionally emerged as a driving passion. Upon returning she embarked in earnest on a writing career, which came to fruition a decade later. At the age of ten, she coaxed a reluctant camp counselor into letting her borrow Mary Renault's The Persian Boy, which sparked a lifelong love of mythology and historical fiction. Works such as Robert Graves' I, Claudius and Dorothy Dunnett's House of Niccolo series continue inform her writing. Her love of fantasy was also inspired at an early age by works such as C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia and Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles. While an avowed advocate of old-school library research, Jacqueline is also an inveterate web junkie and uses the Internet for research, current events and fun. Online research for Kushiel's Scion ranges from topics like Roman nomenclature to breaking dams. Current events involve daily visits to progressive sites like Daily Kos, Eschaton and Talking Points Memo. And since everyone needs a few guilty pleasures, she visits sites like Television Without Pity, Go Fug Yourself, and PostSecret.

Imriel was once a pirates' slave. It's no wonder that he's sometimes unpredictable and seemingly lost in a dark place--but he's always loyal to the few he calls friends. During his sojourns, he studies at university and then travels to a friend's wedding, ending up in a city under siege. There he fights for his life in an army led by a friend who has been possessed by the spirit of a dead general. In the hands of Simon Vance, this long book never lags. He's adept at creating characters that quickly become familiar. His narrative voice is intimate and confiding. During the long preparation for the sustained siege, Vance keeps the action fresh and steady. J.E.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine