Spotlight: Kashiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey

"When Love cast me out,

it was Cruelty who took pity on me."

Tor Books is proudly re-launching Jacqueline Carey's KUSHIEL’S DART—the provocative and erotic first novel in her award-winning KUSHIEL’S LEGACY series.

KUSHIEL’S DART

By New York Times Bestselling Author

JACQUELINE CAREY

Well before E.L. James penned Fifty Shades of Grey, Jacqueline Carey burst onto the literary scene with her debut novel, KUSHIEL’S DART, (Tor 2001), an erotic and mesmerizing saga set in a medieval—and alternatively imagined—European nation that was founded by a rebel angel. It’s the story of a young courtesan who finds herself caught up in the Machiavellian plots and magic of her time, and it is the perfect read for those who love literary erotic fiction combined with the strong character development and political intrigue of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series.

Now, with the Fifty Shades of Grey hitting movie theaters across the country in February 2015 and the April 2015 air-date of the highly anticipated new season of HBO’s Game of Thrones, Tor Books is thrilled to re-launch KUSHIEL’S DART (Tor Books; $17.99; January 13, 2014) in a trade paperback format with beautiful new cover art.

Praise for Kashiel's Dart:

Jacqueline Carey is a powerful writer with a lush, lyrical writing style and has a talent for creating strong, yet fallible, characters.  She’s been heralded for her extravagantly detailed storylines as well as her deft exploration of the nature of sexuality. KUSHIEL’S DART received the Locus Award for Best First Novel and the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Fantasy in 2001; Critics also raved about Carey’s debut, calling it “fascinatingly textured” and “a beautifully written story.”

“Stunning, clever, sultry, and mysterious, Phèdre is an ideal and original heroine.”
—Associated Press

“Ms. Carey weaves an exquisite tapestry of politics, intrigue, history, magic, desire, and fate into a breathtaking epic that will captivate readers.”
—RT Book Reviews (Top Pick!, Gold Medal, 4 ½ stars)

From the Back Cover:

In a kingdom born of angels, Phèdre is an anguisette, cursed or blessed to find pleasure in pain. Sold to the Court of Night Blooming Flowers, her fate as a beautiful but anonymous courtesan was sealed. Her bond was purchased by the nobleman Anafiel Delauney, who recognized the scarlet mote in Phèdre's eye as the rare mark of one touched by a powerful deity. Under Delauney's patronage she is trained in history, politics, language, and the use of body and mind as the ultimate weapon of subterfuge in a dangerous game of courtly intrigue.

Guided into the bed chambers of Terre D'Ange's most influential nobles, Phèdre uncovers a conspiracy against the throne so vast that even her teacher cannot see the whole of it. As her nation is besieged by invading hordes from the north, the most unthinkable threat to her beloved home comes from traitors within. Betrayed and blindsided by her own longings, only Phèdre and her trusted bodyguard Joscelin are left to cross borders and brave warring armies in a race to stop the final blow from falling.

Enter a lavish world of pleasure houses, ambitious warlords, scheming courtiers, and the harsh justice of blessed deities through the eyes of a heroine like no other. Sprawling and darkly sensual, KUSHIEL’S DART is the start of a truly original fantasy series perfect for mature fans of George R. R. Martin, Robin Hobb, and Anne Bishop.

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About the Author:

An avid reader since early childhood, Jacqueline Carey began writing in high school, not realizing
her hobby would become a permanent vocation. After receiving B.A. degrees in psychology and English literature from Lake Forest College, she spent time living in London and working in a bookstore, then traveling throughout Europe. While living abroad, the desire to become a professional novelist emerged as a  defining passion.

Upon returning she embarked in earnest on a writing career, which came to fruition some ten years later. During this time, she worked at the art center of an area college, gaining a strong background in the visual arts. This, along with her early studies in literature and psychology informs her work, as does a lifelong interest in mythology. She enjoys doing research on a wide variety of arcane topics, and an affinity for travel has taken her from Finland to  China to date. Although often asked by inquiring fans, she does not, in fact, have any tattoos.

Jacqueline currently resides in west Michigan, where she is a founding member of the oldest Mardi Gras krewe in the state. She is the author of the critically acclaimed Kushiel's Legacy fantasy trilogy, including Kushiel's Dart, which received the Locus Award for Best First Novel and the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Fantasy in 2001. Other  publications from Tor Books include the epic fantasy duology Banewreaker and Godslayer. To learn more about Jacqueline Carey and her work, visit: www.jacquelinecarey.com.