Kushiel's Scion
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 First edition cover |
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| Author | Jacqueline Carey |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | John Jude Palencar |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Imriel Trilogy |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Warner Books |
| Released | 12 June 2006 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 768 pp (first edition, hardback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-446-50002-X (first edition, hardback) |
| Preceded by | Kushiel's Avatar |
| Followed by | Kushiel's Justice |
Kushiel's Scion is the 2006 novel by Jacqueline Carey, following on from the Kushiel's Legacy trilogy (Kushiel's Dart, Kushiel's Chosen, and Kushiel's Avatar). It is to be the first part of the Imriel Trilogy.
[edit] Plot summary
Imriel de la Courcel is the son of the great-uncle of the D'Angeline Queen Ysandre de la Courcel. His mother Melisande Shahrizai is a traitor who twice attempted to seize the D'Angeline throne. Rescued from slavery by Phèdre nó Delaunay and her consort Joscelin Verreuil, he is formally adopted into House Montreve and begins to understand his history and that of his blood relatives. To find his lost mother, he must study to discover who trained Phèdre's mentor, Anafiel Delaunay.
The first book in this series begins with Imriel, at age 14, learning that his mother, Melisande Sharizai has vanished from the Temple of the Asherat of the Sea in la Serenissima. Instead of spending his summer at Montreve, he is summoned to court, where he meets his Shahrizai kin, who will foster with him come the following summer. We learn that Sidonie and Alais have grown, yet Alais has retained her loveable ways, while Sidonie, the Dauphine/Heir, mirrors her mother Ysandre.
In the summer, Mavros, Baptitse and Roshana come to foster at the Montreve estate, where Imriel learns a darker side of himself. At the age of 16, Imriel spends at night at the Balm House, the house of healing, at the urging of Phedre. The same year, Eamonn mac Grainne, son of Grainne and Quintilus Rousse, comes to foster at the Montreve resistance, where Imriel and Eamonn become good friends. Imri becomes close enough to Eamonn to tell him the horrors of Darsanga. When Eamonn leaves, he makes Imri promise to come visit him at Tiberium, where he will be studying.
When Imriel turns 18, many things change. Prince Talorcan, Drustan's nephew and heir apparent, comes to visit, and they also bring Princess Dorelei along. It becomes apparent that as much as Drustan would like to name Alais as his heir, it cannot be without another war. In Alba, the heir is the son of the Cruarch's eldest sister, while in Terre d'Ange, the succession does not favor either parent. If Alais were to wed Talorcan, she would rule at his side one day, but their children wouldn't stand to inherit; although if Imri were to wed Dorelei, his son would become Cruarch and Terra d'Ange's influence in Alba would not wane. When Imri learns this, he confides in Mavros. After their talk, Mavros takes Imri to the Valerian House, where darker pleasures and dark desires are unleashed. After returning home, he realizes his true nature, and how that may apply to Phedre, who is Kushiel's Chosen.
Imriel decides to follow in Eamonn's footsteps, and study at the University of Tiberium. After packing lightly, Imri and Gilot, his man at arms, travel to Tiberium to seek knowledge and learning. Imriel decides that he doesn't want to be known as a prince of the realm, and is known only as Imriel no Montreve. Imriel and Gilot find Eamonn by chance, and study with him under Master Piero. Imriel also asks around the University where one might learn the arts of covertcy. Lucius, a fellow student, invites Imriel to a play, where he meets his sister, Claudia Fulvia and her husband, Deccus Fulvis (a Tiberian senator). During the play, Claudia toys with Imriel and seduces him, promising him more in the future. This leads to a heady affair between the two, with the revelation of the Unseen Guild. Claudia has only a journeyman status among the guild and is unable to fully answer Imriel's questions about Delaunay. Claudia tries to lure Imriel into the guild, so that he could add his vaulable information and knowledge to it. During the following months, while Claudia and Imriel conduct their affair, Claudia slowly teaches Imriel the arts of covertcy.
A riot ensues after the senate declares that the funding to the University is to be cut off, and Imriel, Eamonn, Brigitta(a Skaldic fellow student, and love interest of Eamonn), Lucius, and Gilot get trapped in it. An attempt is made on Imriel's life, and Gilot is trampled. Gilot is taken to the Temple of Asclepius, where the priests would heal his broken and battered body. After the riot, Imriel discovers that Bernadette de Trevalion hired a hit man to kill him. Imriel decides to go to Bernadette's agent, Ruggero Caccini, and acquires enough information that he could blackmail the Trevalion household if he wanted to later on.
While visiting Gilot at the Temple of Asclepius, a priest approaches Imriel and asks him to stay the night, to let Asclepius guide his dreams. In his dream, Asclepius tells him that the power to heal lies within himself, and that "even a stunted tree reaches for sunlight". When Imriel awakens, a revelation comes to him, and he decides to go home after Lucius' wedding(to Hellene, the daughter of the Prince of Lucca); and to marry Dorelei.
Before departing for Lucca, Imriel and Gilot travel to the isle of Asclepius to unbind Gilot's splintered hand, and get a final health assessment(Gilot had some ribs broken, and if he was to engage in physical exertion, a bone fragment may puncture his lung). Upon reaching Lucca, disaster had struck. The bride to be had been kidnapped, her lover killed, and Lucius becomes possessed with the ghost of his great grandfather, Gallus Tadius ( Leader of the Red Scourge, a mercenary company). Lucca comes under siege, and Gilot dies while trying to protect Imriel and the townsfolk. Under the command of Gallus Tadius, Lucca emerges victorious and Imriel is escorted to Terre d'Ange safely.
[edit] External links
| Kushiel's Legacy by Jacqueline Carey | |
|---|---|
| Novels | Kushiel's Dart • Kushiel's Chosen • Kushiel's Avatar • Kushiel's Scion |
| Characters | Phèdre nó Delaunay • Anafiel Delaunay • Joscelin Verreuil • Hyacinthe • Melisande Shahrizai • Ysandre de la Courcel • Drustan mab Necthana • Waldemar Selig • Other Characters |
| Groups | Court of Night-Blooming Flowers • Servants of Naamah • Cassiline Brotherhood • Yeshuites • Tsingani • Phèdre's Boys • Stregazza family |
| Places | Terre d'Ange • Skaldia • Alba and Eire • Caerdicca Unitas • Other |
| Mythos & Culture | Elua and His Companions • Anguissette • Midwinter Masque |
| Noble Houses | Courcel • L'Envers • Shahrizai • Somerville • Trevalion |
| History | Battle of the Three Princes • Battle of Troyes-le-Mont |
