Kushiel's Legacy
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Kushiel's Legacy is a series of fantasy novels by Jacqueline Carey, comprising Kushiel's Dart, Kushiel's Chosen, and Kushiel's Avatar. Kushiel's Scion and Kushiel's Justice are set in the same world. Since the series features a fictional version of medieval Europe, it can be considered historical fantasy or alternate history.
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[edit] Novels
Kushiel's Legacy consists of the following novels (with release dates). This is also the chronological order within the story. The first three novels are the story of Phèdre nó Delaunay. The last three novels are the story of Imriel de la Courcel.
- Kushiel's Dart (2001)
- Kushiel's Chosen (2002)
- Kushiel's Avatar (2003)
- Kushiel's Scion (2006)
- Kushiel's Justice (2007)
- Kushiel's Mercy (June, 2008)
[edit] Background
The main setting of Kushiel's Legacy is the country of Terre d'Ange (resembling France), the "Land of the Angels". D'Angelines, as the citizens are called, are descended from Blessed Elua and his band of fallen angels. Elua was born when the blood of the crucified Yeshua ben Yosef, the son of the One God, mixed with the tears of the Magdalene and then was quickened by Mother Earth. Scorned by his grandfather, the One God, Elua wandered the Earth with eight companion angels. The eight were Naamah, Anael, Azza, Shemhazai, Camael, Cassiel, Eisheth, and Kushiel. Elua and His companions finally settled in the land that would become Terre D'Ange. Elua espoused the precept Love as thou wilt and he and his companions inter-bred with the native populace, creating the D'Angeline people.
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- For full text see Elua and His Companions.
Kushiel's Legacy is set about one thousand years after the time of Elua, and the D'Angeline people worship him and his eight companions as gods. They live by his precept, "Love as thou wilt," and, since Naamah sold her body at times to support Elua during their wanderings, consider prostitution to be a sacred service. This service is regulated by its own guild. Furthermore, to serve in the Court of Night-Blooming Flowers, composed of several Houses, each with their own interpretation of Naamah's reasons for prostituting herself, is regarded as the highest pinnacle in Naamah's Service.
Terre d'Ange is divided into seven provinces, each with a companion as its patron deity. Cassiel, who eschewed mortal love and never fully rejected the One God, is the only companion without a province. Naamah (goddess of the Night Court) is the patron of Namarre, Anael of L'Agnace, Azza of Azzalle, Shemhazai of Siovale, Camael of Camlach, Eisheth of Eisande, and Kushiel of Kusheth.
The royal House Courcel rules Terre D'Ange from the City of Elua in L'Agnace. Relations are generally good with the neighboring countries of Aragonia (Spain), Caerdicca Unitas (Italy), and Khebbel-im-Akkad (Arabia). But Skaldia (Germany) has long sought to conquer the D'Angelines. They also have good relations with Alba and Eire (the British Isles) though scarce given the issue of the Master of the Straits.
The heroine of the first three installments of the series is anguissette Phèdre nó Delaunay, whose unique talents lead her to save her nation from several terrible fates. The second half of the series follows Imriel nó Montrève de la Courcel, Phèdre's adopted son.
[edit] Major characters
- Phèdre nó Delaunay, the heroine of the first trilogy, an anguissette.
- Anafiel Delaunay, Phèdre's mentor.
- Joscelin Verreuil, Phèdre's Cassiline bodyguard.
- Hyacinthe, a Tsingano, Phèdre's longtime friend.
- Melisande Shahrizai, the primary antagonist, a sadistic plotter.
- Ysandre de la Courcel, queen of Terre d'Ange.
- Drustan mab Necthana, ruler of Alba.
- Waldemar Selig, leader of Skaldia.
[edit] Other Media
There are currently no plans to create commercial projects based on the Kushiel's Legacy series. However, the setting has a strong fan base, which has created many homage works to the setting, such as the online games Terre d'Ange MUSH KushielMUX Terre d'Ange Community Site and Terre d'Ange.
For a list of links to fan websites of the series, see www.jacquelinecarey.com.
[edit] See also
- Terre d'Ange
- Minor Characters in Kushiel's Legacy
- Places in Kushiel's Legacy
- Elua and His Companions
- Official Author Site
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