Naamah's Kiss (Kushiel's Legacy Series #7)

Not as good as the other ones,...

Sadly the heroine in this book is just not as interesting or engaging as Phedre or really, any of the other Kushiel heroines. She's a bit of a doormat, letting other people push her around, and repeatedly going back to a man that has not treated her well. Having said that, the story itself if good, it's just hard to really fall into the book because the heroine's character is not that likable or admirable.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Jacqueline Cary shows her skill at world-building in this super cerebral yet action-packed fantasy

From the time she was a young girl in Alba, Moirin of the Maghuin Dhonn, an isolated clan of the Brown Bear worshippers, Moirin heard the voices and saw the faces of other deities. Although she did not know it, other Gods were worshipped in Terre d'Ange. She conducts a quiet inquiry and learns her unknown father was a D'Angeline priest serving Naamah, the goddess of desire. As a mage with power, Moirin also begins to explore and upon maturity travels into the spirit world where she will either be fully accepted or totally rejected by the Maghuin Dhonn----------

She accepts her and the divine spark, the diadh-anam stays in her essence. Moirin learns she has a destiny to fulfill. She goes to Terre d'Ange to meet her father, but is run over by Raphael de Mereliot whose lover is Jerhanne, the queen of the city of Eula. Moirin learns she has the power to heal people even from death though that drains her. Jehanne and Morin become lovers as the newcomer is the first person the queen has trusted in years; she would like to stay with her lover, but Moirin is asked by her mentor Lord Bo to return home with him to Ch'in because the emperor's daughter and heir is demon possessed. In Ch'in, Moirin realizes what the problem is and asks Snow Tiger, the emperor's heir to trust her. Neither was prepared for a coup d'etat by an evil sorcerere.--------

NAAMAH'S KISS takes place in the same world as the Kushiel saga only decades later. Once again Jacqueline Cary shows her skill at world-building in this super cerebral yet action-packed fantasy. The cast is solid especially the mages and the characters with supernatural powersl, but anchored in time and place by everyday people and political leaders. In many ways a coming of age thriller as the heroine learns of her illustrious roots (not just dad), the story line belongs to the vivid descriptions especially of the dark sides of Ch'in and Terre d'Ange as Morin explores both with energy and love.------------

Harriet Klausner

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Highly Recommended

The worst of Jacqueline Carey's books is ten times better than the average book out there. That being said...this is my least favorite Jacqueline Carey book. Moirin is initially enchanting and different, but after she lands in Terre D'Ange, she quickly develops a "victim" personality....slave to her desires and the desires of others. It was slightly disconcerting after the strong female leads in the rest of the Kushiel's Legacy series.

The storyline is wonderful; imaginative as always. Lo Feng is a wonderful mentor and can will hopefully inspire Moirin to grow a backbone. I am enjoying the journey Eastward to Ch'in....a land that wasn't explored in the previous books. The characters are very likable in their own ways and I can't wait to see what lies in store for them. I know Jacqueline Carey will not disappoint.

Great story and great characters

I came across this series by sheer luck, looking for a good book to read. I read the preview and was very excited when I finally got the book. When I first started reading the story seemed to develop kind of slow, it was mostly talking about how Moirin became the person who she was, but after a couple chapters it was very hard for me if not impossible to put the book away. The story kept me on the edge with every page and I can honestly say I never read a book this fast. I highly recommend this series to everyone who loves a good combination of adventure and love and if you are like me, I guarantee you, you cannot wait to read the next book to find out how the story continues.

A little too easy

I always enjoy Carey's lush writing style and this is no exception. In her past works, the main characters faced external challenges as well as their own shortcomings. They won some, they lost some and the happy endings weren't without significant personal cost. However in this novel, the loss is impersonal - minor characters that weren't fully developed and statistical masses of anonymous solders. As someone else mentioned, Moirin has it too easy compared to prior Kushiel heroines. This book could easily be adapted to (shudder) a Hollywood blockbuster. All that said, it is still a good read, just don't expect the same depth as her previous works.

Compelling read

What a book, I loved every minute of it. I can't get enough of the Kushiel's Legacy series, I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the next book. If you are looking for a book that you can't put down, with characters that you can't help but fall in love with, than this series is the one you want to read. I read the first book and immediately went out and bought the remaining books because the characters were so real and compelling that I had to know what happens next. Jacquline Carey is better than any romance novelist that I have ever read and I would recommend her to anyone.

Engrossing As Usual

Every one of the books in Kushiel's Legacy Series has been wonderful! This is no exception. I was immediately pulled in and engrossed in Moirin's world. Ms. Carey's descriptions and characters are so full and lifelike that I hate to leave them, no matter how long I've been reading. I found this trilogy easier to get into than the first one in the Imriel set. As always when I've been reading a book in this series, I woke up each morning anxious to get back into the book and see where Ms. Carey would take me. I can not wait for the next one to come out!

Jacqueline Carey does it again!

I am never disappointed reading a book set in Jacqueline Carey's exciting world of Terre d'Ange. I always find the characters interesting, the story compelling and the writing style to be page turning!

Not Up To Par

I loved books 1 - 6 of Kushiel's Legacy and was thrilled when this book was announced. However, I was not as pleased when I finished reading it. I felt as though Carey lost what she once had. The main character Moirim doesn't grow. She is the exact same person at the end of the story as she was at the beginning. She never suffers, she never loses, she doesn't deal with any tragedies. Both Phedre and Imriel in the previous books grew as they dealt with huge obstacles and losses and pain. They experienced the hardships of life and became stronger, better people because of them. Moirim doesn't. The story has so much potential, so many half-steps to really intriguing and intense plot twists and happenings, but Carey always cuts them off short, keeping Moirim perfectly safe and in all honesty, boring. She is always safe, always protected, and really doesn't offer much to the story. I did not form any connection with her, a sign of a bad character in my opinion, and by the end, really didn't care if anything happened to her, but then I knew nothing would. I was sorely disappointed and hope the next book is significantly better.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Not as impressed...

In this book the main character is charming, but she seems to have it too easy with her diadh-anam always telling her what to do. Just seemed like "Oh there's a problem" and then 2 lines later "oh! there's the solution! That was easy." For anybody who has read the full series before these books you know what a beautiful, wonderful and strange struggle it was for those characters, but Moirin just listens to her diadh-anam and it's like the pressing the Staples "easy button" and getting the right answer. I love the new places they explore, the new characters are intriguing... but I just felt a sense of wrongness on how she just glides though the book and every time there's a problem she consults her diadh-anam or spreads her legs and the problem is solved. Now I'm getting repetitive. It is a GOOD book, written very well with great characters, but it really doesn't measure up to Carey's former books, in my opinion. Buy it! Read it! And I hope you love it.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Wonderful and entertaining!

Another amazing story from a wonderful author. It was all that her other books have been and more. A thrilling read. And as always, Ms. Carey gives many things to ponder.

Jacqueline Carey Continues This Epic Series

This book fits perfectly with the wonderful Kushiel's books. The adventure and characters are vibrant, alive, and embodied with a sense of good. It is a difficult book to put down, great for a rainy day, at the beach or in the backyard. The writing style is easy to follow and leaves the reader dying to know what will happen next. Congratulations to Jacqueline Carey on another hit.

Great New Twist

This book was a great book. It was true Jacqueline Carey, the writing was impeccable, the plot was filled with twists and turns that you had to keep reading. It is a great book that I enjoyed.

A good addition with new characters

The book is written in the same style as the Kushiel series, only with a brand new set of characters to get to know. I found that it was just as good as her previous works in this universe with great story, plot and character development. I wonder how she can get these out so quickly when they're written so well!

Same but different

Anyone expecting Carey to follow the storyline followed in the previous trilogies should think again. Naamah's kiss follows a child of the Maghuin Dhonn and the story is just as beautiful as Phedre's and Imriel's. Carey's stories are always about love and destiny and Namaah's kiss definitely delivers. I was a bit apprehensive when I bought the book but I feel in love with it from page one. It's not Phedre's story (which in my heart is the best) but it's a start. It seems like she's shaping this one to be a trilogy as well. You'll love this novel and anyone that appreciates a great legendary story will too.

Read everything by this author, Naamah's kiss doesn't disappoint

This book is about a journey, the destiny of a young woman. Although she is afraid and nervous, she continues on a quest with little but her faith to keep her going. Thankfully, she makes some good friends along the way. I think this book sets a great storyline for future installments. Also read the Kushiel series!

I'm hoping for the intensity to be turned wayyy up in the next book in the series.

Amazing

I was worried about joining this world again with new characters. Once I began I realized there was nothing to ever fear. Jacqueline Carey is a masterful writer. I loved this story just as much as the others maybe even more. I can not wait till the next one!

Certainly not disappointed

As a fan of the Kushiel seriers, I was a bit concerned about a new set of characters. This first book, however, certainly did not disappoint. With her style of writing, Carey easily transported me to a new time and new place with another engaging protagonist. I especially appreciated how she incorporated the Kushiel plots as legends / history lessons for Moirin. I recommend Naamah's Kiss without hesitation.

I expected nothing less!

Again, Jacqueline Carey creates another masterful story. If you've been a fan of the whole Kushiel series, you will enjoy this one.

Less Dark, Still Good

Naamah's Kiss, set several generations after the last of the Kushiel books, brings us the epic adventure of a new heroine, Moirin. She is in some ways a much simplier soul than any of our pervious protagonists, but in other ways far more complex. Through her sharp green eyes we see Carey's Earth in a new way. Virtually everything is new to her, from the morality of Terre D'Ange, to table manners. This makes the book in some ways an idea way to introduce someone to the series. The tone of the book is also much less dark than Carey's previous books, with only hints of BDSM. I'm very impressed with Carey's ability to create new voices for her characters; Moirin's voice is entirely different than our previous heros in a notable way. Loved it!