Cassiel's Servant

Kushiel's Legacy, Book 4

By: Jacqueline Carey

Narrated by: Owen Findlay

Length: 22 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

The lush epic fantasy that inspired a generation with a single precept: “Love As Thou Wilt."

Returning to the realm of Terre d’Ange, which captured an entire generation of fantasy fans, New York Times bestselling author Jacqueline Carey brings us a hero’s journey for a new era.

In Kushiel’s Dart, a daring young courtesan uncovered a plot to destroy her beloved homeland. But hers is only half the tale. Now see the other half of the heart that lived it.

Cassiel’s Servant is a retelling of cult favorite Kushiel’s Dart from the point of view of Joscelin, Cassiline warrior-priest and protector of Phèdre nó Delaunay. He’s sworn to celibacy and the blade as surely as she’s pledged to pleasure, but the gods they serve have bound them together. When both are betrayed, they must rely on each other to survive.

From his earliest training to captivity amongst their enemies, his journey with Phèdre to avert the conquest of Terre D’Ange shatters body and mind… and brings him an impossible love that he will do anything to keep.

Even if it means breaking all vows and losing his soul.

“Decadent and dark, Cassiel’s Servant reveals the secrets of the mysterious Cassiline brotherhood. In this gorgeously realized novel, Carey returns to the world of Terre d’Ange and offers us a new and dazzling perspective on a character we thought we knew.”—Nghi Vo, author of The Chosen and the Beautiful and Siren Queen

Kushiel's Legacy

#1 Kushiel's Dart

#2 Kushiel's Chosen

#3 Kushiel's Avatar

Standalones

Miranda and Caliban

Starless

The Sundering

#1 Banewreaker

#2 Godslayer

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books.

©2023 Jacqueline Carey (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Decadent and dark, Cassiel’s Servant reveals the secrets of the mysterious Cassiline brotherhood. In this gorgeously realized novel, Carey returns to the world of Terre d’Ange and offers us a new and dazzling perspective on a character we thought we knew.”—Nghi Vo, author of The Chosen and the Beautiful and Siren Queen

“Lovingly appl[ies] a full painter’s palette to what had previously been only sketched. Carey proves she has lost none of her inimitable style nor her ability to fully realize characters; devoted fans will revel in getting Joscelin’s backstory.”—Publishers Weekly

Emotional Nostalgia

I wasn't sure at first, but it was as well written as any of her other books set in Terre D'Ange. I loved having things we already know about seen from the perspective of another person who was part of them. I liked hearing the (extraordinary) mythos Carey created told from another viewpoint. It's fun because as descriptive as she is, the character's voice comes through as his own and not a rehash of the other stories.

Amazing Story......

LOVE IT !! it was wonderful to hear it from his point of view. being able to hear his journey growing up in the brotherhood was very interesting and hearing his trials of learning to love her was very intriguing, wonderful story!!

Wonderful!

As someone who has reread Kushiel's Legacy countless times over the years, this book had me hooked from the first few minutes, more than excited to see through the eyes of a well-loved character throughout all 6 books of the series. Any slight differences in the narrative are of course due to the perspective shift. After all, Joscelin was not trained in the arts of covertcy as Phedre was, so of course he would remember things a little differently, as the story is told from his perspective. An amazing book... and I am crossing my fingers in the hopes that his story is made into a trilogy, to cover all three books of Phedre's story. What was it like for him on La Dolorosa, or in the darkness of Darsanga? These are questions I must know!

Spectacular addition

I was reserved about this book, but pleasantly surprised beyond all expectations. To hear Joscelin’s view on things was a wonderful layer added to one of my favorite stories. Owen Findlay did a great job bringing Joscelin’s voice to life and I hope he narrates any future stories from The Cassaline.

Narration was not a winner on this one!

Every. Sentence. Is. Not. A. Reason. To. Pause.

I enjoyed listening to the book and seeing events from another viewpoint than that of the original book’s narrator.

Listening to the audiobook was difficult because of the way the narrator paused after almost every sentence. I ended up listening to the book at a higher speed in order to try and make the pauses less noticeable and distracting.

awesome story

beautiful story
narrator voice would change and that was weird. I can't wait for the next one

A wonderful revisit to Terre D’ange

I loved hearing this story from Joscelin’s perspective. This answered a few questions i’d always had, and added depth to Phedre that i hadn’t realized i’d been missing.
The pacing chosen by the narrator is a bit awkward in the beginning but as he settles into the story it’s not so weird.
Overall i loved it and can’t wait for the next one!
Will JC write the second three from Sidonie’s POV??

Loved it

Great perspective on a beloved series. Would like to see more of this. Recommended for folks that love the series

His side of things is lovely and funny

I would read this before i read the rest of the trilogy, but it does make for a nice after read if you wondered what he thought through it all. Very lovely. Nice voice too!

An amazingly unfamiliar view into a familiar world

The Kushiel’s Legacy series has long been one of my favorites. I was worried this was going to be a shallow rehash the way other ‘from the point of view of the love interest’ stories have been. I shouldn’t have worried. Jacqueline Carey has done my favorite character in the series proud, in a book that echoes its mirror-original so well that I was crying every few chapters, recognizing references to a future that the characters were clueless about. It captures his point of view in a way that seems easy, yet reshapes the feel of the whole thing. Absolutely worth the read.