As someone who grew up reading Kushiel’s Dart you know I had to read Cassiel’s Servant. If you’re familiar with our girl Phèdre then maybe you always had more questions about Joscelin. About his own feelings falling in love, witnessing the politics avalanche, and this turning point in his life. Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.
Summary
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.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
I was also intrigued by Joscelin from the beginning because of how different he is to Phèdre. His oaths, family, and upbringing. They come from such different backgrounds with more than tension between them and their journey takes on a life of its own. Beginning with training sequences, I loved seeing Joscelin come into his own as a servant to Cassiel. We love a good training scene! Something that also made an impression early on was how little of the ‘outside world’ we can pay attention to until we have to. For Joscelin life is simpler, he doesn’t have to know everything about the world, the political forces, and the backhanded deals.
In many ways, his perspective mirrors many readers when they are being introduced to the world of Kushiel’s Dart. We learn about the sabotage, the machinations, and the manipulation as he does. Throughout there’s also this feeling of reflection which feels fitting considering our introduction to his story. This re-introduction back into the world is a reminder of the ways in which this series has blended romance and fantasy from the beginning.
Cassiel’s Servant is also deeply committed to exploring the walls we put up around ourselves. The ways we can be taught that love will only corrupt us, lead us astray, and is a force which weakens us. But Joscelin is forced to confront his own ideas of the world. When he meets Phèdre in many ways he begins to see the strength of cunning, not just strength, to see the values of softness. How Phèdre has become a weapon not only with her mind, but also with her body.
Overall,
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I deeply enjoyed being back in the world of Kushiel’s Dart through Joscelin’s eyes in Cassiel’s Servant. It’s a great reminder of a series that made such a monumental impact in my life in terms of epic fantasy. And before I go, I know I’m going to get this question, “can you read this without reading the first?” I mean, technically maybe? But it’s a much more fulfilling experience if you read Kushiel’s Dart first. Find Cassiel’s Servant on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, & Blackwells.