This is the tenth book in the lush universe that Carey created with three trilogies.  This book belongs with the first trilogy which comprised "Kushiel's Dart", "Kushiel's Chosen" and "Kushiel's Avatar."  I think it was written to answer her legions of fans who demanded another Phedre story.  And while, obviously, there is not another Phedre story to tell, she did something a little different.  She took the first book "Kushiel's Dart" and told it again but with the point of view of the Casseline Priest, Joscelin, who became Phedre's greatest love.  It is, quite literally, the exact same story as "…Dart".

In this world, Elua is the primary God and his "apostles" (gods, themselves) literally walked the earth and embraced infant cultures, imbuing them with their particular beliefs and even their genes.  Elua's primary precept is "love as thou wilt"; making it a sin to impede or deny love and desire.  Those cultures who carry each god's essence exhibit certain characteristics of that essence.  Kushiel, whose genes Phedre carries, is a stern god who demands much of his chosen ones.  She was raised in a pleasure house and taught to be a courtesan.  Delaunay bought her 'contract' and continued her education making her into a highly skilled spy and assassin.  But Kushiel's touch made her into a rarity called an anguisette; someone who derives their pleasure from pain.  This made her into a highly desired courtesan which gained her access to a great many powerful men and women and their houses.  The story is, essentially, Phedre's education and introduction into society, guided by Delaunay whose goals are unknown.  Phedre becomes aware of a grand conspiracy that challenges her very own country and opens the doors to a barbarian invasion.  Joscelin is with her through all her trials and efforts to thwart the invasion.

The first fifteen chapters are new material, recounting Joscelin's education into the Casseline Brotherhood from the age of ten to the day he was contracted into Delaunay's household to protect the young Phedre.  Once I reached the first chapter with the characters of Delaunay and his ward, Phedre, I was hit with the familiarity.  After some recollection (the book is 22 years old now), I pulled down my copy of "…Dart" and started reading both books in tandem; a couple chapters of one and then chapters of the other.

"Kushiel's Dart" is one of those memorable books that last in memory, even after two decades.  So it is with some regret that I have to say that "Cassiel's Servant" is not epic. Most of the recounting is almost exactly the same wording with a slight change of perspective.  There simply wasn't anything new and this reader is disappointed beyond words. 

But I'll take this opportunity to recommend, very highly, the other nine books written in this universe.  They are well worth the time; although, I'll warn the gentle reader that while the sex scenes are not necessarily explicit, they do encompass what is generally known as sadism and masochism (S & M). But Carey elevates the acts to something sublime and spiritual.  ~~  Catherine Book

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