Reddit mentions of Kushiel's Dart (Kushiel's Legacy Book 1)

Kushiel's Dart is by far THE BEST romance/erotic novel with a clever plot that I have ever read. I highly recommend it. It is also a series so if she likes it, you've got a couple to go on.

Jacqueline Carey is probably exactly who you want to read. She has a three trilogy series known as Kushiel's Legacy, and it is amazing. She is very good at character development, world-building, AND the series is complete, so you won't have to wait around for years hoping to get more. It's full of politics, intrigue, drama, travel, courtesans, spymasters, royalty, pirates, romance (epic, happy, and tragic)...anything you want, it's in there. The first half of the first novel is intense world-building/set-up, but it's all interesting, and when the story kicks into full-gear, it's hard to put it down!

The first trilogy is Kushiel's Dart, Kushiel's Chosen, and Kushiel's Avatar.
The second trilogy is Kushiel's Scion, Kushiel's Justice, and Kushiel's Mercy.
The third trilogy is Naamah's Kiss, Naamah's Curse, and Naamah's Blessing.

Here is the Amazon description of the first novel in the first trilogy, Kushiel's Dart:

"A nation born of angels, vast and intricate and surrounded by danger... a woman born to servitude, unknowingly given access to the secrets of the realm...

Born with a scarlet mote in her left eye, Phédre nó Delaunay is sold into indentured servitude as a child. When her bond is purchased by an enigmatic nobleman, she is trained in history, theology, politics, foreign languages, the arts of pleasure. And above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Exquisite courtesan, talented spy... and unlikely heroine. But when Phédre stumbles upon a plot that threatens her homeland, Terre d'Ange, she has no choice.

Betrayed into captivity in the barbarous northland of Skaldia and accompanied only by a disdainful young warrior-priest, Phédre makes a harrowing escape and an even more harrowing journey to return to her people and deliver a warning of the impending invasion. And that proves only the first step in a quest that will take her to the edge of despair and beyond.

Phédre nó Delaunay is the woman who holds the keys to her realm's deadly secrets, and whose courage will decide the very future of her world.

Not since Dune has there been an epic on the scale of Kushiel's Dart-a massive tale about the violent death of an old age and the birth of a new. It is a novel of grandeur, luxuriance, sacrifice, betrayal, and deeply laid conspiracies. A world of cunning poets, deadly courtiers, deposed rulers and a besieged Queen, a warrior-priest, the Prince of Travelers, barbarian warlords, heroic traitors, and a truly Machiavellian villainess... all seen through the unflinching eyes of an unforgettable heroine."

If you don't mind fantasy books, the Kushiel series https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055DLCAY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_jTBHAbPC5V6PS by Jacqueline Carey is quite good.

Hi there! You've gotten some amazing suggestions here, but I'd like to add the Sharon Shinn book, Archangel. (Bonus points because it's got an amazingly unique setting.) Also Kushiel's Dart, by Jacqueline Carey. And if you're open to indie authors, the first book of my fantasy series is free through today! Catalyst Moon: Incursion. (I just did a writer of the day post here, too.)

Happy reading! :)

The story is so complex it's hard fo me to explain properly. Here's a link to the first book so you can read the official summary.

I'm not working right now, but my last 2 jobs were at hospitals. To complain a bit, I really don't like 12 hr shifts. For some reason I feel like I'm trapped at work, and it adds to the stress of the job. Plus 12 always turns into 13 or 14 hrs. Sure I get to work 3 days and off 4, but it really just ruins those 3 days! I'm bitter =)

I hope your days starts to look up. I love glitter!! Thank you for the contest.

Glitter all the things. ALL of them!

book!

Ooh ooh, second suggestion, this time a book! The Kushiel's Dart trilogy by Jacqueline Carey. Lots of political intrigue, a little magic, and a good amount of smut of the kinky variety

I noticed here you mention politics, philosophy and adventure. A few recommedations that you might not find with pictures that scream "FANTASY" are

Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey - Be warned this has a female protag and some very very sexual content. But the actual politics and religion building are phenomenal!

Anathem by Neal Stephenson - Recommending this more for the philosophy and world building. It's a bit more sci-fi than fantasy but it has adventure and I found it made me think. I was taking a philosophy/politics class at the time and I made a ton of connections.

Shadow of the Wind and Angel's Game, both by Carlos Ruiz Safon:

https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Wind-Cemetery-Forgotten-Book-ebook/dp/B000OVLINI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498238020&sr=8-1&keywords=Shadow+of+the+Wind

https://www.amazon.com/Angels-Game-Cemetery-Forgotten-Book-ebook/dp/B001NLKZLE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498238029&sr=8-1&keywords=Angels+Game


Kushiel's Dart and pretty much all the books that followed, by Jacqueline Carey:

https://www.amazon.com/Kushiels-Dart-Legacy-Book-ebook/dp/B0055DLCAY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498238161&sr=8-1&keywords=kushiel%27s+dart


Right now, I can't think of anything that I keep going back to over and over.