Kushiel's Avatar

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Title Kushiel's Avatar

First edition cover
Author	Jacqueline Carey
Cover artist	John Jude Palencar
Country	United States
Language	English
Series	Kushiel's Legacy
Genre(s)	Fantasy, Novel
Publisher	Tor Books
Released	2003
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
ISBN	ISBN 0-312-87240-2 (first edition, hardback)
Preceded by	Kushiel's Chosen
Followed by	Kushiel's Scion

Kushiel's Avatar is the final novel in Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel Trilogy.

[edit] Plot Introduction

In the final leg of Phèdre's journey, vows will be tested, and all the pain that has been kept at bay for ten years will finally be unleashed, as the god's will is finally recognized. To damnation and beyond, the vow from long ago will finally be realized, and not even love will be held sacred, and always, there is a promise made to a friend, and an angel to be put back into place. The gods use their chosen hard as the culmination of an anguissette's journey comes to a close.

[edit] Plot summary

In the final leg of Phèdre's journey, vows will be tested, and all the pain that has been kept at bay for ten years will finally be unleashed, as the god's will is finally recognized. To damnation and beyond, the vow from long ago will finally be realized, and not even love will be held sacred, and always, there is a promise made to a friend, and an angel to be put back into place. The gods use their chosen hard as the culmination of an anguissette's journey comes to a close.

The anguisette Cometesse Phèdre nó Delaunay de Montrève is used by the gods in one last final challenge. She is required by her former lover and rival Melisande Sharizhai, and the Gods (Namaah, Elua and Kushiel) to go find Melisande Sharizhai's son Imriel. Melisande and Phèdre make a deal - if Phèdre would find Imriel, Melisande would give the location of the lost tribe of Dan, whose elders know the Name of the One God. When Phèdre tries to refuse the deal because Hyacinthe, the trapped Master of the Straits, needs her, the Gods threaten to desert her. Phedre, faced with that threat, cannot bear that and so she reluctantly goes with her faithful Cassiline Joscelin to find Imriel. When she leaves, Queen Ysandre is not told about her journey.

Following her own investigations about Imriel from various sources, Phèdre finds out that Imriel had been abducted by a tribe of savages (the Drujan) that live in the desert. Phèdre formulates a plan that her lover, Joscelin, doesn't like in the least. She would go to the Head of the Tribe (the Conqueror of Death) and offer herself up as a sacrifice - as a whore that Joscelin didn't want because his parents would be angry if they found out. Going according to the plan, Joscelin does exactly this, and Phèdre soon falls into the bed of the Head of the Tribe as a sex slave.

Phèdre soon finds, however, that it is much different than before. This time, the Conqueror of Death uses objects of cruelty to scar her inside, and she is in pain every time she leaves the bed. Moreover, the women of the Tribe hate her for her possession of Kushiel's curse: the gift of enjoying pain.

A day later, she bumps into Imriel, who calls her 'Death's Whore' and spits at her. In pain and fatigue, she just leaves him alone but not without one final message - 'I come from your mother, Imrhien,' as she knows that Imrhien's curiosity would get the better of his disgust and he would come to her. True enough, he came and a fragile sort of trust developes between the two - he who never knew his mother Melisande and she who never had any son or brother.

Ten days later, she is to be offered as sacrifice to the Conqueror of Death's God. This has happened before, several times, but this sacrifice is different. The Head of the Tribe had grown to love Phèdre nó Delaunay, and if he offered love on the altar as sacrifice, his power would finally be absolute.

Phèdre kills the Head of the Tribe and takes Imriel from the place as fast as she can back to Melisande. On the way, she and Joscelin repair their relationship and love develops between the three like a sort of family. Imriel grows to love Phèdre and Joscelin like parents. Phèdre later takes Imriel straight to Melisande as soon as she could and arranges another bargain - that if she herself would raise Imriel for Melisande, Melisande would promise never to raise a finger against the throne and Ysandre, and Melisande would never trick the people into thinking she was a Goddess with her beauty. Melisande, unfortunately, knew that Phèdre loved Imriel and promised only to never raise a finger against the throne and Ysandre, and fulfills the side of the bargain which she had made - giving the location of the Lost Tribe of the Dan.

Phèdre takes Imriel and leaves back for her country Terre d'Ange, where she is punished by Ysandre for not telling her Queen about her leaving by having to stay in the City of Elua until Drustan mab Necthana, the Cruarch of Alba and Ysandre's husband, comes to the City of Elua. Phèdre is upset about this, since she knows the Name of God and wants to help Hyacinthe immediately. As it is, she stays at Montreve with Imriel and Joscelin until, after a month, she journeys to the Straits and frees Hyacinthe from the curse with the Name of God.

[edit] Characters (in alphabetical order)

Anafiel Delaunay

Phèdre's teacher and mentor. He died in the first book. She inherits his property as his successor.

Hyacinthe

Phèdre's friend, now entrapped by a curse.

Imriel

Melisande Shahrizai's son. In line for the throne.

Joscelin Verreuil

A monk of Cassiel's who breaks his vow by falling in love with Phèdre. He travels with Phèdre wherever she goes as a faithful protector, lover and follower. Phèdre's lover (consort) and Imriel's adopted father.

Melisande Sharizai

One of Kushiel's line, of the Shahrizai house. Phèdre's rival and Imriel's mother.

Phèdre nó Delaunay

An anguisette, the main heroine of the story. Kushiel's dart (anguisette), shown by a red mote in her eye. Joscelin's lover and Imriel's adopted mother.

v • d • e Kushiel's Legacy by Jacqueline Carey
Novels	Kushiel's Dart • Kushiel's Chosen • Kushiel's Avatar • Kushiel's Scion
Characters	Phèdre nó Delaunay • Anafiel Delaunay • Joscelin Verreuil • Hyacinthe • Melisande Shahrizai • Ysandre de la Courcel • Drustan mab Necthana • Waldemar Selig • Other Characters
Groups	Court of Night-Blooming Flowers • Servants of Naamah • Cassiline Brotherhood • Yeshuites • Tsingani • Phèdre's Boys • Stregazza family
Places	Terre d'Ange • Skaldia • Alba and Eire • Caerdicca Unitas • Other
Mythos & Culture	Elua and His Companions • Anguissette • Midwinter Masque
Noble Houses	Courcel • L'Envers • Shahrizai • Somerville • Trevalion
History	Battle of the Three Princes • Battle of Troyes-le-Mont