Kushiel's dart

by Jacqueline Carey · 2001

In the opulent world of Terre d'Ange, a nation said to be born of angels, Phèdre nó Delaunay bears a scarlet mote in her left eye—a mark of destiny and danger. Sold into indentured servitude as a child, she is rescued by an enigmatic noble who trains her in history, theology, politics, languages, and the arts of pleasure, honing her uncanny ability to observe, remember, and analyze. As an exquisite courtesan and talented spy, Phèdre uncovers a conspiracy that threatens her homeland. Betrayed and taken to the barbaric northlands of Skaldia, she must escape with only a disdainful warrior‑priest at her side, racing back across a treacherous realm to warn her people of an impending invasion. This lush, sprawling epic weaves court intrigue, fierce battles, and a daring heroine whose love and loyalty will shape the fate of an entire world.