Naamah's Kiss

Jacqueline Carey

Jun 2009 · Sold by Grand Central Publishing

About this ebook

The great granddaughter of Alais the Wise, child of the Maghuin Donn, and a cousin of the Cruarch of Alba, Moirin learns her father was a D'Angeline priest dedicated to serving Naamah, goddess of desire.

Once there were great magicians born to the Maghuin Dhonn; the folk of the Brown Bear, the oldest tribe in Alba. But generations ago, the greatest of them all broke a sacred oath sworn in the name of all his people. Now, only small gifts remain to them. Through her lineage, Moirin possesses such gifts - the ability to summon the twilight and conceal herself, and the skill to coax plants to grow.

Moirin has a secret, too. From childhood onward, she senses the presence of unfamiliar gods in her life; the bright lady, and the man with a seedling cupped in his palm. Raised in the wilderness by her reclusive mother, it isn't until she comes of age that Moirin learns how illustrious, if mixed, her heritage is.

After Moirin undergoes the rites of adulthood, she finds divine acceptance...on the condition that she fulfill an unknown destiny that lies somewhere beyond the ocean. Or perhaps oceans. Beyond Terre d'Ange where she finds her father, in the far reaches of distant Ch'in, Moirin's skills are a true gift when facing the vengeful plans of an ambitious mage, a noble warrior princess desperate to save her father's throne, and the spirit of a celestial dragon.

Ratings and reviews

NOT nearly as epic as the first 3, but a gentle revisiting of a place and a time. It's as if the generation gap robbed Terre d'Ange of much grace and depth. Or perhaps Carey was pressured to return here without as much time to develope story and characters. Slightly dissapointing, but then, nothing can ever compare to Phedre and Josceline - and it shouldn't. Maybe that's the point.

I loved the first 6 kushiel books, so I had great expectations for this, but this book read like it had been written by someone other than Jacqueline Carey. The writing is not her usual caliber, and the story is simplistic. The main character's (Moirin) behavior is quite inconsistent with her supposed history. I won't bother reading the other 2 books in this trilogy.

Jacqueline Carey explores the nature of love and adventure with great plot.

About the author

Jacqueline Carey's previous publications include various short stories, essays, the nonfiction book Angels: Celestial Spirits in Legend and Art, and the nationally bestselling series Kushiel's Legacy.