Book Review - Naamah's Kiss by Jacqueline Carey

Synopsis:  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 great 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 grown.

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 the seedling cupped in his palm.  Raised in the wilderness by her reclusive mother, Moirin learns only when she comes of age how illustrious, if mixed, her heritage.  The great-granddaughter of Alais the Wise, child of the Maghuin Dhonn and a cousin of the Cruarch of Alba, Moirin learns her father was a D'Angeline priest, dedicated to serving Naamah, goddess of desire.

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.

First Line:  "I was born to the Maghuin Dhonn."

Random Quote:  "The hunt resembled no form of hunting I'd ever experienced.  It took place in a vast meadow - a portion, Thierry informed me, of the royal hunting preserves."

Review:  This is the first installment in what will be the third trilogy by Jacqueline Carey set in the world she created in the Kushiel books.  In this installment it's about 150 years after the story in the second trilogy.

Brown Bear - Image via Wikipedia

I really like these books, but this one is probably my least favorite so far.  Carey's a good writer and a really good storyteller.  I would probably like this one better if I hadn't liked the Kushiel books so very much.  This is a little light on political intrigue and a little heavy on erotica, but not so far in that direction that it's soft core porn.  It's tasteful and that's fine, but I really wanted more from the story.  When I add to this quibble my objection to the stilted dialect used for the character of Bao and this book sits firmly in the just okay column.  Having said that, I'll still grab the next one when it comes out.  I'm interested to see where the story takes Ms. Carey next.

Reading Challenges: Speculative Fiction Challenge 2010, 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, 2010 Chunkster Challenge, 2010 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge,