This book is dirty. The edge of the pages and thus my hands are coated in the ink used to print Jacqueline Carey's addictive words. A case of summer heat and my inability to put Kushiel's Dart down for one second? No doubt.

Terre D'Ange, a land of beauty and grace, was settled by angels. Love as thou wilt is the law of the land, and thus the Night Court was born, a group of houses peopled with courtesans who honor Naamah, a woman who lay with a king to free Blessed Elua. Each House of the Court boasts a different expertise, should you wish your encounter to be gentle, chaste, or alive with pain.

Phèdre nó Delaunay is sold as an indentured servant as a child. Anafiel Delaunay is the first to recognize what she is, how special and rare. She is pricked by Kushiel's Dart, a red mote in her eye, forever chosen to experience pain and pleasure as one.

Phèdre's day are filled with schooling, in and out of the bedroom alike. She longs for the day when she will know her first patron; while Delaunay will be paid handsomely for such a coupling, Phèdre may receive a patron gift, which she may put toward the making of her marque, a tattoo which runs from the nape of her neck to the base of her spine.

When Phèdre stumbles upon a plan that threatens her homeland, she is in the best position to hear the secrets that slip from lust-loosed lips. To Delaunay she tells all, having no idea just how deep the betrayals run. A lover can be an enemy, an enemy can become a friend; it is never easy to tell which role a person plays in this world.

This book has a little bit of everything. Court intrigue, sensual encounters, high fantasy adventure, fast friendships, and true love. While the sexual encounters are graphic early on, the sex fades as the book builds; as Phèdre's talents shift, so does the tone of the book.

Carey has found a unique voice in Phèdre; I suspect it is no easy task writing a book of this size in first person, for Phèdre must be aware of everything to relate it to the reader. This she does with apparent ease. I was impressed by the chances Carey takes with her characters, and found myself wholly drawn into their plight.

Dirty pages and all, I cannot wait to return to this world. Kushiel's Chosen (now in paperback) and Kushiel's Avatar (now in hardcover) complete the trilogy.