Kushiel's Avatar is the concluding book in a trilogy that begins with Kushiel's Dart and continued in Kushiel's Chosen, so you should read those books first.
Phedre is a very engaging heroine, and Carey writes this pseudo-Renaissance pagan world evocatively and sensually and I love how she intertwines different mythologies in this work. I didn't think hearing about these books that they would become favorites. Phedre is an "anguissette," originally a prostitute by profession whose sexuality is entwined with pain. This is pushed to the limits in this book, which made me squirm at times. This books takes you very dark places, but it's worth the payoff.
I rarely cry because of a book--I'm not easy. But this book was one of those rare ones. A truly moving read--this is one book I'll never forget. It hits hard in the way it renders all the different kinds of love and what you're willing to do for it: parental, friendship as well as romantic. The overall series continues with other narrators after this book--I enjoyed those reads and I recommend them--but for me this was the emotional climax of the series so far.
