Does Kushiel's Scion Get Any Better?

[Physics Knight]

I'm just making my way through Kushiel's Scion, almost at page 400, it's really bad so far. I loved the original trilogy, then thought Banewreaker was meh, and had hopes for KS because it was back in her first world.

But I think if anything that was a bad move for her because it seems she is writing it out of laziness/reflex, relying on old stuff rehashed, instead of crafting a new and wonderful story. Oh, and it is missing a plot and conflict. It uses the old stories too much as a crutch and doesn't stand on its own. Plus it is just boring. They go to court, they go to Montevre, they go here, there is some politics, some people visit, blah blah blah. I feel that it is too much of a summary without any rich details, but at the same time manages to be too detailed. It is a strange feeling when reading a book like this. And her style and literary devices is getting really tedious. If I have to hear that something was to someone's credit one more time... Where were her editors? Did she get a new one? I noticed she changed publishers so this could explain it.

So my question to those who have read it all, is does it get any better? I really wanted to like it, don't want to give up on her, but it is so boring and dull, and just not good. Does it pick up, or remain the same throughout? I'm wondering if others share my feeling about Carey's recent writing. I can't decide if she got to be a really bad writer, or my tastes have changed, or some combination. Are the other two, Justice and Mercy, in the series any different? Though no spoilers please! I'm more interested in general thoughts and feelings.

 

[Severn]

I liked it well enough. I hate to say it but it's fairly consistent throughout, although there was one point (moving over several chapters) in the last 3rd of the book that I just loved. Imriel seems to grow a bit. He has one love interest (because they always do, don't they) that seemed really contrived, and frankly annoyed the hell out of me: Yes, we know you Terra whatsits are descended from angels, gloriously beautiful and great in the sack. We get it already. It had that kind of feeling for me, at first. But, in the last 3rd, Imriel felt a little more real to me. He's no Phedre though. Despite his obssession with 'being good', he doesn't have the character conflicts, passion and growth (so far) that we see in Phedre.

I'd say stick with it, see if, in the last 3rd, it gets better for you too.

 

[hawkwind]

For me I was a little disappointed when I started reading Kushiels Scion as well. My conclusion wasn't that her writing has gotten worse, The reason was Phedre. Or more specifically no Phedre. She was such an amazing character in the first three books, one of my favorite characters all time. It was hard for me to get interested in Imriel. But by the time I finished Scion I found that I did enjoy it, maybe not as much as the first series. But I really did enjoy the next two and I think you will find that the first book was just an introductory to Imriel and the next two builds quite nicely on it. I still believe Carey is one of the most beautiful writers out there and can't wait to see what she writes next. By the way I am also a big fan of her Sundering duology.

 

[sic's mom]

I enjoyed it, but like everyone else says I missed Phedra. She is such an intense character, whereas Imreil just isn't. Kusheils Justice was in my opinion a much better book, and there will be one more in this trilogy next year called Kucheil's Mercy. Imreil does get better, and grows up more. He just takes longer to like than Phedra did.