Kushiel's Legacy, 2nd trilogy

You can find my overview on the first trilogy here.  This is my all time favorite series and I'm so excited to share these books and my feelings with you guys!
The second trilogy in the Kushiel's Legacy series follows Imriel who was adopted and raised by Phedre and Joscelin.  Although I still loved this trilogy it wasn't as good as the first three books.  Still beyond the typical 5 stars though!  
Here's a description of Kushiel's Scion, the first in the second trilogy and #4 in the Legacy series.


Imriel de la Courcel's blood parents are history's most reviled traitors, but his adoptive parents, the Comtesse Phèdre and the warrior-priest Joscelin, are Terre d'Ange's greatest champions. 

Stolen, tortured, and enslaved as a young boy, Imriel is now a Prince of the Blood, third in line for the throne in a land that revels in art, beauty, and desire. It is a court steeped in deeply laid conspiracies ... and there are many who would see the young prince dead. Some despise him out of hatred for his birth mother Melisande, who nearly destroyed the realm in her quest for power. Others because they fear he has inherited his mother's irresistible allure - and her dangerous gifts. And as he comes of age, plagued by dark yearnings, Imriel shares their fears. 

At the royal court, where gossip is the chosen poison and assailants wield slander instead of swords, the young prince fights character assassins while struggling with his own innermost conflicts. But when Imriel departs to study at the famed University of Tiberium, the perils he faces turn infinitely more deadly. Searching for wisdom, he finds instead a web of manipulation, where innocent words hide sinister meanings, and your lover of last night may become your hired killer before dawn. Now a simple act of friendship will leave Imriel trapped in a besieged city where the infamous Melisande is worshiped as a goddess; where a dead man leads an army; and where the prince must face his greatest test: to find his true self.


Jacqueline Carey has such a way with words, in creating and world and characters that come alive and the entire story is like a movie in your head.  Imriel grew on me quickly and although I was sad to see less of Phedre and Joscelin I was intrigued with the new characters introduced and the adventure and twists and turns thrown in to these books.
Kushiel's Justice is the second book in this second trilogy.  Here's the description:


Imriel nó Montrève de la Courcel is the son of the great-uncle of the D'Angeline Queen Ysandre de la Courcel. His mother, Melisande Shahrizai, is a traitor who twice attempted to seize the D'Angeline throne, once with the help of his father, Benedicte de la Courcel. Rescued from slavery by Phèdre nó Delaunay and her consort Joscelin Verreuil in Kushiel's Avatar, he is formally adopted into House Montrève and begins to understand his history and that of his blood relatives. Despite his being the son of two infamous traitors, he is also the adoptive son of the realms perhaps most loyal royalists. He has no aspirations for the throne and is ashamed of his heritage.

After having studied at the University of Tiberium (see Kushiel's Scion), he has now returned to Terre d'Ange and agreed to marry the Alban Princess Dorelei.


It's hard for me to remember each book on it's own in this second trilogy.  I'm not sure why that is, but it didn't stick with me as well.  So it's hard for me to write a review for each book independently.  It's was 4 years or so since I read them.  
The third book  in this trilogy is Kushiel's Mercy.  


Having learned a lesson about thwarting the will of the gods, Imriel and Sidonie publicly confess their affair, only to see the country boil over in turmoil. Younger generations, infatuated by their heart-twisting, star-cross romance, defend the couple. Many others can not forget the betrayals of Imriel's mother, Melisande, who plunged their country into a bloody war that cost the lives of their fathers, brothers, and sons. 

To quell the unrest, Ysandre, the queen, sets her decree. She will not divide the lovers, yet neither will she acknowledge them. If they marry, Sidonie will be disinherited, losing her claim on the throne. There's only one way they can truly be together. Imriel must perform an act of faith: search the world for his infamous mother and bring her back to Terre d'Ange to be executed for treason. 

Facing a terrible choice, Imriel and Sidonie prepare ruefully for another long separation. But when a dark foreign force casts a shadow over Terre d'Ange and all the surrounding countries, their world is turned upside down, alliances of the unlikeliest kind are made, and Imriel and Sidonie learn that the god Elua always puts hearts together apurpose.

Once again I can only say that I don't even have words to describe this series.  The books are beautiful.  The characters are fearless, brave and endearing.  The world is wrought with good and evil and you'll find yourself in tears over and over again.  For good and for bad.

I encourage you to read the first trilogy before reading this one, but this is one that could be read separately if you wished to read them and not the first three.  The beginning of Imriel's story really does begin in Kushiel's Avatar though and you'll understand it better if you read the first books.

I'm reading the first book in the third trilogy of the Kushiel's Legacy series and am almost finished.  It's wonderful, and beautiful and has brought tears to my eyes more then once.  This trilogy can easily be read alone.  There are mentions of the characters in the original two trilogies, but it's not pertinent to the story.  It's a couple hundred years in the future from them.  

I'll be doing a review of Naamah's Kiss and then an interview with Jacqueline Carey as well as a giveaway.  This will be the wind down of My Favorite Things Birthday event.  A perfect end to an awesome month.  My most favorite author and books!