Read As Thou Wilt: Kushiel's Dart Readalong, Part Six

Let us finish this.

Phèdre risks everything yet again on a chance to finish what she started, and keep her word to Ysandre. Joscelin does the same trying to thwart Selig, if not stop him. What were your thoughts about their last confrontation with the Skaldi warlord, and what it means for their relationship?

I think the big thing, looking back, is that everything Phèdre and Joscelin had done for each other and everyone else up to that point, mostly had to be done. The situations they'd got themselves into left little room for thought. But in these moments in the book, the threat is not face to face. They could say "someone else". Instead, they say "this is my task" even at the cost of seemingly certain self-destruction.

And I think that experience of knowing again, and now with complete certainty, just how far each other will go breaks certain barriers between them. They knew, but but now they *know*. 

Isidore d'Aiglemort turns out to be the hero that Terre D'Ange needs, if not the one they want. Do you think Phèdre made the right call, making him that offer? What do you think of his final act, and the reasons that drive him to it? Is he a hero, or was he ultimately still only a tool in the hands of others?

Yes. Hero and tool both, at least for a given value of tool. I would in fact advance the theory that any true hero is acting in service to someone - or at least something - else. Joscelin is Phèdre's tool, Phèdre is Anafiel's tool and then Ysandre's, and Ysandre is the tool of her people. That's how it should be. A person with the attributes of a hero and no drive beyond their own desires is a villain in the making. Here endeth the pontificating.

And yes, I think Phèdre absolutely made the right call. Isidore holds the balance of power and more over, the reasons why he acted were always things that could be redirected back to the service of Terre D'Ange.

Melisande faces the consequences of her actions, though it seems her 'deep game' is not over. Do you think she was prepared for her plan to fail, or was she seizing any opportunity to save herself with that escape? What are your thoughts on her after her last conversation with Phèdre?

I don't know. I feel like we know a lot about Melisande, but not whether she's the sort of person that is planning for the worst even when the best seems to be happening. Which is arguably a hole in the characterisation.

As for who she is after that last conversation... she's charismatic, even magnetic, but there's nothing of worth underneath.

Finally, everyone gets a chance to rest and recover, and Phèdre is richly rewarded for her deeds - in a few senses. How do you feel about her (double-edged) Happily Ever After with Joscelin? And do you think she's doing the right thing, choosing to find the traitor who freed Melisande in her own way?

Anafiel Delaunay's pupil to the last.

As for the edges on her happily ever after... well, when it's as happy as happily ever after gets, I don't think there's too much worth to considering the edges. And it does look very happy, at least for the while.

And as always, please do share any other thoughts you had on this finale! Were there any particular moments that stood out for you?

It irks me that nobody stops to count Drustant's tiny army of, what, 3,500, vs the 7,000 soldiers Isidore D'Aiglemort has. Love as thou wilt, and there are some bad precedents in giving guys like Isidore exactly what they want, but the author has done little to convince me that in terms of pure practicality it shouldn't have been Isidore next to Ysandre. Better story? No. But better story if it's made clearer that's not the case? I think so.

This is still a very good story. Phèdre's arc and character is just great, and the characters are compelling. This probably won't be the last time I read this story. However, with my writer's hat on, I have to ask myself why this book isn't in the genre's major canon (correctly imo - more asking why it missed than perception) and I have three answers

1) A book full of kinky and taboo sex scenes will always faces a struggle to be mainstream

2) Luck

3) The world isn't given enough coherent logic and specialness to be remembered as well as Phèdre

Which is no big. The story of Phèdre no Delaunay is prize enough.