She Changed Fantasy Romance 25 Years Ago. I Finally Got to Ask Her Why.

Kushiel's Dart invented feminist dark fantasy romance before it was a genre, and it turns 25 this year. I sat down with Jacqueline Carey to ask everything I've been holding since I first read it. We talked about Phèdre as a feminist masochist heroine, how consent became a sacred tenet woven into the theology of Terre d'Ange, why first-person POV was a deliberate choice to remove the voyeuristic gaze, how the world came out of a paid research gig on angel mythology, what Joscelin was like to write, and what Jacqueline feels now that readers have been rereading this book for 25 years. This is one of those interviews I'll be thinking about for a long time. I hope you love it. We're also doing a full series read-along for Kushiel's Legacy right now -- all the details are linked below! 📚 Join the Kushiel's Legacy Readalong: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.co... 📖 Kushiel's Legacy Reading Order + Guide: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.co... ⭐ My original Kushiel's Dart Review: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.co... Timestamps: 00:00 Anniversary Setup 01:38 Did You Know Then 03:10 Phèdre Over Time 04:04 Consent And Voice 04:59 Getting Into The World 06:31 Building Terre d'Ange 08:32 Finding The Prose 11:48 Characters And Antagonists 15:30 Writing Joscelin 19:05 Reading Tips And Themes 20:56 Legacy And Readers 22:57 Readalong Details 💌 WANT MORE UNHINGED RECS? If you like dark, weird, or just slightly feral romance and fantasy recs, you’re in the right place. I do chaotic TBR experiments, trope deep dives, and seasonal rec videos for romance, fantasy romance, and everything in between. --- 🔔 Like, Subscribe & Hit the Bell So you never miss a spicy book rec from Under the Covers. 🌐 Visit the Blog: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com 📲 Stay Connected: Instagram:   / utcbookblog   Subscribe to our newsletter: https://underthecovers.myflodesk.com/... Want to get in touch? Email: [email protected] --- 💰 AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: This video contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links at no additional cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows me to continue creating book content. Thank you for your support! --- #darkfantasyromance #fantasybooks #jacquelinecarey