“This first novel in the Kushiel saga is by far the best, and fortunately also works as a stand alone book.
It's a wonderful, enjoyable novel that mixes intrigue, good characters, thorough worldbuilding and a (by fantasy measures) non-standard approach to love and sex. The main precept of the dominating religion is "Love as thou wilt", which the characters proceed to do. The main character is, in fact, a likable spy--who also happens to be a masochistic courtesan.
The internal conflict is great, and I would say that the mix of internal/external conflict is what makes this novels stand head and shoulders above its sequels.”