Naamah's Kiss - Book Review

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Moirin is a child of the Maghuin Dhonn, the disdained folk of the Brown Bear, who root themselves in the wilderness of Alba with their dwindling Earth magic: the oldest magic of their land. Moirin is raised in the wilds of Alba by her reclusive mother and it is only when she comes of age does she learn of her unusual mixed heritage: descended from Alais the Wise, princess of both Terre d'Ange and Alba, Moirin is also the daughter of a D'Angeline priest of Naamah, Goddess of Desire.

After the death of her first love, a death she is blamed for through no fault of her own, Moirin undertakes the sacred Maghuin Dhonn rites of adulthood. Moirin craves to be accepted by the brown she-bear of her people, craves to be called one of her own. It comes at a price. The Brown Bear of the Maghuin Dhonn grants Moirin divine acceptance, but she must follow her diadh-anam, the soul-spirit of the Maghuin Dhonn's Brown Bear that lives and pulsates inside her, across the ocean into other lands. Moirin must follow her destiny.

Moirin's destiny leads her into Terre d'Ange where she tracks down her father, acknowledges the blessing of Naamah, becomes entangled in an erotic love triangle, becomes a royal companion, is tricked into summoning fallen gods and becomes the student of an elderly Ch'in fellow – which subsequently leads to her adventure in the beautiful (Asian) Ch'in, rescuing a Ch'in warrior princess.


Naamah's Kiss is the first novel in the Moirin trilogy written by renowned fantasy writer, Jacqueline Carey , and was published in 2009 by Grand Central Publishing. Naamah's Kiss is followed by Naamah's Curse (2010) and Naamah's Blessing (2011). Preceding the trilogy featuring Moirin, Carey wrote two other trilogies presenting the same 'world'. The first of these trilogies is the Phèdre trilogy and contains the novels: Kushiel's Dart (2001), Kushiel's Chosen (2002) and Kushiel's Avatar (2003). Imriel's trilogy is the second and includes the novels: Kushiel's Scion (2006), Kushiel's Justice (2007) and Kushiel's Mercy (2008). These three trilogies, Phèdre's, Imriel's and Moirin's complete the larger series – Kushiel's Legacy .

The stories told within the Moirin trilogy occur some hundred or so years after the events told in Phèdre and Imriel's trilogies, as both Phèdre nó Delaunay de Montrève and Imriel nó Montrève de la Courcel have long since become legends in both the lands of Alba and Terre d'Ange and Moirin knows their tales. Moirin is on the path to becoming legendary herself – for all the right reasons.


Naamah's Kiss is a beautiful book of pretty words, people and scenes, but not everything or everyone is good in nature. Naamah's Kiss is about adventure, destiny, love, family, loyalty and duty – and a many other things besides. The characters in Naamah's Kiss (following in true Carey style) aren't perfect and are loved all the more for their flaws as well as their strengths. Moirin herself is young and naïve in this first chapter of her unfolding story. Naamah's Kiss is a captivating, can't-put-down, erotic fantasy novel for young adult readers, a perfect fit for Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Legacy.



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