Art by temiel
It’s time to complete the Kushiel trinity of my loves. It feels like a fitting time to write about him anyway. He was the first crush I had in the series before I learned to love Phèdre more and fell in love with Imriel. I still get excited each time I re-read the books and he appears. Today, I give you Joscelin.
Stats:
Full Name: Joscelin Verreuil
Age: 20ish when the book starts
Occupation: Former Cassiline Brother, The Perfect Companion
Who is He?
Joscelin is main character in Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel Trilogies. He first appears in Kushiel’s Dart. He is assigned to protect Phèdre after the regular man at arms is killed. He really hates the job at first. A Cassiline Brother (a warrior priest) must guard a famous courtesan! It’s unendurable! After all, the Cassilines believe that honoring their god through intimate relations is just wrong. Joscelin grows out of his hatred for his new gig and becomes one the best characters in the whole book. He helps Phèdre save a few kingdoms and find lost princes as well.
Fun Facts:
- Phèdre thought he was absolutely beautiful but hated his personality at the beginning.
- Joscelin’s vambraces were passed down through the family.
- Joscelin is declared anathema by the Brotherhood after he decides to follow Phèdre to Alba (England) instead of returning with the Prefect.
- Joscelin taught Imriel how to fight the Cassiline way.
- Joscelin’s family name comes from the lake surrounding the estate he grew up on until age 10, Lake Verre.
Art by zeldyn
Who So Crushworthy?
Joscelin had a stick up his rear at the beginning. He thought he was being assigned his wards as a punishment of some kind. Cassiline priests are taught to despise the fleshly teachings of Elua and his companions. It was everything Phèdre stood for. She was a courtesan. She was dedicated to Naamah. She was marked by Kushiel to find pleasure in pain. Poor Joscelin. I admired his strength of spirit for not quitting. It was endearing how easy he was to tease. It seemed he would never get over hating his ward or being so uptight. As in most books, things changed for him in a big way.
He was sold into slavery along with Phèdre to cover up a treason plot by Melisande Shahrizai and Isidore D’Aiglemort. He had to unbend and learn to survive. He learned that some vows had to be broken. The biggest change in him is that he fell in love — with Phèdre. It really changed him for the better. He was finally loving as he chose. It was a romance willed by the gods. Joscelin became a romantic hero though he would deny it. He also became one the best warriors in Terre D’Ange history. His fight scenes are amazing. Even when the odds are stacked against him, he manages to prevail. He becomes more than what he started out as. Joscelin will always be one my favorite crushes!
