Kurtz, Katherine Books

High Deryni

Katherine Kurtz

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A rather interesting Ending to the Trilogy 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 4 people found this review helpful.

With this novel, the initial trilogy of the Deryni comes to a close, and in ways that are ultimately unexpected.

The previous volume left quite a mess for King Kelson to clean up, with a civil war to the south, an invading army to the north, a treasonous Earl, an adamantly opposed Archbishop, all lining up for various reasons against Kelson. His internal opponents are so blinded by their own dogmatic resistance to be able to comprehend that they are making their own situation worse by their opposition. They are convinced of the evil of the Deryni, and will oppose a Deryni Duke, even if it means that an evil Deryni warlord will invade and conquer.

King Wencit of Torenth already has the upper hand by his trechary, having slaughtered the armies in the north, the Cassini and Kheldish armies and is ready for pitched battle against a divided Gwynned. But even then, he has plans to skip the battle, a new plot and counterplot, a master schemer he is, pitting himself against both Gwynned and the Camberian Council.

There are a few interesting twists and a rather unsatisfying ending, but it does work out for the best, with no small amount of pain on the part of the victors. War is hell, and it is difficult to be king.

Editorial Review:

With young King Kelson on the throne of Gwynedd, the priesthood of the Eleven Kingdoms felt its control deeply threatened. For Kelson was half Deryni -- part of that race of humans gifted with extrasensory powers...a race that had ruled two centuries earlier, but was dethroned and driven underground.

Now, the final battle for ultimate power was about to break into open conflict, led by the Church which equated the supernatural powers of the Deryni with witchcraft and heresy!

Childe Morgan

Katherine Kurtz

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 29 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

definitely a yes 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Many pan this novel as dreary and boring- which it is not... Yet it accomplished what Kurtz was Asked by fans to do.....Fill in some of the Blanks....taken as such I enjoyed it very much......My only wish is that authors would write and Publish IN SEQUENCE...too many Including K Kurtz end up back tracking - and This is what many find confusing....These last 2 books (In the King's Service+ Childe Morgan) seem to be the result of TOO Much Input from fans....Something needed to be Avoided in the future!

Editorial Review:

Alaric Morgan has been pledged to the king's service, for his Dernyi blood makes him ideal to safeguard the Haldane kings and ensure that Prince Brion shall have protection of his hereditary magic. But the Deryni are feared by the populace of Gwynedd and are viewed with deep suspicion by the Church. And the Camberian Council, which secretly oversees the activities of Deryni, scorns Alaric for his half-breed ancestry. Alaric has the king's protection, and a future mapped out for him that in time should ensure his survival as well as that of the king's heir. But Alaric is only four years old-and first he must survive to reach manhood.

DERYNI RISING (Chronicles of the Deryni)

Katherine Kurtz

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 26 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

An Alternate Reality, Perhaps Not So Far Removed From Ours ... 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Begin with a world in which there are humans who can do magic! Wonderous things ... healing wounds, teleportation, bringing harmony to discord, reading the truth of a man's words from his own mind and voice. Evil and foul things ... murder from afar without the slightest trace, domination of entire peoples, tortures without the need to get the blood on one's own hands.

This is a world that is at an equivalent time to approximately 1200 A.D. in our world. The place most concerning us is Gwynned ... an analog to our Britain, though certainly not yet "Great". And the people who are able to utilize "magic" are the Deryni, an enhanced offshoot of humanity.

Can you imagine what such people, open to the perception of powers beyond our world, might experience in the sacraments of their religion? Or the strength and depth of the bonds that two might share as husband and wife?

But all is not sunshine and flowers. The Deryni are a race that are constantly observed through eyes of hatred and mistrust. They possess gifts beyond those of general humanity, and for this they are feared. And they will undergo an Inquisition, similar to the one in our history, where the Deryni take the place of the Jews and Moors ... for reasons no more wise than those which drove our inquisitors.

A haunting line drifts through all of the books in this wonderful series. One that is sadly true of the world we live in today as well as this mythical realm ... "The humans fear what they cannot understand."

And sometimes that fear drives them to horrific crimes in the name of Christianity.

This, the first book in the series, starts us with young Prince Kelson, heir to the throne of Gwynned. Kelson is abruptly placed on the short path to his Kingship as his father, Brion, is murdered through magical means. He is guarded and guided by two powerful Deryni, loyal to his father and Kelson ... Alaric Morgan and Father Duncan ... a priest in masquerade, for the Deryni are not accepted as clergy by the same twisted logic that drives the superstitions surrounding the Deryni.

There is much before our young King-to-be, barriers both magical and mundane ... much which shall show the mettle of the men he will keep his closest counsels with. And we are privileged to see young Kelson grow from the young princve to a King worthy of the respect and loyalty of such men. Toward the end, there is a mystic confrontation that he must surmount, one in which he receives aid from a most-unexpected source.

There is also an examination of the Right of Kings, a power that is derived from the human soul, but no less magical for that.

This book is the delightful first step on a truly magical journey. The characters are all well-crafted, both the ones which you will feel privileged to know, and those whom you can do nothing less than despise.

Prepare to see wonders and to peer into spaces not lit in our world. Prepare to be entranced ...

Editorial Review:

In the kingdom of Gwynedd, the mysterious forces of magic and the superior power of the Church combine to challenge the rule of young Kelson. Now the fate of the Deryni -- a quasi-mortal race of sorcerers -- and, indeed, the fate of all the Eleven Kingdoms, rests on Kelson's ability to quash the rebellion by any means necessary . . . including the proscribed use of magic!

DERYNI CHECKMATE (Chronicles of the Deryni)

Katherine Kurtz

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

May the "Deryni" never end!!!!!!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Someone once told me "Women can't write good fantasy because they're afraid to kill your favorite characters" ... I then introduced him to Katherine Kurtz and the Deryni. I never heard that statement again.

I have been reading this epic saga over and over again for 20 years, and I will be reading them over and over again for the next 20 years.

Katherine Kurtz's blending of "Magic" with fact based "Church" ritual and her use of real medieval living truly makes you feel that the Kingdom of Gwynedd could truly have existed.

If you are looking for a series of books that you just cannot put down, these will keep you on the edge of your seat turning pages well into the wee hours of the morning. Though I must warn you to never assume what will happen next; and I advise always having a tissue on hand just in case.

Editorial Review:

The number of Deryni was small, for they had been hounded for generations and kept their identities secret. Those who managed to retain their arcane powers concealed their background--for bitter persecution once again swept the land of Gwynedd, inspired by a raving fanatic sworn to destroy all Deryni in a final bloodbath.

In the King's Service (Deryni: Childe Morgan Trilogy, Vol. I)

Katherine Kurtz

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 32 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Terrific 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Kurtz outshines 95% of the other published fantasy authors out there. If I compared this book to some of Kurtz's other stellar achievements, this book might be low on the list of favorites but compared to anything else available in fantasy, In the King's Service rates 5 stars.
I find it tedious to try new authors only to find that they run the same scenario with different names and places. Now days that scenario goes something along these lines. 1. Write about a whole lot of gruesome deaths to a lot of people to establish that the bad people are REAL bad. (Be sure to ravage children and describe mutilation to the max.) 2. Take the hero(s) or heroine(s) and give them character flaws to work out. Be sure make some of the flaws in some of the characters deeply disturbing to titillate. 3. Throw in two or three traitors and a few unquenchable beasts and put everyone on a geographic quest with lots of hide and go seek in it. 4. Create enough pathos and convoluted (untraceable) storylines and ambiguous characters to confuse the brightest. 5. Write a end that doesn't end and call it a fantasy novel.
Kurtz isn't formulaic but she came to the brink in this novel of falling into that formula. In all of her other books, she brings depth to place, character and circumstance that makes each book real. One is drawn into her story and forgets it is a story. Not all but most of this book was just as compelling. Since I finished In the Kings Service wishing the next novel was right around the corner, I think I can safely say Kurtz still has my attention.
If I could ask for improvement it would be for a little more intricate plots, a little more subtle court intrigue and more adventure. I would have found a less disturbing way to do away with one of the characters and I'm disappointed that Kurtz took that direction. All in all though, the book was very much worth the read.

Editorial Review:

In this first book of an all-new Deryni trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Katherine Kurtz takes readers back in time--before King Kelson's bride...before King Kelson's birth... when the magical Deryni blood was sought by the most powerful men and women in the kingdom of Gwynedd. Back when a man named Donal ruled over all.

King Kelson's Bride (Deryni)

Katherine Kurtz

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 76 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Trite 2 out of 5 stars.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Trite, pretty much sums up my feelings for this book. Kelson's saga deserves better... I got the distinct impression the author is tired of her character and wanted to tie up loose ends and be done with him. Kelson is my favorite character in the Deryni universe and I will continue to revisit the earlier novels, but not "King Kelson's Bride".

Editorial Review:

As a rival monarch takes his rightful place on the throne of a nearby land, it becomes more imperative than ever that King Kelson produce a long-awaited heir. Love is set aside for duty-and Kelson the king must make the choice that Kelson the man can not.

Katherine Kurtz's triumphant return to the magical Medieval realm of Gwynedd...Exciting and intriguing. (SF Site)

Kurtz, one of the founders of modern historical fantasy, after nearly thirty years continues to be one of its most accomplished practitioners. (Publishers Weekly)

Ms. Kurtz creates compelling characters, a byzantine plot and magical wonder for a beguiling reading experience. (Romantic Times)

Codex Derynianus

Katherine Kurtz, Robert Reginald

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Good, but not quite up to Hype 3 out of 5 stars.
47 of 48 people found this review helpful.

As a dedicated reader of the Deryni books, I have been looking for a copy of this book -- the Holy Grail of the Deryni world -- for years. I was therefore very excited to find a new edition at my local bookstore. Now, don't get me wrong -- I enjoyed this book, which contains a lot of interesting information about the Eleven Kingdoms...although most of the "new" information seems to be about Torenth and Ms. Kurtz's versions of the Roman and Byzantine Empires. But ignore the hyped descriptions of what this book is: it is primarily an A-Z encyclopedia of characters, places etc. in the books. The genealogies did not reveal much more than what is in the books, and frankly the maps were, IMHO, better in the books.

Worst amongst the misleading description found on the book (and in most professional reviews) is the claim that the book "is also an ambitious work of creative fiction as penned by Brother Theophilus from within the setting of the Eleven Kingdoms, providing original stories, vignettes, humorous pieces, serials, and poems that expand and enrich the Deryni universe." I'm not really sure where this was supposed to be. The "Brother Theophilus" material appears to be a relatively short prologue and epilogue. Amongst the enclopedia entries there are a couple lengthy entries that take the form of travelogues -- but they usually describe very minor characters or locations, which I found less interesting than they could have been.

The bottom line is that this is a good enclopedic listing of the characters and, to a lesser degree, the places of the Deryni Universe, but I would not buy it if you are looking for more than that.

Editorial Review:

In 1998, the first edition of Codex Derynianus was published in a limited edition that quickly became astronomically expensive. Now fans can have the entire text of that edition along with extensive new material. This encyclopedic overview details Katherine Kurtz's Deryni world, the setting of her 17-book saga that began with Camber of Culdi. and reveals many never-before-told details of the people, places, and objects of importance to the world of the magic-wielding Deryni. The book is packed with chronologies of events, genealogies of the peoples, and colorful maps of the Deryni world, exploring every aspect of the Eleven Kingdoms. In addition to being an authoritative reference, Codex Derynianus is also an ambitious work of creative fiction as penned by Brother Theophilus from within the setting of the Eleven Kingdoms, providing original stories, vignettes, humorous pieces, serials, and poems that expand and enrich the Deryni universe.

Bastard Prince (Heirs of Saint Camber)

Katherine Kurtz

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Definitely worth a try 4 out of 5 stars.
5 of 7 people found this review helpful.

Many of Kathryn Kurtz's strengths as a writer shine in this book: realism (hard though it may be for us readers, and properly described as gothic), unabashed romance and violence, and clearly drawn battle lines.

Kurtz does fall into several traps. I do hate to say this book fits the mold--for there are fascinating moments for which I think this book definitely deserves a chance on its own merits--but I probably should. Noble Haldane kings, beautiful ladies in distress, Deryni and humans alike who will do what they have to in order to gain power... The underground Deryni movement seems uninspired in many ways since Camber's death, unable to fight the Regents on any more than a strictly practical level. Maybe that is a reflection of the Deryni presence at that time, a reality that explains a later Camberian Council that suffers from a lack of faith and ideals.

I could wish that young Rhys Micheal were more convincing in some ways, more aware of his unfortunate role in bringing about as well as solving his royal dilemma. Michaela, Rhysel, and Joram show the same lack of development. Kurtz's observations about prejudice and discrimination are obscured at times by her protagonists' disregard for the consequences of their own actions.

There is, however, much to like in this newest addition to the Deryni saga. Queron Kinevan's development is welcome. He comes into his own after all he has passed through. Rhys Micheal is a very engaging character in many ways, and his death, like the deaths of his brother Javan and his namesake Rhys Thuryn, leaves an ache that is part of good storytelling. I liked his solution to the regent problem. Kurtz doesn't pull punches, so you're never sure the bad guys aren't going to win. Many of the deficiencies that may marr Kurtz's characterizations of the good guys are gloriously absent among her villains; the Regents are a fascinating cross section of corrupt humanity. So enjoy this chivalric romance; for all its faults, it's still quite a story.

Editorial Review:

THE PRINCES IN THE TOWER

The power-hungry former Regents of the three Haldane princes were pleased. They controlled Gwynedd once more, now that Rhys Michael was king--malleable, wine-loving, and soft. Or so they thought...
Unbeknownst to the Regents, Rhys Michael was coming into his birthright. With secret Deryni aid, he struggled to grasp the magic bequeathed to all anointed kings. And when Marek--heir to Gwynedd's last degenerate deposed Deryni despots--marched into Gwynedd at the head of an army, even the Regents had to admit that Rhys Michael must take to the field himself as king to repel the pretender.
Rhys Michael saw his chance at last. He swore that the power of the throne--from now on and for all time to come--was to be held by Gwynedd's rightful king. For this, for his sons, and for his country, the king would risk all...
FIRST PAPERBACK PUBLICATION

King Javan's Year (Heirs of Saint Camber, Vol 2)

Katherine Kurtz

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

my favorite of all the deryni novels 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I believe this was the first of the Deryni novels that i read, so perhaps my fondness for the book stems from that. I knew nothing about the Deryni, the history of the Eleven Kingdoms, or the Regency; but this world drew me in and kept me there.

If you have read any of the Deryni novels and have looked at the Haldane lineage, you know how long Javan lived and served as king. From the title "King Javan's Year", you have an idea what is going to happen.

In so many fantasy novels, the main characters are treated lightly and make it through and they save the day. In the Deryni novels, things are much darker for the protagonists and what surprised me was how vicious things were against Javan. Through all of this darkness, the light of who Javan is shines through and I really cared what happened to him and was somewhat upset at how this ended...

I suppose that is the mark of a good writer, that you can be drawn into the the world and care about the characters. The characters i care the most about, though, are those who are earliest in the timeline (Joram, Evaine, Camber, Javan, etc)...i really hope Katherine Kurtz returns to the earlier times of the Eleven Kingdoms. Until that day, i will continue to read about Camber and his children.

Editorial Review:

With young young King Alroy on his deathbed, the power-hungry Regents are plotting to keep the legitimate heir from ascending the thrown. But Prince Javan is a formidable opponent. And the Regents vow to stop at nothing to wrest back control of Gwynedd. To prevail against the Regents, to rule his kingdom justly, and even to live, Javan has to be strong. He has to be clever. And he has to be very lucky indeed...

King's Justice (Histories of King Kelson, Vol 2)

Katherine Kurtz

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

An interesting yet challenging book 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 7 people found this review helpful.

I really didn't enjoy reading this book, yet it was challenging. Even though there was some fighting action that kept me in suspense, I had a hard time remembering some of the characters. I would read about one family and then start reading about another family. Then, when a character tells that another person is in the family, I get confused. One reason might be that I read volume II of this book, instead of volume I. Even though I was confused, I would recommend this book to someone who likes to read about knights and learn about a 17 year old teenager who struggles to do his best job as a king.

Finally a King 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I was very pleased with the way the character of King Kelson has developed. He has finally begun to show what he is made of. He will be a very fun character to continue reading about.

Editorial Review:

Young Kelson Haldane, King of Gwynedd, heir to both royal and Deryni magical powers, was still no match for ex-Archbishop Loris and the Pretender Queen Caitrin who sought his death. Yet, he raised an army against them both, knowing that honor made defeat impossible....