Rating: 
Summary: A classic
Review: I first read this novel (and the following two books in the series) twenty years ago, and re-read them a few years after that. It's an intriguing and exciting look at the relationship between magic and religion. The pace is fast and the characters are likeable. In the following years, I was often disappointed by other fantasy novels because they couldn't live up to the Deryni. A few years ago, I got an itch to read the series again and was very frustrated when I couldn't find them on my bookshelf. I was thrilled to discover this new, hardback edition in the local bookstore--first because I wanted to read it again, and secondly because it's one of the few books I want to keep forever in hardback. A classic--worthy of its reputation.
Rating:
Summary: excellent writing
Review: I have had very limited experience reading fantasy novels. I chose this one on the recommendation of a friend who reads mostly such books. I began it expecting it to be one of those things where the names and cities are so hard to pronounce I would want to toss it immediately. It is not that way. It is written so well and so real that you can imagine it happening here. The writing is beautiful and absorbing and the story is like nothing I have ever read. Very unique in my opinion. The characters have depth and you care about them and the villains are horrid. Excellent book, especially for someone new to fantasy and fit for younger readers, too. I cannot wait to read the others in the series.
Rating: 
Summary: A Rising Star
Review: If you haven't discovered Katherine Kurtz's now epic saga of the Deryni, then you're missing out on one of the best fantasy series out there. Deryni Rising is the first book in the series and the first novel for Katherine Kurtz, and while I still recommend this vociferously, I have to admit that on re-reading the writing style is still in its formative stages and the overall tone and plot aren't...perfect. But the strengths are there and you'll be quickly pulled into her alternative Medieval European world, mostly by the fact that her alternative world is basically exactly like reading exciting history, except there are those select few blessed (or cursed) with magical abilities, aka the Deryni.While nowdays alternative historial fanatasies fill the genre, Kurtz's was among the first and still the best. Trained as a historian, she gets things right. From the latin phrases, the heraldic elements to the powerful and not always benign church, you'll believe you're simply reading about the medieval ages as it should have been, complete with powerful but persecuted magical practioners. She's basically said, so what if magic was real..? And run with it This opening novel introduces the main characters, Kelson a young boy-king trying to come to terms with both his temporal and magical powers, as well as his staunch allies, Alaric Morgan, a powerful Duke and a feared sorcerer and Morgan's cousin Duncan Mclain, a priest and also secretly Deryni. Kelson's kingdom, Gwynedd is beset with internal political maneuvers as well as magical threats from other Deryni kingdoms. There is plenty of intrigue, as well as her interesting take on the magical systems of the Deryni. The fact that to be known as a Deryni is practically a death sentence, let alone to use those powers openly, places Kelson and his friends in a precarious position trying to maintain their hold on the kingdom. Basically I fell in love with the medieval setting and the amazingly well drawn characters. Although Kelson isn't as compelling, mostly because of his youth (and how refreshing to actually read about a teenage character that doesn't act and think like he's thirty!) but if you follow the series he definately matures in books that follow (The Bisop's Heir, The King's Justice and The Quest for St. Camber). This trilogy is really more about Morgan and Duncan which is fine because they are both worthy characters. Morgan is the barely tolerated Duke of Corwyn, known to be a sorcerer and the King's Champion, yet he is hampered in his efforts to help Kelson against his Deryni enemies and his very Deryniness threatens the King's standing among his fearful human nobles. Duncan is a Deryni priest when no Deryni are admitted to the priesthood because of their 'evil' powers. Needless to say the conflict between the church and the magical Deryni plays a major role in the milieu of Gwynedd. Although Kurtz's view of the church is harsh (foaming at the mouth fanatics, powerful men who use their priestly offices for personal gain, hatred, bigotry and prejudice) it is also realistic. She balances the negative with Mclain and others whose behavior and beliefs contradict the fanatics and shows what a very real and everyday part religion would have played in such a society. All in all a really great book that sets the stage for the ones to follow. Unlike some more contemporary authors (Kate Elliot springs to mind) who have mined medieval settings for their epics, no one compares with Katherin Kurtz for realism. And she doesn't use her knowledge of history to show off fancy or obscure details since the information forms, as it should, a strong and compelling background that supports, but never overshadows, the characters and story.
Rating:
Summary: Welcome to the first book in an u unforgettable series!
Review: In a fantasy world similar to medieval Britain the Deryniare outcast. Their telepathic and other "magical" powersare condemned by the church as work of the devil. They arefeared, shunned and oftentimes burned at the stake.At last, two hundred years after massive persecutions, theDeryni are rising once more. Under royal protection the halfDeryni Duke Alaric Anthony Morgan gains a degree ofacceptance when the hatered of religious zealots and thescheming of an ambitious sorceress threaten to end hisefforts... and his life.Beware! Once started this series is addictive! The writingand the plot grow more gripping by the chapter. You may experience a compultion to read and re-read these books lateinto the night
Rating:
Summary: Well-crafted fantasy world
Review: Kurtz' interest in church matters is readily apparent in this justly famous series. Part of the trouble for me in re-reading this now is that in the age of 400 page books, this feels like the first chapter in the series, rather than an entire book. She manages to provoke interest, make characters behave believably, and write a well-covered situation with a fresh perspective. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: One of My Personal Favorites
Review: Maybe it's a generational thing, like one of those events with which only people of a certain age can identify. For instance, I can't understand the fascination that some have for Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, and Elvis Presley. It's the same thing with some fantasy works: some will make people fervent followers, others will leave people cold. I rather suspect that some of the books I read in my youth would seem substandard were I to read them for the first time now. This is by way of saying that maybe I was a far more impressionable lad back in the day. Be that as it may, I first read the original Deryni trilogy back when I was in high school, and it definitely had a major impact on how I came to view subsequent fantasy works. I rate these books, along with Stephen Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series, as my favorite fantasy books by far. What's not to like in this first trilogy? Kurtz creates a vivid, living land, essentially an alternate medieval Europe with substantially altered geography and dynasties. You quickly get a sense that this is a intricate world with a rich depth of history. The setting, since it draws on our popular conceptions of the Middle Ages, seems familiar enough that you can easily picture the castles and cathedrals and towns, yet different enough that your imagination can be given free reign to fill in the details. The people, too, are excellently depicted, from high to low. Few are unalloyed heroes or villains; they all have their flaws and virtues, their hidden secrets and desires and fears. None of them are able to move efforlessly from triumph to triumph; sometimes they stumble, make mistakes, fall into traps. Other than the Deryni themselves, few can call upon huge stores of magic, or charge headlong into battle with mightily enchanted items. An arrow to the chest is as likely to kill the greatest warrior as the meanest footsoldier. And make no mistake, people will die in these books--divine force will not intervene to save them, and they're not going to come back from the grave. (Well, except maybe for one exception.) Kurtz excels at bringing her cast of characters to life. Many of them are so well drawn that it's a real disappointment to think that their lives are merely fictional. You'll hate to see their adventures come to an end. Even characters that start out as minor figures can climb to prominence and become more developed over the course of the series. This first trilogy helped popularize the "alternate Europe" setting with the Catholic Church as a major element. The Church does not come off too well here, as most of its hierarchy is composed of fanatics, slick political operators, and bigots. This theme has been picked up in other works inspired by the Deryni books (such as some of the novels by the overly-prolific Mercedes Lackey). While it works here as an integral part of the milieu and history, in books written by others, the Church as villain is generally done quite poorly. But I digress. This first Deryni trilogy is epic in scope, filled with intrigue, battles, mysterious rites, strange encounters, passion, love, and death. Multiple plot lines are followed and many points of view are presented. It is truly a sweeping and engripping epic. The following trilogy, centered on Camber, a figure from a few centuries prior to the original books, is almost as good. After that, Kurtz begins to churn out Deryni books that suffer from improbable plots, silly and uninspired characters, and a certain numbing sameness. They read almost as if a lesser talent had created them under her vague supervision. But you won't be disappointed with this first set. Unless, as I said, only oldsters like me can identify with this. You kids and your Robert Jordan these days, sheesh...
Rating: 
Summary: Quick, forgettable read
Review: The book was quick paced enough for me to get through it, and though it has the basic style and premise of a fantasy epic, it lacks so much that makes those epics good. For example, the plot is too small-scale; we only learn about what happens on a couple days in one city to a dozen or so people. Truly epic fantasy novels paint a portrait of an entire kingdom. Also, this novel lacked any sort of romance, which isn't necessary, I suppose, but it really helps in the slow parts in many novels (think of David Eddings, Robert Jordan, or Terry Goodkind here). I will read some more in the series, because I figure Mrs. Kurtz will expand on the universe she created in this book- at least I hope so...
Rating: 
Summary: Why Waste the Time?
Review: The characters in this book are all either absolutely good or absolutely evil and very much stereotyped: the young prince, the evil sorceress, etc. My other main criticism is that the author tells you everything each character is thinking, leaving almost no room for suspense. Oh and if you aren't a devout Christian this book will probably be a bit much, too. Hopefully the other books in the series are better than this one!
Rating:
Summary: A GOOD START
Review: There are plots afoot in the Kingdom of Gwynedd. The king has been assasinated, leaving his fourteen year old son, Kelson, to inherit the throne. Powerful forces are aligning themselves in the vulnerable time before his coronation. Even those closest to him have a hidden agenda which he will have to overcome in order to survive. Published in 1970, Deryni Rising is the first novel in the Deryni series which Katherine Kurtz continues to expand on to the present day. The story is set in a mideval kingdom similar to Earth, what with kings and the Church ruling the earthly and spiritual affairs of men. The difference is that there is a quasi-mortal race called the Deryni, sorcerors, which also inhabit the land. There are good and evil Deryni, but most humans regard them with fear and the Church persecutes them, seeing them as unholy servants of the Devil. One such evil Deryni is Charissa, a sorceress whose father was defeated and killed by Prince Kelson's father. She has sworn revenge and will stop at nothing to get it. In order to defeat her, Kelson will have to learn the ways of magic, even though being initiated into them will isolate himself from those who would normally be his allies. This novel was a good opening book of a series. It never got sappy as a lot of fantasy novels do. Even though Kelson is young, he is portrayed very well and we only have to deal with behavior like sticking his tongue out at people very rarely. It never got dull because there was always a plot within a plot going on. As I said, this is a the first novel of a series so it can't really be a classic on its own. The next novel in the series is Deryni Checkmate.
Rating:
Summary: Light yet Deep
Review: This book is the introduction to Kurtz' world of Deryni, and an enjoyable one at that. It can be read as stand alone, or as the introduction to the series, but should be read as the start of the series. "Camber of Culdi" could also be read as the start of the series, but makes a slightly less effective start. It is the familiarity of the setting that makes it comfortable. Gwynned is clearly quite similar to the slightly more Celtic areas of medevial Britian, with it's borders of Keldor and Merea as Scotland and Wales. The Deryni, a race of Wizards (it's inherited) add the edge of fantasy that makes the whole of the series facinating and unknown. Clearly she also studied some parts of the Western Ceremonial traditions of Magick, for while she puts a new spin on them for the sake of fiction, she also makes them quite familiar to anyone who has studied them. The characters, while three dimensional, aren't too complicated as of yet for this novel, as they are later developed more fully in later novels, but they are not characatures. In all, it was an excellent work.
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