Rating: 
Summary: Breathtaking Fantasy
Review: *Shakes her head* I'm in utter shock that anyone could ever slightly diss this book. Filled with an intricate plot and devestating scenes, this goes on my favorite list. This book series does not go from 'beginning to end', like the traditional, but as Kerr explains, she borrows a Celt tradition. The story will get told, just not in a straight and narrow path. The story focuses on a saddening love story, kidnapping (on two counts), the past lives of our favorite characters, and a century old dweomer, or magic, worker living for the sole reason to atone for past sins. Read this book. It's worth your time and your money, a hundredfold at least.
Rating:
Summary: An enchanting, compelling tale to stir & haunt the soul.
Review: A vibrantly well written tapestry of human nature & the consequential effects of choices on our lives. Considered a classic, to be read time & time again. Also, a beautiful springboard into the following book, each leaving a craving
for more!
Rating:
Summary: Fans Of "Mists of Avalon" Should Not Overlook This Series.
Review: After an uneven start in "Daggerspell," Katharine Kerr has continued to build upon and expand the characters and world of Deverry, and with "Bristling Wood," the third book of the octet, has brought her storytelling talents to full maturity. Description, while lacking the depth of a Jordan or Martin, is nonetheless detailed and vivid, characterizations diverse and singular, and the secondary characters have begun to contribute significant roles to the story, greatly enriching the tale. With this volume Kerr's series must begin to be considered as a contender among the few truly notable works of fantasy fiction, and I expectantly look forward to reading the rest of the eight to see if the story fulfills its undeniable promise. Fans of "The Mists of Avalon" would be making a mistake in ignoring celtic Deverry.
Rating:
Summary: Fans Of "Mists of Avalon" Should Not Overlook This Series.
Review: After an uneven start in "Daggerspell," Katharine Kerr has continued to build upon and expand the characters and world of Deverry, and with "Bristling Wood," the third book of the octet, has brought her storytelling talents to full maturity. Description, while lacking the depth of a Jordan or Martin, is nonetheless detailed and vivid, characterizations diverse and singular, and the secondary characters have begun to contribute significant roles to the story, greatly enriching the tale. With this volume Kerr's series must begin to be considered as a contender among the few truly notable works of fantasy fiction, and I expectantly look forward to reading the rest of the eight to see if the story fulfills its undeniable promise. Fans of "The Mists of Avalon" would be making a mistake in ignoring celtic Deverry.
Rating:
Summary: a time to avert war, and a time to fight a war to the finish
Review: For the profit of kings, well did he attack the hosts
of the country, the bristling wood of spears,
the grievous flood of the enemy.
- The Gododdin of Aneirin, Stanza A 84This volume interleaves two skeins of history: the 'present' (Jill and Rhodry's time) and the last years of the Time of Troubles (the civil wars between Cantrae, Cerrmor, and Eldidd, all of whom had claims to the high kingship of all Deverry). The Time of Troubles thread began in _Darkspell_, but picks up here a generation or so later in the course of the wars of that terrible era. In the present, Salamander has determined that the mysterious ring of dwarven silver is destined for Rhodry. But Rhodry's fate is that of Aberwyn - his brother's "barren" ex-wife, now married to another man, has just given birth to her first son, so Rhodry's recall from exile is the only way to avert civil war over the rhan. The ring is his from his blood-father, but he's heir to the rhan through his legal father. This story is continued in _The Dragon Revenant_ - Salamander's puzzle of how to get the ring into Rhodry's hands without destroying his claim to the rhan. In the past, Maddyn (later Rhodry) has been wounded unto death in his lord's last charge, and as an outlawed man, has no choice but to turn mercenary. Here we have the founding of the silver daggers, and the beginning of the thread that will later lead to the forging of the ring. Maddyn's story continues in _A Time of Omens_, _The Red Wyvern_, and _The Fire Dragon_, and is concluded in _A Time of Exile_.
Rating:
Summary: Praise for Katharine kerr!
Review: I love this book! This series has, by far, the most believable characters I've ever read. Kerr's writing style is so vivid, so real that every heart wrenching moment gives you heart palpitations.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite high-fantasy writer! (well, except Tolkien)
Review: Katharine Kerr is one of the all time best high fantasy writers ever known. She is exceptionally gifted in the use of fine detail and creative twists to keep her readers guessing. When I first started reading her books all these years ago, I was hooked almost from the beginning. Now, I own every Deverry and Westland novel to date, the pages worn and yellowed, but still I re-read the entire series cover-to-cover, beginning to end again and again. I use it as my "escape" from modern life. Katherine Kerr's publisher is giving her some trouble about publishing in the US, from what I understand. Please, everyone, stand behind her and make her publishers understand that we want MORE.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite high-fantasy writer! (well, except Tolkien)
Review: Katharine Kerr is one of the all time best high fantasy writers ever known. She is exceptionally gifted in the use of fine detail and creative twists to keep her readers guessing. When I first started reading her books all these years ago, I was hooked almost from the beginning. Now, I own every Deverry and Westland novel to date, the pages worn and yellowed, but still I re-read the entire series cover-to-cover, beginning to end again and again. I use it as my "escape" from modern life. Katherine Kerr's publisher is giving her some trouble about publishing in the US, from what I understand. Please, everyone, stand behind her and make her publishers understand that we want MORE.
Rating: 
Summary: Third in a long LONG series
Review: Kerr's much beloved (so they say), Devarrey series focuses on the plight of Aberwayn with the loss of Rhys and the kidnapping od Rhodry. Strange that I found myself rooting for the bad guys here. Maybe it's the unusual way in which Kerr writes....long flashback sequences, that always end the same way, Brangwen (Jill) is not yet ready to embrace her true calling, and Nevyn must soldier on till the next incarnation. The problem with this idea is twofold, one, the romance between Brangwen and Galrion was never really fleshed out in book one, leaving Nevyn's punishment by the Gods for his supposed transgressions a little baffling. And that leaves us with the great romance between Jill and Rhodry, where if one dies the other would feel the loss...ect. But, Jill was to marry Galrion, and in other incarnations she and Rhodry are mistress and servant, brothers in arms ect so that we don't care about their great love affair, after all it's only another incarnation, one of maybe dozens they have already had. The best part of this book is when Lord Perryn seduces Jill, in this instance I found Jill to be more than just a cookie cutter acolyte waiting to learn her craft and become a master....here she became both victim and heroine...and as such became a more interesting character. The story however, plods on and on, with only flashes that Nevyn has limitations, or that this Brotherhood will become a least a close match for his powers. Readers be warned, there is no map attached to this book, and the many place names get real confusing after a while...so keep one of her other books at hand. With really nowhere to go but the completion of Jill's wyrd, and the eventual passing of the torch to her, Nevyn, the best character here is as hamstrung as the story itself...and there are many, many volumes yet to go.
Rating:
Summary: Way better than Darkspell !
Review: This book is full of everything Deverry lovers love and more! Salamander is one of the greatest characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading. This book flows into the sequel and builds up to the climatic final fight. The story keeps getting better and I recommend it to anyone!
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