Rating: 
Summary: Love's Labors Won
Review: I admit it, I have a deep personnel connection with this series. I read DERYNI RISING during labor with my daughter, who is now married with children of her own. I was reading THE BISHOP'S HEIR while in labor with my son. That was fifteen years ago. And while labor and pregnacy can seem endless, NOTHING compares with the 10 year hiatus we have endured waiting for Ms. Kurtz to finish her story. Poor Kelson, our handsome, noble, powerful, kind, young, yadayada king can not hold onto a bride. Considering the title, I'm not giving too much away if I say that third time's a charm. There's alot that's really great about this book. Ms. Kurtz explores great new cultures and de-demonizes the Torenthi. The political intrique is intriguing, although the Liam's Torenthi uncle was clearly a good guy from the first. I really liked Kelson's new bride, mostly because Rothana and her guilt (and eternal whining) were really getting on my nerves. Kurtz does a good job of explaining why Rothana REALLY can't marry Kelson - not the nonsense she spouts about it. Problems? A few. I wish that Kurtz had taken a bit more time with the relationship between Kelson and "his bride." Couldn't she have given them a bit of an adventure together? Jehanna's seachange is rather short-changed. After so many years of fananticism, ignoring facts and logic, she throws away "salvation" for a pair of eyes? I don't think so. Another thing, what happened to Morgan? He was so powerful and talented in the first three books and so whimpy and conservative in the last few. I know the focus has switched to Kelson but poor Morgan! Not to mention, poor Derry...the eternal bad guy's deus ex machina...the trusted, warpable human lord. Still, practically everybody's here and ending happily; the new countries are an intriguing patchwork of our world cultures and Kurtz's invention; most of the bad guys are punished and the heroes get the girls. What more can you want in a fantasy!
Rating: 
Summary: not the love story i expected, this is somewhat more.
Review: A novel of the Deryni.I had thought, from the title and descriptions of the book, that this was going to be a sappy love story set in the Deryni universe as Kelson tries to woo a new bride to be his Queen. As such, I put off reading King Kelson's Bride for several years. The Deryni series has long been one of my favorites but I simply was not interested in a romance set in a fantasy world. I finally decided to read the book, if only because I knew that Katherine Kurtz had a new Deryni series coming out this year and I wanted to be caught up in case it was set in Kelson's time. King Kelson's Bride offered a pleasant surprise. This was a different book than what I expected. It turns out to be mostly a transition book (presuming that Kurtz does write another series after Kelson's era) to lay the groundwork for Kelson actually getting married and producing heirs as well as reconciliation between humans and Deryni. Out of all of the Deryni books, my favorites are the ones that are set the farthest back in the history. I prefer the ones dealing with Camber and his direct heirs (my favorite book is King Javan's Year). Part of the reason was the prominence of Deryni in the society. King Kelson's Bride is starting to rebuild the Deryni traditions in Gwynedd. One of Kelson's big projects is to try to rebuild the Deryni training schools which had been eliminated during the Heirs of Saint Camber trilogy. I love some of the ideas that are being put forth in King Kelson's Bride, but the execution of the novel itself was a little weak. Kelson is marrying for Dynastic purposes and the woman that he loves is entering a religious order. While the title of the book is focuses on the Bride, the book itself deals with the Bride more as an idea rather than with Araxie herself. Araxie has the potential to be a strong woman in the series to the level of an Evaine, but we are given very little to work with. Araxie is barely in the book, and while Kelson is portrayed as somewhat simpering over his lost love of Rothana, Araxie has strength and grace. King Kelson's Bride is a stand alone novel in the Deryni series (though by its nature it is connected to the two Kelson trilogies) and is perhaps weaker because of that. It feels like it only serves to present some ideas that may well appear in later Deryni trilogies. This was an average Deryni novel, and all it did was whet my appetite for a real Deryni book to be released again.
Rating:
Summary: Eager to see where this takes us...
Review: I've been a big fan of Ms. Kurtz' work since I was 13, when I picked up a copy of 'Deryni Archives', the short stories that go along with the whole Deryni Universe. I then had to go back and read the actual books that the 'Archives' stories fit between, and it was a joy and pleasure. I reread 'The Quest for St. Camber' at least once a year; it's my most favorite! Like the rest of her fans, I've suffered through the loss of many a good man or woman in the series, and hung on the edge of my seat when danger was afoot in the land of Gwynnedd. I was very happy to pick up this book after so long! However, if I could give it two sets of ratings--one for being yet another wonderful glimpse into this universe that's dear to my heart, and another for not quite being the satisfying read the others were--then I would. I count Ms. Kurtz among the people who inspire me most (I'm an aspiring author myself), and it was lovely to finally have Kelson get something he wanted, rather than watch it slip out of his grasp yet again (how many times can we torture the poor guy?), but the dynastic twists of the Haldane family and the equally befuddling House of Torenth bogged it way down for me. I liked seeing Liam come into his own (like a certain young Haldane at his age!), but I'm really looking forward to learning more about Queen Araxie. Maybe Rothana will finally find some peace, too. I understand that Kelson may not fall deeply in love with his Queen--kings and queens do not necessarily marry for love, you know--so I wasn't surprised that he is merely content with his bride, and is willing to learn to love her. Although, with the exception of Nigel and Meraude and Alaric and Richenda, bad things seem to happen to the couples who love deeply (witness Maryse and Duncan, Kevin and Bronwyn, Rhys and Evaine, Rhys Michael and Michaela, etc.) It's true; I was waiting for the moment I threw down the book and mourned for a favorite character, but it never came. It all seemed very nervous, however--that's the tone of this book, nervous. Nervous at the Torenthi situation, nervousness at the selecting and wooing of Kelson's bride. I know we all wished for Kelson to find happiness. Just goes to show you: be careful what you wish for--you just might get it!
Rating: 
Summary: Finally -- a Deryni book with a happy ending!
Review: Those of us who have read all the Deryni books have long observed how Katherine Kurtz loves to torture her characters. While it makes for excellent reading, it's also nice to see the good guys have good things happen to them on occasion. This latest installment of the popular Deryni series has all the excitement of the other books, but with a happy and satisfying resolution and lots of loose ends well tied up. Some of the major characters of books past are little more than background color, which is the only disappointing part of this book. If you are hoping to see a lot of Morgan, Duncan, and Dhugal, you won't find this book meets your needs. However, this is Kelson's story, and it truly fleshes out Kelson well. I just hope this isn't the last installment of the Deryni series; I'm still waiting for Childe Morgan!
Rating:
Summary: Did David Eddings write this for her?
Review: Always good to have another Deryni book, however, after just having read the Heirs of Saint Camber Series, I can't help but wonder if Katherine Kurtz is getting soft in her slightly older age. In all the other series, it seems as though Mrs. Kurtz goes out of her way to make sure that freakishly bad things happen quite haphazardly, and often, to our heroes any time things are going well (just look at the last thirty pages of Camber the Heretic). But now she seems to have fallen in love with Kelson and decided that he deserved a break or two; she allows him to sail through all challenges with Eddingesqe ease. The only real danger in the book is easily thwarted, although this allows for the most satisfying part of the book (see below). Funnily, there isn't much bride in King Kelson's Bride, and the only wedding is not Kelson's. Morgan and crew are mostly absent from the book, and three years later, Kelson hasn't investigated the Camberian artifacts. However, tantalizingly, we begin to see some hint of the "True" Camberian Council that is described at the end of the Camber series and that not perhaps less was lost than is commonly thought, and all is forgiven. I hope that we see more of that developed in the coming books. I've certainly been waiting long enough.
Rating:
Summary: Updated Review
Review: I had written a dramatically negative review of this novel, but after reading it again just recently, I have to confess that it wasn't as bad as I thought. It's certainly well-written, but seems to lack the gritty texture of previous Deryni novels. I think one of the main problems with this book is that it takes place 3 years after "Quest for Saint Camber." At the end of QSB, the readers are left with a sense of expectation for later action, resolution of the romantic tension between Kelson and Rothana, and the promise of more adventure with Kelson and Dhougal. I thought that Kelson and Dhougal would continue their search for Saint Camber artifacts and that Kelson had put aside his feelings for Rothana in order to seek out the truth. For instance, what was he going to do about that vision he saw riding with Dhougal in the last chapter? Was he going to look in Transha for answers? Were he and Dhougal going to continue their quest? When we return to Gwynnedd, in "King Kelson's Bride," we discover that he hasn't done any of what he promised. Although he has begun to execute some of the laws that would create a new school for the Deryni and obviously continued his study and practice in the occult arts, he seems to have been mired by his longing for Rothana. As if his future has been on hold for 3 years, all because he wouldn't give her up. That is perhaps the greatest disappointment of this novel. Kelson's feelings for Rothana aren't exactly justified because we don't know how he allowed those feelings to linger during the past 3 years. Did he continue to court her, and did she somehow give him hope? Was she indecisive about her feelings also? Was that why she allowed him to cling to her for so long? Another loose end that wasn't tied up in QSB was the mysterious absence of Bishop Arilan when Kelson returned to Rhemuth and confronted Conall and his subsequent reappearance after the duel arcane. Could the mysterious Saint Camber vision have been a product of a very real intervention by a certain agency? I'm also disappointed that Dhougal, Morgan, and Duncan played such limited although relevant roles in KKB. The more characters and actions you add to a story, the more diluted the characterizations become. Sure, action keeps the readers turning pages, but in the end, we turned the pages a little quickly. The pacing was off at the end, too hurried, and the resolution itself was anticlimactic and all too pat. It's a happy ending, I suppose, so different from previous Deryni novels. But it just wasn't up to the level. Although there's hints of more story to be told, in terms of another evil Torenthi plot, the plot isn't as interesting. Since I'm pretty confident that it will all be resolved in due time, I don't much care how it happens. It's also rather strange how Liam started to sound like another familiar 14-year-old king at the end, so mature for his age. Kelson's rise to power was really quite unique. What was interesting about Kelson's Deryni stories were the moral complexities, the constant tests of conscience, the conflict between duty and desire. And there was something special about "Deryni Rising" that isn't quite present in this latest addition to the Deryni universe. It's as if our beloved characters have become secondary to the plot. I guess readers were waiting to find out how Kelson got married, but I think I would have been happier not knowing, instead just hoping, imagining his future, and savoring the special moments in the earlier, historically relevant texts.
Rating:
Summary: Go for it.
Review: Fascinating.
this offering from Kurtz reads fine as a stand alone novel.
How can I mention, without sounding soppy, that I cried for CHAPTERS of this book? You will find yourself so deeply involved with the characters that tears are inevitable, but it is not a particularly tragic book. As I had not read the previous books for some while, I found myself more in sympathy with Kelsons proposed bride, than his "one true love and soulmate later revealed not to be so true or so souly". So although in parts it leaves you dry throated and wet eyed, it has moments of glorious triumph and humor.
You have to read it, if you haven't already.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I love the Deryni series, but this book was a disappointment. I think it center way too much on the marriage. After the 3rd or 4th times Kurtz stated why Kelson was marrying Araxie, it became annoying. It took up to 100 pages before Kelson set off to Torenth, which I know could have progress faster from reading Kurtz earlier works. The action was definitely lacking, and the political intrigue not fully developed. This book definitely was not written to par with the other in the series. What a disappointment :_(
Rating:
Summary: True Love?
Review: While still struggling to mend his heart after a bad break with Rothana, King Kelson is still searching for a bride, but must also keep the Torenthi heir alive. Learn about Kelson's political struggles in Gwynedd, and his personal struggles with his heart. This is a very touching, and well written novel. You won't be dissapointed.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: Katherine Kurtz has been succesful once more. She has us involved in this world that is amazing for all its characters and stories and fantasy. This book is a must have for all those who have been entranced by the Deryni.
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