Rating: 
Summary: Really bad fanfic
Review: Reading this book makes me glad I only borrowed a copy and didn't pay for it.First off, like a lot of people, I read the Morgan and Camber books around the ages of 13-14 and enjoyed them immensely. The people were fairly complex and the author didn't seem to be afraid to let Bad Things happen. As I grew older, the books faded into nostalgia for me; pleasant memories and an occasional re-read. However, with this book, I agree with all the other reviewers who spoke about King "Never Met a Topic I Couldn't Whine About" Kelson. Good Lord. I kept hoping that someone could invent Prozac and forcefeed it to him. Working through grief at a betrayal and the loss of the woman you felt you were in love with is one thing, but dragging about like Eeyore for *years* is quite another. There were too many new characters to allow anyone to be introduced beyond a basic sketch of their personality which then got repeated again and again. The appearances of Morgan and Duncan were akin to David Duchovny's contractually obligated seconds of screen time in most of the XF season. And Derry...yikes. Derry has been the most well-rounded human (i.e. non-Deryni) character in the Morgan/Kelson books, IMO. He's stuck by Morgan through thick and thin, believing in the tolerance and acceptance that they all seemed to hope for in human/Deryni relations; and how does Kurtz repay him? By letting him not once, but *twice*, serve as the deus ex machina of plot betrayal. It was effective in the first trilogy because, as was pointed out in an earlier review, she wrote it with no holds barred. This time, I could barely suppress the urge to yawn as Kurtz cribbed from her past plots to try and bring about some drama to this otherwise tepid tale of a depressed groom-to-be and the women that run roughshod over him. All in all, definitely not worth the years of waiting for something that reads like a sale from the Bargain Bin at Plots 'R' Us.
Rating: 
Summary: A Love Story NOT in the tradition of the prior Deryni books
Review: The Deryni realm continues to be a favorite place for escape throughout the past 20 years. King Kelson's Bride (KKB) has been no different. Usually, Katherine Kurtz weaves tales of wonder amidst tragedy, however, this book really is a love story more than anything else. After waiting 10 years for more of King Kelson from the author I appreciated her willingness to let Kelson deal with getting a new bride and actually enjoying the process (for the most part). Gone is the utter unmistakably, heart-wrenching Deryni woes that we have often seen (and loved) in Katherine Kurtz's previous books, but this does not detract from KKB at all. In fact, it makes me appreciate the writing expertise of Kurtz more and more as she (and I) both grow older. This is, in fact, what we see in KKB in the characters as well. They are a bit older, wiser, and more crafty than when they were younger. This appeal assists their goals, ambitions, statesmanship, and provides us with a very enjoyable, wonderful conclusion (for the time being) of the King Kelson series. If you are not familiar with the Deryni universe, this would not be the book to start off with. If you a long time Deryni devotee, you will appreciate Katherine Kurtz's latest foray into the lives that we have all come to love. Keep 'em coming, Katherine Kurtz!
Rating: 
Summary: They call it puppy love....
Review: Katherine Kurtz could write anything I think and I would enjoy it, and I did find many things to enjoy about King Kelson's Bride. However I think she caved in to fan pressure to hurry up and get Kelson's loose ends tied up. The whole book felt rushed to me, and I found it very hard to believe that Kelson is STILL carrying on over Rothana after 4 years! I would have liked this story to back up a little bit chronologically and evolve into a new trilogy, but I suspect that it is nothing more than a prequal that introduces (in the form of the children and Araxie) the characters in a series set later in Kelson's reign. I for one would love to see how he turns out in his maturity. As for the complaints about the absence of Morgan and Duncan, come on guys, give the poor fellows a break! They're coming back in the Childe Morgan series after all. God knows when Morgan was ever able have children with Richenda since he spent most of his time traipsing after Kelson; and Duncan has been excommunicated, suspended and tortured, can't he have a little peace and STAY AT HOME, for once? I was quite pleased to sacrifice Morgan and Duncan for a little more insight into Meraude, Rory, Jehanna and the babies! My recommendation: if you are not a fan, don't read this book. If you are a fan, read with an open mind because its NOT what you are expecting but it does have its moments!
Rating: 
Summary: I Waited for This?
Review: I'm agreeing with those who called this book a disappointment. I had not even heard it was on the way, but when I saw it on the shelves, I let out a squeal of joy and bought it, expecting a wonderful, nostalgia-filled trip back into Gywnnedd. I am sorry to say, I was mistaken. The entire book read like fanfic based on the series. I find it nearly impossible to believe that Ms. Kurtz wrote it, save for the amount of detail. The Derry plot was lifted from the first series. The Kelson I knew and loved, even as a teenager, knew that his first priority was to be king. The character in this book by the same name spent most of his time whining. As for Araxie, someone please please please tell me she dies in labor the next time we see her, because she's even more annoying than Kelson, if that's possible. I believe the other reviewers mourned the lack of Morgan and Duncan as feasible characters enough that I may only add a wistful sigh of my own. Yours in the belief that if we all simply refuse to believe that this book happened, maybe it'll go away ... MM
Rating:
Summary: No excuse for this!
Review: A profound disappointment. This book reads more like an outline for a good series (say 3 novels). The story/plots moved way too fast and were shallow---very shallow. I am, frankly, surprised. Ms. Kurtz is an awesome story-teller. Can't imagine why she would turn out such work unless she was busy writing something else at the same time. I was hoping for King Kelson's Bride to be the first in a new series. I can only hope she refrains from this sort of writing for any future Deryni novels.
Rating:
Summary: also disappointed
Review: This book, while fairly well written, is little more than a cheap and sappy romance next to the other books in the series. The undying love for rothana, and the budding romance with arexie turned my stomach, not to mention the sticky sweet scene with the children. The attempt to bring Derry back as a the great character he was in the first kelson series accomplished little more than rehashing an old plotline. i was disappointed. Katherine Kurtz is a great writer, but I think she may have sucked this particular universe dry.
Rating: 
Summary: It's not a romance novel, baby!
Review: Finally! Katherine Kurtz returns to Gwynedd to continue the story of the Deryni and the House of Haldane. Fans of the Deryni series will find that although the book does move some plotlines along too quickly, overall the story is a good read. New details brilliantly illustrate the Kingdom of Torenth and other regions surrounding Gwynedd as King Liam of Torenth prepares to assume his crown after serving as King Kelson's vassal for four years. The political tensions within the story are well crafted; Kurtz's decision to write the book from this angle was wise. This book could have easily degenerated into a sugary romance novel in the hands of a less skilled author. Those who are new to this series may expect to find themselves wondering why certain characters act as they do; the story assumes prior knowledge of past events--but there is no possible way that Kurtz could spend endless paragraphs "catching up" new readers to a series of this scope. New readers may find this book will pique their curosity about the series; they will find Gwynedd is worth visiting again and again.
Rating:
Summary: Always a bridesmaid...
Review: or in poor Kelson's case, always a groomsman, never a groom. This is as wonderful a book as all of the others in the Deryni world. A world so detailed and complete, that one could imagine traveling there on vacation. King Kelson's Bride does cause a small frisson of fear however. There are so many loose ends tied up in this book that Ms. Kurtz's readers may be frightened that she intends to stop writing about the fabulous Deryni. Say it isn't so!! As in the more than a dozen works in this world that have gone before, the characters are full and real. We the readers sigh along with Kelson as everyone he meets tries to choose a mate for him. We feel Derry's panic as a trip to Torenth looms. We smile with Morgan at his charming little daughter. I for one, feel that Anne McCaffrey said it best: "An incredible historical tapestry of a world that never was and of immensely vital people who ought to be."
Rating:
Summary: disappointing
Review: A disappointing effort from Katherine Kurtz. She sloppily tries to tie up 3 or 4 plot lines from previous books about King Kelson, though suprisingly leaves this mess open for more Kelson books. That being said, I still devoured this novel greedily because of nostalgia for her earlier works. I found myself eagerly squeezing in moments of my day to read, but some things kept getting in the way of my full enjoyment. Here they are: 1) The bad guys (Teymuraz & Mahael) are really, really evil, about as scary as cartoon villains. The good guys are really, really good. King Kelson was nauseatingly earnest in everything he does. Some of the dialogue between King Kelson and Araxie practically made me gag. (see #3) 2) The dialogue: I think another reviewer said it best; the characters speak like diplomats or politicians. 3) The handling of King Kelson's betrothal and marriage to Araxie in a matter of about 60 pages. It reads like a Danielle Steele novel. Ick. 4) The tedious descriptions of clothing and the rituals, both Deryni and religious. I guess this has always been one of Kurtz's hallmarks, but I have less tolerance for it now than when I was 14. If you want to see Kurtz at her best, go back to the Camber of Culdi series, or even the Heirs of Saint Camber series.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely wonderful!
Review: I just finished this book last night (actually this morning!) and I loved it! After reading all the other reviews, I have to disagree with a number of them. First, I know many lamented the bit parts assigned to Morgan, Duncan and Derry, but this was Kelson's story. Do they need major parts in a story about Kelson's path to the altar? I also don't really see this as an ending, as many of the other reviewers seem to. It does tie up some loose ends, but brings a few other into play. Ms. Kurtz didn't seem to completely flesh out the character of Araxie, but we know her as well as Kelson does, and hopefully there will be forthcoming books in which we get to know her. All in all, I thought it was a great book, worth staying up to read. The description of the places were good, and I thought all the major players were very nicely drawn. I might be biased, though, because I liked the fact that none of the good guys dies in this book! Yes! With all the death and torture in the other books, I was getting depressed, so I didn't even buy this one: I borrowed it from the library. I enjoyed it enough that I might buy this one. =-)
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