Rating: 
Summary: There's not a lot of plot here, but i couldn't put it down
Review: This is the newest Deryni novel and is the first book in a proposed trilogy (The Childe Morgan trilogy). The Deryni novels have long been one of my favorite series, and I'm always eagerly awaiting a new Deryni novel. Despite what the book jacket suggests, this novel takes place during the era of King Kelson's grandfather King Donal. Kelson's father Brion is only a young child during this novel, and this is more than a hundred years after the Haldane Restoration of 917. This is one of the time periods that when I looked at the genealogy of the Haldanes, I wondered "what was happening then? Who is Donal?" We get an answer in this book. There is a story here, but there is no true plot, if that makes any sense. We are given a fantastic look at Donal's court and we spend some time with the Camberian Council. Characters mention the Airsid, Orin, and Jodotha (three things I would love to have explored in detail), and there is even a brief mention of my favorite Haldane: Javan (from King Javan's Year). The main story of this novel, spanning several years, however, is that of Alyce de Corwyn and who will be the heir to the duchy of Corwyn. All the while, King Donal needs to have a magical protector for his son, Brion, and he will do anything to get one. To be honest, that's about it. There is plenty of action, several characters are killed off, and I did not want to put the book down, but there is still not a whole lot of plot in this novel. It is more like a series of scenes rather than a story that is truly leading somewhere. Even so, I began to care for some of the characters. Alyce is a very sympathetic character and looks like she might be one of the stronger female characters since Evaine. There are several interesting supporting characters, but one of the most interesting characters in the novel is Donal himself. He is a conflicted character. On one hand he wants to do what is right for Gwynedd, his subjects, and his family. On the other hand, he is absolutely ruthless and is willing to do anything and everything to get his way (which he thinks is right and proper as King and that it is for the good of the realm). I wish that more time would have been spent dealing with the Camberian Council and I only hope that the next two novels will focus more on the Council. There are a lot of ways for this series to go and despite the lack of plot, I loved every minute of this book and I can't wait for the next one.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing. . .
Review: This one book has enough material for a trilogy. As it is, Kurtz--bless her heart--is trying to cram the maximum amount of story into the allotted number of pages, and it shows.
There are so many plot points and characterizations that scream for more development that it would take too long to enumerate them here.
I wish Kurtz could have talked her publisher into a trilogy.
Rating:
Summary: Not her best
Review: This story drags and is not one of Katerhine Kurtz's better stories.
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