Deryni Rising by Katherine Kurtz
Katherine Kurtz is truly a mistress of fantasy — she's been writing high epic fantasy for 40 years and should be considered one of the post-Tolkien "parents" of our genre.
The setting of the Deryni saga is an alternate medieval Europe (clearly analogous to our medieval England and Wales) and the Deryni are a magical race who look just like, and can interbreed with, humans. They have been persecuted for years by the Church (clearly meant to be our medieval Catholic church) and most people with Deryni blood choose to hide and/or deny their lineage and magical powers.
The plot is simple: in the prologue, King Brion (King of Gwynned) is killed by the evil Deryni sorceress Charissa who wants his throne. Charissa plans to challenge Brion's 14-year old son (and heir) Kelson to a magical duel during Kelson's coronation. If she wins, no one can stop her... Read More
The Bishop's Heir by Katherine Kurtz
It's hard to think of an author who has done a better job than Katherine Kurtz of creating a world that is as meticulously researched, historically accurate, and heartbreakingly tragic. The Bishop's Heir is splendid as it depicts the reign of a young King, newly come to power, and his struggles to become who he wishes to be and not what others would have him be.
Kurtzwrites with such expertise in depicting the world and conditions that the characters live in, that you feel like you are truly there. It's gritty and dark and entirely realistic. The characters are flawed, but that is the beauty of the craftsmanship because they are all the better for being something other than the infallible heroes that so often bedeck epic fantasy.
Kurtz'sdepiction of the role of Church, politics, and intrigue are perfectly intertwined. The very title of this b... Read More
In the King's Service by Katherine Kurtz
In the King's Service is the beginning of a new trilogy which details the recent history of the kingdoms that led to the events of her original series focusing on King Kelson, Alaric, et. al. (beginning with Deryni Rising). Though I suppose it could be read independently, I certainly wouldn't recommend it and advise people new to this world to start with her first trilogy (or possibly go chronologically starting with the Camber series depending on taste).
For most of us long-time readers of Katherine Kurtz's series, this begins to fill in one of the more interesting gaps in its timeline. While we see a few minor familiar characters, the ones we are probably most desirous of seeing (Alaric, Duncan, Kelson) don't yet appear in this work, which is a generation earl... Read More
Childe Morgan by Katherine Kurtz
Katherine Kurtz’s first Deryni series introducing the land of Gwynneth and its young, just-made King Kelson and his advisor Alaric Morgan is a justifiably acclaimed fantasy classic. Since that first trilogy, Kurtz has given us several series of books dipping into
Gwynneth’s far history as well as Kelson’s near future. While, as
is true of just about any such multi-volume fantasy series, there have been some stumbles here and there, for the most part Kurtz has maintained the high level of quality set by that first trilogy, especially with regard to the Camber of Culdi series set in the distant past.
Childe Morgan is the second in the series that falls right before that first trilogy when King Kelson takes his place as... Read More
Lammas Night by Katherine Kurtz
Within neo-pagan circles, there is a persistent legend that numerous British witches and occultists banded together during World War II, using magic to keep Hitler from invading Britain. I’m not convinced there was a huge organized effort, but I’m sure there were occultists in Britain at the time, and it would surprise me more if no one had tried to lay the magical smack down on the Führer. Katharine Kurtz uses this legend as the basis for Lammas Night.
This historical fantasy centers on John “Gray” Graham, an intelligence officer who is also a member of a witch coven. The other major characters are people close to Gray, such as his son, who is currently in uniform; his High Priest and Priestess; and his best friend, Prince William, a (fictional) younger son of the royal family. Through their mystical arts, Gray and his coven lear... Read More
Other books by Katherine Kurtz
Adept — (1991-1996) With Deborah Turner Harris. Publisher: Sir Adam Sinclair, nobleman, physician, and scholar, is the only man who can stand against an unholy cult of black magicians threatening his homeland.
Knights Templar — (1991-1998) With Deborah Turner Harris. Publisher: The military Order of the Knights Templar becomes embroiled in Scotland’s wars of independence during the late thirteenth century as two Templars set out to restore the powers of the famed Stone of Scone and save Scotland.
Knights of the Blood — (1993-1994) Publisher: Los Angeles policeman Jack Drummond’s investigation of a 20-year-old unsolved murder leads him on a search through the pages of history and to a confrontation with the living dead. At the heart of the mystery is a vampiric order of Crusader knights dedicated to the destruction of others like themselves. Despite an overabundance of scene-setting, this series opener presents fast-paced action and an intriguing premise. Purchase where there is a demand for vampire stories.
Stand-alones:
The Legacy of Lehr — (1996) Publisher: When four large blue cats with psychic powers come aboard an interstellar luxury cruiser, a rash of murders breaks out.
Two Crowns for America — (1996) Publisher: A fantasy set in colonial America follows the struggle of America’s founding fathers against British tyranny, as they become pawns in a mysterious master scheme of conquest and power.
St. Patrick’s Gargoyle — (2001) Publisher: As the millennium draws to a close, the gargoyles who guard the ancient buildings of Dublin come together to face an evil that threatens all they hold dear. This story of an eternal enemy is by the bestselling author of the “Deryni” series.
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You can find a pronunciation guide and suggestions about the reading order for the 
The Princess and Curdie: Give it a miss
Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance: A romp from start to finish
