King Kelson's Bride (A Novel of the Deryni)

by Katherine Kurtz

Book Overview

"Kurtz's strengths lie in her patient accumulation of telling detail, well-articulated plots, and believable magics. Should bring the fans flocking, and attract newcomers too." --Kirkus Reviews... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0441008275
• Release Date: July 2001
• Publisher: Ace
• Length: 488 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 1.5" x 4.3"

Customer Reviews

A Love Story NOT in the tradition of the prior Deryni books

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!

Finally -- a Deryni book with a happy ending!

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!

Finally, Kelson Haldane Marries!

After two previous matrimonial disasters, Kelson Haldane, King of Gwynedd, *finally* marries in 'King Kelson's Bride'. His first fiancee was murdered at the altar. His second fiancee, Rothana, ended up marrying someone else, his first cousin Conall, then being widowed almost immediately. Needless to say, the young king has been under immense pressure to marry someone, anyone suitable, and procreate, given the unstable political situation. Now, he does. Who is she? That I won't tell you. Let's just say, she's 'suitable' and surprising. Kelson's friends and family members are all here too, with some other surprises along the way, and the Camberian council is muddying the waters in their unique fashion, to add more complications to the plot. Katherine Kurtz has done it again with a book that mixes realpolitik, magic and medieval Christianity. Her fans will be delighted. As I predicted, I stayed up all night to read this one. You will too.

A wonderful treat for fans old and new

After a hiatus of six years Katherine Kurtz returns to her most well-known and popular Deryni series in King Kelson's Bride. The action in the book revolves around two simple themes, the selection of a bride for Kelson, and the return of young Liam to the Kingdom of Torenth where he will be crowned king after several years of fosterage in King Kelson's court. But in the Eleven Kingdoms, nothing is ever that simple. For Kelson, in addition to being a young king, is also a member of the race of quasi-magical humans known as the Deryni who have been honored, respected, feared, reviled, and persecuted at various periods in the history of his kingdom of Gwynedd.Having two previous unsuccessful, and in fact tragic, failures in finding a bride, Kelson is motivated more by a sense of duty to his realm than of any real desire for marriage. But the machinations of various individuals putting forth candidates, and the ensuing deceptions and maneuverings, are one of the pleasures of book. Everyone in the Eleven Kingdoms seem to have an interest in his choice - some benign and some malevolent. While all this is going on, Kelson and members of his court are traveling to the Kingdom of Torenth where his young friend, Liam, will be invested with the crown as king. But the Torenthi royal family are also Deryni with a vast array of abilities at their disposal, and with a ruthlessness uncommon in the Kingdom of Gwynedd. The young king's uncles, whose brother was slain by Kelson in a magical duel, are not sure that they want their nephew, brought up in the court of Gwennyd, to be king. Some may even fancy that role for themselves. Treachery abounds!The author has often been praised for her attention to historical detail which adds to the richness of her work. But Ms. Kurtz also excels in her characterization and scene writing. Scenes of confrontation and crisis are always well-done, and this book is no exception. She obviously enjoyed writing the book, and seems to hope that her readers will enjoy it as well. While an obvious treat for her many long-time fans who will pick up on every nuance and discern future plot-lines , new readers will be able to pick up the book and read as a self-contained story. It is not planned as part of a trilogy and any previous history is brought out in the book itself. I recommend it most highly for Ms. Kurtz's current and future fans.

King Kelson's Bride -- Worth the Wait!

Yesterday, I finished my first complete reading of Katherine Kurtz's new Deryni novel, _King Kelson's Bride_, which I had been eagerly awaiting ever since I finished reading _The Quest for Saint Camber_ nearly fourteen years ago. Katherine Kurtz fans may rest assured that this book was worth the wait! The only way this book could possibly be improved in my view is if it had been LONGER. In King Kelson's Bride, the reader travels with Kelson and his close friends, the Dukes Alaric Morgan and Dhugal McArdry McLain to the Hort of Orsal's exotic summer palace on the Ile d'Orsal, and then onto the Torenthi capital, Beldour. Both have been mentioned in earlier Deryni novels, but readers have only rarely glimpsed Torenthi court life, and have never visited the Orsal's court before. Now that his vassal, King Liam-Lajos of Torenth has come of age, Kelson travels with him to oversee his safe installment on the throne of Torenth. As the author herself has observed, "Things are different in Torenth." Indeed they are, as the Deryni of Torenth have never been subjected to the same persecution Deryni in Gwynedd have experienced. Their magic is far more of an accepted part of Torenthi court life, even unto the installment of their Kings. Without giving away the plot, readers may be assured that there is plenty of danger, treachery and Deryni magic afoot on the day of Liam's royal ceremony. Regarding the Bride herself, in the beginning of the novel, we see Kelson is still in love with Rothana, but is fored to accept that they will never be able to marry. At Rothana's instigation, he proposes to his cousin, Princess Araxie Haldane on the night he visits the Ile d'Orsal. Araxie accepts him willingly if with some trepidation. But the love between them only has a chance to grow once Kelson returns to Rhemuth and gradually comes to appreciate Araxie for her intelligence and the sensitivity of her spirit. By their wedding day in the final chapter, Kelson has found a new love and far more compatible Queen than Rothana, his original choice. Many loose ends are tied up in this novel, including that of Kelson's mother Queen Jehana who experiences an epiphany regarding her Deryni heritage while Kelson is in Beldour. Also resolved are the fates of Kelson's cousin Prince Rory, and of Prince Nigel who is at last persuaded to accept his two grandchildren by the late Prince Conall. Readers new to the Deryni world should understand that this novel was written with Ms. Kurtz's already established fans in mind. Knowledge of the people and places of the Deryni universe is assumed on the part of the reader, and indeed is necessary to understand the events of the novel. But there is a happy solution to any confusion this newest book may bring to new Katherine Kurtz fans: Read the rest of the Deryni books!