The harrowing of Gwynedd

A good start to what is really a historical fantasy series. We know what happens to the early Haldane kings, but the story of exactly what happens still makes for good reading, particularly if you have enjoyed any of the other Deryni books. If you haven't read any of the Deryni books before, start

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with the Camber series first.

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I've been reading Kurtz's Deryni novels for decades now. And in all honesty, I read it more like history or a memoir than fantasy. The "magic" elements are genetically transmitted psi powers and for the most part can't be learned.

However, I'm a sucker for a holocaust story. And the love between

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Rhys and Evaine is timeless and tragic.

The Harrowing of Gwynedd relates the beginning of the darkest time for the Deryni. The beginning of the persecutions and executions that will last for decades (probably centuries - I'm a bit foggy on the details since it's been years since I read this novel). Bishop Allister Cullen, who is really Camber of Culdi using a shape-changing geis, is unable to stem the tide of the inevitable human backlash against the Deryni. The Regency council for the young king Alroy writes and enacts many anti-Deryni laws, severely curtailing their rights as citizens and the church also prevents them from seeking solace in the clergy. In fact, the church only stops short of excommunication if the Deryni renounces his heritage and lives meekly beneath the boot heal of the humans.

Kurtz is good at political intrigue both in a medieval court and among the clergy. The characters strive to preserve their heritage and struggle to ensure the survival of their race.

I enjoy reading the Deryni novels. Sometimes there is romance, sometimes a mystery, and almost always intrigue.

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I actually think I am enjoying this book more than the Camber series. (But I read those far between eachother, so that doesn't help that my memory is a bit fogged.

Let's start with my negatives?
First of all, the magic. On one hand, yes, I love it, and it's very interesting. But I'm not exactly sure

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how the limitations and rules work, in all honestly. I get a gist of it but not enough to feel informed. And the rituals can put me to sleep. I can kind of get why they're so informative, but I sometimes wish they were more condensed in description.
Which is a small comment I'd like to note with her writing style: sometimes too descriptive, other times, not enough.

Also... I want to know where this place even exists since it seems to be in our world? Or is it like... another world of our world and there's another heavenly world beyond that? *shrugs*

Other than that... I don't really think I had much qualms with it. Few little things here and there.

Positives:
I really enjoyed being with Javan in this. I love Javan, and it aches my heart seeing the title of the next book and knowing what's going to happen to my baby.
And I really enjoyed a lot of the other characters, including ones I was ''meh'' about in Saint Camber.

The plot? Oh gosh, it's so nice to have such a political and strategic story to follow. It's really fun to try and come up with strategies and guess what the characters are going to say and do next (our protagonists and antagonists alike). But also, it's just a one of those nice changes to see in fantasy. Especially from one written at the time it was.

Overall, I really like how Katherine Kurtz writes. I'm excited to continue on with reading the entire Deryni series!

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The descriptions of ritual magic are superb, as are their outcomes. The plotting by the remaining members of Camber's family are well-thought-out and you are able to think that maybe, just maybe, the balance can shift away from the genocidal Regents and back to the crown. Javan really emerges as a

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great character and one I was rooting for throughout the book, with his thoughtfulness and his daring.

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