I had read the Chronicles of the Deryni before I read any of the Legends of Saint Camber. When I finally did read the Camber books, this was the first one I read, and talk about being completely lost!!!!!!BESURE to read Camber of Culdi, and Saint Camber first or you will have no clue what is going on in this book.That being said, the Camber books are some of her best work. By the time you get into this book, the back lash against the deryni is growing, and it is so hard to read. At this point she has drawn you in to care for so many characters, that it is easy to shed tears as the conflict spreads. One of the best things about Katherine Kurtz is she is not afraid to kill favorite, beloved characters. In doing so, she becomes one of the greats in that the "happily ever after" we all want and wish for, is not the outcome. If you want to start with a series of books by Katherine Kurtz, Camber of Culdi is the start of this series and a good trilogy to start with.Otherwise start with the Deryni Chronicles, Deryni Rising being the first book of that trilogy.
So it has come to my attention that sometimes I have to be slapped in the face to notice the obvious.LONG before I ever read the X Men, I found through these novels that things such as racism and bigotry can be masked in literature to teach us white males that just because it doesn't happen to you doesn't mean its not happening. I wont go through reviews on all of these novels -- much like Robert Jordan, its about the first six-eight that are incredible, and then the quality tails off noticeably.However, the end of "St. Camber" and the entirety of "Camber the Heretic" are easily some of my favorite fantasy novels.Not to go all spoiler-ific, but I LOVE tragedy -- its more lifelike -- and this entire series is littered with nearly enough to satisfy even the worst reader masochist.My best guess is that George RR Martin learned about killing protagonists from Katheryn Kurtz. All in all, each book is a quick read, and as long as you quit reading around "Harrowing", you wont be too disappointed.
What do You think about Camber The Heretic (1981)?
All the Deryni books are absolutley amazing, but I think that the three Camber books are the best of the lot. A mixture of historical fiction, religion, ESP and fantasy, this series plunges the reader into the darker and lighter side of the human psyche in excruciating detail. The Deryni are a race of humans that possess unusual talents, most of which could be classified as ESP. "Good" Deryni, like Camber and his family, are tyring to explore their own power and potential, and to use that power
—Caroline
I often follow history and sometimes current events through the filter of novels that I've read, and I decided to re-read this because of a scene that popped into my head during the news coverage of Pope Benedict's resignation and the descriptions of how the new pope will be chosen. (view spoiler)[ "A vote for...Alister Cullen!" (hide spoiler)]
—Julia
