Flautopiccolo

So we’ve started another reading project: The Deryni books by Katherine Kurtz. Joe and Dan found the first three in the basement, we own and have read most of the later books as well, and evidently there’s a newer book, The King’s Deryni, written in 2014. Joe started reading Deryni Rising in the original 1970 paperback, and I borrowed the first three as kindle books from BPL. That first trilogy (The Chronicles of the Deryni) was re-released in 2004 with slight revisions and an introduction by Katherine Kurtz

Book 1 – Camber of Culdi 1976

Book 2 – Saint Camber 1978

Book 3 – Camber the Heretic 1981

Book 4 – The Harrowing of Gwynedd 1989

Book 5 – King Javan’s Year 1992

Book 6 – The Bastard Prince 1994

Book 7 – In the King’s Service 2003

Book 8 – Childe Morgan 2006

Book 9 – The King’s Deryni 2014

Book 10 – Deryni Rising 1970

Book 11 – Deryni Checkmate 1972

Book 12 – High Deryni 1973

Book 13 – The Bishop’s Heir 1984

Book 14 – The King’s Justice 1985

Book 15 – The Quest for Saint Camber 1986

Book 16 – King Kelson’s Bride 2000

Deryni Rising

5/26/26-5/29/26
BPL loan
Mostly about Kelson

It has been a very long time since I read this book, but parts of it came back to me as I read it. I noticed a couple references that are developed in some of the later books (which take place much earlier):

• He had read once of a Deryni lord who had used a similar ring as a point of focus for deep concentration—the Thuryn technique, named for Rhys Thuryn, who had first made it a part of the Deryni arsenal.

• Saint Camber of Culdi, 846- 905 (?) Legendary Earl of Culdi, a full Deryni lord, who lived during the Deryni Interregnum. Toward the end of the Interregnum, Camber discovered that, under certain controlled conditions, in select individuals, the full scope of Deryni power could be acquired by humans. He it was who assisted the heirs of the old human rulers to acquire this power, and later led the revolt that crushed the Deryni Interregnum for good.

Deryni Checkmate

5/29/26-5/31/26
BPL loan
Mostly about Morgan and Duncan

There were 10 grimaces.

I remembered and dreaded what was going to happen to Bronwyn and Kevin.

At the state banquet at Castle Coroth: Lute and recorder warbled as a festive undertone to the chatter of the guests.

Morgan to Duncan, about their resting place for the night: Saint Neot’s. It was a flourishing monastery school before the Restoration, run by an all-Deryni brotherhood.

Bishop Cardiel to Bishop Arilan: If I didn’t know better, I’d sometimes swear that you were Deryni yourself.

Shield painted on Kevin’s coffin: McLain: Argent, three roses gules; on a chief azure, a lion dormant argent, the whole surmounted by Kevin’s mark of cadency—an argent label of three points.

Shield painted on Bronwyn’s coffin: Morgan: (Morgan’s throat constricted, and he forced himself to go on.) Sable, a gryphon sergeant vert, within a double tressure flory counter-flory or—this on a lozenge instead of a shield.

High Deryni

5/31/26-6/4/26
BPL loan
Kelson, Morgan and Duncan deal with Warin and then Wencit

There were 6 grimaces.

Bran Coris taught me a new word, bowyer: And ask the bowyer to see me sometime this morning, will you? The grip still isn’t right on my new bow.

Foreshadowing: Then the man was backing toward the door, staring at him strangely. Derry had the distinct impression, as the door closed behind the gray- clad figure, that there was a touch of blue to the man’s apparel, that a darker countenance flickered beneath the façade of fairness.

Wencit to Rhydon: Who are you?
Rhydon: I am not Rhydon.

Not-Rhydon smiled, swaying slightly on his feet, then held out his arms to either side. His features blurred, a light seeming to glow around him faintly, and then Stefan Coram was standing before them, a strained expression on his face.

I enjoyed the section ‘A genetic retrospective, thirty years later’ which supplemented the original section ‘The genetic basis for Deryni inheritance – 1974.’ Though there were some spoilers for the other books, for example: It is possible, too, that the right circumstances do enable some humans of no Deryni background to assume some powers like those of the Deryni. Close association with functioning Deryni sometimes seems to awaken some of the most rudimentary psychic characteristics commonly present in Deryni, such as mind shields and some slight ability to resist psychic probes and attempts to control. Most recently, in In the King’s Service and Childe Morgan, we have seen aspects of such psychic awakening in Zoë Morgan and her father, Kenneth, through close association with Alyce de Corwyn. Derry’s early propensity for magic could also stem from such association, at least in part, though after his rough treatment at the hands of Wencit of Torenth—and later, by Wencit’s sister Morag—he may be too scarred ever to regain his previous openness to Deryni magic, even after the healing ministrations of Morgan and other benign Deryni.