Deryni Rising

It was this book that disabused me of the notion that fantasy had to be written in a specific way, often in highfalutin or profound language. It encouraged me to put my own stories into writing.

Though very much a historical fantasy novel, this book was easy to understand despite the unfamiliar terms and background details of a fantastical universe. I think it’s due to Katheryn Kurtz’s initial use of simple, down-to-earth language and a fairly straightforward story, which, looking back now, was probably aimed at teenagers or young adults. I was sometimes reminded of the first volume of JRR… show more.

Long before the wizarding world of Harry Potter came a wizarding world of a whole other order. Welcome to the kingdom of Gwynedd, a world full of political, military, ecclesiastical, and magical intrigue. Once more the first in a series of novels, Deryni Rising begins to chart the conflict between the macrocosmic worlds of politics and religion and their microcosmic consequences on families and friendship. Kurtz builds a world that is both fantastical and believable, and the interplay of politics, magic, and religion is both astutely rendered and leaves you asking deeper questions about the world around you. 

Deryni Rising is my top pick for the “bromance genre” due to the strong bond between several characters. These bonds grow deeper and stronger as the characters struggle to overcome growing challenges. This book is not for the faint of heart, as the author has a special talent for putting her characters through emotional torture chambers. I particularly enjoy this series because it focuses not only on physical danger, but also on the mental and emotional aspects. The characters frequently have moral and ethical dilemmas. How the characters navigate such situations reminds me that everyone should be judged on their… show more.