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The Chronicles of the Deryni #2
Deryni Checkmate
The number of Deryni was small, for they had been hounded for generations and kept their identities secret. Those who managed to retain their arcane powers concealed their background--for bitter persecution once again swept the land of Gwynedd, inspired by a raving fanatic sworn to destroy all Deryni in a final bloodbath.
30 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1972
About the author
Katherine Kurtz
93 books716 followersKatherine Kurtz is an American fantasy novel writer. She is best known for her Deryni series. She currently lives in Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
April 19, 2015
If you read my review of Deryni Rising you know I didn't spend a lot of time on the fictional (fantasy) depiction of the church. That will not be possible here.
The book itself follows the events having to do with the church demanding that Deryni (all Deryni) renounce their powers and abilities, or be excommunicated. The actions of a rabid and hate filled persecutor will also play a role in the story, which does not complete with this volume.
*** SPOILER WARNING SPOILER DISCUSSION BELOW LINE ***
The book itself follows the events having to do with the church demanding that Deryni (all Deryni) renounce their powers and abilities, or be excommunicated. The actions of a rabid and hate filled persecutor will also play a role in the story, which does not complete with this volume.
*** SPOILER WARNING SPOILER DISCUSSION BELOW LINE ***
January 29, 2018
In an effort to thin out the " To Be Read " pile of used book purchases, I decided to tackle all the skinny books first. The second book in the Chronicles of the Deryni focuses on the Half Deyni brothers Morgan and Duncan. Fast read, just a few new character and could have done without the secondary story arc which just seem out of place.
November 10, 2022
Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. Especially when that head (like the body it's attached to) is only 14 years old.
So at the end of Deryni Rising, 14 year old Kelson had defeated Charissa, the Deryni (a race of magically-endowed humans) pretender to the throne of Gwynedd and taken the crown; during the course of which it was revealed that his mother, Queen Jehana, was full-blooded Deryni and Kelson himself was thus half-Deryni and endowed with their powers. Which posed certain ... difficulties, since everybody still remembers that time, 300 years ago, when the land suffered under a magically-enforced Deryni tyranny.
Now it's just a few months later and things are beginning to happen in response to the previous events -- Wencit, the Deryni sorcerer-king of neighboring Torenth is just waiting for winter to be over so he can invade, Loris, the Archbishop, wants to excommunicate Alaric Morgan, Duke of Corwyn, one of Kelson's strongest supporters and himself a Deryni, and as if that weren't enough, there's also one Warin, a human fanatic with his own band of followers intent on starting an anti-Deryni crusade himself.
So yeah, things are not looking great in the kingdom of Gwynedd and Kelson's reign might not be a long one ...
Another fine book with plenty of intrigues both sacred and secular, desperate rides through the muddy countryside, and the occasional duel of swords and magic; and yes, I did immediately move on to High Deryni, third in the trilogy.
So at the end of Deryni Rising, 14 year old Kelson had defeated Charissa, the Deryni (a race of magically-endowed humans) pretender to the throne of Gwynedd and taken the crown; during the course of which it was revealed that his mother, Queen Jehana, was full-blooded Deryni and Kelson himself was thus half-Deryni and endowed with their powers. Which posed certain ... difficulties, since everybody still remembers that time, 300 years ago, when the land suffered under a magically-enforced Deryni tyranny.
Now it's just a few months later and things are beginning to happen in response to the previous events -- Wencit, the Deryni sorcerer-king of neighboring Torenth is just waiting for winter to be over so he can invade, Loris, the Archbishop, wants to excommunicate Alaric Morgan, Duke of Corwyn, one of Kelson's strongest supporters and himself a Deryni, and as if that weren't enough, there's also one Warin, a human fanatic with his own band of followers intent on starting an anti-Deryni crusade himself.
So yeah, things are not looking great in the kingdom of Gwynedd and Kelson's reign might not be a long one ...
Another fine book with plenty of intrigues both sacred and secular, desperate rides through the muddy countryside, and the occasional duel of swords and magic; and yes, I did immediately move on to High Deryni, third in the trilogy.
June 22, 2021
I’m sticking with 3 stars for this, due to my critiques, but overall it’s much smoother than Book 1.
Kurtz shows definite improvement here. Though her prose still sometimes veers into an overly simplistic voice for the subject matter, she’s cut back on the cheesy dialogue & eyerollingly predictable buddy-banter that’s supposed to show how these characters are already tight before the story opens. Kelson also shows a large leap in maturity between books 1 & 2...which is due to Kurtz’ efforts more than the story itself, methinks, as only about 6 months have passed. The conflict, likewise, shows greater development & more sinister undercurrents than Charissa’s one-note, depthless villainy that was so quickly & neatly dispatched.
That said, I really wish Kurtz wasn’t so afraid of developing more significant pagetime and/or personalities for her female characters. There aren’t many to begin with, & the few that appear (Charissa, Jehanna, Bronwyn) are disappointingly flat. Ironically, it’s the witch Bethane who feels the most rounded of the ladies thus far—which is sad, given her brief & obv plot-device role in the story. Using female characters does NOT mean you have to include romance, y’know? I’m also fairly ambivalent toward Morgan, who’s a classic Gary Stu. That said, Duncan & Derry are both solid presences, along with the two young bishops (whose names escape me), & Kelson himself also shows potential.
This trilogy has been a mixed bag so far, but it’s still managed to capture my interest. Thinly-disguised medieval British Isles politics + alternate-history Catholicism + a magical branch of the human race struggling to find balance is a combination that appeals greatly to yours truly, & for that reason I continue to push on despite the rougher sections. For certain I want to read the Camber prequel trilogy (published just after this one), so if nothing else it’s whetted my appetite for more time in the Deryni-verse.
Kurtz shows definite improvement here. Though her prose still sometimes veers into an overly simplistic voice for the subject matter, she’s cut back on the cheesy dialogue & eyerollingly predictable buddy-banter that’s supposed to show how these characters are already tight before the story opens. Kelson also shows a large leap in maturity between books 1 & 2...which is due to Kurtz’ efforts more than the story itself, methinks, as only about 6 months have passed. The conflict, likewise, shows greater development & more sinister undercurrents than Charissa’s one-note, depthless villainy that was so quickly & neatly dispatched.
That said, I really wish Kurtz wasn’t so afraid of developing more significant pagetime and/or personalities for her female characters. There aren’t many to begin with, & the few that appear (Charissa, Jehanna, Bronwyn) are disappointingly flat. Ironically, it’s the witch Bethane who feels the most rounded of the ladies thus far—which is sad, given her brief & obv plot-device role in the story. Using female characters does NOT mean you have to include romance, y’know? I’m also fairly ambivalent toward Morgan, who’s a classic Gary Stu. That said, Duncan & Derry are both solid presences, along with the two young bishops (whose names escape me), & Kelson himself also shows potential.
This trilogy has been a mixed bag so far, but it’s still managed to capture my interest. Thinly-disguised medieval British Isles politics + alternate-history Catholicism + a magical branch of the human race struggling to find balance is a combination that appeals greatly to yours truly, & for that reason I continue to push on despite the rougher sections. For certain I want to read the Camber prequel trilogy (published just after this one), so if nothing else it’s whetted my appetite for more time in the Deryni-verse.
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December 15, 2023[12/2023: rereading Deryni Chronicles #2-3 after ~ 20 years]
The two things in KK's worldbuilding that were really important to me when I was a pretentious high school history-nerd, because they were fairly rare (and, to be honest, still are) in fantasy supposedly set in the European middle ages, were (1) the importance of religion and presence of religious leaders in the action and cast of characters and (2) comparatively decentralized feudalism. And it's not that either of these things is especially well done, but they're there.
Anyway, now that I'm probably older than Morgan is supposed to be, rather than just a few years older than Kelson, the whole 14-year-old-king riding into battle seems even more ridiculous (but not as bad as the Childe Morgan books would get!).
The angst over how to reconcile Deryni powers with the priesthood now seems even more like an allegory for being gay (Cardiel/Arilan OTP amirite?). But really the main thing I remembered about this book was the mentally-ill albino architect who accidentally murders the woman he's obsessed with and her fiancé with a defective love-charm. The first in a long series of bizarrely abrupt ways to kill off minor characters in ways convenient to the inheritance of major characters: RIP Rimmel, you set the precedent for murderous brothers, poisoned marzipan, flotsam narwhal horn, appendicitis, and more in later books!
The two things in KK's worldbuilding that were really important to me when I was a pretentious high school history-nerd, because they were fairly rare (and, to be honest, still are) in fantasy supposedly set in the European middle ages, were (1) the importance of religion and presence of religious leaders in the action and cast of characters and (2) comparatively decentralized feudalism. And it's not that either of these things is especially well done, but they're there.
Anyway, now that I'm probably older than Morgan is supposed to be, rather than just a few years older than Kelson, the whole 14-year-old-king riding into battle seems even more ridiculous (but not as bad as the Childe Morgan books would get!).
The angst over how to reconcile Deryni powers with the priesthood now seems even more like an allegory for being gay (Cardiel/Arilan OTP amirite?). But really the main thing I remembered about this book was the mentally-ill albino architect who accidentally murders the woman he's obsessed with and her fiancé with a defective love-charm. The first in a long series of bizarrely abrupt ways to kill off minor characters in ways convenient to the inheritance of major characters: RIP Rimmel, you set the precedent for murderous brothers, poisoned marzipan, flotsam narwhal horn, appendicitis, and more in later books!
December 29, 2014
3.5
Deryni Checkmate, first published in 1972, is the second novel in Katherine Kurtz’s epic fantasy series that’s set in a world called Gwynedd (loosely based our own medieval UK) where some people have inherited magic from a race called the Deryni which has interbred with normal humans. The church of Gwynedd considers magic anathema and is using its wealth, power, and influence to rid the world of Deryni magic. Thus, Kurtz’s story is clearly inspired by our own middle ages when the Roman Catholic Church dominated Western religious and political systems and, having strayed from its Biblical roots, lorded it over the political leaders and the rest of the citizenry.
In the previous novel, Deryni Rising (1970), we met young King Kelson who ascended the throne after his father... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
Deryni Checkmate, first published in 1972, is the second novel in Katherine Kurtz’s epic fantasy series that’s set in a world called Gwynedd (loosely based our own medieval UK) where some people have inherited magic from a race called the Deryni which has interbred with normal humans. The church of Gwynedd considers magic anathema and is using its wealth, power, and influence to rid the world of Deryni magic. Thus, Kurtz’s story is clearly inspired by our own middle ages when the Roman Catholic Church dominated Western religious and political systems and, having strayed from its Biblical roots, lorded it over the political leaders and the rest of the citizenry.
In the previous novel, Deryni Rising (1970), we met young King Kelson who ascended the throne after his father... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
March 20, 2015
3.5
Deryni Checkmate, first published in 1972, is the second novel in Katherine Kurtz’s epic fantasy series that’s set in a world called Gwynedd (loosely based our own medieval UK) where some people have inherited magic from a race called the Deryni which has interbred with normal humans. The church of Gwynedd considers magic anathema and is using its wealth, power, and influence to rid the world of Deryni magic. Thus, Kurtz’s story is clearly inspired by our own middle ages when the Roman Catholic Church dominated Western religious and political systems and, having strayed from its Biblical roots, lorded it over the political leaders and the rest of the citizenry.
In the previous novel, Deryni Rising (1970), we met young King Kelson who ascended the throne after his father... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
Deryni Checkmate, first published in 1972, is the second novel in Katherine Kurtz’s epic fantasy series that’s set in a world called Gwynedd (loosely based our own medieval UK) where some people have inherited magic from a race called the Deryni which has interbred with normal humans. The church of Gwynedd considers magic anathema and is using its wealth, power, and influence to rid the world of Deryni magic. Thus, Kurtz’s story is clearly inspired by our own middle ages when the Roman Catholic Church dominated Western religious and political systems and, having strayed from its Biblical roots, lorded it over the political leaders and the rest of the citizenry.
In the previous novel, Deryni Rising (1970), we met young King Kelson who ascended the throne after his father... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
April 22, 2016
Not quite 4 stars but almost. I enjoyed it, but had a bit of difficulty keeping track of the cast of characters. It's an interesting thought experiment concerning what a conservative fearful church would do with a powerful race possessing magic in a land on the verge of war from outside and threatening civil war.
July 25, 2024
Loved it.
June 21, 2020
I always wish there were some dramatic reason for my abandoning a book. Decrying the morally reprehensible theme of
Song of the Pearl
feels … not good, per se, because I’d rather it just not exist, but at least it feels unobjectionably justified.
Deryni Checkmate just bored me.
The premise is simple: The church (and plenty of other people) loathe the half-Deryni magician Morgan.
Nothing new there, that was at least half of the plot of Deryni Rising .
The church really wants to put the screws to Morgan by interdicting (translation: temporarily excommunicating) everyone in his lands until he renounces his heritage/powers, a thing he obviously will not do. Also, looming war worries young King Kelson, and interdiction could exacerbate said looming war. Also also, someone’s going to get married, and that’s going to be a thing because characters spend so much time talking about dowries and whatnot.
What’s shocking to me is the complete lack of hooks. Deryni Rising was the master of constantly having you on the line. There was always one small, quickly summarized yet imperative problem, and the bigger plot would gain nuance in the process of solving it.
It felt akin to doing sudoku on an easy difficulty: you have to take it one step at a time, and while the solution is neither unexpected nor particularly clever, it’s also somehow satisfying to watch each piece fall into place. And after two truly rough reads in a row, that’s all I wanted. Well, that and no bizarre twists blaming teenagers for the sins of adults or glossing over infanticide as an unfortunate but necessary sacrifice.
There were no hooks here, just high-level unrest and the promise of danger and trouble sometime in the future. For much of what I’ve read, even Morgan was bored—and there are few things more boring than prolonged reading about someone being bored.
I skimmed through Morgan being bored, more dowry talk, and more discussion of vague future unrest, but nothing made me want to stop and really read what was going on. Morgan and Kelson et al. are fine protagonists if they’re questing, solving problems, and defying the odds. Their merit comes primarily from their actions. When there’s no action ... there’s not much to engage me.
And so, because it would take ages for me to force myself to keep pushing through Deryni Checkmate to reach the maybe better High Deryni, I’m calling it quits at page 78.
(I read old fantasy and sci-fi novels written by women authors in search of forgotten gems. See more at forfemfan.com)
Deryni Checkmate just bored me.
The premise is simple: The church (and plenty of other people) loathe the half-Deryni magician Morgan.
Nothing new there, that was at least half of the plot of Deryni Rising .
The church really wants to put the screws to Morgan by interdicting (translation: temporarily excommunicating) everyone in his lands until he renounces his heritage/powers, a thing he obviously will not do. Also, looming war worries young King Kelson, and interdiction could exacerbate said looming war. Also also, someone’s going to get married, and that’s going to be a thing because characters spend so much time talking about dowries and whatnot.
What’s shocking to me is the complete lack of hooks. Deryni Rising was the master of constantly having you on the line. There was always one small, quickly summarized yet imperative problem, and the bigger plot would gain nuance in the process of solving it.
It felt akin to doing sudoku on an easy difficulty: you have to take it one step at a time, and while the solution is neither unexpected nor particularly clever, it’s also somehow satisfying to watch each piece fall into place. And after two truly rough reads in a row, that’s all I wanted. Well, that and no bizarre twists blaming teenagers for the sins of adults or glossing over infanticide as an unfortunate but necessary sacrifice.
There were no hooks here, just high-level unrest and the promise of danger and trouble sometime in the future. For much of what I’ve read, even Morgan was bored—and there are few things more boring than prolonged reading about someone being bored.
I skimmed through Morgan being bored, more dowry talk, and more discussion of vague future unrest, but nothing made me want to stop and really read what was going on. Morgan and Kelson et al. are fine protagonists if they’re questing, solving problems, and defying the odds. Their merit comes primarily from their actions. When there’s no action ... there’s not much to engage me.
And so, because it would take ages for me to force myself to keep pushing through Deryni Checkmate to reach the maybe better High Deryni, I’m calling it quits at page 78.
(I read old fantasy and sci-fi novels written by women authors in search of forgotten gems. See more at forfemfan.com)
November 9, 2024
I read some of these books, probably 20 or 30 years ago! I am revisiting them lately. I have forgotten a lot of the plots in the stories. The first book I really remembered well and the second book. I don’t remember quite as well but they both have been enjoyable. Characters from the first book do appear in the second book, so it’s nice to have some continuity in the series. There is action, of course, and a touch of magic. And of course, there are dynamics with those who are against the Deryni. So a bit of the good and evil dynamic.
The author does a nice job utilizing human nature and what I think could be a real reality in her fantasy novels. Humans are flawed and stories happen. There is romance and bravery. And of course, the misguided! I will always be rooting for the Deryni and the side of good magic! Her blend of religion in this fantasy world is very interesting when combined with magic.
The author does a nice job utilizing human nature and what I think could be a real reality in her fantasy novels. Humans are flawed and stories happen. There is romance and bravery. And of course, the misguided! I will always be rooting for the Deryni and the side of good magic! Her blend of religion in this fantasy world is very interesting when combined with magic.
August 13, 2017
A dramatic improvement from Book 1
I first read Catherine Kurtz in the 1980s and picked up the series again while I am between authors and waiting for new publications. I recall enjoying her novels , but I was stunned at how simple book 1 of the series was . I decided to continue reading the series and was glad I did, because they are worlds apart. Deryni Rising (book 1) would most likely not find a publisher today, but Deryni Checkmate was a glimpse of the Katherine Kurtz that I fondly remember.
The biggest flaw is that all the male characters seem to share a personality. The few female characters have to divide their qualities between startlingly beautiful and old toothless hag. Does not allow much room for the reader to develop an affection for any of them.
I first read Catherine Kurtz in the 1980s and picked up the series again while I am between authors and waiting for new publications. I recall enjoying her novels , but I was stunned at how simple book 1 of the series was . I decided to continue reading the series and was glad I did, because they are worlds apart. Deryni Rising (book 1) would most likely not find a publisher today, but Deryni Checkmate was a glimpse of the Katherine Kurtz that I fondly remember.
The biggest flaw is that all the male characters seem to share a personality. The few female characters have to divide their qualities between startlingly beautiful and old toothless hag. Does not allow much room for the reader to develop an affection for any of them.
November 15, 2017
This book focuses on the ancient battle of church versus state, and it's effects on Mrs. Kurtz magical kingdom of Gwynedd. Unfortunately for the characters involved the age old battle hasn't yet been solved, and there doesn't seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel.
To read this one you would almost have to have read the previous novels in the series. Mrs. Kurtz usually recaps well enough to make it possible for her readers to pick-up the series mid-stream, but the plot thus far must have become too involved. Still, this remains a very well written book, and you will finish it wanting more.
To read this one you would almost have to have read the previous novels in the series. Mrs. Kurtz usually recaps well enough to make it possible for her readers to pick-up the series mid-stream, but the plot thus far must have become too involved. Still, this remains a very well written book, and you will finish it wanting more.
March 18, 2018
This picks up not long after Deryni Rising. There is a new evil Deryni who wants Kelson's kingdom. There is an archbishop who is finally acting on his anti-Deryni agenda. There is a charismatic human who is leading a rebellion to cleanse the land of Deryni -- and those who support them. Excommunication is a very real threat in this time period and has severe consequences. And the problems of being a persecuted minority come to the fore. As the title implies, this is a dark book. Do try to have the sequel on hand.
If you liked Deryni Rising, you will no doubt really like this book. The writing is a bit deeper as characters develop and moral issues are explored.
If you liked Deryni Rising, you will no doubt really like this book. The writing is a bit deeper as characters develop and moral issues are explored.
July 26, 2021
A fantastic example of a sprawling fantasy that trusts its readers enough to be relatively brief. Though some of that brevity comes at the cost of a rather sudden-seeming love triangle B plot and a few time skips. The latter keep the story going at a great clip, but the former comes across a little thin in places.
However, this book functions excellently as an Act 2 in the three act structure of the Deryni trilogy. And, looked at on it's own, it contains enough intrigue and lore about the larger world of the 11 Kingdoms and the Deryni's place within them to keep any imaginative reader turning its pages.
However, this book functions excellently as an Act 2 in the three act structure of the Deryni trilogy. And, looked at on it's own, it contains enough intrigue and lore about the larger world of the 11 Kingdoms and the Deryni's place within them to keep any imaginative reader turning its pages.
May 29, 2017
This is the second book in the Deryni Trilogy, and though I enjoyed the first one, this second one was way better (written, at least).
I felt like this book had more focus to it, as opposed to tackling (or trying to, at least) too many issues. For example, the main issue in this book is the Deryni (one man, in particular) being under attack from the church. Though we obviously don't have magical people in the real world I really appreciate the relevance of the church feeling threatened by things it can't control.
Anyway it's fun and I enjoyed reading this book.
I felt like this book had more focus to it, as opposed to tackling (or trying to, at least) too many issues. For example, the main issue in this book is the Deryni (one man, in particular) being under attack from the church. Though we obviously don't have magical people in the real world I really appreciate the relevance of the church feeling threatened by things it can't control.
Anyway it's fun and I enjoyed reading this book.
October 3, 2017
"I am a man: I hold that nothing human is alien to me" - TERENCE
I love how the magic of the Deryni is the source of conflict in this story. It has a tinge of fantasy built around a medieval Catholic world. She shows the benefits of faith and magic in positive ways when wielded by just characters. However, she unleashes unbridled hatred and bigotry against the feared Deryni just because they are different. She brings the battle of good vs evil down to a human level that everyone can relate too.
I love how the magic of the Deryni is the source of conflict in this story. It has a tinge of fantasy built around a medieval Catholic world. She shows the benefits of faith and magic in positive ways when wielded by just characters. However, she unleashes unbridled hatred and bigotry against the feared Deryni just because they are different. She brings the battle of good vs evil down to a human level that everyone can relate too.
October 28, 2014
Opening note before I begin: I read the revised and expanded edition of this one because it's all the library had. I would have preferred to read the original edition, but, well, you can't always get what you want.
This is the The Empire Strikes Back of the Chronicles of the Deryni. Deryni Rising was a young boy becoming a man and winning a battle of good versus evil in the classic structure laid out by the monomyth. One of the things that bothered me about that book, though, was the focus on good and evil for what was, at its heart, a political struggle. Charissa thought that her father should have been the rightful king and that he was unjustly murdered by Kelson's father, and it's only a story of good vs. evil because Kelson is one of the protagonists.
Deryni Checkmate takes that politics and focuses on that, with only a scant few mentions of good or evil to be found. Archbishop Loris is getting ready to initiate his final solution to the problem of the Deryni, and a rebellion against Duke Morgan's rule is beginning. Meanwhile in the east, the Deryni king of Torenth has asserted his right to the crown of Gwynnedd and is preparing his armies to march, but Kelson's rule isn't secure. His greatest allies are Deryni, and so is he, and in a kingdom ready to split in two, can he manage to navigate the shark-infested waters of power and survive all these challenges? Having played Crusader Kings II extensively, I'm saying the balance of probability is "no," but I expect the next book will prove me wrong.
It seems like there's a lot of sci-fi and fantasy from the 70s and 80s that focuses on how intolerant humanity can be of differences and how that intolerance usually leads to fire and death. Maybe it's something about the Cold War, or coming off the Civil Rights era, or something I'm not remembering because I was born in the 80s. And it's all well and good, but I think it falls down flat here, because it's perfectly reasonable to be suspicious of people who can read minds, determine truth and lies, mind control others, teleport, kill people from a distance, and who can only be defended against if you're one of them or have one of them protecting you. Unless they demonstrate a superhuman moral sense, and none of the Deryni I've run into yet have, they'll always be tempted to use their powers to make their lives easier, and I can see why people would rather not have their minds read or be murdered by magic.
Not that I think the Deryni pogroms are a great idea, but the reason the metaphor falls down is the same reason that Marvel's "mutants are a stand-in for [INSERT OPPRESSED GROUP HERE]" does--namely, that no real-world ethnicity has superpowers and superpowers change the calculation in a fundamental way that having different skin color, religion, or language does not.
On the other hand, what with how Morgan's servant takes to the magic that Morgan gives him to use, and with the hedge witch Bethane in the hills, it seems like they're building toward the revelation that Deryni/non-Deryni is an artificial distinction and anyone can use magic with the proper training, Deryni just have a much easier time of it. Which, considering Deryni Rising said that the Moors had their own magic, wouldn't be a real surprise to me.
One thing I can't really get used to is the Church, which is kind of a problem since it has a major role in the story here. Jesus is actually mentioned by name here--from Deryni Rising, I would have figured that Gwynnedd just had another fantasy Crystal Dragon Jesus church--but there'd a continual tension between a very real-world religion and a fantasy Earth that harms my suspension of disbelief. Like, there are Moors (and they're working for the bad guy again here, come on), but is there a Deryni!Spain for them to come from? If there was a Jesus, where is Deryni!Israel, and are there any Deryni!Jews out there? Is there a Deryni!Roman Empire who had Jesus crucified that no one has mentioned yet? The books posit a fantasy world but with the real Catholic Church just dropped into it and it's pretty obvious where the edges don't quite match up. Also, I don't think they've ever mentioned the pope yet. Is there one? I don't know.
Deryni Checkmate has quite a downer ending, with a funeral in progress, the heroes reeling from several defeats, threats in all directions, but there's also a moment of happiness as they realize they're still alive and can support each other. It's pretty much exactly like The Empire Strikes Back, hence the comparison above. Considering how things are going right up until the last few pages, it does seem a bit pat, but I'll wait and see how it resolves in High Deryni. I actually liked it quite a lot, despite my focus on minor worldbuilding niggles above.
Previous review: Deryni Rising.
Next review: High Deryni.
This is the The Empire Strikes Back of the Chronicles of the Deryni. Deryni Rising was a young boy becoming a man and winning a battle of good versus evil in the classic structure laid out by the monomyth. One of the things that bothered me about that book, though, was the focus on good and evil for what was, at its heart, a political struggle. Charissa thought that her father should have been the rightful king and that he was unjustly murdered by Kelson's father, and it's only a story of good vs. evil because Kelson is one of the protagonists.
Deryni Checkmate takes that politics and focuses on that, with only a scant few mentions of good or evil to be found. Archbishop Loris is getting ready to initiate his final solution to the problem of the Deryni, and a rebellion against Duke Morgan's rule is beginning. Meanwhile in the east, the Deryni king of Torenth has asserted his right to the crown of Gwynnedd and is preparing his armies to march, but Kelson's rule isn't secure. His greatest allies are Deryni, and so is he, and in a kingdom ready to split in two, can he manage to navigate the shark-infested waters of power and survive all these challenges? Having played Crusader Kings II extensively, I'm saying the balance of probability is "no," but I expect the next book will prove me wrong.
It seems like there's a lot of sci-fi and fantasy from the 70s and 80s that focuses on how intolerant humanity can be of differences and how that intolerance usually leads to fire and death. Maybe it's something about the Cold War, or coming off the Civil Rights era, or something I'm not remembering because I was born in the 80s. And it's all well and good, but I think it falls down flat here, because it's perfectly reasonable to be suspicious of people who can read minds, determine truth and lies, mind control others, teleport, kill people from a distance, and who can only be defended against if you're one of them or have one of them protecting you. Unless they demonstrate a superhuman moral sense, and none of the Deryni I've run into yet have, they'll always be tempted to use their powers to make their lives easier, and I can see why people would rather not have their minds read or be murdered by magic.
Not that I think the Deryni pogroms are a great idea, but the reason the metaphor falls down is the same reason that Marvel's "mutants are a stand-in for [INSERT OPPRESSED GROUP HERE]" does--namely, that no real-world ethnicity has superpowers and superpowers change the calculation in a fundamental way that having different skin color, religion, or language does not.
On the other hand, what with how Morgan's servant takes to the magic that Morgan gives him to use, and with the hedge witch Bethane in the hills, it seems like they're building toward the revelation that Deryni/non-Deryni is an artificial distinction and anyone can use magic with the proper training, Deryni just have a much easier time of it. Which, considering Deryni Rising said that the Moors had their own magic, wouldn't be a real surprise to me.
One thing I can't really get used to is the Church, which is kind of a problem since it has a major role in the story here. Jesus is actually mentioned by name here--from Deryni Rising, I would have figured that Gwynnedd just had another fantasy Crystal Dragon Jesus church--but there'd a continual tension between a very real-world religion and a fantasy Earth that harms my suspension of disbelief. Like, there are Moors (and they're working for the bad guy again here, come on), but is there a Deryni!Spain for them to come from? If there was a Jesus, where is Deryni!Israel, and are there any Deryni!Jews out there? Is there a Deryni!Roman Empire who had Jesus crucified that no one has mentioned yet? The books posit a fantasy world but with the real Catholic Church just dropped into it and it's pretty obvious where the edges don't quite match up. Also, I don't think they've ever mentioned the pope yet. Is there one? I don't know.
Deryni Checkmate has quite a downer ending, with a funeral in progress, the heroes reeling from several defeats, threats in all directions, but there's also a moment of happiness as they realize they're still alive and can support each other. It's pretty much exactly like The Empire Strikes Back, hence the comparison above. Considering how things are going right up until the last few pages, it does seem a bit pat, but I'll wait and see how it resolves in High Deryni. I actually liked it quite a lot, despite my focus on minor worldbuilding niggles above.
Previous review: Deryni Rising.
Next review: High Deryni.
September 11, 2021
I’m so glad I returned to this series having read much of it before many years ago. It’s high historical fantasy without the gratuitous violence and foul language found in so called ‘dark’ and ‘gritty fantasy today.
So if your thinking about dipping your toe into the waters of this genre start with the previous book in the series then just sit back and enjoy the ride because you are in for one hell of an adventure.
So if your thinking about dipping your toe into the waters of this genre start with the previous book in the series then just sit back and enjoy the ride because you are in for one hell of an adventure.
July 2, 2024
Another deep denier of their own despised heritage calls for pogroms and the patriarchal protection racket fails again to stop femicide. A sad story, about noble men with bourgeois rationality so threatened by fanatics that they must resort to witchcraft. The churchy stuff was surprisingly fun and you can tell the author is holding back some nerd-overload knowledge about knights; I appreciate that.
May 23, 2017
Magic brings sadness and tragedy along with religious intolerance and fanatics to Gwynedd. In the 30 years war Europe saw between 3,000,000 and 11,000,000 people killed, is this the path that Gwynedd is on? This book was a little more complex than the last more character development and a few different plots that wind up tied together at the end. 3 1/2 stars.
November 14, 2018
The second book of the original Deryni trilogy suffers from the same curse of all middle books: how do you create a satisfying reading experience that is dependent on events in an earlier book yet won't be resolved until the next book? Despite a rather painful conclusion, Kurtz succeeds admirably.
October 19, 2019
Such a great story!
I really enjoy Katherine's books. Though I have read the Deryni series out of order; these stories fully enrapt the span of all of our feelings and emotions. This one focuses more on Morgan (Alaric) and Duncan; than Kelson, but I can really empathize with Duncan and his test of faith he is going through. I really thoroughly enjoyed this book!
I really enjoy Katherine's books. Though I have read the Deryni series out of order; these stories fully enrapt the span of all of our feelings and emotions. This one focuses more on Morgan (Alaric) and Duncan; than Kelson, but I can really empathize with Duncan and his test of faith he is going through. I really thoroughly enjoyed this book!
April 18, 2022
they finally find more derry
Sheldon Alaric Duncan and a ntumber of bids hips and generals go yo bright send iron a war we hope our heroes sin you will not believed whatever the vendor HS v done now everyone knows be is pure evil n need to find and go on to the next book book feading
Sheldon Alaric Duncan and a ntumber of bids hips and generals go yo bright send iron a war we hope our heroes sin you will not believed whatever the vendor HS v done now everyone knows be is pure evil n need to find and go on to the next book book feading
June 16, 2022
Re-reading the entire series again. Looks like - based upon an inscription inside the cover - I first read this book back in April 1984....
Still enjoyed the book and the series. Remembered some of the main plot points - but others were a surprise, which makes sense after almost 40 years.
Strongly recommended.
Still enjoyed the book and the series. Remembered some of the main plot points - but others were a surprise, which makes sense after almost 40 years.
Strongly recommended.
July 27, 2022
This trilogy is somewhat interesting, but more for the political maneuvering than the magic, which seems stilted, without any real AH-HAH moments. I will read the third in the series and may give the Camber of Culdi book a try, as the stories are interesting, but I wish Kelson the King was more prominent in the second book. Hope he will be featured more in the last novel.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
June 12, 2019I started reading this second book of The Chronicles of the Deryni but decided to give up around 30 pages in. I grew tired of the church and the king's mother being so anti-Deryni and don't feel like continuing. I'm going to give up these Deryni books that I own.
July 16, 2021
Still a good book (this is a re-read). The Deryni concept is still under development (I think this is the second book published in the series). The characters are still developing, but are very real. Worth a read.
June 24, 2023
Non mi è piaciuto, poche cose importanti accadono ma senza che si concluda nulla, è, purtroppo, il solito libro di mezzo di una trilogia.
Morti innocenti causate per amore, morti varie causate dal potere. Persone che sono deryni ma non lo sanno...
Morti innocenti causate per amore, morti varie causate dal potere. Persone che sono deryni ma non lo sanno...
May 21, 2017
Amazing how Katherine Kurtz got as much in a 300 page book as some authors get in a 900 page one. Much to think about in this part of the Deryni saga.
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