King Kelsons Bride (Hardcover)

Fans of the Deryni books will probably read this volume anyway, eager for anything new on the topic. They will then endure a recap of events they vaguely remember from books read over a decade ago. Following this, all the characters talk and talk about who King Kelson will marry. Then they talk about talking about it. After the inevitable "surprise Deryni ancestry" revelations, the usual pack of fanatics and evil Deryni will try and thwart the wedding and will be defeated. Then King Kelson will marry the woman who was discussed and discussed.

I was so excited that I decided not to wait another long span of years for another volume and gave up on KK after 30 years!

Like the rest of her fans, I've suffered through the loss of many a good man or woman in the series, and hung on the edge of my seat when danger was afoot in the land of Gwynnedd. I was very happy to pick up this book after so long! However, if I could give it two sets of ratings--one for being yet another wonderful glimpse into this universe that's dear to my heart, and another for not quite being the satisfying read the others were--then I would.

I count Ms. Kurtz among the people who inspire me most (I'm an aspiring author myself), and it was lovely to finally have Kelson get something he wanted, rather than watch it slip out of his grasp yet again (how many times can we torture the poor guy?), but the dynastic twists of the Haldane family and the equally befuddling House of Torenth bogged it way down for me. I liked seeing Liam come into his own (like a certain young Haldane at his age!), but I'm really looking forward to learning more about Queen Araxie. Maybe Rothana will finally find some peace, too.

I understand that Kelson may not fall deeply in love with his Queen--kings and queens do not necessarily marry for love, you know--so I wasn't surprised that he is merely content with his bride, and is willing to learn to love her. Although, with the exception of Nigel and Meraude and Alaric and Richenda, bad things seem to happen to the couples who love deeply (witness Maryse and Duncan, Kevin and Bronwyn, Rhys and Evaine, Rhys Michael and Michaela, etc.)

It's true; I was waiting for the moment I threw down the book and mourned for a favorite character, but it never came. It all seemed very nervous, however--that's the tone of this book, nervous. Nervous at the Torenthi situation, nervousness at the selecting and wooing of Kelson's bride.

I know we all wished for Kelson to find happiness. Just goes to show you: be careful what you wish for--you just might get it!

Funnily, there isn't much bride in King Kelson's Bride, and the only wedding is not Kelson's. Morgan and crew are mostly absent from the book, and three years later, Kelson hasn't investigated the Camberian artifacts. However, tantalizingly, we begin to see some hint of the "True" Camberian Council that is described at the end of the Camber series and that not perhaps less was lost than is commonly thought, and all is forgiven. I hope that we see more of that developed in the coming books. I've certainly been waiting long enough.