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A powerful ending to the first trilogy (according to Kurtz's timeline). The plot is not as original and twisting as Saint Camber, rather moving forward in a more-or-less very predictable manner. Nonetheless, Kurtz continues with her vivid descriptions and makes further interesting character development. Overall, it is a good story well told and well worth reading. Indeed, the Deryni series would make a fine adaptation to film, if it were kept reasonably true to the books and done in the mold of a Peter Jackson film.
Kurtz clearly did her homework in depth, her portrayal of medieval European life make these stories almost seem like well-told history, but for the Deryni magic, of course. As with Saint Camber, I quibble a little as to how tepid the protagonists' response is to the antagonists' actions against them. For instance, in real medieval quarrels, it was not uncommon for competing declarations of excommunication, interdiction, banishment and attainder, etc., and the protagonists' failure to make use of their offices and resources is unconvincing and otherwise comes off as out-of-character for at least the more scrappy, spirited ones. Not that I suggest even such counteractions necessarily would have changed the basic outcome of her plot, but it would have made for a bit more gripping reading.
The issues she raises concerning race and racial hatred continue to make a tale like this relevant as more than mere entertainment. However, it has been years since I read these books and I'd forgotten just how much simple pleasure reading them gives, so they are good in their own right for that. She writes in a way that a person could read it as a stand-alone, but it's much better read after the first two in the trilogy. A good read!
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