The Harrowing of Gwynedd

Another fantasy trilogy gets under way, again featuring the magic-powered Deryni, who live often uneasily alongside humans in the medieval-style, Welsh-flavored kingdom of Gwynedd. Confusingly, this new venture doesn't chronologically follow the previous trilogy (The Histories of King Kelson), but returns to an earlier epoch in Gwynedd's history. Good King Cinhil lies dead, and in his place sits the boy-king Alroy - but the real rulers of Gwynedd are the Regents, an evil cabal of the rich and powerful united in their fear and hatred of the Deryni and their powers, prepared to go to any lengths to destroy them. Also dead is Bishop Alister Cullen - whose body for the past 12 years has been animated by the legendary, saintly Camber of Culdi, the Deryni's greatest friend and ally. But Camber's children Evaine and Joram are not entirely convinced that Camber is truly dead - his body lies uncorrupted in the crypt. Did Camber work a final mighty spell to cheat death, and did he succeed - or is he trapped in some ghastly limbo between the two states? Thus the stage is set for another patient, prolonged, involved struggle. Absorbing enough for Kurtz fans; and fantasy readers despairing of laser-beam magicking and muscle-bound heroes might find her worthy of investigation. (Kirkus Reviews)