King Javan's Year

Javan held my imagination since I first saw his name on the Table of Gwynedd's Kings in the back of Katherine Kurtz' first Deryni novel. His year and his book do not disappoint. Kurtz does a tremendous job of letting the young King and his Court live. And breathe. And hope. I enjoyed this work more than any other of the Deryni line. Javan's hope surely found its way to Kelson's soul.

Having read it recently, I really liked the action and the ways in which Javan is able to diminish the power of the Regents once he becomes King. The details and the descriptions of the colors, sheilds, and processions become a bit mind-numbing, unless they are really something you totally enjoy. But you know - at the end of this book I decided I had invested way too much time in reading her books, learning her characters, and working my way through the plot to have everything crumble in the last few pages. I really began to ask myself and perhaps the author in this internet medium - why? Why can't you, with the stroke of a pen, change how the action plays out? I've seen enough of death and despair, and I really don't need to read it in show more my escapist fiction. But perhaps others prefer more realism in their lives, and if so, you will really, really, really enjoy this book. show less

This book is sometimes a bit difficult, because if you've read the rest of the Deryni books, you know what happens, in a sense. This is the second book that deals with the years leading up to the Interregnum, and it is like reading about old English kings. You already know when he was born, when he ascended to the throne - and when he died. Even so, this is still well worth reading.

Arrrrrrrrgh, I wanted better for Javan. 😔 We spent so much time getting to know him in the first book of this trilogy and then this one. ARGH. Just argh.

A truly great series, but the original trilogy is still the best.

Couldn't finish.