.jpeg){kind=small}
One of my favorite Kurtz books, this one showcases her at the top of her game. The preceding two books in the trilogy have worked the plot up to a frenzied state, with characters that the reader has been following for as many as five books (including the previous trilogy). The story drips with intrigue and has plenty of action, along with Kurtz's typically-rich, detailed, and accurate description of her medieval setting and characters. As an improvement to the preceding three books (the first two of this trilogy and Camber the Heretic), the good guys actually have a plan to try and overcome their adversaries, and are actually taking steps to do so, rather than just sit there and wait for the next sucker punch to their face. While nobody's plans go exactly as they intend them, Kurtz keeps the reader holding his or her breath to see exactly how things will pan out. I highly recommend those even remotely inclined to try Kurtz's Deryni series to start at Camber of Culdi and work their way to this book and see if they aren't quite happy they did so. Definitely a good read--good entertainment, and hard to put down!
​
​