King Javan's Year
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- £6.99
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- £6.99
Publisher Description
A young king's ascension threatens a traitorous conspiracy of powerful nobles who plan to brutally eliminate all magic-users from their medieval realm
The brief reign of Alroy Haldane is nearly at an end, as the life of the young king of Gwynedd slowly slips away. Called back from the abbey where he has sought sanctuary for the last three years, Alroy's twin, Prince Javan, prepares to ascend the throne—against the wishes of the former regents, who plan to enslave or destroy all Deryni in the kingdom. Though human, Javan secretly possesses the psychic powers of the magical race that the powerful faction of great lords and religious zealots strives to eliminate—and it is this ability that alerts him to the terrifying scope of their dark treachery. While his enemies do not yet realize how determined a foe the young liege is, Javan must summon remarkable courage and cunning if he hopes to prevail against them—or even survive.
In the middle chapter of her enthralling medieval fantasy trilogy, the Heirs of Saint Camber, award-winning author Katherine Kurtz adds richness and depth to the alternate world she has so magnificently brought to life in three previous series. Blending exquisitely detailed history with breathtaking invention, Kurtz proves once again that she is without equal in the popular realm of fantasy fiction.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A young king seeks to save his people from powerful and corrupt nobles and prelates in this middle volume of the latest Deryni trilogy (following The Harrowing of Gwynedd ). Crippled Prince Javan gains the throne of Gwynedd after the death of his brother, King Alroy, despite machinations by the five former regents, who mean to make him a monk and crown his more biddable younger brother. With a small band of loyal knights and advisers, Javan must gain the respect of the people, guard himself against assassination and attempt to ameliorate, if not repeal, the vicious laws enacted by the Church to destroy the Deryni, a race with psychic powers that shares the land. Though a human, Javan is gifted with some of these powers, a heritage of his royal family line, but he must learn to use them surreptitiously or share the fate of the Deryni. As the subtle battle escalates, with Javan receiving aid from powerful but hidden Deryni, the prospect of losing power drives the regents to extreme measures. Kurtz, author of three previous Deryni trilogies, builds a deeper, more complex and more thoughtfully developed world with each succeeding volume.
