Reading order · 16 books · 1970 to 2014 · Set in Gwynedd
Deryni Books in Order
The Deryni novels are set in Gwynedd, a kingdom much like medieval Britain, where the Deryni, a race with psychic and magical powers, are feared and persecuted by humans and the Church. The books move between the reign of the young King Kelson and the time of Saint Camber two centuries earlier.
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Series facts
- Books
- 16
- Published
- 1970 to 2014
- First book
- Deryni Rising
- Latest
- The King's Deryni (2014)
- Setting
- Set in Gwynedd
- Order
- Story order differs from publication order
The reading order
Every Deryni book in publication order, with the story order a switch away. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
16 books · Set in Gwynedd
- 1Deryni Rising1970With Kelson Haldane and Alaric MorganKelson Haldane is only fourteen when his father is killed and he becomes king.Buy on Amazon
- 2Deryni Checkmate1972With Kelson Haldane and Alaric MorganThe Church turns against Alaric Morgan and his cousin Duncan, and the young King Kelson must hold his kingdom together.Buy on Amazon
- 3High Deryni1973With Kelson Haldane and Alaric MorganKing Kelson faces the Deryni king of a neighbouring land in a final battle.Buy on Amazon
- 4Camber of Culdi1976With Camber MacRorieTwo centuries before Kelson, Gwynedd is ruled by a cruel Deryni king.Buy on Amazon
- 5Saint Camber1978With Camber MacRorieAfter the Haldane restoration, Camber makes a fateful choice to protect the new king, one that will turn him into a legend.Buy on Amazon
- 6Camber the Heretic1981With Camber MacRorieAs the king nears death, the persecution of the Deryni begins.Buy on Amazon
- 7The Bishop's Heir1984With Kelson HaldaneFormer archbishop Edmund Loris, convinced the Deryni are servants of darkness, resolves to remove King Kelson from the throne by any means.Buy on Amazon
- 8The King's Justice1985With Kelson HaldaneYoung King Kelson raises an army against Loris and a rival claimant who want him dead, trusting that justice is on his side.Buy on Amazon
- 9The Quest for Saint Camber1986With Kelson HaldaneWhen King Kelson goes missing, presumed drowned, during a search for relics of Saint Camber, his uncle Nigel must take up the crown, and Nigel’s son Conall nurses dangerous ambitions.Buy on Amazon
- 10The Harrowing of Gwynedd1989With Javan HaldaneThe young Prince Javan watches as his regents turn on the Deryni.Buy on Amazon
- 11King Javan's Year1992With Javan HaldaneWith young King Alroy dying, the scheming regents of Gwynedd plot to keep Prince Javan from the throne, and Javan must be clever and lucky to survive and rule.Buy on Amazon
- 12The Bastard Prince1994King Rhys Michael’s former regents expect a pliant king, but he is secretly learning the magic of his kingship, and an invasion forces him to lead the defence himself.Buy on Amazon
- 13King Kelson's Bride2000With Kelson HaldaneRumours swirl about whom King Kelson will marry, and with a rival monarch nearby he must set his heart aside and choose the bride that duty demands.Buy on Amazon
- 14In the King's Service2003Long before Kelson’s birth, the powerful of Gwynedd compete for access to Deryni bloodlines under King Donal, in the first volume of the Childe Morgan trilogy.Buy on Amazon
- 15Childe Morgan2006With Alaric MorganThe story of Alaric Morgan’s childhood, and of the king who protected him.Buy on Amazon
- 16The King's Deryni2014With Alaric MorganAlaric Morgan, a Deryni bound by magic and oath to King Brion, grows up at court, endures prejudice and prepares to answer his king’s call.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read in publication order, starting with Deryni Rising, or in story order starting with Camber of Culdi.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Kelson Haldane | Alaric Morgan | Camber MacRorie | Javan Haldane | Duncan McLain | Cinhil Haldane | Rhys Thuryn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Deryni Rising | LLead | LLead | MMajor | ||||
| 2 Deryni Checkmate | LLead | LLead | MMajor | ||||
| 3 High Deryni | LLead | LLead | MMajor | ||||
| 4 Camber of Culdi | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ||||
| 5 Saint Camber | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ||||
| 6 Camber the Heretic | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | |||
| 7 The Bishop's Heir | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ||||
| 8 The King's Justice | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ||||
| 9 The Quest for Saint Camber | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ||||
| 10 The Harrowing of Gwynedd | LLead | ||||||
| 11 King Javan's Year | LLead | ||||||
| 12 The Bastard Prince | |||||||
| 13 King Kelson's Bride | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 14 In the King's Service | ·Minor | ||||||
| 15 Childe Morgan | LLead | ||||||
| 16 The King's Deryni | LLead |
Characters in the Deryni books
7 characters from Katherine Kurtz’s chart, with the number of Deryni books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Kelson HaldaneBoy king of Gwynedd | 7 | Deryni Rising 1970 |
| Alaric MorganHalf-Deryni duke and Kelson's protector | 10 | Deryni Rising 1970 |
| Camber MacRorieDeryni scholar who restores the Haldane line | 3 | Camber of Culdi 1976 |
| Javan HaldaneCinhil's son, later king | 3 | Camber the Heretic 1981 |
| Duncan McLainHalf-Deryni priest, Morgan's cousin | 7 | Deryni Rising 1970 |
| Cinhil HaldaneMonk who becomes king | 3 | Camber of Culdi 1976 |
| Rhys ThurynDeryni healer | 3 | Camber of Culdi 1976 |