Deryni Universe

## Genre Information

High Fantasy
Epic Fantasy

Historical Fantasy

 (Series Content Ratings Click on Explicit Ratings for details.)

## About the Series

* **Genres:** Historical Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
* **Theme:**
* **Narrative style:**

## Series Description

The Deryni novels are set in the land of Gwynedd, one of the fictional Eleven Kingdoms. Gwynedd itself is a medieval kingdom similar to the British Isles of the 12th century, with a powerful Holy Church (based on the Roman Catholic Church), and a feudal government ruled by a hereditary monarchy. The population of Gwynedd includes both humans and Deryni, a race of people with inherent psychic and magical abilities who have been shunned and persecuted for centuries.

While the plots of the novels often involve political, ecclesiastical, and military conflicts on a grand scale, they are counterbalanced by details of the characters' personal lives. Neither race is depicted as inherently "good" nor "evil", as both humans and Deryni are depicted as protagonists and antagonists at various points of the series. Additionally, the novels often depict the characters engaging in various forms of magic, and such scenes vary in importance from minor events to significant plot points.

The Deryni trilogies were published in an order which does not match the internal literary chronology of the series. The Heirs of Saint Camber was the fourth Deryni trilogy published.

**Internal Chronological order**.

### The Legends of Camber of Culdi

The Camber of Culdi novels takes place eight decades after a foreign Deryni prince invaded Gwynedd and overthrew the human king. Though still a minority of the population, Deryni control the throne, the Church, and almost all positions of power throughout the realm, and many lead privileged lives at the expense of the human majority. However, a wave of human resentment in starting to surge throughout the kingdom, and a powerful Deryni lord embarks on a quest to restore the ancient line of Haldane kings.

### The Heirs of Saint Camber

The Heirs of Saint Camber trilogy begins two days after the conclusion of *Camber the Heretic (The Legends of Camber of Culdi)*, as the Regents of young King Alroy Haldane continue their bloody suppression of Deryni throughout the realm. As the Deryni struggle to survive, the remaining members of the MacRorie family investigate the strange circumstances of their patriarch's apparent death.

### The Childe Morgan series

The Childe Morgan Trilogy begins one hundred and fifty-four years after the conclusion of *The Bastard Prince* and thirty-eight years before the beginning of *Deryni Rising (The Chronicles of the Deryni)*. The plot revolves around the court of King Donal Haldane, where several Deryni secretly work in service to the king. While Donal risks everything to secure a Deryni protector for his young son and heir, a new generation of Deryni, including Lady Alyce de Corwyn, struggles to find their place in the dangerous political and religious environment.

### The Chronicles of the Deryni

The Chronicles of the Deryni centers primarily on the struggles of young Prince Kelson Haldane to secure and maintain his throne.

### The Histories of King Kelson

The Histories of King Kelson begin over two years after the conclusion of *High Deryni (The Chronicles of the Deryni)*, shortly after the seventeenth birthday of King Kelson Haldane. As a recurring political rivalry threatens to erupt into open rebellion, Kelson must face a dangerous combination of new and old foes who rise up against him.

## Books in Publication order

### The Chronicles of the Deryni

* Series list:
	1. Deryni Rising (The Chronicles of the Deryni Book 1) (1970, reissued 2008)
	2. Deryni Checkmate (The Chronicles of the Deryni Book 2) (1972, reissued 2008)
	3. High Deryni (The Chronicles of the Deryni Book 3) (1973, reissued 2007)

### The Legends of Camber of Culdi

* Series list:
	1. Camber of Culdi (The Legends of Camber of Culdi Book 1) (1976, reissued 2004)
	2. Saint Camber (The Legends of Camber of Culdi Book 2) (1978, reissued 2016)
	3. Camber the Heretic (The Legends of Camber of Culdi Book 3) (1981, reissued 2016)

### The Histories of King Kelson

* Series list:
	1. The Bishop's Heir (The Histories of King Kelson Book 1) (1984, reissued 2016)
	2. The King's Justice (The Histories of King Kelson Book 2) (1985, reissued 2016)
	3. The Quest for Saint Camber (The Histories of King Kelson Book 3) (1986, reissued 2016)
	4. King Kelson's Bride (The Histories of King Kelson) (1997)

### The Heirs of Saint Camber

* Series list:
	1. The Harrowing of Gwynedd (The Heirs of Saint Camber Book 1) (1989, reissued 2016)
	2. King Javan's Year (The Heirs of Saint Camber Book 2) (1992, reissued 2016)
	3. The Bastard Prince (The Heirs of Saint Camber Book 3) (1994, reissued 2016)

### The Childe Morgan series

* Series list:
	1. In the King's Service (The Childe Morgan Book 1) (2003, reissued 2004)
	2. The Childe Morgan (2006) (The Childe Morgan Book 2) (2006)
	3. The King's Deryni (The Childe Morgan Book 3) (2014)

### Collections, Shorts and Novellas

* The Deryni Archives (1986)
* Deryni Magic (1990)
* Codex Derynianus (1997) (with Robert Reginald)
* Deryni Tales (2002)

## World Building

### Setting

A fictional country, Gwynedd, one of the Eleven Kingdoms.