The Bishop's Heir

The Histories of King Kelson, Book 1

By: Katherine Kurtz

Narrated by: Nick Sullivan

Length: 13 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Once again, the Kingdom of Gwynedd under young King Kelson found itself facing the horror of war between the Church and the Deryni. As the Pretender Queen plotted to free Meara from Gwynedd's control, and the ex-Archbishop hatched a devious plan, it looked like the peace of Gwynedd was to be a thing of the past.

©1987 Katherine Kurtz (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

King Kelson must squash a rebellion, part one

Originally posted at Fantasy Literature.

The Bishop’s Heir is the first book in Katherine Kurtz’s trilogy called THE HISTORIES OF KING KELSON but it’s a direct sequel to High Deryni, the third book in her CHRONICLES OF DERYNI trilogy. (Did you get that?) To get the most out of The Bishop’s Heir, you really need to read THE CHRONICLES OF DERYNI first. This review of The Bishop’s Heir will contain a couple of spoilers for the original trilogy.

King Kelson’s battle with the church is over… or so he thinks. Archbishop Loris, the man responsible for the Church’s persecution of the Deryni and for the excommunication of Morgan and Duncan, Kelson’s trusted advisors, has been sent to live out the rest of his life in confinement. Kelson, Morgan, and Duncan should now be free to run the country with the help of a Church led by more tolerant clergy. However, trouble is brewing in Meara, a district of Gwynedd that used to be a sovereign nation. A descendant of Meara’s royal ruling family is eager to make herself queen and is fomenting rebellion against King Kelson. She finds eager allies with those of the clergy who are unhappy with Kelson’s Deryni heritage and the way he treated Archbishop Loris.

By the time Kelson discovers what’s going on, the Mearan conspiracy is well under way. In their efforts to thwart the rebels, Kelson et al. take some major hits. There are battles, assassination attempts, kidnappings, daring escapes and rescues, and brutal murders.
This time they are aided by Dhugal MacArdry, a young border lord who was fostered with Kelson when they were boys. At first Dhugal is just what he seems — a young man who loves his clan and who Kelson can trust — but it gradually becomes clear that Dhugal is more than he seems, something that surprises him just as much as it surprises everyone else. Other new characters include a love interest for Kelson. At the end, tragedy strikes, both personal and political. I’m interested to find out what happens next.

Readers who have enjoyed the DERYNI novels so far will probably be pleased with The Bishop’s Heir. There is plenty of action and political intrigue, though I admit that I zoned out during the numerous liturgical ceremonies in this novel. These, with accompanying chanting and reciting and feasting, go on far too long and I just can’t imagine anybody enjoying them. Similarly, the scenes in which Kelson or Morgan is delving into someone’s mind (usually Dhugal’s) are likewise long and dull.

Another complaint is that there are a couple of major events — Kelson’s romance and a discovery and confession made by Duncan — which could have been used for an enormous emotional impact but which fell a little flat. Still, there is plenty of emotional resonance in The Bishop’s Heir and it will no doubt carry over to the next novel, The King’s Justice.

Nick Sullivan narrates Audible Studio’s version of The King’s Bishop. This is a change for the series; Jeff Woodman narrated the first trilogy. I was a little disappointed because I really loved Woodman’s performance and I had gotten used to his voices for the characters, but Nick Sullivan did a fine job. I don’t think he’s quite as good as Woodman, but I quickly adapted and ended up enjoying his performance. The audio version is 14 hours long.

good story, bad reader

reader made me crazy. he over-enunciated every word and paused a bit after each. it was a bit like listening to William Shatner.

Wonderful continuation of an enchanting series

The new narrator does a different voice for key characters that is jarring at first, but the performance is well done. The story is a superb blending of monarchy and hereditary magic in a middle ages setting. It deals with the ecclesiastical reactions to magical abilities in a realistic and refreshing manner.

Return to a childhood favorite

I read this book back when they first were published. It has been fun to return to these characters and stories after all these years. Even better that it was via an audible audiobook.

A Necessary Compromise

Would you consider the audio edition of The Bishop's Heir to be better than the print version?

No, it is not better.

What did you like best about this story?

Well developed characters

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Morgan's voice is wrong.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It always makes me cry.

Any additional comments?

The reader made mistakes in some places.

OK story, un-natural feeling to the reading.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narration is blocky and sounds as if it is if there is a period after most words. While the diversity in voices by the narrator are good, the voices themselves are anoying. The plot is ok but the actual writing is fairly cliche.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Fine- despite the criticism I have for the book, the ending made me want to know what the next book would hold.

How could the performance have been better?

(see what I would change about the book)

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

It would make a much better movie (if done well) than book.

Good book; terrible reading

I've been a lifelong fan of Katherine Kurtz's Deryni novels, so I was excited to try the audio version of this first book in her "Histories of King Kelson" series. Unfortunately, the reading by Nick Sullivan was very nearly intolerable. In the course of this book, he badly overenunciates, pronounces both Latin and Scots-equivalent words incorrectly, and even makes mistakes in which accent goes with which character. The worst, in my opinion, though, is the awful, growly voice he chooses for the crucial character of Morgan. I simply goggle at the fact that the rest of this series is also read by him. What a travesty!

Nonetheless, I love her work so well that I am willing to listen through the other books... But only if I can get my library to stock them, so I don't have to pay more of my own good money in order to get to the last and most recent book in the series, "The Bride of King Kelson," which I haven't yet read. I must say, I will feel a bit guilty at recommending them to my library, though, as terrible as the reading is. :( Still, for those who cannot read with their eyes, a bad performance of her books is still probably better than no performance at all.

Buyer beware.

narrator ruined this for me

Loved narration on prior books, not this. This is terrible. Getting kindle for remaining books.

At last in audio, but this narrator isn't the best

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes, with reservations about the narration in particular. Also, by today's standards, the story might be considered a bit stilted, but these have been favorites of mine since they were first published, and they are good tales, with fine characters and a lot of excellent research behind them.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hard to choose. Kelson, of course; Dhugal has a great role here. Saying more could be a spoiler.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Nick Sullivan?

Simon Vance, John Lee, Dick Hill, many others. Anyone who can do different voices well and who knows how to sound like a Highlander. Nick Sullivan over-enunciates often; seems to have made some particularly odd choices for voices for some of the characters - Alaric Morgan's deep voice is awkward and flattened, Bishop Arilan sounds quavery when he's young and active; didn't do his homework about the Latin words; and is especially awful with the Highland accent.

Did The Bishop's Heir inspire you to do anything?

I like to think I'll buy the rest of this trilogy, but I really get annoyed at Nick Sullivan's reading.

Any additional comments?

Thanks for getting these books into audio.

Excellent Story

This mythology created by Kurtz is both entertaining and enthralling. I continue to enjoy it even in the 2nd and third readings.