The Chronicles of the Deryni Series by Katherine Kurtz

In the land of Gwynedd, the Haldanes have long ruled and have long kept a dangerous secret: there are those of their blood who possess the magical powers of the Deryni. To be Deryni in a land ruled by the all-powerful Church is to be branded an outcast. But now, young Prince Kelson is about to assume the throne after the mysterious death of his father. He must be told of his magical heritage... moreIn the land of Gwynedd, the Haldanes have long ruled and have long kept a dangerous secret: there are those of their blood who possess the magical powers of the Deryni. To be Deryni in a land ruled by the all-powerful Church is to be branded an outcast. But now, young Prince Kelson is about to assume the throne after the mysterious death of his father. He must be told of his magical heritage. For his legacy is being challenged by a woman who does not hesitate to lay full claim to her Deryni powers. And to face her in magical combat, Kelson must learn a lifetime’s worth of magic in a few short days.If he loses, he dies as his father did. And if he wins, he is King—but all the world will know that he is also Deryni… less

In order to claim the throne of Gwynedd, young Kelson Haldane had to reveal his magical Deryni powers, putting him at odds with the most powerful clerics in the land, who view the Deryni as agents of evil.One such man—Archbishop Loris—has dedicated himself to the eradication of the Deryni. In a ruthless campaign of persecution against them, Loris targets one of the proudest Deryni in all the land: Kelson’s most trusted friend and advisor, Duke Alaric Morgan... moreIn order to claim the throne of Gwynedd, young Kelson Haldane had to reveal his magical Deryni powers, putting him at odds with the most powerful clerics in the land, who view the Deryni as agents of evil.One such man—Archbishop Loris—has dedicated himself to the eradication of the Deryni. In a ruthless campaign of persecution against them, Loris targets one of the proudest Deryni in all the land: Kelson’s most trusted friend and advisor, Duke Alaric Morgan.While Morgan fights for his reputation—and his very life—a rogue Deryni has been honing his powers to use as a weapon against all of humanity, putting all of the Deryni at risk. Outright war is in the offing. And as the different factions of Gwynedd battle each other, the young Kelson must find within himself the strength to keep his kingdom from falling apart… less

Young Kelson Haldane has claimed his birthright and assumed the throne of Gwynedd. For the first time in centuries, a king of Deryni heritage, possessing extraordinary magical abilities, rules the realm.But the priesthood of the Eleven Kingdoms has held sway over the Crown for generations. They decried the Deryni as witches and heretics, drove them underground, and usurped control of the kingdom... moreYoung Kelson Haldane has claimed his birthright and assumed the throne of Gwynedd. For the first time in centuries, a king of Deryni heritage, possessing extraordinary magical abilities, rules the realm.But the priesthood of the Eleven Kingdoms has held sway over the Crown for generations. They decried the Deryni as witches and heretics, drove them underground, and usurped control of the kingdom. They have no intention of ceding their power to Kelson and his supporters — even if it means inciting civil war. Supported by the Church, an anti-Deryni leader has risen to prominence, dividing the people of the land. To end the conflict, King Kelson must face his enemies in battle — enemies willing to use the magic they so fear…. less