A Time of Omens

Deverry Cycle #6

by Katharine Kerr

Book six of the celebrated Deverry series, an epic fantasy rooted in Celtic mythology that intricately interweaves human and elven history over several hundred years.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Magic, Dragons

406 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Born in Ohio, 1944. Moved to San Francisco Bay Area in 1962 and has lived there ever since. Katharine Kerr has read extensively in the fields of classical archeology, and medieval and dark ages history and literature, and these influences are clear in her work. Her epic Deverry series has won widespread praise and millions of fans around the world.

Reviews

[Wanda Pedersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the sixth book of the Deverry series that I’ve read and I realize that I have never written a review of any of them. I come away from this novel feeling conflicted—I do like the Celtic details in the stories, but this isn’t our reality, so I can’t really call it historical fantasy. I enjoy the magic and the concept of Dweomer plus I like Kerr’s version of Elves. However, I weary of all of the blood & guts warfare. It seems like all the men of this society do is trot off to beat each other senseless, and I don’t ever get as much time with the magic and such as I would like to.

It was kind of interesting in this installment when Kerr re-introduced characters from past volumes. Perrin, for example, who now has a grandson that he can send along with Rhodry on a mission of mercy. We also get to see Rhodry & Jill reunited as old friends, rather than as lovers and enjoy the bitter-sweetness of that moment.

The only author that I can think to compare this series to would be the Deryni books of Katherine Kurtz, also a fantasy version of a Celtic culture with added magic. I adored those books when I was in my twenties and I imagine I would have loved Kerr’s works equally had I encountered them during that time period. I don’t know how I missed them back then.

Bottom line? I wish I liked these books more than I do. I like them well enough to continue reading the series (which is good because I found a bunch of them at the used book store & stocked up) but I think I am past my best-before date for this kind of fantasy.

Book number 301 of my Science Fiction & Fantasy Reading Project.

[Sotiris Karaiskos · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in this cycle of the series and our interest focuses mainly on the central story which the author had somewhat neglected in the previous one. In it, our heroes each follow their own path, looking for answers and participating in important and less important events. So we have on the one hand magical journeys and quests and on the other hand battles and efforts to protect those who can make a difference. Both sides of the story, however, lead us to the same conclusion: that a threat comes from the past, with incalculable consequences throughout the region.

Apart from that, the author could not miss the appearance of some more very interesting characters. This time, these newcomers have the common trait of wanting to go beyond what everyone expects of them, with some succeeding in a fairytale way and others realizing that things are much different than they expected. However, the author presents them all in a very beautiful way that offers something emotional and absolutely necessary. So our journey into this story becomes even more beautiful but maybe a little ugly, with the descriptions of the battles as fascinating as they may be being unable to hide the fact that war is not a nice thing at all.

A very good sequel in this series with a book where a lot of interesting things happen but at the same time it works as an introduction to bigger things, with the author leaving a lot of hints about everything that is going to happen in the next books.

Δεύτερο βιβλίο αυτού του κύκλου της σειράς και το ενδιαφέρον μας στρέφεται κυρίως στην κεντρική ιστορία την οποία η συγγραφέας είχε κάπως παραμελήσει στο προηγούμενο. Σε αυτήν οι ήρωες μας ακολουθούν ο καθένας τους τον δικό του δρόμο, αναζητώντας απαντήσεις και συμμετέχοντας σε σημαντικά και λιγότερα σημαντικά γεγονότα. Έτσι έχουμε από τη μία μαγικά ταξίδια και αναζητήσεις και από την άλλη μάχες και προσπάθειες για την προστασία αυτών που μπορούν να κάνουν τη διαφορά. Και οι δύο πλευρές της ιστορίας, όμως, μας οδηγούν στο ίδιο συμπέρασμα: ότι μία απειλή έρχεται από το παρελθόν, με ανυπολόγιστες συνέπειες σε ολόκληρη την περιοχή.

Πέρα από αυτό δεν θα μπορούσαν να λείπουν από ένα βιβλίο της συγγραφέως η εμφάνιση μερικών ακόμα πολύ ενδιαφέροντων χαρακτήρων. Αυτή τη φορά αυτοί οι νεοφερμένοι έχουν το κοινό χαρακτηριστικό να θέλουν να προχωρήσουν πέρα από αυτό που περιμένουν όλοι από αυτούς, με κάποιους να τα καταφέρνουν με έναν παραμυθένιο τρόπο και άλλοι να καταλαβαίνουν ότι τα πράγματα είναι πολύ πιο διαφορετικά από ότι περίμεναν. Όλους όμως η συγγραφέας μας τους παρουσιάζει με έναν πολύ όμορφο τρόπο που προσφέρει κάτι συναισθηματικό και απολύτως απαραίτητο. Έτσι το ταξίδι μας σε αυτή την ιστορία γίνεται ακόμα πιο όμορφο αλλά ίσως και λίγο άσχημο, με τις περιγραφές των μαχών όσο συναρπαστικές και αν είναι να μην μπορούν να κρύψουν το γεγονός ότι ο πόλεμος δεν είναι καθόλου ωραία υπόθεση.

Μία πολύ καλή συνέχεια σε αυτή τη σειρά με ένα βιβλίο όπου συμβαίνουν πολλά ενδιαφέροντα πράγματα αλλά ταυτόχρονα λειτουργεί και ως μία εισαγωγή σε μεγαλύτερα πράγματα με τη συγγραφέα να αφήνει πολλά υπονοούμενα για όλα όσα πρόκειται να συμβούν στα επόμενα βιβλία.

[Charlotte Burt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The comfort reread of one of my favourite fantasy series continues.

[Debbie Jinks · Rating 4 out of 5]

If there was a 4 1/2 star option I would have rated this book as that. It's better than the first Westlands book in my opinion, 'A Time Of Exile', but still not as good as the Deverry series.
I love the Guardians in this book they are very strong and captivating characters. The wonderful Jill will always be one of my favourite characters throughout the books. A lot of the book is centred round a strange talisman that is discovered and passed over to Rhodry. There turns out to be much evil around it and the beasts that want it back are very dark and menacing.
The book is fast paced, with the battle scenes during the ninth century Deverry civil war, descriptive and exciting. Rhodry's adventures as a silver dagger run throughout all of the books, the Deverry series and the Westlands Cycle. His character remains strong if not a little insane all the way through.
If you enjoy fantasy books in the medieval era, with Vikings, Celtic history and a lot of excitement thrown in you'll love this!

[Di Maitland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I can definitely say that I don't like Jill anymore. To quote Salamander, she's now "cold and nasty hearted". I figured an education in the dweomer would smooth out any of her sharper edges but it actually seems to have blunted the compassion she once had. It almost feels like it wasn't just Nevyn and Aderyn who died, but Jill too. Talking of Aderyn, I thought his death was needlessly abrupt. Not quite sure what happened there.

As in A Time of Exile, I was burdened by the fact I couldn't quite remember every character and event from the initial cycle, but managed to work some quick searches in my kindle copies and caught up enough to get me by. I've never enjoyed the concept of time-travel in fiction, and though Kerr doesn't quite employ it in its most traditional sense, the time-warping that occurs around the home of the Guardians, and portrayal of souls in their various incarnations throughout time, does confuse things somewhat. One the one hand I applaud Kerr: what an ingenious plot device. On the other hand, I spend my whole time trying to remember a person's various incarnations, how various other incarnations interacted with them, and how all that influences what is happening at the present moment.

Despite my critical start, I did enjoy A Time of Omens, though perhaps for the simple pleasure of spending time in the Celtic-esque universe. Plot-wise, I've been left with more questions than answers, particularly surrounding the rose ring, the Guardians and the Horsekin. But then we're on book 2 of a 4 book cycle so I suppose that's the nature of the beast.

[Barry Mulvany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not too much to say here, other than I really enjoyed it, I'm getting thoroughly engrossed in this series. We finally got to see more of Maryn cycle though I hope there is still more to come. By the way it was great to see more of him in his current iteration. We also spent a lot more time with Rhodry, Jill and Salamander though it's somewhat sad seeing them so much older and the foreshadowing is getting stronger an bleaker, I feel that the end of this series will be more bittersweet. The hint from the end of the previous book still hasn't really come to anything though I'm sure it will and the end of this book was a massive wtf, I did not see that coming. Jumping straight into the next one.

[Brita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lite transportsträcka men ändå spännande. Mot nästa bok!

[Catu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katherine Kerr needs to get together with Robin Hobb, the way they refuse to give their male protagonists a break 🫢🫢🫢 I can’t believe Aderyn died off screen given he was such a main character but then again apparently Jill got super sick off screen too? TBH I think Kerr wrote both those scenes and editor cut them out which I GET but still. I wonder if we’ll get more of Jill's POV of that time in the next book. As always this was great and Im so thankful I found the first book of this series on the street 🫡 #wyrd

[Marjolein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rhodry's back! I didn't really miss him last book, but I was glad that he was here again... I loved that the past stories/reincarnations were back as well, I love how you slowly learn about characters that way. Bellyra is someone I really like, so I was glad she was here and I really want to read more about her.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the return to the Civil War storyline (one of Kerr's best in terms of characterisation) and the story in Bardek in modern times featuring Marka and Salamandar (another guy royally screwed over by the dweomer). I found Rhodry's storyline less interesting with the introduction of Yraen and Carra. Still, a solid entry in the Deverry saga.

[Juanbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

To me this book sums up the last 3 books in the Deverry cycle: more of the same. Not that that's anything to scoff up but merely to indicate that this isn't really a series that reinvents itself from book to book. Because of this it's become my cozy and comforting read; it doesn't ask too much from me and gives me a fair amount of time with characters I like (Rhodry, Jill, Nevyn), some interesting tidbits of magic and a plenty of blood and warfare. I enjoyed finally seeing some concrete advancement in the elvish lore rather than vague references. I was surprised that we actually got to see and fight one of the creatures from "The Hordes", that was pretty cool. That being said I tire of the Guardians and their bullshit. I still don't really understand why Alshandra is so pissed that Dallandra wants to "bring" Elessario into the world or why Evandar is such an annoying riddle hoe. It feels like things happen in their real of existence "just because", without much sense. I mean, wtf is that stupid whistle that shows up out of nowhere? It's also bizarre that Rhodry wants to keep it and refuses it to give it to Dallandra when she comes to fetch it only to hand it willy-nilly to Evandar even after he basically refuses to answer any of his questions. I mean even Rhodry doesn't understand why he's keeping the damn whistle, it's just a stupid plot device. I don't know, the whole Guardian world to me lack depth and weight. It's like a stupid la la land where anything can really happen (e.g. summoning entire armies out of nowhere) at any moment. I get it but also it makes things feel so flighty and ephemeral. Oh and then Dallandra fucks Rhodry and is like "hmm actually I belong to the world of flesh", and I was like umm, what the fuck, why couldn't you have that same attitude with Aderyn instead of abandoning him for Evandar's ghost cock?

So yeah, I don't love the whole Guardians thing but I AM curious to see where the whole plot with The Hordes goes I guess. Probably will take a break before the next one, read something else.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book of the Westlands Cycle.
Whilst Jill and Salamander head to the southern islands in search of a lost colony of elves, Rhodry returns to Deverry from the Westlands and takes up the mercenary life of a Silver Dagger once more.

The first third of this book was hugely tedious for me. It did exactly the thing which irritates me most about the Deverry books; which is to veer off into a historical period in a self-contained and largely irrelevant tangent. We then spend a bit of time with Jill, who's become increasingly unlikable, and a whole host of new characters and locations that have little or no bearing on the rest of the novel.
Honestly, it was like all the worst bits of the preceding book distilled.

However, just as I was giving up hope, Kerr pulls it out of the fire for the latter two thirds of the book. We're returned properly to Rhodry's adventures and finally some of the plotlines of 'A Time of Exile' begin to develop in interesting ways.
It was in Rhodry's travels with his new companion Yraen and the conflicts they endure, that I remembered what made me like the Deverry books in the first place. More than that, we also get our first glimpses of a larger over-arching story as Rhodry and company encounter the vanguard of an ancient enemy in the closing chapters of the book.

Although it started very poorly, the ending of this book had me looking forward to finding out how the seeds planted here will develop in the ensuing books.

* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com/ *

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-reading an old favourite set of novels - high fantasy set in a background of Celtic mythology. These are perfect for the dark evenings, snuggled on the sofa, with kitties - and the reading is like dipping into a hot chocolate to round off the day.

Blurb:
In her last novel of the Deverry saga, A Time of Exile, Katherine Kerr started a new part of the story: The Westlands Cycle, in which she explores the history of the Elycion Lacar, the elves who inhabit the strange lands to the west of Deverry.
A Time of Omens takes up many threads in the rich tapestry of Deverry's history: it tells of Dallashandra's struggle to help Evandar's people - the strange and evanescent Guardians - survive, by finding them a new home on the material plane.
It charts the progress of the Deverry civil wars during the ninthe century, and especially focuses on the return of the true king - Maryn - to Dun Cerrmor and his marriage to the young Bellyra; of Rhodry's adventurings as a silver dagger during the wars; and of the strange talisman entrusted to his keeping. And we meet once more the seductive and infuriating Salamander as he searches for and finds a lost love; and witness the beginning of Jill's search for the lost elves of the Southern Isles.

Isn't it refreshing to have a properly descriptive blurb? That sums it up - more world building, more character development, and a rollicking good yarn. Just what you want from a fantasy series, am I right?

[Eva Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far there's no doubt that I prefer the Deverry series to the Westlands. The main reason is that I miss the old characters, and even the few that are left just don't feel the same. I suppose Kerr is setting up a new generation of characters for this next installent, and I'll keep reading to see if they grow on me. And I miss Nevyn's magic, I always found his travels in the astral plane fascinating. This popping in and out of the Guardian's realm just isn't the same.

I also have the impression that her world building is slipping a bit. One example is people's attitude towards the silver daggers. Through the earlier books Kerr taught us that they are close to the bottom in her world's honour system, and she'll still occasionally mention that they are treated with scorn by others, particularly when they visit ale houses and brothels. At the same time, with no background story to make it believable, the lady of a dun discusses her husband's politics with a silver daggers apprentice?! In the days of Cullyn of Cerrmor the lad would have been smacked across the face for just looking at her!

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2022/0...

I’ve reached the point in this series where what which character was doing in which book in which of their reincarnations has started to blur together, and only the most recent set piece is clear in my mind, so no plot summaries here. There’s definitely lots of action and riding around on horses and some cool new characters (I really love the characters in these books) and some cameos from some old characters, plus some dogs. I do hope we get flashbacks to Jill's research trip at some point, because I'm me, and I like scenes of people reading books even more than scenes of people riding around on horses. Another enjoyable volume, perfect escapism. A-.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this installment, of course. And I loved the outcome of Perrin's story though Yraen's death was so heart-breaking. But I do hope that I get to see more of the elves of the South. So much promise, and so little actual story time. Ebany falling in love is so sweet!

And I am interested in seeing the story of Carrameana and Daralanterial develop.

This did feel like a bridge novel though -- mostly meant to move all the characters into place to get to the action. I'm definitely looking forward to Days of Blood and Fire.

And please don't tell me Jill is dying already! She just came into her power.

[Kes · Rating 2 out of 5]

This feels like a series shaping up to be primarily about Rhodry (just as the last one was about Jill). It feels like there's more at stake in this series - i.e. we're finally seeing the fate of Elidd hinted at in the previous quartet. It's nice to see Perryn and his family make a reappearance, although Nedd's death felt unnecessary.

The main difficulty is that the cast of characters is getting huge enough that I can't quite remember who they are any more (especially the significance of their various incarnations).

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

So very thankful to Kerr, not least because she doesn't fall victim here (as she did in her prior books, and as is all too common in fantasy) to the temptation to switch to the enemy's POV.

For the first 2 books or so (the first quadrilogy beginning with Daggerspell & Darkspell, that is--not the later Westlands series) I couldn't stand Rhodry, but rather loved all else in the series: the setting, the lifestyles, the characters, the dweomer. But now I've grown an affinity for him as well--he's done some growing up.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was, ironically, my first introduction to Deverry, and I only later went back to start at the beginning. But I was intrigued by the fact Kit lets her characters age...and they still have a story to tell. Jill is not shuffled off just because she's older and gray. Nor does she lose her significance. For the time period when this was first published, that was unusual...and encouraging.

Kit's knowledge of Celtic history is, as always on full display. And I remain astonished by her ability to essentially invent a language.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A significant improvement on the previous instalment with a focus on more interesting characters, a whole new bit of world building, and a plot that seems to be moving along. Omens builds on Exile in all the right ways. I whisked through this a lot faster than the previous one - or at least it felt so - and I felt the balance of characters was better, and there was a lot less need for lengthy detours.

[Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book a bit inconsistent and particularly towards the end it felt like the story arc had been a bit forced at times.

I still enjoyed it and it does move the story along well and Jills arc in particular takes a huge step forward in this book.

Onto the next as I venture beyond the reread and move into new book territory and look to finally finish the whole series.

[Books_n_critters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars because I love this series, but this book, for me, wasn't as good as the others. One of the story lines largely followed in this one is, in my opinion, just unnecessary and kinda stupid. Still, I'm looking forward to the rest of the books.

[Sarah Mck · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this style of fantasy. Modern authors just dont write the same anymore - still good, but just not the same.
Kerr writes a good book and any of those in either the Devery or Westland series is a must read if you enjoy fantasy.

[Michelle Eggleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read

Intriguing and interesting read. Keeps you on toes remembering all the different players Over the times, but that’s what makes it so interesting. Looking forward to reading the next book.

[Dik Verhoef · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is getting better, and better!
For readers that like a real good classic fantasy story.
Do you like: Raymond. E. Feist, Robin Hobb, Tolkien, then Katharine Kerr is also something for you.

[Therese Bergwall · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[S. Naomi Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent volume in the continuing saga of Deverry. Full review to follow shortly.

[Dion Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I blazed right through this book and straight onto the next.

Something about the series just hooks you and you want, nay need to know what happens next.

[Mgilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantasy. A challenge between developing a gift that many dream of but which sets one apart and choosing to live a normal life. Our choices define us.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first Deverry novel I read, I didn't even realise it was part of a series, it was the beginning of my love for the world Katharine Kerr created. Still one of my favourites!