This book and the other two books ofthe mages of garillon were excelent. It is horrible they stop printing them. They are the only three books I didn't fall asleep on in the first capter. The other two begining books of this trilogy are The Burning Sone and The Gaunlet of Malice, which I both highly recommend. The book was actually exciting. Sure there is a lot of big words but you can still get the overall meaning if you just skip over them. Come on, can't someone reprint it. It is alot better then all those poorly written, boring and pointless books that companies print a million of.

It's a darn shame this book isn't available any more - with any luck, word will spread and the publisher will reprint the series. I read the three of them when they first came out, and Spiral of Fire was a wonderful end to a series full of adventure and memorable characters. Without resorting to purple prose, Harris nevertheless invokes genuine emotion in the reader with her loving portrayal of her central characters. The battles between good and near-overpowering evil are exciting and different, and Harris keeps coming up with new and different ways to approach old problems. The author has written a number of books now with Katherine Kurtz, but the Mages of Garillon, of which Spiral of Fire is the last, really sing in her own voice. This is a rousing good read, a great romp of an adventure and a beautifully rounded end to a much-missed series. Time to reprint!

City of Exile is a fine fantasy novel and a fitting conclusion to the Caledon trilogy. At last we see more of the Feyan and get a bit of insight into their well-drawn and quite alien culture. The juxtaposition of the highly-mannered Feyan, the rough but noble Caledons and the insufferable Berings makes for added depth in a novel that is full of swashbuckling adventure, high court intrigue and dealing with demons. Turner Harris also provides enough moral grey areas to keep things interesting for the intelligent reader in this quite superior novel. One of her best to date - can't wait for more!

I would have given this book a 10, but I'm saving that for her next book - this author gets better and better.

'The Queen of Ashes' was a wonderfully compelling read! I didn't put the book down until I finished it!!! I didn't know this was the second book in the series, and for some reason, I always seem to end up starting in the middle of a series. However, if you haven't read the first book, the second still is contained enough in itself to be comprehensive and wonderful. I absolutely loved this tale of a Scotland that could have been. I'm of Scottish descent, and I appreciate the beautiful weaving of the elements that characterized so much of Scotland then, the deep rooted superstitions and the coming of the new religion. Actually, my favorite character is Lord Charion, I always seem to love enigmatic, quirky characters. The way that different points of view are used are very well done, and I cannot wait to read the first book as well as all that follows! Thank you for an enjoyable, wonderfully transporting read!

I thought this book was a really good historical fantasy. Atmospheric, well researched, creative, etc.
But. I'm interested in Scottish history, history in general, and occultism. I have books upon books.
Katherine Kurtz is awesome as a writer, and I agree with the person above who said it feels like you are there. It's part of how she makes the story work. The more farfetched mysticism feels real because of the way she describes it and the whole scene.
But if you are not interested in history-you might get a bit lost. To say the least

I spent last night in Bannockburn with Robert Bruce and a group of outlawed Templar Knights. I watched in awe as they routed the army of Edward of England. Actually I've spent the last week following these men around the world...To France, Scotland, and even under the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. And now that the adventure is over and Robert is King, I will miss our time together.

If I sound like Robert and his Templar friends are personal friends, you may be right. In their latest collaberation Kurtz and Harris have created their best story yet. They skilfully weave fact and fiction in this tale of Scottish independence and the downfall of the Knights Templar.

Much has been speculated about these mysterious warrior monks. When Philip of France orchestrated their downfall in 1307 he expected to find great stashes of gold and other valuables. However, when the king's men invaded the Templar Chapter Houses, the vaults were empty. Not one ounce of the Templar's reputed wealth has surfaced even to this day. What better place to stage a novel than in the middle of an unsolved mystery?

We follow Arnault St. Clair as he struggles with forces both physical and spiritual to put Robert Bruce on the Scottish throne and to provide a place for his displaced Brethren. The book is full of battles, politics, spiritual evil, and spiritual good. It is fast paced and full of characters one can actually identify with.

I hated to come to the end of this novel. That is the highest compliment I can pay to any book. I just hope that the story will go on.....and on......and on.....

The "Adept" series by Kurtz and Harris combines all the worst features of formula romance novels, Extruded Fantasy Product, and pseudohistorical conspiracy theories. The prose is tepid, the dialogue stilted, and the characters one-dimensional (at best). Plot complications are carefully piled up, only to be resolved miraculously at the last moment by a wave of the hand.

So why do I keep reading them, and checking to see if a new one is out? The same reason I eat Twinkies, I suppose -- they may be content-free fluff, but they're *definitive* content-free fluff. Sometimes it's fun to turn the brain off.

If you like romance novels, ritual magic, secret societies, and the city of Edinburgh, you might very well enjoy these books a lot. If you require plot, characterization, command of the language, or important themes from your reading, don't bother.

In every one of Ms. Kurtz's "Adept" books, there comes a moment of such overwhelming mythic beauty that I get watery-eyed, or cry. "The Death of An Adept" is no exception, and for me, it is when the young psychic artist Peregrine finally gains his wings as a magical adept in his own right. Every book in this series is a fine successor to the occult fiction of Dion Fortune, combining hermetic principles effectively with skillful and dramatic storytelling and a high moral sense. Here, as previously, we see that evil is its own punishment, and that a good heart, and one annealed by self-discipline and fine training, can overcome many (supernatural) obstacles.

I started reading the Adept because K. Kurtz wrote it and I liked her Deryni series. I had no idea how good it was. Since that first book, I have continued to read and be impressed. Death of an Adept keeps the standard of the Adept series has high as ever. It is a fitting end to the series of events that started in book 1. I loved it. I usually get bored with book series after awhile, but The Adept is proving to be the exception. I can't wait for the next book. Here's hoping that The Adept series continues to hit new heights.

This book is quite good. It seems to be stylized Scottish history with a major twist. It keeps you interested until the ending and then leaves it just open ended enough that you want her to come back and play in this universe again, without requiring a sequel. If you enjoy fantasy, or historical fantasy I think you will enjoy this book

PLEASE PLEASE .............
MORE OF THE ADEPT. ALL OF THE BOOKS ARE GREAT READING..
COULD SPEND HOURS RAVING ABLUT THIS SERICES.
PLEASE MORE THAN JUST 5.

...which I *hope* the authors were doing deliberately. If you're looking for 3-D characters, meaningful exploration of mystic tradition, and a strong thrilling plot, this series is not for you. However if an easy Hardy Boys style book is what you're after, and you're under 16, this series is a bit of fun. Now the negative points. The magic shown suffered a lot from what seemed to be the authors constant grandstanding of their own personal beliefs, and apparent concern at frightening the reader off. This is supposed to be a *fantasy* book, despite using a variety of real mystical systems as a basis, yet there is constant and wearying reassurance to the reader that all is subject to Christian vetoing. This black and white quality serves to remove a great deal of tension and any and all character conflicts/developments that could have happened. Next: I am honestly confused as to whether either author has ever visited the UK. I'll write it off as part of the hopefully deliberate Biggles syndrome, but all the tweed and pearls and och aye the noo, really grated after a while. There was a constant sense of 'Oh look, honey, ain't this quaint?' throughout. I actually thought the books were supposed to be set in the 1950's for a moment there, so unrecognisable are their characters. Weirdest of all is the near-constant class snobbery-- far from being the inbred partying/bloodsporting berks most UK'ers expect from their aristocracy, they're all highly intelligent, and magickal to boot. All the poor plebs are (of course) ignorant serfs who look to Adam and co for guidance, with Mcleod providing a token working class touch. Then there's the lack of any decent female characters. I wanted to vomit every time Julia's 'gentle doe-like demeanour' was mentioned. The main flaw in these books however, is the lack of conflict and action. None of the main characters ever seem even mildly imperilled. They're never upset, they're never angry, they never have sex, they never swear, in short; they're not recognisably *human*. And that is what makes these books a readable curiosity, a variation on the Nancy Drew theme; perhaps good for 12-16 year olds, but nothing more.

I first read this book simply because I have enjoyed all of Katherine Kurtz's other works to date. As soon as I had finished it I wanted another one. Kurtz and Harris write a plausible occult novel that is set in a modern day Scotland. I do hope that ours is not like it or that if it is that there are really Hunting Lodges such as that described in the book to help protect people from the Dark side of humanity. As one would expect, the characters are both believable and interesting. You really care what happens to them and want to know more. Fortunately for us they have acceded to our wishes and there are now four books in the series with a fifth one on the way. If you're like me and look for good series to read you won't want to pass up on this one. But even if you're not into reading series you'll enjoy this book. It is both exciting and intriguing

I just finished this in the Adept series, and plan to read 'em all.I am SO at polar odds about these books, though. Kurtz and Turner REALLY know their stuff about cerimonial magick, the Knights Templar, Fae folk, Reincarnation and the Quabbalah-just for starts! That they so seemlessly weave it into a rousing adventure is enough to make me keep on(I cant wait to read #4, Dagger Magic where they will hopefully make good the promise in Lodge of the Lynx that Hitler was a black magician)But WHY are the characters so shallow!?!Peregrine is never described as any more then "blond and owl eyed" Adam has "distinguished greying temples" and drives a Jag. FORGET about any female characters, except for Adams mother they are convienent background material. I find it almost hard to care about these people, but the elegant and descriptive writing, the lushious depections of castles, magickal artifacts and the most beautiful mansions you ever wished you lived in PLUS the AUTHENTIC (And so rare to me)weaving of real magick and lore into the plot will keep me reading anyway. Better then most fantasy fiction. And I hear their new Knights Templar series is better.

Suspend your logic for a trip into a magical world with The Adept series. Yes, Kurtz and Harris make good use of just enough historical fact to maintain plausibility, while adding a good dose of fantastical magic for a wonderful read. While The Templar Treasure may not contain enough fact for fans of that bygone order, it does contain some reasonably accurate description of Qabalistic ritual. I am certain that either Kurtz or Harris are familiar enough with the Golden Dawn tradition to have fashioned their psychic detective in similar tradition. A delightful read.

Having renewed my interest in fantasy/sci-fi book reading just recently, i came across this book at a second hand bookshop. Being familiar with the author's past works, i expected the same Knight/Chivalry stuff from the author with the added magic/sorcery mix added. The book was a good read. The mix of historical fact and fictional elements were very interesting and made me very interested about the stories of the Templar Knights and Scottish history.

However it wasn't a perfect book with the ending a little too predictable.

With the first book in this series I was hoping to get another great read out of Kurtz. I was however sadly disapointed. The first book had a great premis and the plot could have really gone places. I forgave the writing hoping for an improvement in the second. My hopes were misplaced. I know more about Sir Adams crisp suits, handsomely graying temples and gold fob watch than any reader has a right to know. All of the charaters seem to come out of a Mills and Boons. Everyone of the charaters are glamourous and shallow, pale card-board cut-outs of real people, with a varnish which trys to pass itself off as deep and complex. I relise that I'm probably looking in the wrong genre for complex charaters but, I'm a devoted fantasy fan having read all of the greats and not so greats (Tolkien, Eddings, Feist, Jordan...etc.) Never in all my years of reading have I come across such trite (I average about 300 books a year..so I've read alot!!!!!!). I hoped that future books in the series would get better, a very faint hope I assure you, but I'm desperate (What else am I supposed to do while waiting for Path of Daggers I can only read the WoT a certain number of times and I feel that ten [in one year]is my limit).

It just goes to show how nice I'm feeling and how utterly drear my life is that I've finished the series thus far and gave it a great big one star......Next time I might not feel so nice.

I love occult fiction and a friend recommended the Adept series to me because he knew I liked Dion Fortune's fiction. Unlike Fortune's fiction, this novel won't gift you with verses for your rituals, but it certainly captures the feeling of the astral realms and the battle of good versus evil. Okay, so the hero is wealthy and lives a life of luxury we can only imagine, but, hey, this is a fantasy, no? And what better to fantasize than the genteel life of a British gentleman? Even if one is female (like me), one can still fantasize about such privilege. A very good read.

I find the writing to be wonderful. The historical details, imagery and incorporation of magic into a modern setting are all too rare in sci-fi, occult and fantasy literature. Although the characters are not fully developed as individuals and their interrelationships are not fully explored the excitement and potential for these stories to reflect "authentic" modern occultism more than compensates for these defficiencies. I expect very few books to hold up to the standards of great literature... ie Tolkein, Hardy, Dickens, Doestoevsky etc. and these books are certainly not timeless classics. However, these books are quite pleasant reading for an educated audience and a far cry better than the common pasteboard series.

I really can't recommend this. It begins promisingly enough with the maid of Norway, the heir to the Scottish throne, dying on arrival to Scotland, and a prelate observing evil spirits attempting to take her soul. This is a very dry historical novel, in the Nigel Tranter variety, only making much less sense, suffused with magic elements. It's an interesting idea. There's a war brewing between Christian and Pagan elements (which are unreservedly evil here) and the competing magics secretly drive medieval politics. Unfortunately the interesting idea isn't very well executed, and we are treated to a miasma of historical detail and magical posturing that wanders all over the place, and occasionally returns to Torquil, a young hero whose only quality is that he is a young hero and is about to be recruited into the secret society of good guys. Ho hum.

I agree with some of the other reviewers that the initial premise of this book seemed promising at the start. The further into the book I got though, the more this promise started to wane. I only finished this book because I had paid money for it. The final chapters were actually skimmed rather than read (reading for enjoyment is not supposed to be a chore).

As an example of what I didn't like about the book can be found in the last chapter, the coronation of Robert the Bruce. Numerous pages described who was there, who stood where, who said what. Very dry. I thought this was a novel, not "The Cambridge Journal of Historical Analysis"! All to what purpose? I still don't know. I was surprised that the authors didn't describe what Sir Whoisname's wife was wearing (that color of gown just does not go with her hair!) and how the floral arrangements were picked out by the monk with the bad skin condition.

I'll end my comments with one word. Tedious.

This book skips and starts between plot development and detailed descriptions. While successfully capturing the balancing act required of a neutral order of knighthood while competing kingdoms are at war, Kurtz and Harris all too often lose the reader in detail, however well written.

The book taken as a whole is not particularly compelling. No character evokes much empathy with the reader, and too many of the characters are two dimensional. On the other hand, the description is detailed, and rich pictures are painted with prose during the scenes where occult and heavenly powers are exercised.

The alternative history style holds great dangers to any author, most of which are successfully navigated. The linkage of early Celtic christianity to the highly politicized christianity of the 14th century is fairly well presented. If you don't know much about the Knights Templar, or Scottish history, you may enjoy the book for pure entertainment value. The more you know about 13th and 14th century European politics and history, the less this book is likely to entertain you.

A strong point to this book is its very digestable length. Far too many phone book sized fantasy novels on the market. This book is self contained and will create few problems with reading until 4 in the morning the night before and important meeting or exam. It may inspire interest in medevial European history, which is a rich and fascinating historical period for anyone to study or even just browse.

In a nutshell: worth a read, but not a must.