Deryni Checkmate

Focuses on the King's advisors as nations around him are goaded into war. First mention of Deryni portals (though unused) and a new mystery (how does Warin heal?).

Where the first book was a sort of mystery, this second book is more fantasy swords & sorcery. The battle scenes are exciting. Poison is used as a weapon, and we see humans and Deryni affected differently. Overall a slightly better book than the first.

...except this is also very much a middle book. The first book stands alone, this one does not. Fortunately the third book was published just a year later.