The Adept 1

First of all, I want to point out that this novel starts out VERY slowly. In fact, the first time that I started the book I simply put it aside after three chapters because it bored me so. It seemed like it dealt with nothing but endless details on dress, motorcars, manor houses, and furnishings. I suppose the authors thought that all this was necessary to frame Sir Adam as a member of the gentry, but to those of us who do not worship wealth and the wealthy it is all merely tortuous and tedious. Several years later I tried reading it once again. I forced myself to push through the first 50 or so pages- no matter how boring it was- and it actually finally turned into something interesting.

Sir Adam Sinclair, Baronet, is a man of many facets. To the world he appears to be a wealthy, titled physician and psychiatrist (his mother, also a physician, corresponded with Jung.) However, to the adepts of the Inner Planes he is a magus of awesome accomplishments, a servant of the Light, and Master of the Hunt. He works the highest sort of magic in the service of Light to restore balance and harmony. In his own words, he seeks perfection of the spirit, which is regarded as an ongoing process of pursuing wholeness, with the ultimate goal of reunion with the Divine Light. He has pursued this goal down through the ages, in many reincarnations- all of which he can remember.

This first tale in the series deals with the efforts of dark magicians to raise the spirit of Michael Scot (Scotland's greatest magus) in order to learn his secrets. They do this with crude disregard for all laws both supernatural and man-made. It is the duty of Sir Adam as Master of the Hunt to see to it that justice is done and balance is restored.

Besides being a believable work on the subject of high magic (with many interesting details and ideals), this is also a competent work of detective fiction and a decent atmospheric piece on the history and lore of traditional Scotland.

In any case, if you get past the first 50 pages it is a worthwhile page-turner.

For some reason, the author is far more concerned with what her characters are wearing than with what they are doing. The magic portrayed in the book is a smarmy and very dull brand of Western Mystery Tradition occultism. The portrayal of Scottish people is sterotypical and patronizing, and in Gaelic areas of Scotland the characters are not portrayed as Gaels, but as the same stereotypical lowland Scots. Every scene was so agonizingly dull that to continue reading was almost literally painful. In other words, I don't recommend this book!

As a practising 32' Mason and an avid adventure reader as well as an author myself,I enjoyed the entire Adept series immensly.Kurtz has the style and the flow of her adventures is intense.The characters are as though pulled from real life,her accuracy on the subject matter is right on.Absolute fun reading,I highly recommend this series. Especially for Brothers of the Order,but also for those who love a rollicking good story. Jacamo Peterson author of A Hard Place and Blademaster of Norda

Katherine Kurtz' amazing talent for creating vivid fiction worlds has certainly not deserted her in this work with Deborah Turner-Harris. Her devotion to accuracy in history and geography are amazing.
This FIRST novel in this particular series (although connected to her previous works) is a wonderful introduction to the world of the story, and some very compelling characters.
Set aside some time to immerse yourself in the world of the Adept, and enjoy the ride...

I dunno - I know I used to like Katherine Kurtz, and must have read The Adept with pleasure, maybe forty years ago. Now I find it faintly ridiculous.

It's not so much the theme of ancient demons being opposed by the forces of "the Light" (ah, that handy shorthand) who are descendants or reincarnations of the Knights Templar. That's actually quite well done. No: what weakens the book is the continual pandering to America's fascination with British aristocracy and the accompanying rather fascistic sense that if you're of "the right sort" (or "duly sworn," in the book) then you are some sort of perfect human who can be trusted 100% and can never do wrong. Especially if you come of a grand old family and live the landed gentleman or dignified scholar life, and have a butler or a "man" to look after your daily needs. Not very realistic, alas. And the "bad guy" is - what else - a Frenchman! (though this was long before the days of Freedom Fries).

It's just infinitely wearisome to keep reading the descriptions of every character's change of clothes! "Like Adam and Janet, the two were attired in evening wear: Peregrine in black tie and dinner jacket, Julia in a full-length frock [frock!] of pale blue silk-crepe with white kid gloves." They are always being "attired" or "clad" or "reclad" - and of course with the Scottish setting, we are treated to a variety of kilts and sporrans.

The concept of a secret, virtuous, powerful and wise group charged with keeping us ignorant peasants out of harm has, for some reason, an enduring attraction. The latest version is BBC America's "Torchwood" - but that's much better!

I'll give a couple of stars, for imagination, and because the writing is quite well crafted, apart from the annoying "attired" and the oh-so-proper scenes like this: ..."a discreet knock at the door heralded the arrival of Linton [the butler] himself, pushing an elegant walnut service trolley on which reposed [reposed!] a fine tea set of translucent bone china. Peregrine, who had started to feel decidedly peckish, was gratified to see that refreshments included a selection of cakes and sandwiches." Oh, the raised-little-finger propriety of "gratified" and "refreshments!"

This book is well-targeted for the uneducated who daydream of an "elegant" world where everything is "classy." In that respect it's rather sad reading. North-east Scotland was my home turf long ago, and I well remember the towns mentioned in the story, and Fyvie Castle, and the down-to earth farmers, and the Doric tongue (incomprehensible to Sassenachs but apparently understood by farmers of the Friesian Islands across the North Sea), and the sometimes rather snobbish "county" folk living in their large, empty, chilly houses. It deserves better usage as a setting.

This book is the best one i have ever read, Read it now!!!

This book did start out a little slow for me, but I LOVED it. It gets better and better and thankfully there are additional books. This series is on my favorites list. I love that it's set in modern times. And Adam Sinclair is a dream.

Loved all 5 books

Book was in fine condition and delivered in a timely enough manner, given today's COVID challenges. The story itself is wonderful. The plotline and elements are typical of this series, but the story was fresh and quite enjoyable. I I wish they had written many more

I am one who read all of Kurtz's St.Camber etal. books over and over. I was so disappointed with the quality of writing.. surely not the K.K. of old! The story was weak and predictable. The characters shallow, and all of the errors left behind via 'spell check' greatly downgraded the quality of the book itself. I won't be investing in any of the others.