Customer Reviews

The Copper Crown (Keltiad)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is highly creative and original, and especially engaging if you are already familiar with the Celtic civilization (the real one of history). When Kennealy builds her setting she does it inventively and expansively. I especially liked the blurring between magic and technology, leaving both entertwined and barely separate. Her scenes are beautifully described, as I think Kennealy is quite good at describing physical things. (When describing abstract things, she got a bit unclear, but not badly so). Don't read this book if you don't like deciphering foreign names(give 'Sanchoniathon' a try). While there is a handy pronunciation guide, the Gaelic-based names do not at all sound like what they look like. Another slight deterrent is the huge host of characters. This confusion is conveniently compensated by decent character guide, but there were times when there were so many characters I got lost. Also, the complexity of the plot is a bit daunting, but very interesting once untangled. This is not a book for skimming. Read it only if you feel like and are able to concentrate and remember. Kennealy also has a very distracting (at least to me) habit when she switches scenes: a spurt of dialogue or action that has no meaning at first, then attains meaning when she finally backs up and adds context with the past participle--leaving you slightly confused until she clarifies with a "So-and-so had arrived some moments before..." There is also an element of transparency to the text and lack of true depth, but that was curiously not a discouraging factor at all. The characters have an odd habit of laughing at anything unexpected, unusual, wierd, grave, emotional, tense or threatening. So the "unexpected laugh" became quite expected, to my slight annoyance. It wasn't so bad that the language was stilted, flavored highly by wordy old english, but it was stilted inconsistenly, which was what got to me. The characters where not as highly/deeply developed as I'd like them to be, but still realistic, entertaining and diverse. But these faults are all very tiny indeed compared to the message of the story. Overall, the book was highly enjoyable. While I was not very swept emotionally, the scope of the book itself is breathtaking and powerful. Aeron (the protagonist) is an admirable and more than adequate main character. If I had to describe the book in one word, I'd choose "Engaging". This book's most commendable aspect is its appeal to wide audiences: historical fiction, fantasy, scifi, and technological buffs alike. Overall, a very good read, and very recommended.

What a joy it is to see women portrayed in sci-fi/fantasy in terms other than buxom princesses or evil sorceresses! PKM is without a doubt, one of the best writers of the genre to come along in a long time, male or female. This was the first book I read by her, and quickly scooped up anything else I could find. I hope the other books in the series are due soon! Way to go, PKM!

A must read for those who like sci-fi which is well developed. This isn't hastily slapped together, the writer goes into great detail in describing the society, background, core beliefs, political structure and culture of Keltia. The amount of detail is in itself facinating. You have a vivid picture of the setting - both time and place, which in turn brings the characters, their motivations and the setting to life. It puts me in mind of the Star Wars universe in the amount of detail established. The Copper Crown is a great place to start, though my favorite is its sequel - The Throne of Scone. The tales of Aeron, Fionbarr, Arthur and Brendan are wonderful - 5 stars!

I am, as a rule, not a fan of science fiction, however this book (and indeed the Keltiad series) have been a great exception.

The premise that a breakaway group of Earth born explorers, using magic and advanced science learned from the lost civilization of Atlantis, escape the surely bonds of Earth in 435AD and establish a civilization among the stars. The Kelts advance technologically and socially at a far greater pace than their earth-bound ancestors and succeed in staying hidden for thousands of years until rediscovered by a peaceful earth exploration ship, the Sword, captained by Theo Haruko. This first contact from the homeworld sparks an intergalactic conflict of kingdoms.

Old meets new, and beyond, as we meet Queen Aeron, her consort Gwydion, and the rest of her court and country. Their manners may be old and courtly, but they are anything but quaint. Relying on a combination of science and ancient magic, and their new found friendship with the visitors from Earth, Aeron must fight to keep Keltia free from Imperial invaders.

Warfare that is a combination of sword and cloak, lasers and space ship, mesh seamlessly and believably in this lavish and sweeping saga.

Be certain to have the sequel, The Throne of Scone ready to continue as there is hardly a breath between the action of the two.

I stumbled across this book and The Throne of Scone in the mid 80s and was drawn to them because of the Celtic myth aspect. I was never really a fan of space opera, or war in space stories, but the combination of the two in these books is irresistible. I laughed aloud at the statement by one of the Earth travelers, "The Irish are from outer space??" and was lost to the real world for the duration. I learned a lot about Celtic myth and about Pagan religion from Kennealy-Morrison's books, which led me to other books about the cultures indigenous to the British Isles prior to the Angles' and Saxons' incursions. So I have always been grateful to the author for writing these books. I read that she is planning to restart her Keltiad, to an as of now undetermined degree, after being dumped by HarperCollins. All I can say is bring it on, please! I have missed having a new Keltiad book to read for the last almost ten years. Hooray for the good guys!

From the moment I picked up the first book in the Keltiad, I was swept away into Kennealy-Morrison's vivid and imaginative world. The seamless blend of science and magic, coupled with a historically believable view of the Keltic civilization had me craving more even after finishing all three books.

I never thought that sci fi and king arthur could be meshed into one novel but patricia has done just that. I read the first book and was moved by the characters enough to read the next three in aeryn's trilogy and beg for more! I continued onto Arthur and was again moved to tears. Read this book the characterization, writing, and storyline are unique and the more you read the more you become involved with the Keltiad. Boys and girls alike will enjoy it! READ IT!

The Copper Crown was the first book I read by Ms. Kennealy Morrison. Not only has she created a world many of us would like to live in, but the attention to details relating to the aspects of politics, religion and daily life are unbelievable, I guess I should say livable. After reading her book on her life with and without Jim Morrison I can see why so many details are there. This series has been a work in progress that I personally hope never ends. Write on Ms. Kennealy Morrison, I'll be there to read them.

This book is highly creative and original, and especially engaging if you are already familiar with the Celtic civilization (the real one of history). When Kennealy builds her setting she does it inventively and expansively. I especially liked the blurring between magic and technology, leaving both entertwined and barely separate. Her scenes are beautifully described, as I think Kennealy is quite good at describing physical things. (When describing abstract things, she got a bit unclear, but not badly so). Don't read this book if you don't like deciphering foreign names(give 'Sanchoniathon' a try). While there is a handy pronunciation guide, the Gaelic-based names do not at all sound like what they look like. Another slight deterrent is the huge host of characters. This confusion is conveniently compensated by decent character guide, but there were times when there were so many characters I got lost. Also, the complexity of the plot is a bit daunting, but very interesting once untangled. This is not a book for skimming. Read it only if you feel like and are able to concentrate and remember. Kennealy also has a very distracting (at least to me) habit when she switches scenes: a spurt of dialogue or action that has no meaning at first, then attains meaning when she finally backs up and adds context with the past participle--leaving you slightly confused until she clarifies with a "So-and-so had arrived some moments before..." There is also an element of transparency to the text and lack of true depth, but that was curiously not a discouraging factor at all. The characters have an odd habit of laughing at anything unexpected, unusual, wierd, grave, emotional, tense or threatening. So the "unexpected laugh" became quite expected, to my slight annoyance. It wasn't so bad that the language was stilted, flavored highly by wordy old english, but it was stilted inconsistenly, which was what got to me. The characters where not as highly/deeply developed as I'd like them to be, but still realistic, entertaining and diverse. But these faults are all very tiny indeed compared to the message of the story. Overall, the book was highly enjoyable. While I was not very swept emotionally, the scope of the book itself is breathtaking and powerful. Aeron (the protagonist) is an admirable and more than adequate main character. If I had to describe the book in one word, I'd choose "Engaging". This book's most commendable aspect is its appeal to wide audiences: historical fiction, fantasy, scifi, and technological buffs alike. Overall, a very good read, and very recommended.

This book, the first I'd read by Ms. Morrison, so captured me with her lyrical writing style and fascinating weaving of the story line, I found myself transported to Keltia and reluctant to come back to Earth. Perhaps the most wondrously told tale I've read since becoming a fantasy "junkie," so enchanting that after I read both The Copper Crown and The Throne of Scone (equally wonderful), I read them both again!