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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Insights on the Keltiad (no summarizing, no spoilers), December 27, 2002
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.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely wonderful!, November 21, 1999
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!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb Sci-Fi / Fantasy..... In a galaxy far in the future, July 17, 1999
By A Customer
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!
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