Customer Reviews

The Hedge of Mist: A Book of the Keltiad

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
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2 star:		(1)
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When, upon finishing the first two books of this trilogy, I realized I had lost my prized copy of the third, I went into a frenzy; upon finding it, I read it without stopping. (Kennealy-Morrison's works are best read, by the way, with Enya's "The Celts" CD on endless loop in the background.) Despite the thickness that has earned these books the name of doorstoppers and the rather unscientific science, not to mention the highly unorthodox retelling of the Arthurian myths, I fell in love with these books both as an admirer of the Tales of Aeron and as a follower of Arthuriana in all its different forms. No matter what else there is to say, there's no doubt that the first book will hook you on the series, the second will draw you deeper in, and the third will leave you with a glowing sense of completion. If you've never read any of Kennealy-Morrison's works before, I recommend starting with this trilogy, going on to the Tales of Aeron (which should be read in chronological order: Silver Branch, Copper Crown, Throne of Scone), and then waiting--impatiently, as every fan is--for Blackmantle to come out in paperback. If you insist on chronology, of course, Blackmantle should come first, but I personally wouldn't put off this experience for anything.

In her final book of the "Tales of Arthur" trilogy, Patricia Kennally uses the rich Arthurian legend to its best advantage, spinning it lightyears away 1,000 years in the future. Though her first two books of this series utilized the Arthurian legend, the scope of the myth was not fully tapped into until this book. I had the great fortune to be reading this book at the same time as _La Morte de Arthur_ by Thomas Mallory, and the connections between the two struck me almost every page. Kennally is a master at symbolism and archetypes, and the joy of recognition hits often in this retelling that adds, not detracts from the Arthurian legend.

This masterful conclusion to Morrison's Arthurian trilogy is a true joy to read. For anyone interested in Arthuriana, the series represents a wonderful twist to traditional themes. The characters in this story have been around for centuries as have the main plot elements, but Morrison's gifted prose give them new life and depth. Although the book revolves around themes of loss, the overall feeling of the book is one of rebirth and renewal and the reader cannot help but share the narrator's joy as ending draws near. Not since Guy Gavril Kay's Fionavar Tapestry have I read a more touching and compelling account of the once and future king.

This book, the third in the Author's "Arthuriad", brings to a trimphant conclusion the tale of Arthur, King of Kelts, against a backdrop of warriors, druids, space travel and romance. Kennealy-Morrison manages to re-invent Arthur in a manner never before attempted, and does it beautifully. Sweeping prose, poetic descriptions, and heart-wrenching emotion play against a tapestry of stars

It grieves me to say some of this stuff, seeing as how this series came very highly recommended from a friend (who told me to read the Arthur books, then the Aeron books, and finally the two standalones--and, given the kind of reviews Blackmantle is getting from you, my dear fellow reviewers, I do NOT think I shall be reading that one).

This is a series that simply didn't work for me. I've been told that Kennealy considers this to be a sci-fi series more than a fantasy, and yet, there isn't any actual science in them. Ships and the rare computers are controlled by crystals. Horses still seem to provide 99.9% of transportation. Bedding is made of fur. There are no paternity tests, apparently (an important plot point). This is not a scientific world. It is a fantasy, pure and simple.

Also, there are no surprises. Kennealy invokes "dan" (karma, fate, doom, whatever) at every corner, meaning that each and every major plot point is revealed well before it becomes an issue. I found myself rolling my eyes, wondering what the Kelts would think of us Terrans, who aren't given the opportunity to know EXACTLY what we'll be having for breakfast in forty years, much less EXACTLY how long we'll live, who we'll marry, what the names of our grandchildren will be, what our great and mystical destiny will be...

My friend was excited to tell me that there was no Lancelet figure in this series. Well, excepting Keils, there wasn't...but Lancelet is an important part of the Arthur legend. A very, very important part. Because, you see, it is mostly as a result of the whole Gwen/Lance thing that Arthur nanced off to get himself killed, and Camelot fell.

Last major gripe: there is no character development anywhere here. Oh, sure, characters grow up, and grow older, but they don't change must. (Okay, okay, Gweniver changes a bit, over the course of her hundred or so year lifespan.) No, Taliesin is the same person at 100 that he was at five. Donah and Loherin and Tarian and all these other character appear and move offstage without the reader ever having any insight into their being.

All of that said, there were some wonderful parts in this trilogy: the Yamazai were extremely cool, as was the whole "Hedge of Mist" idea, the idea of Taliesin's mother being from earth...probably the scene that moved me most was Arthur and company's demise, which I will not spoil for those of you intent upon reading this book.

Taliesin is a great character, and a great narrator, tempered by humor and anger and love and loyalty, and one is left with the impression that there could be no better bard to tell this story. If only the whole first HALF of this book didn't feel like such a death march to the end...

i couldn't put this book down for 2 days. the story of taliesin is a new one and the male point of view for kennealy is also new. this is much better than even "the hawk's gray feather" "the oak above the kings".

you'll love it. don't try to start one without having both of the others with you.

This entire trilogy is wonderfully written and the tales are vibrant with imagery. A must read for anyone. One warning once you go keltiad you never go back. :) Any book by Patricia Kennealy-Morrison is a must own.

I found this book to be well worth the wait. It was a fascinating conclusion to a wonderful Keltic tale. I felt like I knew King Arthur and had lived in his time. As far as Keltic mythology goes, it is a very thought provoking tale. This book, and this trilogy, are highly recommended as fun and entertaining reading. In addition, Kennealy-Morrison's previous trilogy, the tales of Aeron, are also very good