Picture of author.

Patricia Kennealy-Morrison (1946–2021)

Author of The Copper Crown

22+ Works 3,300 Members 23 Reviews 14 Favorited

About the Author

Image credit: amazon profile picture

Series

Works by Patricia Kennealy-Morrison

Associated Works

Crusade of Fire: Mystical Tales of the Knights Templar (2002) — Contributor — 89 copies

Tagged

Common Knowledge

Members

Reviews

This is the final book in the "Arthur" trilogy. I admit that I try to read any version of the Arthurian legends that comes across my path, but I think that this is one of the better ones. Keneally-Morrison describes it in her afterword as a consolidation and lists out the impressive number and range of books she has referenced in writing it. It is as original as it can be, the original Earth based stories becoming prophecies of a far future. This third book ties up the loose ends and brings us a thrilling grail quest, a moving death of Arthur and the setting up of the "once and future king" with lots of magic, spaceships and bardery. The characters are always interesting, and there are lots of them and the writing is good. The story is very moving in places and it held my interest throughout. If you are an Arthur buff then I recommend this very highly.… (more)
 
Flagged
johnwbeha | 3 other reviews | Nov 8, 2016 |
I enjoyed this book as I always felt that Jim had many sides to him. I think that his love for Patricia was just as strong as his love for Pam. Each woman brought out different things in Jim. I commend Patricia for telling her story. It really was time to hear her side of what happen with Jim. Her insight on the Oliver Stone film was interesting as well.
 
Flagged
MzKitty | 2 other reviews | Sep 18, 2016 |
The Copper Crown and The Throne of Scone - one story.

What a muddle!

Okay, first things first. These covers are just gorgeous. Thomas Canty isn't given any credit in the actual books, but it's his artwork. (And he even sells signed prints of the images.)

I fully expected to love these. I got a whole bunch of the books of the 'Keltiad' in advance of reading any of them. I don't think I'll be reading all of them.

Fine, the premise is a bit absurd: In the 27th century, a probe ship from Earth discovers an interstellar Empire, Keltia, made up of the descendants of Celts who fled persecution by Christians back in the 5th century, and, aided by the denizens of Atlantis, went out to space.

If it was done well, I could run with it. I love both space opera and fantasy; Celtic and pagan mythology is always full of good opportunities for stories. But it's not done well. The author doesn't pull it off.

The minor problem is that a complex situation with a great number of characters is set up, and the writing just doesn't do it justice. I usually love twisty conflicts and court politics, but here, as I said earlier, it just feels muddled.
The worst problem is not the complexity, however, it's the way that events seem to progress independent of any kind of logic stemming from characterization. People love and hate each other, turn traitor, change their minds, are loyal, etc - seemingly for no reason. One of the main characters (Sarah O'Reilly) is supposed to be a mature, competent naval officer. However, through both books she's written as if she's a star-struck, ditzy 10-year-old with a celebrity crush on Keltia's queen, Aeron. (And why would Earth military officers be impressed at all by foreign royalty? And why would Earth people instantly want to get involved in someone else's war?)

Another thing that bothered me: the use of the phrase "Any road" on practically every other page. I know this is British slang equivalent to "anyways," and maybe the author thought it made her characters sound more Celtic? But it was used in places where no such interjection was necessary, and no single phrase should ever be used with the frequency that this one is in these books.

In addition, the story seriously suffers due to the author completely failing to think things through logically. The people of Keltia have psi powers - but hardly ever use them, for no given reason. They and their enemies both have advanced technology including hyperspace ships - but don't use technological weapons. There's also magic - but with the exception of one past incident, the ramifications and potentials of that are not explored.
When everything happens due to the author's "cause I said so," as opposed to because that would be the logical thing to happen in a theoretical scenario, things just get boring.

I also owned the prequel to these, 'The Silver Branch,' but I've decided not to read it.
… (more)
 
Flagged
AltheaAnn | 2 other reviews | Feb 9, 2016 |
The Copper Crown and The Throne of Scone - one story.

What a muddle!

Okay, first things first. These covers are just gorgeous. Thomas Canty isn't given any credit in the actual books, but it's his artwork. (And he even sells signed prints of the images.)

I fully expected to love these. I got a whole bunch of the books of the 'Keltiad' in advance of reading any of them. I don't think I'll be reading all of them.

Fine, the premise is a bit absurd: In the 27th century, a probe ship from Earth discovers an interstellar Empire, Keltia, made up of the descendants of Celts who fled persecution by Christians back in the 5th century, and, aided by the denizens of Atlantis, went out to space.

If it was done well, I could run with it. I love both space opera and fantasy; Celtic and pagan mythology is always full of good opportunities for stories. But it's not done well. The author doesn't pull it off.

The minor problem is that a complex situation with a great number of characters is set up, and the writing just doesn't do it justice. I usually love twisty conflicts and court politics, but here, as I said earlier, it just feels muddled.
The worst problem is not the complexity, however, it's the way that events seem to progress independent of any kind of logic stemming from characterization. People love and hate each other, turn traitor, change their minds, are loyal, etc - seemingly for no reason. One of the main characters (Sarah O'Reilly) is supposed to be a mature, competent naval officer. However, through both books she's written as if she's a star-struck, ditzy 10-year-old with a celebrity crush on Keltia's queen, Aeron. (And why would Earth military officers be impressed at all by foreign royalty? And why would Earth people instantly want to get involved in someone else's war?)

Another thing that bothered me: the use of the phrase "Any road" on practically every other page. I know this is British slang equivalent to "anyways," and maybe the author thought it made her characters sound more Celtic? But it was used in places where no such interjection was necessary, and no single phrase should ever be used with the frequency that this one is in these books.

In addition, the story seriously suffers due to the author completely failing to think things through logically. The people of Keltia have psi powers - but hardly ever use them, for no given reason. They and their enemies both have advanced technology including hyperspace ships - but don't use technological weapons. There's also magic - but with the exception of one past incident, the ramifications and potentials of that are not explored.
When everything happens due to the author's "cause I said so," as opposed to because that would be the logical thing to happen in a theoretical scenario, things just get boring.

I also owned the prequel to these, 'The Silver Branch,' but I've decided not to read it.

… (more)
 
Flagged
AltheaAnn | 5 other reviews | Feb 9, 2016 |

Lists

Awards

You May Also Like

Associated Authors

Thomas Canty Cover artist
Michael Embden Cover artist
John Ennis Cover artist

Statistics

Works
22
Also by
1
Members
3,300
Popularity
#7,753
Rating
3.9
Reviews
23
ISBNs
44
Languages
1
Favorited
14

Charts & Graphs