Rating: 
Summary: Get over it, Patricia!
Review: About the only good thing I can say about this book is that hopefully, Ms. Kenneally-Morrison has achieved some closure, and can go back to a Keltia that is more than a (very)thinly-veiled autobiographical home. Reading Blackmantle, I felt like I was inadvertantly eavesdropping on someone's therapy session, as they described all the nasty things they wanted to do to the person who'd hurt their loved one. I can understand that Ms. Morrison is angry, but I am disappointed that she has let her anger dominate her writing to this extent. Only Athyn was a fully developed character, and not even one I especially liked. The "Incomers" were pushed out primarily because they were not Kelts, and the rhetoric around them sounded uncomfortably like Pat Buchanan railing against immigrants to the U.S. being "not like us." Keltia has always been a fictional place that I thought I wanted to visit, but this Keltia, even more that Ederyn's, seemed narrow and rather mean-spirited; not a place I would have felt welcome. I hope that future novels of the Keltiad are better than this one.
Rating:
Summary: Disturbing plot lines.
Review: After reading some of the other reviews, I have a feeling that I would have been better served to have read something else by Kennealy-Morrison first. I have to agree that the characters and plot lines are poorly developed, but my biggest disappointment with this novel was the underlying tone of racism. The motivations behind the expulsion of the "Incomers" truly bothered and concerned me. I would definitely recommend against this being your first Kennealy-Morrison read.
Rating:
Summary: Cure for insomnia
Review: Although I have not read the author's non-fiction book about her relationship with Jim Morrison, it was apparent early on that this book was somewhat autobiographical. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but the author's bitterness and anger flaws a story that could have been very well written. Unlike all of her other books that I have read, none of the characters in Blackmantle, other than Athyn, have much depth, and what is written about Morric is very contradictory; one gets the impression that she is trying to portray him as a very high and admirable character, similar to Gwydion, but on the other hand, most of his life choices and actions show quite the reverse. Similarly, we are "told" that Athyn is an extremely admirable person, but what we are "shown" is not nearly as flattering. Athyn appears to be a person overly dominated by anger and an unforgiving bitterness. With few exceptions, the attitude towards the Incomers comes across as pathetically racist with little in the way of justice to it.I believe that the author suffers from a lot of personal pain, but her inability to forgive probably causes her more pain than whatever it was she went through. She seems quite proud of the fact that her faith teaches "we don't turn the other cheek: we rip off both of yours". Most abuse victims learn, eventually, that forgiveness is not a gift you give to your abuser, but the opposite entirely: not forgiving the people who have hurt you simply grants them the power to carry right on hurting you, even if they're dead and gone. Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: Definitely not one of the author's better efforts...
Review: Although I have not read the author's non-fiction book about her relationship with Jim Morrison, it was apparent early on that this book was somewhat autobiographical. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but the author's bitterness and anger flaws a story that could have been very well written. Unlike all of her other books that I have read, none of the characters in Blackmantle, other than Athyn, have much depth, and what is written about Morric is very contradictory; one gets the impression that she is trying to portray him as a very high and admirable character, similar to Gwydion, but on the other hand, most of his life choices and actions show quite the reverse. Similarly, we are "told" that Athyn is an extremely admirable person, but what we are "shown" is not nearly as flattering. Athyn appears to be a person overly dominated by anger and an unforgiving bitterness. With few exceptions, the attitude towards the Incomers comes across as pathetically racist with little in the way of justice to it. I believe that the author suffers from a lot of personal pain, but her inability to forgive probably causes her more pain than whatever it was she went through. She seems quite proud of the fact that her faith teaches "we don't turn the other cheek: we rip off both of yours". Most abuse victims learn, eventually, that forgiveness is not a gift you give to your abuser, but the opposite entirely: not forgiving the people who have hurt you simply grants them the power to carry right on hurting you, even if they're dead and gone. Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: Wish Fulfillment
Review: Anyone who has read Kennealy-Morrison's "Strange Days" will recognize the unveiled fictionalization of that story in "Blackmantle". With this book the series makes the final leap to the predictably redundant. The "ferocity" of certain female characters, stalwart and over-compensative chivalry by the males, hyperbolic indulgence of the description and emotional hysteria one has come to look for in recent Keltia are here, as are the godliness and/or direct divine descendence of the ever-present and popular girl-hero makes the reader wonder where the new book is. The anger thing is just tired. Hard to take seriously, hard to finish. Where is the luminescent delivery of "Hawk's Grey Feather"? Of "Silver Branch"? The series began promising, even enthralling, with a society warm with a culture of magic and stories deliciously delivered, eloquent and unique; fans may wonder if "Blackmantle" doesn't just go too far, as it feels like the author has made Keltia a new forum for anot
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining yes, repetitive- Definitely
Review: As much as I love the Keltia universe, this one was not one of my favorites. I"m not saying it wasn't good, and that I didn't enjoy it. Blackmantle however, seemed to have a lot in common with Aeron as far as personalities go, as well as the love relationship between sorceress/warior and bard in both stories. Someone commented on how it was just a retelling of the author's life with jim morrison, and i can't say yes or no, but I will say... Who Cares? If it's a good story or theme why not place it in the world of Keltia, it certainly seems to fit the culture. At any rate, though it was a bit repetitive within itself, and within the series over all, i still enjoyed it and am glad i have it for my collection.
Rating:
Summary: Far from a triumph.
Review: Blackmantle is in my opinion a hugely disappointing effort from Kennealy-Morrison and is symptomatic of a slide that has occurred in the quality of the series since the Copper Crown ( a truly superb book ). I agree with the comments about it being a thinly disguised autobiographical novel and it got far too mystical in places -not enough essential action. I await the arrival of the Deer's Cry on this side of the Atlantic with a touch of foreboding- especially given some of the comments I've read on it
Rating:
Summary: Zero Stars
Review: DO NOT READ THIS BOOK! I thoroughly enjoyed reading the three Aeron books, and I was thrilled to find this one. . . until I read it. I did finish reading it, although it was a struggle. I found that the amount of violence and vengeance was almost palpable as I was reading. I found it disturbing to say the least. It was definitely not of the calibre of Patricia Kennealy's Keltiad series, and it tainted my view of her earlier works. I used to enjoy re-reading those books, and I hope that one day I can again, but not until my memory of Blackmantle fades.
Rating:
Summary: Not the stories I remembered
Review: I absolutely adored the Aeron books, struggled a little to finish the Arthur books, but this one; well, lets just say I hope the next one's better. I lost track of the characters, because they were never fleshed out. I was a bit disturbed by the punishments metered out (especially in light of the fact that she has stated the characters are based on people she knows), mainly because the reasons behind the punishments were not clearly speeled out (I mean, killing someone for writing unflattering comments? ) I hope the next books are more in line with the original idea: although Ms Kennealy-Morrison obviously misses her beau, this really should lay it to rest as far as rebuilding him in the Keltiad series.
Rating:
Summary: Hard to read, not like her earlier work...
Review: I feel for Kennealy-Morrison, I really do. But I must agree with other reviewers here that this book is far below the quality of her earlier work. I loved the original Copper Crown series, they were vivid and engaging. This book is so obviously and painfully autobiographical that it's quite hard to read. I sympathize with what she's been through. And I know writers are supposed to "write what you know". But this was too much for most of us, we don't want to share this stuff. Let Jim go Patricia, and get on with your life. We'd like to read more excellent fiction the like of which we know you're capable of, but this, sadly, just isn't it.
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