While i found this book worth reading (thus 3 stars) i also felt that Ms. Kennealy was more than a little in denial and maybe even a little delussional. Of course the book is "her" version of her relationship with Morrison and we will never know the whole truth. However, i found it quite annoying that while she tries so hard to convince the reader what a strong independant woman she is, she simultaneously told story after story of being walked all over by Morrison. She tells of what she and Morrison had as a sacred and everlasting bond, yet the story she tells of their "relationship"(or times together) says something very different.I think the story she tells in this book is likely very true, and therefore worth reading. There are some great stories, glimpses at the real Jim Morrison, and alot of history there. It's simply her "interpretations" of the things that happened that i found (likely to be) far from the truth.

I was truly disappointed in this book. The story takes place in Kennealy's Keltia universe, but she has replaced plot and character development with a (thinly) veiled fictionalization of her life with the late Jim Morrison. Her male protagonist is a serene bard (musician), originally part of a popular music group, who splits with his band, is killed with a drug called "hazen" (heroin?), and is rescued by his one true love. His name appears a variation of the Celtic rendering for "Jim Morrison", and his nickname "Fireheart" is (by merest coincidence) also the name by which Keneally refers to Morrison in her earlier non-fiction account of their life together. Where she is not reworking her life, she spends describing Wiccan rites and philosophies. I truly enjoyed the previous two trilogies dealing with Keltia. In fact, that is the only reason why I didn't abandon this book midway through. While the framework remains, the fleshing out is gone. Her characters are shallow, and the plot goes to its inevitable conclusion. I hope she either returns full-bore to her earlier style, or abandons all pretense of keeping to the Keltia theme. Blackmantle just doesn't work.

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.

While it is true that Patricia Kennealy Morrison's Blackmantle is not in the same league as the Aeron or Arthur series, it's not "supposed" to be. I found PKM's "Celts in outer space" story to be a charming love story, never mind that you can read her own history into it and yes, play anagrams with many of the names. I find the previous reader comments peckish and with an underlying tone of personal grudge. Hmmm, wonder why they sound alike... Well, anyway, I found that, as usual, PKM's command of Celtic culture and language made reading Blackmantle that much more enjoyable. She's truly in a class of her own.