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The Cleaving
Four women, four destinies – the future of King Arthur's court…A fresh, feminist retelling of the Arthurian legends.
The Cleaving is an Arthurian retelling that follows the tangled stories of four Nimue, Ygraine, Morgana, and Guinevere, as they fight to control their own destinies amid the wars and rivalries that will determine the destiny of Britain. The legendary epics of King Arthur and Camelot don’t tell the whole story. Chroniclers say Arthur’s mother Ygraine married the man that killed her husband. They say that Arthur's half-sister Morgana turned to dark magic to defy him and Merlin. They say that the enchantress Nimue challenged Merlin and used her magic to outwit him. And that Arthur’s marriage to Guinevere ended in adultery, rebellion and bloodshed. So why did these women chose such dangerous paths?
As warfare and rivalries constantly challenge the king, Arthur and Merlin believe these women are destined to serve Camelot by doing as they are told. But men forget that women talk. Ygraine, Nimue, Morgana and Guinevere become friends and allies while the decisions that shape their lives are taken out of their hands. This is their untold story. Now these women have a voice.
Juliet E McKenna is an expert on medieval history and warfare and brings this expertise as well as her skills as a fantasy writer to this epic standalone novel.
The Cleaving is an Arthurian retelling that follows the tangled stories of four Nimue, Ygraine, Morgana, and Guinevere, as they fight to control their own destinies amid the wars and rivalries that will determine the destiny of Britain. The legendary epics of King Arthur and Camelot don’t tell the whole story. Chroniclers say Arthur’s mother Ygraine married the man that killed her husband. They say that Arthur's half-sister Morgana turned to dark magic to defy him and Merlin. They say that the enchantress Nimue challenged Merlin and used her magic to outwit him. And that Arthur’s marriage to Guinevere ended in adultery, rebellion and bloodshed. So why did these women chose such dangerous paths?
As warfare and rivalries constantly challenge the king, Arthur and Merlin believe these women are destined to serve Camelot by doing as they are told. But men forget that women talk. Ygraine, Nimue, Morgana and Guinevere become friends and allies while the decisions that shape their lives are taken out of their hands. This is their untold story. Now these women have a voice.
Juliet E McKenna is an expert on medieval history and warfare and brings this expertise as well as her skills as a fantasy writer to this epic standalone novel.
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First published May 9, 2023
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About the author
Juliet E. McKenna
101 books234 followersJuliet E McKenna is a British fantasy author living in the Cotswolds, UK. Loving history, myth and other worlds since she first learned to read, she has written fifteen epic fantasy novels so far. Her debut, The Thief’s Gamble, began The Tales of Einarinn in 1999, followed by The Aldabreshin Compass sequence, The Chronicles of the Lescari Revolution, and The Hadrumal Crisis trilogy. The Green Man’s Heir was her first modern fantasy inspired by British folklore in 2018. The Green Man’s Quarry in 2023 was the sixth title in this ongoing series and won the BSFA Award for Best Novel. The seventh book, in 2024, is The Green Man’s War.
Her 2023 novel The Cleaving is a female-centred retelling of the story of King Arthur, while her shorter fiction includes forays into dark fantasy, steampunk and science fiction. She promotes SF&Fantasy by reviewing, by blogging on book trade issues, attending conventions and teaching creative writing. She has served as a judge for the James White Award, the Aeon Award, the Arthur C Clarke Award and the World Fantasy Awards. In 2015 she received the British Fantasy Society’s Karl Edward Wagner Award. As J M Alvey, she has written historical murder mysteries set in ancient Greece.
Who’s to say what will come next?
Learn more about all of this at julietemckenna.com and on Twitter @JulietEMcKenna
Her 2023 novel The Cleaving is a female-centred retelling of the story of King Arthur, while her shorter fiction includes forays into dark fantasy, steampunk and science fiction. She promotes SF&Fantasy by reviewing, by blogging on book trade issues, attending conventions and teaching creative writing. She has served as a judge for the James White Award, the Aeon Award, the Arthur C Clarke Award and the World Fantasy Awards. In 2015 she received the British Fantasy Society’s Karl Edward Wagner Award. As J M Alvey, she has written historical murder mysteries set in ancient Greece.
Who’s to say what will come next?
Learn more about all of this at julietemckenna.com and on Twitter @JulietEMcKenna
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
February 26, 2023
More accurate rating: 5-5.5/10.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The Cleaving is presented as a feminist retelling of the Arthurian Legend. As a mythology nerd who loves the Arthurian Mythos in particular, and holds The Mists of Avalon as her favourite standalone fantasy novel of all time, I was looking forward to reading this new – significantly shorter – retelling. Unfortunately, I was thoroughly underwhelmed by this offering.
Her version of the Legend has the (faerie?) sorceress/enchantress Nimue as her sole main character, starts before Arthur’s conception, and extends to the traditional ending of the tale.
1) Writing:
I don’t have anything that specific to note about the prose here. There was decent usage of setting-appropriate vocabulary, but nothing otherwise stood out. The narration, in first person, was very straightforward; there was nothing particularly poetic or inspiring about it. The pacing was relatively even throughout, and this despite a couple of time jumps – which were necessary given the scale of the original tale and the less-than 400 pages count.
2) Character work:
I found it rather weak and surface-level overall, especially where the main character, Nimue, was concerned: almost no background was actually given for her in the text. The same pretty much went for all the other main characters, female and male alike. With regards to the latter especially: whilst I found it an interesting choice on the author’s part to cast some traditionally positive main male characters in a negative (to very negative) light, I felt the potential for engaging theming around gender and gendered power dynamics through those characters was largely wasted. There wasn’t sufficient psychological or sociological development in the text to prop all of this up, and I was left with a rather bland, superficial “all the men are bad here because patriarchal society” vibe that could’ve been explored with more depth, and never was.
3) World-building:
I was seriously let down with both the fantastical and historical world-building. For one thing, there was historically inaccurate terminology used in the text that could have very easily been corrected without having to transform the story into actual historical fiction. The terms “Welsh, Scots, and English” are used in a completely anachronistic fashion, and I just could not get over that. The Britons of Logres would not have been speaking English at the time of the tale, and would not have called themselves English! The Kingdom of Alba had not yet been established, and the peoples of “Scotland” would not have identified themselves as a Scottish nation, etc… There was also absolutely no reference to a Roman past, or a pagan one, when “faeries” and Avalon are referenced, and Christianity is as well. The tension between fading paganism and rising Christianity is, to me, a staple of the Arthurian motif, and it felt strange that it was completely absent here. At the very least, if would’ve provided much needed narrative drive and tension.
As to the purely fantastical world-building, I also found it rather lacklustre, as nothing much is ever said of it. Since paganism as a religion or spiritual backdrop is completely absent, the world of magic could not be tied to it, and thus felt quite empty. Simply there without any explanation: Nimue’s people exist… and that’s about it.
4) Theming:
There are a couple of remarks dropped here and there about power dynamics between men and women, and about the fact women are treated like chattel, but beyond that? One cannot call this a feminist retelling in any real sense of the word. Especially not when something like The Mists of Avalon exists. Besides, and beyond that, I didn’t find there was anything particularly moving or thought-provoking about this retelling more generally. The story lacked drive, quite simply, and the ending of the tale felt incredibly weak to me.
Conclusion:
At the end of the day, I just didn’t really get the over-arching point of the story. Why the characters acted the way they did, why the story progressed the way it did. I really do believe this is largely because of the fact it is so detached from its original historical and socio-religious context and, like I said, the fantastical elements of the story didn’t compensate sufficiently for that.
I would only recommend this novel to younger/novice readers as an entry point into Arthurian fiction and Arthurian Legend retellings. But if you’ve already read, and loved, something like The Mists of Avalon, or Bernard Cornwell’s The Warlord Chronicles, this one will sadly not be worth your time.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The Cleaving is presented as a feminist retelling of the Arthurian Legend. As a mythology nerd who loves the Arthurian Mythos in particular, and holds The Mists of Avalon as her favourite standalone fantasy novel of all time, I was looking forward to reading this new – significantly shorter – retelling. Unfortunately, I was thoroughly underwhelmed by this offering.
Her version of the Legend has the (faerie?) sorceress/enchantress Nimue as her sole main character, starts before Arthur’s conception, and extends to the traditional ending of the tale.
1) Writing:
I don’t have anything that specific to note about the prose here. There was decent usage of setting-appropriate vocabulary, but nothing otherwise stood out. The narration, in first person, was very straightforward; there was nothing particularly poetic or inspiring about it. The pacing was relatively even throughout, and this despite a couple of time jumps – which were necessary given the scale of the original tale and the less-than 400 pages count.
2) Character work:
I found it rather weak and surface-level overall, especially where the main character, Nimue, was concerned: almost no background was actually given for her in the text. The same pretty much went for all the other main characters, female and male alike. With regards to the latter especially: whilst I found it an interesting choice on the author’s part to cast some traditionally positive main male characters in a negative (to very negative) light, I felt the potential for engaging theming around gender and gendered power dynamics through those characters was largely wasted. There wasn’t sufficient psychological or sociological development in the text to prop all of this up, and I was left with a rather bland, superficial “all the men are bad here because patriarchal society” vibe that could’ve been explored with more depth, and never was.
3) World-building:
I was seriously let down with both the fantastical and historical world-building. For one thing, there was historically inaccurate terminology used in the text that could have very easily been corrected without having to transform the story into actual historical fiction. The terms “Welsh, Scots, and English” are used in a completely anachronistic fashion, and I just could not get over that. The Britons of Logres would not have been speaking English at the time of the tale, and would not have called themselves English! The Kingdom of Alba had not yet been established, and the peoples of “Scotland” would not have identified themselves as a Scottish nation, etc… There was also absolutely no reference to a Roman past, or a pagan one, when “faeries” and Avalon are referenced, and Christianity is as well. The tension between fading paganism and rising Christianity is, to me, a staple of the Arthurian motif, and it felt strange that it was completely absent here. At the very least, if would’ve provided much needed narrative drive and tension.
As to the purely fantastical world-building, I also found it rather lacklustre, as nothing much is ever said of it. Since paganism as a religion or spiritual backdrop is completely absent, the world of magic could not be tied to it, and thus felt quite empty. Simply there without any explanation: Nimue’s people exist… and that’s about it.
4) Theming:
There are a couple of remarks dropped here and there about power dynamics between men and women, and about the fact women are treated like chattel, but beyond that? One cannot call this a feminist retelling in any real sense of the word. Especially not when something like The Mists of Avalon exists. Besides, and beyond that, I didn’t find there was anything particularly moving or thought-provoking about this retelling more generally. The story lacked drive, quite simply, and the ending of the tale felt incredibly weak to me.
Conclusion:
At the end of the day, I just didn’t really get the over-arching point of the story. Why the characters acted the way they did, why the story progressed the way it did. I really do believe this is largely because of the fact it is so detached from its original historical and socio-religious context and, like I said, the fantastical elements of the story didn’t compensate sufficiently for that.
I would only recommend this novel to younger/novice readers as an entry point into Arthurian fiction and Arthurian Legend retellings. But if you’ve already read, and loved, something like The Mists of Avalon, or Bernard Cornwell’s The Warlord Chronicles, this one will sadly not be worth your time.
February 9, 2023
Nimue is given a voice in this feminist retelling of the well-known Arthurian Legend.
Once I saw this on Netgalley, I immediately hit the “request” button. Ever since Merlin, anything Arthurian promptly sparks interest. Probably, my mind’s way of trying to fill the gaping hole the series finale left in poor fourteen-year-old me’s heart.
*cue pained laughter*
However, after only a few pages in, it became apparent that this wouldn’t be my cup of tea. The writing felt dry, the characters felt dry…Everything felt dry. It read more like a history lesson than a novel. There was no sparkle of magic, no fluttering prose…It just kind of fell flat, honestly.
The cast of characters wasn't compelling to me either. I felt like hardly any of them had a genuine personality. Nimue is probably the most passive a main protagonist can get.
There was such a lack of tenderness in general between characters, and in the world of Camelot. Not a lot of emotion. Many time jumps were also incorporated into the story (which I am not a personal fan of) which contributed to the whole ~me not feeling connected~ bit.
I know firsthand that writing a book is no easy feat and I don't like writing negative reviews. If you did read it or decide to, I hope you enjoy it! This particular book just wasn’t for me.
A big thank you to Angry Robot Books for sending an advanced copy of this book!
Once I saw this on Netgalley, I immediately hit the “request” button. Ever since Merlin, anything Arthurian promptly sparks interest. Probably, my mind’s way of trying to fill the gaping hole the series finale left in poor fourteen-year-old me’s heart.
*cue pained laughter*
However, after only a few pages in, it became apparent that this wouldn’t be my cup of tea. The writing felt dry, the characters felt dry…Everything felt dry. It read more like a history lesson than a novel. There was no sparkle of magic, no fluttering prose…It just kind of fell flat, honestly.
The cast of characters wasn't compelling to me either. I felt like hardly any of them had a genuine personality. Nimue is probably the most passive a main protagonist can get.
Nimue: “Can’t get involved with the mortals, cuz the magic”
Mortals: *literally dying*
There was such a lack of tenderness in general between characters, and in the world of Camelot. Not a lot of emotion. Many time jumps were also incorporated into the story (which I am not a personal fan of) which contributed to the whole ~me not feeling connected~ bit.
I know firsthand that writing a book is no easy feat and I don't like writing negative reviews. If you did read it or decide to, I hope you enjoy it! This particular book just wasn’t for me.
A big thank you to Angry Robot Books for sending an advanced copy of this book!
🎵 Songs to Listen to While Reading 🎵 Merlin Soundtrack on Spotify
✍🏻Writing Quality: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
🗺 World-Building: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
👤Characterization: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
💭Dialogue: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
🎯Plot: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
👣Pacing: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
🖤Enjoyment Level: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
「 Overall: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ 」*Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 18, 2023
I love historical fantasy.
Obviously.
Why? Why has this genre such a grip on my heart.
I suppose I love how the fantastical and magical can be woven into human lives. Almost as if the magic is true and attainable.
Arthurian legend is one of the founding stories of the genre. Set in dark age England, with historians believing there is some truth to the tales, the name of Arthur and Merlin is ingrained into English folklore and history. In these tales magic sits alongside history in much the same way that Merlin stands beside Arthur.
In The Cleaving, we have a different perspective on these legends. Through the eyes of Nimue, we see how the lives of Ygraine, Morgana and Guinevere were impacted by the stories we already know. Magic, sorcery, jealously, adultery. We know what happened, but not from their perspective.
Set firmly in the courts of England, the woman must live within the social constructs of the time. We have no warriors nor assassins. We have women who sew, manage their households and talk.
But life at court is precarious. War looms often as the different tribes of Britain vie for supremacy and Uther Pendragon and then his son, Arthur, strive to hold it. But how and at what cost?
Magic certainly has a cost as Nimue well knows, and as such must be used seldom. However, using magic is a slippery slope which Nimue discovers. She strives to help the women in her life, but often finds even magic cannot save those she loves.
I really enjoyed having the female perspective on the Arthurian legends – and especially enjoyed the interactions with the magical people in the forests who seek to keep magic hidden.
Thematically, this novel ponders what it is to be a woman during a time of war. I think fans of Pat Barker’s The Silence of the Girls will find much to enjoy here. It also feels like a work of historical fiction in terms of stylisation which was nicely done and reminded me a little of Katherine by Anya Seton.
I believe this book to be a serious piece of work by Juliet E McKenna – and I wouldn’t be surprised if readers in literary circles find this book too. Juliet E McKenna is a beautiful writer and weaves her story effortlessly.
Also… that cover!! What a beauty!
Obviously.
Why? Why has this genre such a grip on my heart.
I suppose I love how the fantastical and magical can be woven into human lives. Almost as if the magic is true and attainable.
Arthurian legend is one of the founding stories of the genre. Set in dark age England, with historians believing there is some truth to the tales, the name of Arthur and Merlin is ingrained into English folklore and history. In these tales magic sits alongside history in much the same way that Merlin stands beside Arthur.
In The Cleaving, we have a different perspective on these legends. Through the eyes of Nimue, we see how the lives of Ygraine, Morgana and Guinevere were impacted by the stories we already know. Magic, sorcery, jealously, adultery. We know what happened, but not from their perspective.
Set firmly in the courts of England, the woman must live within the social constructs of the time. We have no warriors nor assassins. We have women who sew, manage their households and talk.
But life at court is precarious. War looms often as the different tribes of Britain vie for supremacy and Uther Pendragon and then his son, Arthur, strive to hold it. But how and at what cost?
Magic certainly has a cost as Nimue well knows, and as such must be used seldom. However, using magic is a slippery slope which Nimue discovers. She strives to help the women in her life, but often finds even magic cannot save those she loves.
I really enjoyed having the female perspective on the Arthurian legends – and especially enjoyed the interactions with the magical people in the forests who seek to keep magic hidden.
Thematically, this novel ponders what it is to be a woman during a time of war. I think fans of Pat Barker’s The Silence of the Girls will find much to enjoy here. It also feels like a work of historical fiction in terms of stylisation which was nicely done and reminded me a little of Katherine by Anya Seton.
I believe this book to be a serious piece of work by Juliet E McKenna – and I wouldn’t be surprised if readers in literary circles find this book too. Juliet E McKenna is a beautiful writer and weaves her story effortlessly.
Also… that cover!! What a beauty!
June 25, 2023
I've been a huge Arthurian legends fan ever since I was a wee kid, so this take on it focussing mostly on Nimue interested me. Sadly and while I appreciated how much the novel focusses on Morgana, Nimue, Guinevere, the women in general, I did not really get into the story for a long long time. I found them unconvincing as characters and while I enjoy retellings, this one bored me most of the time? I like how Arthur as this über-King is deconstructed but the novel didn't manage to keep me interested. So 3 stars max
dnf
April 6, 2023I will not write a rating for this book, but I still want to share some thoughts about it.
So, I think that the marketing aspect is a little bit tricky for this book.
It is described as "A new, feminist retelling of the Arthurian legends" and that's why I wanted to read it so much. I have a rather deep knowledge of these legends and wanted something new and fresh.
When I hear the word "retelling" I think about new story elements, the subversion of tropes, changes in motivation, and reflecting on an old story with a modern mindset.
That is what I expected from The Cleaving from the marketing blurbs. Especially because it was described as a feminist retelling.
But it is not what I got from the book itself.
The book follows the plot of the Arthurian legends as they are, and the only change, really – is the POV. Our POV is Nimue and we see the events through her eyes. But her position(as the position of other women in this story) is the same – she isn't a proactive character and the changer, but now we see much more suffering and research it deeper. But it doesn't change anything for the story.
Reading original legend texts I already knew the fate of Ygraine, for example – and was horrified by it. But if in the original text, it was 5 pages, here it is 20% of the book. Did I need to see it? To explore this sad story deeper and get the same conclusion? I don't think so.
So here we are – I think I'm not a target audience of this book. I know too much to be really interested in it. I think the perfect audience is readers who heard something about King Arthur and are interested in him but are not that familiar with the legends. In this case, this journey can be engaging, though still sad.
The writing was nice and the characters have some depth, so I think this story has potential. But the key is to make the right marketing for it. I don't feel like it's a retelling, and it doesn't feel like a feminist story to me.
I decided to DNF this book after reading the initial 40% - I think I read enough to be sure that this book will not work for me. All the events were as I know them from legends and the change of POV isn't enough to engage me in the story.
I'm really grateful to Angry Robot and Edelweiss for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
So, I think that the marketing aspect is a little bit tricky for this book.
It is described as "A new, feminist retelling of the Arthurian legends" and that's why I wanted to read it so much. I have a rather deep knowledge of these legends and wanted something new and fresh.
When I hear the word "retelling" I think about new story elements, the subversion of tropes, changes in motivation, and reflecting on an old story with a modern mindset.
That is what I expected from The Cleaving from the marketing blurbs. Especially because it was described as a feminist retelling.
But it is not what I got from the book itself.
The book follows the plot of the Arthurian legends as they are, and the only change, really – is the POV. Our POV is Nimue and we see the events through her eyes. But her position(as the position of other women in this story) is the same – she isn't a proactive character and the changer, but now we see much more suffering and research it deeper. But it doesn't change anything for the story.
Reading original legend texts I already knew the fate of Ygraine, for example – and was horrified by it. But if in the original text, it was 5 pages, here it is 20% of the book. Did I need to see it? To explore this sad story deeper and get the same conclusion? I don't think so.
So here we are – I think I'm not a target audience of this book. I know too much to be really interested in it. I think the perfect audience is readers who heard something about King Arthur and are interested in him but are not that familiar with the legends. In this case, this journey can be engaging, though still sad.
The writing was nice and the characters have some depth, so I think this story has potential. But the key is to make the right marketing for it. I don't feel like it's a retelling, and it doesn't feel like a feminist story to me.
I decided to DNF this book after reading the initial 40% - I think I read enough to be sure that this book will not work for me. All the events were as I know them from legends and the change of POV isn't enough to engage me in the story.
I'm really grateful to Angry Robot and Edelweiss for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 16, 2023
For those who don't know, The Cleaving is a new retelling of the legend of British folk-hero, King Arthur. Told primarily from the point of view of Nimue, one of the more unfamiliar (and often overlooked) characters from the mythology, the narrative starts with Uther Pendragon, Arthur's less-than-heroic dad, claiming the title of High King of Britain, and then proceeds to tell a somewhat abridged version of a story that most fantasy readers should have at least a passing familiarity with.
This one is something of an interesting addition to the ever-growing pile of Arthuriana out there. It's a feminist retelling, so of course it's going to get compared to the likes of Mists of Avalon, but to be honest that would be like comparing Granny Smith apples to Conference pears; while they're both quite similar, they're adequately different enough that most people are going to prefer one over the other.
Likewise, the setting is delightfully anachronistic. A lot of Arthurian readers these days have come to expect some sort of historical accuracy in the retelling. With this one, the author bypasses that convention completely and goes back to a more traditional approach. Instead of 5th Century post Roman Britons in period-appropriate armour, we get the classic fully-armoured knights in shiny tin cans. The people are the English, Welsh, and Scots, even though those names weren't due to be used for a few centuries yet. It's refreshing to have an Arthurian tale that just focuses on the story, rather than trying to get bogged down in details and then losing the essence of a good narrative.
I have to admit I was something of a fan of McKenna's writing before I picked this book up, and overall it didn't disappoint. It didn't quite grab me the same way her Green Man series has, though I suspect that's because the story is already one I'm already familiar with. Even so, whether you're new to Arthuriana or a long-time scholar of the once and future king, I'd definitely say give this one a read.
This one is something of an interesting addition to the ever-growing pile of Arthuriana out there. It's a feminist retelling, so of course it's going to get compared to the likes of Mists of Avalon, but to be honest that would be like comparing Granny Smith apples to Conference pears; while they're both quite similar, they're adequately different enough that most people are going to prefer one over the other.
Likewise, the setting is delightfully anachronistic. A lot of Arthurian readers these days have come to expect some sort of historical accuracy in the retelling. With this one, the author bypasses that convention completely and goes back to a more traditional approach. Instead of 5th Century post Roman Britons in period-appropriate armour, we get the classic fully-armoured knights in shiny tin cans. The people are the English, Welsh, and Scots, even though those names weren't due to be used for a few centuries yet. It's refreshing to have an Arthurian tale that just focuses on the story, rather than trying to get bogged down in details and then losing the essence of a good narrative.
I have to admit I was something of a fan of McKenna's writing before I picked this book up, and overall it didn't disappoint. It didn't quite grab me the same way her Green Man series has, though I suspect that's because the story is already one I'm already familiar with. Even so, whether you're new to Arthuriana or a long-time scholar of the once and future king, I'd definitely say give this one a read.
April 28, 2023
The legend of King Arthur is one of violence at its core. The women in it are no more than puppets of masculine fears. Women with power are witches, women with children are forgotten. Women who refuse are meant to be conquered and women who are used are adulterers. This book gives a voice to them.
Going into this book I thought there would be more retelling. This book is true to source and you can tell how much research went into it. It gives these characters that are no more than names a true voice. But the horrible things still happen to them. We just get more of it.
This book is so well researched, the premise is super interesting, but ultimately was not for me.
There are so many trigger warnings in this book so I strongly recommend check those before picking this up !
Going into this book I thought there would be more retelling. This book is true to source and you can tell how much research went into it. It gives these characters that are no more than names a true voice. But the horrible things still happen to them. We just get more of it.
This book is so well researched, the premise is super interesting, but ultimately was not for me.
There are so many trigger warnings in this book so I strongly recommend check those before picking this up !
February 19, 2023
DNF! I was really excited about this book. I've always been a great fan of King Arthur and grew up with tv shows like Merlin. So coming across a feminist retelling of the legends was a dream. However, I haven't found it transgressive or feminist. On another note, the story was okay but for me it lacked magic and more action.
March 8, 2025
This is a beautifully written and well told reimagining of the Arthurian tales from the perspective of the women in those tales.
This is not a book that I would have chosen myself, and I would have been all the poorer for that. I received this book through a Christmas present from my sister where you tell a company of your interests and they send you five books that they have chosen based on your answers.
The characters are wonderfully rounded and the story is written in my opinion in a style similar to CS Lewis in the Narnia chronicles.
It was a very enjoyable read and if you enjoy historical fiction you could do a lot worse than than choosing this book to while away your time.
This is not a book that I would have chosen myself, and I would have been all the poorer for that. I received this book through a Christmas present from my sister where you tell a company of your interests and they send you five books that they have chosen based on your answers.
The characters are wonderfully rounded and the story is written in my opinion in a style similar to CS Lewis in the Narnia chronicles.
It was a very enjoyable read and if you enjoy historical fiction you could do a lot worse than than choosing this book to while away your time.
July 3, 2023
A very intelligent look at the women of Arthurian legends using their actual fates and stories in the myths but giving depth and backstory to tell a really thought provoking tale. Highly recommended
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
August 19, 2023
"The Cleaving" was such a treat! I was jumping up and down because I was so excited that I was selected to have an advanced reading copy of this book through NetGalley. Arthurian folklore but from the point of view of Nimue and focusing on the women’s stories of Camelot.
"The Cleaving" by Juliet E. McKenna is a feminist Arthurian retelling, that narrates the tangled stories of four famous mythological women: Nimue, Ygraine, Morgana, and Guinevere, as they fight to survive against the patriarchal, war torn Britain and determine their future, and the destiny of their land.
How I loved reading this book! Such a treat to get the early copy! I loved the characters, the pacing, the elements that were explored through the narrative. It had probably been nearly 10 years since I last read an Arthurian retelling, but this one re awakened in me the fascination I once held for that magical, mythical Camelot and the future it promised
I was especially drawn to two characters reading the novel. Ygraine, Arthur’s mother, and Guinevere, his wife and the Queen of Camelot. Their storylines mirrored each other even though I don’t think in the book the two women ever met. And yet, their stories were depicted differently. Ygraine was a major character in the first half of the book, which was dark and gruesome but had a sub element of fairytales amid all the injustices that happened to the Queen. In contrast, Guinevere suffered similarly to Ygraine in the second half, but the tone of her story had lost the magical fairytale element that dominated the first half. So, every injustice she experienced was more rooted in reality, as if the book slowly travelled from Britain’s mythological past to a more historical one.
I would absolutely recommend picking up The Cleaving. A great fit for those who love mythology or fairytale retellings. The writing is beautiful and the story takes you floating in this world, made of both myth and history.
"The Cleaving" by Juliet E. McKenna is a feminist Arthurian retelling, that narrates the tangled stories of four famous mythological women: Nimue, Ygraine, Morgana, and Guinevere, as they fight to survive against the patriarchal, war torn Britain and determine their future, and the destiny of their land.
How I loved reading this book! Such a treat to get the early copy! I loved the characters, the pacing, the elements that were explored through the narrative. It had probably been nearly 10 years since I last read an Arthurian retelling, but this one re awakened in me the fascination I once held for that magical, mythical Camelot and the future it promised
I was especially drawn to two characters reading the novel. Ygraine, Arthur’s mother, and Guinevere, his wife and the Queen of Camelot. Their storylines mirrored each other even though I don’t think in the book the two women ever met. And yet, their stories were depicted differently. Ygraine was a major character in the first half of the book, which was dark and gruesome but had a sub element of fairytales amid all the injustices that happened to the Queen. In contrast, Guinevere suffered similarly to Ygraine in the second half, but the tone of her story had lost the magical fairytale element that dominated the first half. So, every injustice she experienced was more rooted in reality, as if the book slowly travelled from Britain’s mythological past to a more historical one.
I would absolutely recommend picking up The Cleaving. A great fit for those who love mythology or fairytale retellings. The writing is beautiful and the story takes you floating in this world, made of both myth and history.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2023
The story (or legend, or myth, or history) of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table is one of those “tales as old as time.” Whether one considers it a myth, or a legend, or a bit of fictionalized or fantasized history, there’s something about the story that speaks to generation after generation, and has since Sir Thomas Malory compiled his now-famous Le Morte d’Arthur back in the 15th century.
A compilation which was itself based on an earlier popular “history”, Geoffrey of Monmouth’s 12th century History of the Kings of Britain. All of the elements we now recognize as part of the Matter of Britain, King Arthur, Merlin, Guinevere, Lancelot, the castle at Tintagel, the sword Excalibur and his final rest in Avalon are all in that 12th century tale, just as they are in this 21st century reimagining, The Cleaving.
Some stories, and some characters, are so profoundly immortal that they must be reinterpreted for each generation and the story of King Arthur is one of those tales. Each generation has reinvented the “once and future king” for over EIGHT centuries so far.
There’s no sign of that stopping any time soon. Rather the reverse. The Cleaving, with its gritty medieval setting and its female-centered perspective on the deeds and misdeeds of the arrogant and autocratic and all-too-frequently abusive men they were supposed to serve and obey, shows the reader a somewhat more-plausible version of a story we all believe we know and love. The Cleaving tells another, rather different side to a legend and makes it all that much more “real” and even believable by that telling.
And it’s going to inform and inflect (or possibly infect) the next generation of tellers of this beloved tale. As it so very much should.
Escape Rating A+: The Cleaving is a compelling conundrum of a book. On the one hand, the story of King Arthur and his knights has been told, and retold, over and over, to the point where it forms one of the foundational tales of western literature along with a considerable number of the archetypes therein.
But very much on the other hand, in order to be considered a good book right now, The Cleaving has to be, and very much is, considerably more than merely a rehash of a story we already know. So it has the hard work of being a book where readers will already know how the story ends, while needing to tell its familiar story in a way that is fresh and new and will appeal to the audiences of its time and not just play on the nostalgia of those already familiar with the story.
The Cleaving succeeds in dancing on that very high and narrow tightrope by telling the story from the perspective of the women who usually exist as mere ciphers in its background while the men perform all the deeds of derring-do and conduct all the important business of their realms.
What The Cleaving does with the familiar story doesn’t change the story nearly as much as an earlier explicitly feminist and fantastically magical version – Marion Zimmer Bradley’s ultra popular The Mists of Avalon – did. Rather, The Cleaving takes that original story of men doing manly things and shows it from the perspective of a group of intelligent, influential women who performed as society forced them to in public – while maintaining their own thoughts and their own council behind the scenes.
It’s a portrait that feels more realistic to a 21st century reader without stretching the bounds of anachronism. These women were expected to manage complicated households, oversee large budgets for those households, keep everything running smoothly whether their lords were in residence or not – and even act in place of those lords when they were away – as many often were.
That level of intelligence and capability can’t be faked for very long at all without being found out. On the other hand, public subservience is easy to fake just by schooling one’s expressions and keeping one’s mouth shut except to be agreeable and above all, meek. It would require getting used to the sensation of swallowing one’s own tongue rather a lot, but it can be done. Especially in front of men who would be inclined to believe it anyway.
So in public they all seem meek, mild and accepting of the inevitable. Because the abuse they suffered, whether physical or emotional, was inevitable. Their choices were few. But in private, they mitigated what damage they could. Even if it wasn’t nearly enough.
So Uther, with Merlin’s connivance, rapes Ygraine while wearing her beloved husband’s face. With Merlin’s connivance, the child of that rape becomes king. With Merlin’s connivance, a whole lot of things happen that probably shouldn’t. (There’s a possible interpretation of this version of the Arthurian legend as Merlin interfered with a whole lot of things that he should have left well enough alone and karma is a bitch.)
Because of the way the story plays out, and just how much the queens are influencing events when the men are too busy pillaging to pay attention, even though we know how the story ends we don’t know how it gets there, and it keeps the reader turning pages to learn what is different and what remains familiar when told from a formerly hidden point of view.
Based on this latest variation of these seemingly eternal legends, we’re clearly not done with Arthur yet. Is it possible that this is what was truly meant by that sobriquet, “the once and future king”?
Originally published at Reading Reality
A compilation which was itself based on an earlier popular “history”, Geoffrey of Monmouth’s 12th century History of the Kings of Britain. All of the elements we now recognize as part of the Matter of Britain, King Arthur, Merlin, Guinevere, Lancelot, the castle at Tintagel, the sword Excalibur and his final rest in Avalon are all in that 12th century tale, just as they are in this 21st century reimagining, The Cleaving.
Some stories, and some characters, are so profoundly immortal that they must be reinterpreted for each generation and the story of King Arthur is one of those tales. Each generation has reinvented the “once and future king” for over EIGHT centuries so far.
There’s no sign of that stopping any time soon. Rather the reverse. The Cleaving, with its gritty medieval setting and its female-centered perspective on the deeds and misdeeds of the arrogant and autocratic and all-too-frequently abusive men they were supposed to serve and obey, shows the reader a somewhat more-plausible version of a story we all believe we know and love. The Cleaving tells another, rather different side to a legend and makes it all that much more “real” and even believable by that telling.
And it’s going to inform and inflect (or possibly infect) the next generation of tellers of this beloved tale. As it so very much should.
Escape Rating A+: The Cleaving is a compelling conundrum of a book. On the one hand, the story of King Arthur and his knights has been told, and retold, over and over, to the point where it forms one of the foundational tales of western literature along with a considerable number of the archetypes therein.
But very much on the other hand, in order to be considered a good book right now, The Cleaving has to be, and very much is, considerably more than merely a rehash of a story we already know. So it has the hard work of being a book where readers will already know how the story ends, while needing to tell its familiar story in a way that is fresh and new and will appeal to the audiences of its time and not just play on the nostalgia of those already familiar with the story.
The Cleaving succeeds in dancing on that very high and narrow tightrope by telling the story from the perspective of the women who usually exist as mere ciphers in its background while the men perform all the deeds of derring-do and conduct all the important business of their realms.
What The Cleaving does with the familiar story doesn’t change the story nearly as much as an earlier explicitly feminist and fantastically magical version – Marion Zimmer Bradley’s ultra popular The Mists of Avalon – did. Rather, The Cleaving takes that original story of men doing manly things and shows it from the perspective of a group of intelligent, influential women who performed as society forced them to in public – while maintaining their own thoughts and their own council behind the scenes.
It’s a portrait that feels more realistic to a 21st century reader without stretching the bounds of anachronism. These women were expected to manage complicated households, oversee large budgets for those households, keep everything running smoothly whether their lords were in residence or not – and even act in place of those lords when they were away – as many often were.
That level of intelligence and capability can’t be faked for very long at all without being found out. On the other hand, public subservience is easy to fake just by schooling one’s expressions and keeping one’s mouth shut except to be agreeable and above all, meek. It would require getting used to the sensation of swallowing one’s own tongue rather a lot, but it can be done. Especially in front of men who would be inclined to believe it anyway.
So in public they all seem meek, mild and accepting of the inevitable. Because the abuse they suffered, whether physical or emotional, was inevitable. Their choices were few. But in private, they mitigated what damage they could. Even if it wasn’t nearly enough.
So Uther, with Merlin’s connivance, rapes Ygraine while wearing her beloved husband’s face. With Merlin’s connivance, the child of that rape becomes king. With Merlin’s connivance, a whole lot of things happen that probably shouldn’t. (There’s a possible interpretation of this version of the Arthurian legend as Merlin interfered with a whole lot of things that he should have left well enough alone and karma is a bitch.)
Because of the way the story plays out, and just how much the queens are influencing events when the men are too busy pillaging to pay attention, even though we know how the story ends we don’t know how it gets there, and it keeps the reader turning pages to learn what is different and what remains familiar when told from a formerly hidden point of view.
Based on this latest variation of these seemingly eternal legends, we’re clearly not done with Arthur yet. Is it possible that this is what was truly meant by that sobriquet, “the once and future king”?
Originally published at Reading Reality
September 27, 2025
Mostly told from the POV of Nimue, this is the Arthurian legends but focussing on the women of the tales. Wonderfully engaging, full of drama and magic and a whole array of brilliantly written characters.
April 25, 2023
I really enjoyed this!
full review here
https://www.fullofabook.co.uk/cleaving
full review here
https://www.fullofabook.co.uk/cleaving
April 21, 2023
The Cleaving – Juliet E. Mc Kenna
I was given an advanced copy of this story by the publisher in order to provide an honest review.
Juliet E. McKenna is an English author who has written quite a number of fantasy novels – The Thief’s Gamble, Defiant Peaks and The Hadrumal Crisis. She is currently working on a modern fantasy series that has its roots in the mysteries of the British Isles.
The Cleaving is a retelling of the legend that is King Arthur and his court.
Ygraine was happy, she had beautiful daughters and was happily married to husband. However, he was slain in battle by the evil Uther Pendragon and if that wasn’t hard enough, Uther’s counsellor – Merlin - cast an enchantment on Uther. This enabled Uther to take advantage of poor Ygraine and beget upon her a son, which forced her to quickly wed Uther after the death of her husband.
From this forced union came the legendary King that was to be – Arthur. Yet Merlin is always at young Arthur’s side, whispering in his ear and using his magic in forbidden ways.
Finally, Nimue is able to protect her Mistress Ygraine and traps Merlin – who can now no longer interfere in the affairs of mortals and upset the balance of magic in the world.
However, her troubles were far from over. One of Ygraine’s children, Morgana, left to her own devices for so long, learnt the magic from the wild people, she has become far more dangerous and powerful than Nimue could have prepared for.
Now Arthur has managed to find a wife – the faithful and naïve Guinevere. If Nimue and Morgana have any compassion or hope to escape Arthur and his rule, they must band together to save Guinevere and leave Arthur’s court for good.
The Cleaving is such a gripping and captivating retelling of the legend of King Arthur and his court. The legend of Arthur itself is such a magical tale so in order to write about it and do a telling, for me it is important that the author keeps that magic to it but makes it their own. I believe the author has managed to do that here really well – it was great to see the story from characters that are never normally given a voice or any consideration. Nimue seemed to be one of the last of her kind and tried her hardest to stay true to the ways of her people, her survival depended on it. It was also really interesting and such a novel idea that it immediately grabbed my attention and had me really engrossed and invested in the story.
I was given an advanced copy of this story by the publisher in order to provide an honest review.
Juliet E. McKenna is an English author who has written quite a number of fantasy novels – The Thief’s Gamble, Defiant Peaks and The Hadrumal Crisis. She is currently working on a modern fantasy series that has its roots in the mysteries of the British Isles.
The Cleaving is a retelling of the legend that is King Arthur and his court.
Ygraine was happy, she had beautiful daughters and was happily married to husband. However, he was slain in battle by the evil Uther Pendragon and if that wasn’t hard enough, Uther’s counsellor – Merlin - cast an enchantment on Uther. This enabled Uther to take advantage of poor Ygraine and beget upon her a son, which forced her to quickly wed Uther after the death of her husband.
From this forced union came the legendary King that was to be – Arthur. Yet Merlin is always at young Arthur’s side, whispering in his ear and using his magic in forbidden ways.
Finally, Nimue is able to protect her Mistress Ygraine and traps Merlin – who can now no longer interfere in the affairs of mortals and upset the balance of magic in the world.
However, her troubles were far from over. One of Ygraine’s children, Morgana, left to her own devices for so long, learnt the magic from the wild people, she has become far more dangerous and powerful than Nimue could have prepared for.
Now Arthur has managed to find a wife – the faithful and naïve Guinevere. If Nimue and Morgana have any compassion or hope to escape Arthur and his rule, they must band together to save Guinevere and leave Arthur’s court for good.
The Cleaving is such a gripping and captivating retelling of the legend of King Arthur and his court. The legend of Arthur itself is such a magical tale so in order to write about it and do a telling, for me it is important that the author keeps that magic to it but makes it their own. I believe the author has managed to do that here really well – it was great to see the story from characters that are never normally given a voice or any consideration. Nimue seemed to be one of the last of her kind and tried her hardest to stay true to the ways of her people, her survival depended on it. It was also really interesting and such a novel idea that it immediately grabbed my attention and had me really engrossed and invested in the story.
July 17, 2023
The cleaving is a fantasy / historical fiction novel set in the Arthurian era and loosely based on King Arthur and Camelot. The story is retold from Nimues POV and follows the interconnected lives of three other strong female leads: Guinevere, Morgana and Ygraine.
The book starts before Arthur’s birth and has several time jumps throughout bringing us further into the future. The Cleaving sets out to shine a light on the Violence and oppression caused by the patriarchy, and the women who try to survive in a time where their safety is constantly at stake.
I love fantasy and mythology retellings. I have somehow never been exposed to an Arthurian retelling where King Arthur is shone in a negative light, so this was definitely a new experience for me!
What I would loved to see more of: I would have loved to see more world building and magical elements. I would have loved Nimue to be less passive and use her powers and resources for the good of the people, regardless of the consequences. However I did note the growth of our four women going from naive brutalized young women to strong resourceful and independent heroines.
The ending was extremely climatic with lots of blood, gore, magic and spells. The author spent a lot of time researching for this book and you can feel that through the attention to detail, accuracy of events and visceral descriptions.
I would recommend to those who like to hear tales from a woman’s perspective, dark fantasy retellings, or the Arthurian legend in general. Just don’t expect to read a fairytale, this book dives into some deep, potentially sensitive subject matter, and doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of life from a time long past.
The book starts before Arthur’s birth and has several time jumps throughout bringing us further into the future. The Cleaving sets out to shine a light on the Violence and oppression caused by the patriarchy, and the women who try to survive in a time where their safety is constantly at stake.
I love fantasy and mythology retellings. I have somehow never been exposed to an Arthurian retelling where King Arthur is shone in a negative light, so this was definitely a new experience for me!
What I would loved to see more of: I would have loved to see more world building and magical elements. I would have loved Nimue to be less passive and use her powers and resources for the good of the people, regardless of the consequences. However I did note the growth of our four women going from naive brutalized young women to strong resourceful and independent heroines.
The ending was extremely climatic with lots of blood, gore, magic and spells. The author spent a lot of time researching for this book and you can feel that through the attention to detail, accuracy of events and visceral descriptions.
I would recommend to those who like to hear tales from a woman’s perspective, dark fantasy retellings, or the Arthurian legend in general. Just don’t expect to read a fairytale, this book dives into some deep, potentially sensitive subject matter, and doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of life from a time long past.
April 12, 2023
3.5 rounded up
An enjoyable historical fiction/ fantasy / retelling.
We mainly follow Nimue, who comes from the magical world and advises the queen. She can change her age to blend in, and is a gifted healer who is eager to help and serve humans.
I liked Nimue and found her an Interesting and brave character, I just felt some explanations were lacking around the hidden world, the magic, and her choice to serve rather than return to it.
As we followed Nimue we saw the other characters though her eyes. Morgana was certainly someone I wanted more on, however there were large gaps due to Nimue and Morgana's separation. Morgana's abilities are also just treated like a mystery rather than explored.
I really liked the portrayal of the difficulty faced by women of the era and how they were thought of and treated, and the ways in which they could subtly take back a little control.
I also felt this book celebrated the different strengths that the women showed, like their resilience and empathy without comparing them.
I think while I did enjoy the whole tale, I did want more on the four women central to the story and featured on the cover and their perspectives. Perhaps another part is coming?
Not having much historical knowledge probably helped with this retelling to based on others reviews.
An enjoyable historical fiction/ fantasy / retelling.
We mainly follow Nimue, who comes from the magical world and advises the queen. She can change her age to blend in, and is a gifted healer who is eager to help and serve humans.
I liked Nimue and found her an Interesting and brave character, I just felt some explanations were lacking around the hidden world, the magic, and her choice to serve rather than return to it.
As we followed Nimue we saw the other characters though her eyes. Morgana was certainly someone I wanted more on, however there were large gaps due to Nimue and Morgana's separation. Morgana's abilities are also just treated like a mystery rather than explored.
I really liked the portrayal of the difficulty faced by women of the era and how they were thought of and treated, and the ways in which they could subtly take back a little control.
I also felt this book celebrated the different strengths that the women showed, like their resilience and empathy without comparing them.
I think while I did enjoy the whole tale, I did want more on the four women central to the story and featured on the cover and their perspectives. Perhaps another part is coming?
Not having much historical knowledge probably helped with this retelling to based on others reviews.
February 20, 2023
2.5 stars
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“The Cleaving” retells Arthurian legend from the perspective of the sorceress Nimue as she serves first Ygraine, then Morgana, then Guinevere. The author is an expert on this era and thus the book is incredibly rich in historical detail. There are also some deeply beautiful passages amidst the rapidly moving plot.
However, Nimue’s role as a passive observer does not situate her well to be the narrator of the entire story; she mainly chooses not to engage in mortal affairs and instead tells the events in a bland, factual tone that along with the somewhat episodic nature of the plot caused me to rapidly lose emotional investment in the story and the characters. I may have preferred a multi-narrator setup where we also heard from Ygraine, Morgana, and Guinevere, all of whom are more interesting characters. Nimue’s inner world is not particularly robust or complex, and hearing from the other women may have enriched the experience of reading.
The story was also told in chunks, skipping large swaths of time in order to cover everything contained in the legend. This really prevented me from becoming invested because even while approaching the end, it didn’t ever feel like the story was leading to anything important. Everyone’s motivations were either unclear the entire time, confusing, or implausible (especially Merlin). At many points not a single character was behaving logically. Entire plot threads were introduced and then dropped partway through. This book had real potential, but there are so many other issues that really got in the way of being able to appreciate it.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“The Cleaving” retells Arthurian legend from the perspective of the sorceress Nimue as she serves first Ygraine, then Morgana, then Guinevere. The author is an expert on this era and thus the book is incredibly rich in historical detail. There are also some deeply beautiful passages amidst the rapidly moving plot.
However, Nimue’s role as a passive observer does not situate her well to be the narrator of the entire story; she mainly chooses not to engage in mortal affairs and instead tells the events in a bland, factual tone that along with the somewhat episodic nature of the plot caused me to rapidly lose emotional investment in the story and the characters. I may have preferred a multi-narrator setup where we also heard from Ygraine, Morgana, and Guinevere, all of whom are more interesting characters. Nimue’s inner world is not particularly robust or complex, and hearing from the other women may have enriched the experience of reading.
The story was also told in chunks, skipping large swaths of time in order to cover everything contained in the legend. This really prevented me from becoming invested because even while approaching the end, it didn’t ever feel like the story was leading to anything important. Everyone’s motivations were either unclear the entire time, confusing, or implausible (especially Merlin). At many points not a single character was behaving logically. Entire plot threads were introduced and then dropped partway through. This book had real potential, but there are so many other issues that really got in the way of being able to appreciate it.
November 15, 2024
This is one of those unfortunate books that had so much promise, but didn’t quite live up to it.
Arthurian retelling are not new, but Nimue has always been shrouded in mystery, and the first few chapters made me feel we would get a compelling story about how she becomes the infamous villain of the Arthurian legend. McKenna is very forthright in calling out how many of the so-called “heroes” are, in fact, perpetrators of the patriarchy of early Britain, and Nimue provides some shrewd insights into the complicated figure of Merlin, who manipulates the big picture with little thought for the consequences.
But unfortunately, Nimue herself isn’t a very compelling character, more passive than actively shaping or influencing events. The other woman named in the synopsis each show up at points in her life, but are largely unexplored beyond the broad caricatures the mythology already gives us (Morgana in particular still grows up to be the temptress of the original stories, with only a surface level explanation as to her motives).
As a generic Arthurian retelling this book meets the bill, but it doesn’t live up to its calling as a new feminist work.
Arthurian retelling are not new, but Nimue has always been shrouded in mystery, and the first few chapters made me feel we would get a compelling story about how she becomes the infamous villain of the Arthurian legend. McKenna is very forthright in calling out how many of the so-called “heroes” are, in fact, perpetrators of the patriarchy of early Britain, and Nimue provides some shrewd insights into the complicated figure of Merlin, who manipulates the big picture with little thought for the consequences.
But unfortunately, Nimue herself isn’t a very compelling character, more passive than actively shaping or influencing events. The other woman named in the synopsis each show up at points in her life, but are largely unexplored beyond the broad caricatures the mythology already gives us (Morgana in particular still grows up to be the temptress of the original stories, with only a surface level explanation as to her motives).
As a generic Arthurian retelling this book meets the bill, but it doesn’t live up to its calling as a new feminist work.
July 22, 2025
I’ve loved the wave of feminist retellings of myths that have come out in the last decade, and I was delighted to see one centering on Arthurian legend, as opposed to Greek (what I usually see).
I had essentially no knowledge about the story of King Arthur, so it was easy for me to get swept into this story. I was expecting to get POV of all four main female characters (Nimue, Ygraine, Morgana and Guinevere) but it’s only from Nimue’s POV as she spends time with each of the other women. Still, I very much enjoyed the way that having Nimue as the protagonist made the story largely about the danger of relying on magic and infecting with mortal affairs. (I only wish that theme had paid off a bit more.) I also appreciated the constant emphasis on how powerful men’s egos and whims endanger and kill everyone else.
The ending also fell a little flat for me, but overall, I very much enjoyed this!
I had essentially no knowledge about the story of King Arthur, so it was easy for me to get swept into this story. I was expecting to get POV of all four main female characters (Nimue, Ygraine, Morgana and Guinevere) but it’s only from Nimue’s POV as she spends time with each of the other women. Still, I very much enjoyed the way that having Nimue as the protagonist made the story largely about the danger of relying on magic and infecting with mortal affairs. (I only wish that theme had paid off a bit more.) I also appreciated the constant emphasis on how powerful men’s egos and whims endanger and kill everyone else.
The ending also fell a little flat for me, but overall, I very much enjoyed this!
September 6, 2024
Pitched as a feminist reimagining of the Arthurian legends, there is nothing particularly feminist nor reimagined about this book unfortunately. It works okay as an entry-level point into Arthurian legends from Nimue's point or view, but mostly it feels like a historical play by play of events. (It's also not that historically accurate, but hey, I watched BBC Merlin, I can handwave that.)
The writing is mostly bland, describing things like what people are wearing or eating without making me feel anything about what they're wearing or eating or doing. I was mostly skimming by halfway through just to see if anything particularly interesting or unexpected happened.
The writing is mostly bland, describing things like what people are wearing or eating without making me feel anything about what they're wearing or eating or doing. I was mostly skimming by halfway through just to see if anything particularly interesting or unexpected happened.
Read
January 27, 2023
November 4, 2025
This was my first read in terms of Arthurian fantasy, and I really enjoyed how it linked to so many Cornish locations, especially Tintagel castle. The story is a bit complex but I loved seeing it through a females POV. Merlin is portrayed in a way that’s quite different from the usual positive light.
December 4, 2023
Interesting retelling. I always appreciate a sympathetic depiction of the women in the Arthurian mythos. Unfortunately, this book goes too far in the other direction: every man we meet is a misogynist brute. The menfolk are so uniformly and predictably monstrous that it gets depressing after a while.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2023
This was a solid 3 star book. Multiple POVs would have bumped this up to a 4 star. Nimue just gets boring after a while. Once she left Camelot it should have jumped to Morgana and then jumped to Gunivere.
January 25, 2025
*3.5, but rounding up
May 3, 2023
3.5 stars
Give me an historical fantasy book that has a feminist spin on it and I am interested. That’s exactly why I jumped at the chance of reading this book based around the women who were part of the legend of King Arthur.
The book is written from the perspective of Nimue who serves the other women at different points in the story. She has magic that she tries to use to help the other women through some dangerous situations, but magic cannot solve everything. There is evil within the court and with a sorcerer such as Merlin lurking around, Nimue needs to be careful.
There is murder, abuse, adultery and jealousy that these women have to fight against and obeying the men who rule.
I found the story very readable and I really liked the women characters. I felt at times there was not enough time spent with each one due to so many jumps forward in time.
However it is engaging and enjoyable and very refreshing to have the women of this famous legend tell their own story.
Give me an historical fantasy book that has a feminist spin on it and I am interested. That’s exactly why I jumped at the chance of reading this book based around the women who were part of the legend of King Arthur.
The book is written from the perspective of Nimue who serves the other women at different points in the story. She has magic that she tries to use to help the other women through some dangerous situations, but magic cannot solve everything. There is evil within the court and with a sorcerer such as Merlin lurking around, Nimue needs to be careful.
There is murder, abuse, adultery and jealousy that these women have to fight against and obeying the men who rule.
I found the story very readable and I really liked the women characters. I felt at times there was not enough time spent with each one due to so many jumps forward in time.
However it is engaging and enjoyable and very refreshing to have the women of this famous legend tell their own story.
dnf
April 11, 2023This review was originally posted on Queen's Book Asylum!
I received an eARC from AngryRobot via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’m going to start with ripping off the bandage and say upfront that I DNFd The Cleaving 52% into it. Not because it was horribly bad, but because I was kind of bored and I was not invested in the characters or the plot, at all. But let’s take a closer look at things.
The Cleaving was my first book by Juliet E. McKenna, so I didn’t know what to expect. I was on the fence about whether to request an eARC, because I usually don’t gel well with feminist stuff, and also because I’m very picky due to having limited time to read in the first place. Eventually, the history and mythology buff in me won, and I decided to give it a go. Side note, while I’m familiar with the names and some of the stories within the Arthurian legends, my knowledge is pretty patchy as I never dug deeper. Honestly, the bulk of my knowledge comes from the Merlin TV mini series from the late 90s, so… yeah, I wouldn’t call myself an authority.
The Cleaving tells its story through Nimue’s POV. It’s an interesting choice, because on one hand, the way the story is being told, she is there for most of the events, being a first-hand witness and thus can give us all the details. On the other hand, we don’t learn much about her as a person and that makes it hard to get invested in her story. She also comes across as a very passive character, only following the events, and reacting to whatever happens, but never being proactive which makes reading about her a frustrating experience.
Since Nimue is acting as a servant to Queen Ygraine in the beginning, and later to Morgana from what I could tell by the point at which I DNFd, the story is mostly focused on the female characters of the Arthurian legends – Ygraine, Morgana, and I’m guessing Guinevere later on. The story is told from how Uther deceives Ygraine, following their marriage, how Arthur becomes king with the help of Merlin, and beyond. As I never read to the end, I’m not sure where the story ends, but I’m guessing sometime around his death. Arthur being still very young and under Merlin’s influence, it’s hard to tell yet what type of character he’ll become, but up to the 52% mark, we rarely got to see him, and the other male characters, except Gorlois, Ygraine’s first husband are depicted as villains. This is to say, they are everything that’s bad, and the women are everything that’s good, and there aren’t many grey areas. In my experience, people are rarely only good or only bad, and I generally prefer characters with depth. Which these characters lack.
Another thing that bothered me was that there is just not enough worldbuilding. Things happen and we get just enough info for context, but it feels like those painted backgrounds on stage, they give a good enough illusion, but they are still a far cry from being real. It didn’t help to get myself immersed.
The Cleaving, in the end, proved to be a disappointment for me. It’s a shame, because I wanted to like it, and it seemed for a while that I might, but in the end, it seemed to be better to part ways. If you like Arthurian legends, and feminist retellings, then you might end up being a better audience for The Cleaving than I.
I received an eARC from AngryRobot via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’m going to start with ripping off the bandage and say upfront that I DNFd The Cleaving 52% into it. Not because it was horribly bad, but because I was kind of bored and I was not invested in the characters or the plot, at all. But let’s take a closer look at things.
The Cleaving was my first book by Juliet E. McKenna, so I didn’t know what to expect. I was on the fence about whether to request an eARC, because I usually don’t gel well with feminist stuff, and also because I’m very picky due to having limited time to read in the first place. Eventually, the history and mythology buff in me won, and I decided to give it a go. Side note, while I’m familiar with the names and some of the stories within the Arthurian legends, my knowledge is pretty patchy as I never dug deeper. Honestly, the bulk of my knowledge comes from the Merlin TV mini series from the late 90s, so… yeah, I wouldn’t call myself an authority.
The Cleaving tells its story through Nimue’s POV. It’s an interesting choice, because on one hand, the way the story is being told, she is there for most of the events, being a first-hand witness and thus can give us all the details. On the other hand, we don’t learn much about her as a person and that makes it hard to get invested in her story. She also comes across as a very passive character, only following the events, and reacting to whatever happens, but never being proactive which makes reading about her a frustrating experience.
Since Nimue is acting as a servant to Queen Ygraine in the beginning, and later to Morgana from what I could tell by the point at which I DNFd, the story is mostly focused on the female characters of the Arthurian legends – Ygraine, Morgana, and I’m guessing Guinevere later on. The story is told from how Uther deceives Ygraine, following their marriage, how Arthur becomes king with the help of Merlin, and beyond. As I never read to the end, I’m not sure where the story ends, but I’m guessing sometime around his death. Arthur being still very young and under Merlin’s influence, it’s hard to tell yet what type of character he’ll become, but up to the 52% mark, we rarely got to see him, and the other male characters, except Gorlois, Ygraine’s first husband are depicted as villains. This is to say, they are everything that’s bad, and the women are everything that’s good, and there aren’t many grey areas. In my experience, people are rarely only good or only bad, and I generally prefer characters with depth. Which these characters lack.
Another thing that bothered me was that there is just not enough worldbuilding. Things happen and we get just enough info for context, but it feels like those painted backgrounds on stage, they give a good enough illusion, but they are still a far cry from being real. It didn’t help to get myself immersed.
The Cleaving, in the end, proved to be a disappointment for me. It’s a shame, because I wanted to like it, and it seemed for a while that I might, but in the end, it seemed to be better to part ways. If you like Arthurian legends, and feminist retellings, then you might end up being a better audience for The Cleaving than I.
March 11, 2023
I read an eARC of this book so thank you to @netgalley , @jemckoxon and @angryrobotbooks for allowing this.
I really enjoyed The Green Man books by Juliet E McKenna so when I saw she’d written a retelling of Arthurian legend from the lens of the female characters, it was a must read for me. I would advise checking content warnings as there is content that could be distressing.
We primarily follow Nimue who has wild magic. The book is set over many years, starting with Ygraine and the birth of Arthur, and going right up to the end of his story. Nimue is present for the stories of Ygraine, Morgana and Guinevere.
A core theme in this book is the way women are treated as property by men, and the consequences they face if they try to rebel, or take agency over their own lives. It’s brutal and cruel. Also the sheer amount of unappreciated labour women do to take care of all of the unseen details needed to keep men fed, organised and happy. Very few men come off well in this book. They’re largely bossy, self-interested and arrogant.
I did thoroughly enjoy this, I was invested throughout. I was a tiny bit confused by some of the earlier time jumps but when I realised what was happening it was fine from that point onwards.
This was one of the better retellings I’ve read. It keeps core details from the legend, preferring instead to relay the tale from the perspective of other, less seen characters. It wasn’t trying to change the narrative too much, or villainise the male characters just for being men. It treats them as products of the culture at the time, rather than all bad. This allowed you to separate out the really malicious characters. Nimue often succeeds against perilous odds because of her ability and her respect for others and because she uses her magic responsibly. This is in stark contrast to Merlin who uses his recklessly and doesn’t care who gets hurt in the process, earning him enemies amongst his own folk.
I enjoyed this and I’d gladly read more from this author.
I really enjoyed The Green Man books by Juliet E McKenna so when I saw she’d written a retelling of Arthurian legend from the lens of the female characters, it was a must read for me. I would advise checking content warnings as there is content that could be distressing.
We primarily follow Nimue who has wild magic. The book is set over many years, starting with Ygraine and the birth of Arthur, and going right up to the end of his story. Nimue is present for the stories of Ygraine, Morgana and Guinevere.
A core theme in this book is the way women are treated as property by men, and the consequences they face if they try to rebel, or take agency over their own lives. It’s brutal and cruel. Also the sheer amount of unappreciated labour women do to take care of all of the unseen details needed to keep men fed, organised and happy. Very few men come off well in this book. They’re largely bossy, self-interested and arrogant.
I did thoroughly enjoy this, I was invested throughout. I was a tiny bit confused by some of the earlier time jumps but when I realised what was happening it was fine from that point onwards.
This was one of the better retellings I’ve read. It keeps core details from the legend, preferring instead to relay the tale from the perspective of other, less seen characters. It wasn’t trying to change the narrative too much, or villainise the male characters just for being men. It treats them as products of the culture at the time, rather than all bad. This allowed you to separate out the really malicious characters. Nimue often succeeds against perilous odds because of her ability and her respect for others and because she uses her magic responsibly. This is in stark contrast to Merlin who uses his recklessly and doesn’t care who gets hurt in the process, earning him enemies amongst his own folk.
I enjoyed this and I’d gladly read more from this author.
June 16, 2023
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.
Who doesn't love a good King Arthur story? Some people love Cinderella retellings, I love Camelot, Merlin, Arthur, and the round table. I'm an avid reader of the myths and when I picked up this book I was really pleased to see Cornwall being mentioned. The author knows her history, that's obvious and I kept immersed in the book the whole time. I am one of those folks who will have a brain freeze if someone mentions something out of a period in a historical fantasy book. That didn't happen.
This is a great book if you want a generalize retelling of the Arthur story. Sadly, I feel that's where the main problem of this story lies. While I fully enjoyed it, I felt like this book could have been better as a series of short stories that fed into each other. The overall plot is hard to see until the last hundred pages and I kept wondering when we were going to be given the crux of the plot. I feel like the last hundred or so pages are the best and if we could have had more time to focus on the tensions of Arthur's final days I would have been fully invested. Or if this was done as short stories I would have known to leave my narrative brain at the door so I could enjoy the book for what it was.
For me, my criticism is probably harsher than my star rating. I enjoyed the book! I'm happy to see Arthur as a bad guy. I feel like the book could have taken a bit more time with the narrative it was trying to tell and tightened it up instead of making it a play-by-play of the Arthurian myths. I partly feel like I need another book, one of all of these amazing ladies now going out and telling the story they are building. But that's probably just me.
Who doesn't love a good King Arthur story? Some people love Cinderella retellings, I love Camelot, Merlin, Arthur, and the round table. I'm an avid reader of the myths and when I picked up this book I was really pleased to see Cornwall being mentioned. The author knows her history, that's obvious and I kept immersed in the book the whole time. I am one of those folks who will have a brain freeze if someone mentions something out of a period in a historical fantasy book. That didn't happen.
This is a great book if you want a generalize retelling of the Arthur story. Sadly, I feel that's where the main problem of this story lies. While I fully enjoyed it, I felt like this book could have been better as a series of short stories that fed into each other. The overall plot is hard to see until the last hundred pages and I kept wondering when we were going to be given the crux of the plot. I feel like the last hundred or so pages are the best and if we could have had more time to focus on the tensions of Arthur's final days I would have been fully invested. Or if this was done as short stories I would have known to leave my narrative brain at the door so I could enjoy the book for what it was.
For me, my criticism is probably harsher than my star rating. I enjoyed the book! I'm happy to see Arthur as a bad guy. I feel like the book could have taken a bit more time with the narrative it was trying to tell and tightened it up instead of making it a play-by-play of the Arthurian myths. I partly feel like I need another book, one of all of these amazing ladies now going out and telling the story they are building. But that's probably just me.
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