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The Lady of the Lake
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Expected 28 Apr 26A luscious, sapphic reimagining of the myths of Camelot, from historian, award-winning writer and YouTube sensation Jean Menzies
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 15, 2025
35 people are currently reading
4982 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
February 9, 2025
I grew up watching bbc's merlin so a part of me was very excited for this book, especially as it is a sapphic retelling.
I really enjoyed the writing in this and you could tell that it was well researched - particularly from the authors note at the end which was an interesting insight!
I must admit that although familiar with the legend of king arthur, I had never heard of the lady of the lake, so I loved being able to explore this well known story from a different perspective.
the relationship between morgan and viviane was lovely to read, but I do agree with other reviewers in that it would have been nice if it had been developed a bit more. in a way, it felt that we didn't really get much time with them and I also agree that it could have benefited from a dual pov so we had more of a chance to delve deeper into morgan's character, who was very interesting!
however, I did enjoy the choice to take merlin's character in a different direction. I appreciated that it was so unlike the way we are used to seeing him portrayed in adaptations and retellings, which is explained further in the authors note and I feel offers a more realistic touch.
all in all, this was a really enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend if you're a fan of historical fiction. I'm looking forward to more books in the future from menzies!
thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc
I really enjoyed the writing in this and you could tell that it was well researched - particularly from the authors note at the end which was an interesting insight!
I must admit that although familiar with the legend of king arthur, I had never heard of the lady of the lake, so I loved being able to explore this well known story from a different perspective.
the relationship between morgan and viviane was lovely to read, but I do agree with other reviewers in that it would have been nice if it had been developed a bit more. in a way, it felt that we didn't really get much time with them and I also agree that it could have benefited from a dual pov so we had more of a chance to delve deeper into morgan's character, who was very interesting!
however, I did enjoy the choice to take merlin's character in a different direction. I appreciated that it was so unlike the way we are used to seeing him portrayed in adaptations and retellings, which is explained further in the authors note and I feel offers a more realistic touch.
all in all, this was a really enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend if you're a fan of historical fiction. I'm looking forward to more books in the future from menzies!
thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc
May 13, 2025
4.5*
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the eBook.
This is the first Arthurian retelling I’ve read and I loved it. My retellings up until now are only from Monty Python and the Holy Grail and BBC’s Merlin. So, the Lady of the Lake was quite a new character for me.
I loved Jean’s telling of the story and Viviane was a brilliant character to follow around Camelot. Viviane and Morgan are meant to be and I will not accept any other version now. This book was beautifully described and has made me want to delve more into the legend (although maybe I want it to stay this way).
I do wish we got to know some of the other characters a bit better as I bet Jean would put an even better spin on them too. That’s me just being greedy though!
I read Jean’s debut fiction novel a while ago and I love how diverse her writing can be. I do have her queering of the Greek myths book out of the library so can’t wait to give it a read. An author who can do incredible fiction and amazing non-fiction is hard to come by but Jean is one of them!
p.s. The authors note made me laugh
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the eBook.
This is the first Arthurian retelling I’ve read and I loved it. My retellings up until now are only from Monty Python and the Holy Grail and BBC’s Merlin. So, the Lady of the Lake was quite a new character for me.
I loved Jean’s telling of the story and Viviane was a brilliant character to follow around Camelot. Viviane and Morgan are meant to be and I will not accept any other version now. This book was beautifully described and has made me want to delve more into the legend (although maybe I want it to stay this way).
I do wish we got to know some of the other characters a bit better as I bet Jean would put an even better spin on them too. That’s me just being greedy though!
I read Jean’s debut fiction novel a while ago and I love how diverse her writing can be. I do have her queering of the Greek myths book out of the library so can’t wait to give it a read. An author who can do incredible fiction and amazing non-fiction is hard to come by but Jean is one of them!
p.s. The authors note made me laugh
August 5, 2025
A nice debut reimanging the story of the Lady of the Lake from the Arthurian legend. We follow Lady Viviane who is sent to the court of King Arthur in the hopes of winning his hand but instead Viviane finds herself drawn to Arthur's sister Morgan - and the two of them begin tutelage under Merlin to hone their magic skills, of which Viviane is a natural.
I'm not well versed in Arthurian legend - I think one of the only books or retellings I've read about it was actually Meg Cabot's Avalon High (throwback!), and I enjoyed learning a bit more about the characters and the history. Even though this focused on Viviane, Morgan and Merlin, I would have liked a bit more about what was going on outside of this with Arthur in a little bit more detail.
I found the story was a little rushed in places and lacking the amount of detail I like in historical fiction (I also thought Viviane had A LOT of freedom for a young woman in a foreign court, supposedly looking for a husband) - I found it hard to figure out the ages of the characters as it wasn't always specified how much time had jumped forward so years/dates at the start of chapters would have been useful. I also would have preferred more focus in terms of the magic learning as it feels like both Morgan and Viviane started performing magic very quickly and easily, and there was no real rules or tricks to it, they could just do it without thinking about it too much.
The relationship between Viviane and Morgan switches gears halfway through the book and while I appreciated the inclusion of a sapphic love story, I did feel like it happened quickly in the grand scheme of things, and again I would have liked more build up and time put into their relationship and interactions with one another other than Morgan having a fit every time Viviane did something she didn't like.
This book wasn't a hit for me but I did like a lot of parts in it, and I will definitely read more fiction Jean brings out!
I'm not well versed in Arthurian legend - I think one of the only books or retellings I've read about it was actually Meg Cabot's Avalon High (throwback!), and I enjoyed learning a bit more about the characters and the history. Even though this focused on Viviane, Morgan and Merlin, I would have liked a bit more about what was going on outside of this with Arthur in a little bit more detail.
I found the story was a little rushed in places and lacking the amount of detail I like in historical fiction (I also thought Viviane had A LOT of freedom for a young woman in a foreign court, supposedly looking for a husband) - I found it hard to figure out the ages of the characters as it wasn't always specified how much time had jumped forward so years/dates at the start of chapters would have been useful. I also would have preferred more focus in terms of the magic learning as it feels like both Morgan and Viviane started performing magic very quickly and easily, and there was no real rules or tricks to it, they could just do it without thinking about it too much.
The relationship between Viviane and Morgan switches gears halfway through the book and while I appreciated the inclusion of a sapphic love story, I did feel like it happened quickly in the grand scheme of things, and again I would have liked more build up and time put into their relationship and interactions with one another other than Morgan having a fit every time Viviane did something she didn't like.
This book wasn't a hit for me but I did like a lot of parts in it, and I will definitely read more fiction Jean brings out!
July 27, 2025
(rounded up from 2.5)
Unfortunately, not quite what I expected in a sapphic retelling of Arthurian legend, focusing on the lady of the lake, a perspective we don't really get to see much in legends. I think my biggest problem with this book was that the language is far too modern in speech and that the book distinctly feels like YA/NA to me rather than adult, with some explicit sexual scenes, which you don't normally find in YA/NA.
The overall story feels like it's a bit shallower than I'd like, hence the very YA-feeling nature of it. Characterisation is quite shallow, which feels reasonable given that the characters are roughly 18-19 years old for most of the book, but it makes the whole thing feel a bit like quick fanfiction rather than any substantive effort to talk about the origin story of the Lady of the Lake of legend.
Overall, this was a quick and easy read but the speech being far too modern and the characters being late teens/new adults means we stay surface level with characters and conflicts, which doesn't appeal to me.
Unfortunately, not quite what I expected in a sapphic retelling of Arthurian legend, focusing on the lady of the lake, a perspective we don't really get to see much in legends. I think my biggest problem with this book was that the language is far too modern in speech and that the book distinctly feels like YA/NA to me rather than adult, with some explicit sexual scenes, which you don't normally find in YA/NA.
The overall story feels like it's a bit shallower than I'd like, hence the very YA-feeling nature of it. Characterisation is quite shallow, which feels reasonable given that the characters are roughly 18-19 years old for most of the book, but it makes the whole thing feel a bit like quick fanfiction rather than any substantive effort to talk about the origin story of the Lady of the Lake of legend.
Overall, this was a quick and easy read but the speech being far too modern and the characters being late teens/new adults means we stay surface level with characters and conflicts, which doesn't appeal to me.
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April 14, 2025Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an eARC in exchange for an honest review
I don't think I spent a moment of this book not stressed - the stakes felt so high all the time and I was forever on the edge of my seat. I was fascinated by how this novel took the Arthurian stories that I'm quite familiar with and wove something completely new and so unsettling. So many plot points in this seemed to be built around ethical conundrums and the push and pull effects of secrets vs shame. Definitely enjoyed following each thread and seeing how all the prophecy pieces (doomed narrative anyone?) came together. As a whole, I was reminded of Morgan Is My Name by Sophie Keech which I read last year, only with more of a romantic relationship focus taking place in this one.
And right at the end of the book I have to admit the author's apology to BBC merlin fans really did make me laugh. But Menzies is so right, not every Arthurian retelling is going to be sunshine and roses!
I don't think I spent a moment of this book not stressed - the stakes felt so high all the time and I was forever on the edge of my seat. I was fascinated by how this novel took the Arthurian stories that I'm quite familiar with and wove something completely new and so unsettling. So many plot points in this seemed to be built around ethical conundrums and the push and pull effects of secrets vs shame. Definitely enjoyed following each thread and seeing how all the prophecy pieces (doomed narrative anyone?) came together. As a whole, I was reminded of Morgan Is My Name by Sophie Keech which I read last year, only with more of a romantic relationship focus taking place in this one.
And right at the end of the book I have to admit the author's apology to BBC merlin fans really did make me laugh. But Menzies is so right, not every Arthurian retelling is going to be sunshine and roses!
June 4, 2025
2.5 ✨
I really wanted to love this book because I looove the author‘s youtube channel and everything. When I started the book, I was surprised to find the writing very simple and modern? All in all, the book was entertaining (a good hospital read) due to its story. But sadly, the writing wasn‘t very good. The love story was a little too flat for me and to book has way too much ‚tell‘ instead of ‚show‘. I think it was the wrong choice to write this book from the first point of view and it could have benefited a lot from a third point of view. Therefore, it could have way more ‚show‘.
Also, everything happend so quickly? And the time jumps? I barely could keep up.
But it deffinitely sparked my interest in the Arthurian Legend. :)
I really wanted to love this book because I looove the author‘s youtube channel and everything. When I started the book, I was surprised to find the writing very simple and modern? All in all, the book was entertaining (a good hospital read) due to its story. But sadly, the writing wasn‘t very good. The love story was a little too flat for me and to book has way too much ‚tell‘ instead of ‚show‘. I think it was the wrong choice to write this book from the first point of view and it could have benefited a lot from a third point of view. Therefore, it could have way more ‚show‘.
Also, everything happend so quickly? And the time jumps? I barely could keep up.
But it deffinitely sparked my interest in the Arthurian Legend. :)
November 22, 2025
Sapphic Morgan le Fay, anyone?
She’s not even the main character of this book, nor is her romance with Viviane the main focus. I loved them together though.
Merlin being a pos as always, of course, nothing new.
And Lancelot (or Galahad) being Viviane and Morgan’s makeshift child? Yes, more of that.
And it’s a debut novel too?? This was a brilliant read. 4.5⭐️
She’s not even the main character of this book, nor is her romance with Viviane the main focus. I loved them together though.
Merlin being a pos as always, of course, nothing new.
And Lancelot (or Galahad) being Viviane and Morgan’s makeshift child? Yes, more of that.
And it’s a debut novel too?? This was a brilliant read. 4.5⭐️
February 23, 2025
Arthur and Merlin made me want to throw all men off the face of the earth- BUT I loved the story- I loved the folklore in it, I adored the sapphic romance and I LOVED Morgan
June 21, 2025
I really wanted to love this book. My first Arthurian legend retelling, this one sapphic, focusing on the character of Lady Vivian, who comes to King Uther's court.
I found the writing to be pretty simplistic however, and the dialogue felt very modern. It seemed quite YA, but then there were two explicit spicy scenes that lead me to believe this is aimed at adults.
A book feels more effective to me when it is showing rather than telling, but this book was constantly telling, with a lot of expository dialogue and internal monologue.
I will add though that I did like the ideas and the way it ties in with Arthurian legend.
I found the writing to be pretty simplistic however, and the dialogue felt very modern. It seemed quite YA, but then there were two explicit spicy scenes that lead me to believe this is aimed at adults.
A book feels more effective to me when it is showing rather than telling, but this book was constantly telling, with a lot of expository dialogue and internal monologue.
I will add though that I did like the ideas and the way it ties in with Arthurian legend.
July 25, 2025
3.8 ⭐️ Absolutely adored how Menzies weaves Arthurian mythology and feminist themes together in this sapphic historical fantasy.
**Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy to review.**
The plot for this had me gripped the whole time. I adored how much mythology is worked into it, whilst keeping it fresh and intriguing. It’s fairly fast paced and so much happens within the 400 pages.
It is bleaker at times, with some darker themes, and the magic within the realm was wonderful to read about.
I did enjoy the sapphic romance but did feel that at time it lacked build up. It never really felt earned but more the moments cropped up out of the blue. There is a dash of spice and it’s well written, but I felt like the build up relied too heavily on tension rather than romantic feelings. Saying that, I adored how protective they were of one another.
Overall, I would highly recommend this. One of my favourite historical fantasy reads in a while, I flew through this in a day. The mythology aspect feels so wildly well researched and I love how Menzies used it as a base to create such a vivid world.
Rep// WLW MC, WLW MC. Central romance is WLW/Sapphic.
TWs listed below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.
TW// death of a parent, cheating, mentions of rape (off page), sexual assault and attempted rape (interrupted before rape happens, on page, brief), themes of grooming, gaslighting, manipulation, period typical misogyny and homophobia, murder, injury, death during childbirth.)
**Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy to review.**
The plot for this had me gripped the whole time. I adored how much mythology is worked into it, whilst keeping it fresh and intriguing. It’s fairly fast paced and so much happens within the 400 pages.
It is bleaker at times, with some darker themes, and the magic within the realm was wonderful to read about.
I did enjoy the sapphic romance but did feel that at time it lacked build up. It never really felt earned but more the moments cropped up out of the blue. There is a dash of spice and it’s well written, but I felt like the build up relied too heavily on tension rather than romantic feelings. Saying that, I adored how protective they were of one another.
Overall, I would highly recommend this. One of my favourite historical fantasy reads in a while, I flew through this in a day. The mythology aspect feels so wildly well researched and I love how Menzies used it as a base to create such a vivid world.
Rep// WLW MC, WLW MC. Central romance is WLW/Sapphic.
TWs listed below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.
TW// death of a parent, cheating, mentions of rape (off page), sexual assault and attempted rape (interrupted before rape happens, on page, brief), themes of grooming, gaslighting, manipulation, period typical misogyny and homophobia, murder, injury, death during childbirth.)
June 7, 2025
Content warnings: sexual assault, sexual harassment, death
This sapphic Arthurian retelling follows Viviane, a princess sent to court Prince Arthur who instead decides to learn magic with his sister, Morgan.
There's a lot to love about this book: feminist themes, an underwater palace, fey magic shenanigans. I particularly liked Morgan as a character, and I really enjoyed the dynamic between Viviane and Morgan. Unfortunately, I did struggle with the pacing. It's pretty fast, and combined with considerable time skips, it left the plot and some characters feeling underdeveloped. There was a lot going on in this fairly short book, and I ended up feeling like a lot of the conclusions and climaxes throughout the story fell a little flat. That being said, I still thought this was a perfectly enjoyable read! If you watched BBC's Merlin and the main thing you got was a crush on Katie McGrath, I'd definitely recommend checking this one out!
Huge thank you to Jean and Penguin Michael Joseph for sending me an ARC!
This sapphic Arthurian retelling follows Viviane, a princess sent to court Prince Arthur who instead decides to learn magic with his sister, Morgan.
There's a lot to love about this book: feminist themes, an underwater palace, fey magic shenanigans. I particularly liked Morgan as a character, and I really enjoyed the dynamic between Viviane and Morgan. Unfortunately, I did struggle with the pacing. It's pretty fast, and combined with considerable time skips, it left the plot and some characters feeling underdeveloped. There was a lot going on in this fairly short book, and I ended up feeling like a lot of the conclusions and climaxes throughout the story fell a little flat. That being said, I still thought this was a perfectly enjoyable read! If you watched BBC's Merlin and the main thing you got was a crush on Katie McGrath, I'd definitely recommend checking this one out!
Huge thank you to Jean and Penguin Michael Joseph for sending me an ARC!
September 21, 2025
4.5 stars! I loved this book, the romance was beautiful and felt very natural to the story. It's fired me up to read up on some more British mythology too!
Beautiful
Beautiful
May 29, 2025
Me, a history girly at heart, LOVED THIS
As someone whose only true knowledge of Arthurian tales stems from that one season of Once Upon a Time & drabbles of others, I loved reading this retelling/ different perspective of the story. Centring Viviane & telling her story was such a good idea since, as Jean says in the Authors Notes, she is an observer. I loved that this observer was given such an interesting story within this tale & I loved her romance with Morgan.
If you get the chance to listen to the audiobook, definitely do it!! It really added to the experience <3
As someone whose only true knowledge of Arthurian tales stems from that one season of Once Upon a Time & drabbles of others, I loved reading this retelling/ different perspective of the story. Centring Viviane & telling her story was such a good idea since, as Jean says in the Authors Notes, she is an observer. I loved that this observer was given such an interesting story within this tale & I loved her romance with Morgan.
If you get the chance to listen to the audiobook, definitely do it!! It really added to the experience <3
April 3, 2025
Thank you to Penguin & NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I was really intrigued and excited by a sapphic retelling of Arthurian legend, and by a focus on the lady of the lake from the original stories where she is so often left out. The latter is achieved well.
However, this novel fell flat to me. Though it is classified as adult (presumably due to trigger warnings of sexual assault and death during childbirth, as well as two random sexual scenes which… random is certainly the word for them; they felt entirely dropped in for no real reason and with no buildup), the writing reads like poorly written YA. There is far more telling than showing, or both combined unnecessarily. It stopped me being drawn in.
I enjoyed the dynamics of the characters, but especially for a book promoted as a sapphic reimagining, the sapphic relationship was so swift it felt shallow to me. We saw very little of the pair falling in love, they just sort of… competed for a while and then each said they liked the other and that was that. I would’ve liked to see more of the love story. Similarly, the worldbuilding seemed to rely too much on labels, using a presumed knowledge of the Camelot setting to reduce the amount of worldbuilding actually happening.
I really wish I could’ve said I loved this book, because I was intrigued enough about the plot to read it to the end (hence the 2 stars), but it just felt too flat.
I was really intrigued and excited by a sapphic retelling of Arthurian legend, and by a focus on the lady of the lake from the original stories where she is so often left out. The latter is achieved well.
However, this novel fell flat to me. Though it is classified as adult (presumably due to trigger warnings of sexual assault and death during childbirth, as well as two random sexual scenes which… random is certainly the word for them; they felt entirely dropped in for no real reason and with no buildup), the writing reads like poorly written YA. There is far more telling than showing, or both combined unnecessarily. It stopped me being drawn in.
I enjoyed the dynamics of the characters, but especially for a book promoted as a sapphic reimagining, the sapphic relationship was so swift it felt shallow to me. We saw very little of the pair falling in love, they just sort of… competed for a while and then each said they liked the other and that was that. I would’ve liked to see more of the love story. Similarly, the worldbuilding seemed to rely too much on labels, using a presumed knowledge of the Camelot setting to reduce the amount of worldbuilding actually happening.
I really wish I could’ve said I loved this book, because I was intrigued enough about the plot to read it to the end (hence the 2 stars), but it just felt too flat.
February 9, 2025
4 stars
Fantasy is my favourite genre especially if it has sapphic representation so as soon as I found out about this book I applied straight away, and I wasn't disappointed. While the first 20% or so was a bit too slow paced for me, it did still help introduce the characters and introduce you to this world. After that point I couldn't stop reading it, I loved learning more about Viviane's magic as well as the sapphic relationship and you could really tell that they loved and really respected each other.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
Fantasy is my favourite genre especially if it has sapphic representation so as soon as I found out about this book I applied straight away, and I wasn't disappointed. While the first 20% or so was a bit too slow paced for me, it did still help introduce the characters and introduce you to this world. After that point I couldn't stop reading it, I loved learning more about Viviane's magic as well as the sapphic relationship and you could really tell that they loved and really respected each other.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
March 30, 2025
sapphic Morgan, you will always be special to me
June 29, 2025
i loved it !
Although I'd have appreciated a more whimsical writing, the story was well paced and quite immersive. I like to think I'm rather well-versed in arthurian legends, not only thanks to Merlin from the BBC but also my college studies ; yet, this book managed to surprise me a handful of times. I obviously loved Vivian, her story is always underused and it was nice to see her as the main character she deserved to be. I obviously loved Morgan, and not just because I pictured her as Katy McGrath.
I was excited to read another book by Jean Menzies, and it left me even more excited for whatever else she writes.
Although I'd have appreciated a more whimsical writing, the story was well paced and quite immersive. I like to think I'm rather well-versed in arthurian legends, not only thanks to Merlin from the BBC but also my college studies ; yet, this book managed to surprise me a handful of times. I obviously loved Vivian, her story is always underused and it was nice to see her as the main character she deserved to be. I obviously loved Morgan, and not just because I pictured her as Katy McGrath.
I was excited to read another book by Jean Menzies, and it left me even more excited for whatever else she writes.
April 21, 2025
I really loved this Arthurian retelling focusing on Viviane and her love of Morgan Le Fay and also seeing Merlin from a different perspective. This book is so well written and I did not want to put it down. Thanks to the author Jean Menzies, Netgalley and Penguin Random House for an advanced reader copy.
June 7, 2025
I enjoyed this, lovely YA retelling(at least, I assume it is)! However, I would have liked more from it: more dialogue, less telling and more showing (so more detail, the pacing was at times way too fast) - though I didn't mind the modern slang, etc. It is a modern reclamation of the Arthurian legends and it doesn't pretend to be something else. The author clearly knows her stuff.
November 20, 2025
For a debut this was good. However, it was written very basically and the story was just a little dull. I did feel that this whole book fell a little flat.
Maybe I just love the bbc Merlin show too much for fully commit to this retelling or maybe it was just a little simplistic in its style (or most likely a bit of both).
Overall, this one just wasn’t anything incredible.
Maybe I just love the bbc Merlin show too much for fully commit to this retelling or maybe it was just a little simplistic in its style (or most likely a bit of both).
Overall, this one just wasn’t anything incredible.
September 13, 2025
3.5 stars. There was a lot happening and nothing seem to have a super lasting effect, everything for the most part went by without an issue. For an author debut it's a great start though, I will be sure to see what else is written in the future.
September 2, 2025
i think they should cut the sex scenes and make this a YA! it was not what i expected from the book plot wise… and the writing, whilst not bad, seems more in line with a younger audience
December 2, 2025
somewhat gayer than the disney version but still not as gay as the katie mcgrath merlin edits people used to post on tumblr
June 21, 2025
I absolutely loved this book from the first page to the last page of the epilogue. From the very beginning, the writing style and the scenery described were so captivating and engaging that I couldn't stop thinking about it when I had to stop reading.
Vivian, the Lady of the Lake, was a fascinating character, and discovering Camelot through her eyes and the other characters of Arthurian legend was absolutely thrilling.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat several times.
I think it also addresses some very important ethical issues. The dilemma of responsibility to do the right thing or to protect yourself and your family, secrets between friends, family and lovers, the shame and remorse, the oppression of women by the men in their lives and the desire for freedom to determine one's own life are just the beginning.
The book depicts the deep feelings of female friendship, belonging and more.
It is a profound retelling of this old legend. And I couldn't recommend it more. It has made it to one of my favourite books, but beware of the trigger warnings.
Vivian, the Lady of the Lake, was a fascinating character, and discovering Camelot through her eyes and the other characters of Arthurian legend was absolutely thrilling.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat several times.
I think it also addresses some very important ethical issues. The dilemma of responsibility to do the right thing or to protect yourself and your family, secrets between friends, family and lovers, the shame and remorse, the oppression of women by the men in their lives and the desire for freedom to determine one's own life are just the beginning.
The book depicts the deep feelings of female friendship, belonging and more.
It is a profound retelling of this old legend. And I couldn't recommend it more. It has made it to one of my favourite books, but beware of the trigger warnings.
August 10, 2025
Actual ass
May 7, 2025
I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As an English Lit graduate and avid BBC Merlin fan, I was very intrigued by this concept - and it did not disappoint. The bond between Viviane and Morgan, as they navigate the magic and threats of Arthur's court, immediately endeared me to both their characters. While I've always enjoyed the varied portrayals of Morgan/ Morgana, it was actually Viviane's character who really stood out to me. Her desire for freedom shines through the novel, and blends perfectly with the different elements of Arthurian myth.
This was a much quicker read than I expected, and while the fast pace was definitely what I needed after a recent reading slump, there were a few places where I would have liked a little more exposition. But if you're looking for a taste of Camelot with an original twist, this is a good one to watch out for. And it comes with a playlist!
Books with similar vibes - Morgan Is My Name by Sophie Keetch, Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid, Sistersong by Lucy Holland, and Smile and Be a Villain by Yves Donlon.
As an English Lit graduate and avid BBC Merlin fan, I was very intrigued by this concept - and it did not disappoint. The bond between Viviane and Morgan, as they navigate the magic and threats of Arthur's court, immediately endeared me to both their characters. While I've always enjoyed the varied portrayals of Morgan/ Morgana, it was actually Viviane's character who really stood out to me. Her desire for freedom shines through the novel, and blends perfectly with the different elements of Arthurian myth.
This was a much quicker read than I expected, and while the fast pace was definitely what I needed after a recent reading slump, there were a few places where I would have liked a little more exposition. But if you're looking for a taste of Camelot with an original twist, this is a good one to watch out for. And it comes with a playlist!
Books with similar vibes - Morgan Is My Name by Sophie Keetch, Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid, Sistersong by Lucy Holland, and Smile and Be a Villain by Yves Donlon.
January 19, 2025
Wow wow wow wow wow! Lady of the Lake by Jean Menzies is a captivating sapphic retelling of the Camelot myths that breathes fresh life into the classic Arthurian legend.
Menzies’ skillful reinterpretation of the characters, especially Vivienne (the Lady of the Lake) and Morgan le Fay, is a standout feature of the novel.
The way she reimagines these two iconic figures feels both timely and timeless, offering them depth and nuance that I found incredibly compelling.
Vivienne is no longer just the mysterious, ethereal figure associated with the magical lake but a complex woman whose desires, motivations, and relationships are central to the narrative. Menzies beautifully explores Vivienne’s internal struggles and the tensions that arise from her role in the mythic world of Camelot.
Similarly, Morgan le Fay, often portrayed as the antagonist in many retellings, is here given her own rich backstory and agency. The connection between her and Vivienne, in particular, is handled with such sensitivity and emotional depth that it completely redefines their relationship.
Menzies’ prose is lush and immersive, perfectly capturing the magic, danger, and passion of Camelot. The relationships in the novel, especially the sapphic bond between Vivienne and Morgan, are rendered with a rare tenderness and authenticity that I found deeply moving. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, adding an emotional layer to the traditional themes of fate, power, and betrayal that are so central to the Arthurian legends.
Overall, Lady of the Lake is a beautifully written and thought-provoking retelling that highlights Jean Menzies’ talent! This is the my first 5 star read of 2025 and I won’t be surprised if it’s in my 2025 top reads at the end of the year!
Menzies’ skillful reinterpretation of the characters, especially Vivienne (the Lady of the Lake) and Morgan le Fay, is a standout feature of the novel.
The way she reimagines these two iconic figures feels both timely and timeless, offering them depth and nuance that I found incredibly compelling.
Vivienne is no longer just the mysterious, ethereal figure associated with the magical lake but a complex woman whose desires, motivations, and relationships are central to the narrative. Menzies beautifully explores Vivienne’s internal struggles and the tensions that arise from her role in the mythic world of Camelot.
Similarly, Morgan le Fay, often portrayed as the antagonist in many retellings, is here given her own rich backstory and agency. The connection between her and Vivienne, in particular, is handled with such sensitivity and emotional depth that it completely redefines their relationship.
Menzies’ prose is lush and immersive, perfectly capturing the magic, danger, and passion of Camelot. The relationships in the novel, especially the sapphic bond between Vivienne and Morgan, are rendered with a rare tenderness and authenticity that I found deeply moving. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, adding an emotional layer to the traditional themes of fate, power, and betrayal that are so central to the Arthurian legends.
Overall, Lady of the Lake is a beautifully written and thought-provoking retelling that highlights Jean Menzies’ talent! This is the my first 5 star read of 2025 and I won’t be surprised if it’s in my 2025 top reads at the end of the year!
January 19, 2025
Like many queer millenials, I watched bbc's merlin as a kid and it altered my brain chemistry. Especially Katie Mcgrath's Morgana. So when I saw this was a sapphic arthuriana retelling I instantly requested it.
I think the authors note at the end made me understand a lot more about what story the author was trying to tell, and overall I definitely appreciated bringing the female arthurian characters to the forefront. The research into Merlin as a divise was interesting and I'd like to learn more about the different depictions of him in history. However...
The story itself, on it's own, felt a little slow to me. I didn't feel entirely able to connect emotionally with the characters. I felt we were being held at arms length. This affected the main romance for me, since we never really see Morgan's pov. I did feel I got to know her character, but I don't feel we ever really got to delve beneath the surface (no pun intended.) I think as well I might have liked more humour. As noted, the author mentions Merlin in her authors note as well as shows like Excalibur and Xena warrior princess. I think maybe I'm deeping this too much, but I think if the book had lent further into the type of story invoked in those shows OR further into fully serious historical fiction, it might have been easier to connect with. But instead we sit somewhere between them and it left the tone feeling a little strange.
This is not a bad book. It's researched and I love the inclusion of queer characters in classic tales. I just think this one didn't quite get me the way I wanted it to.
I think the authors note at the end made me understand a lot more about what story the author was trying to tell, and overall I definitely appreciated bringing the female arthurian characters to the forefront. The research into Merlin as a divise was interesting and I'd like to learn more about the different depictions of him in history. However...
The story itself, on it's own, felt a little slow to me. I didn't feel entirely able to connect emotionally with the characters. I felt we were being held at arms length. This affected the main romance for me, since we never really see Morgan's pov. I did feel I got to know her character, but I don't feel we ever really got to delve beneath the surface (no pun intended.) I think as well I might have liked more humour. As noted, the author mentions Merlin in her authors note as well as shows like Excalibur and Xena warrior princess. I think maybe I'm deeping this too much, but I think if the book had lent further into the type of story invoked in those shows OR further into fully serious historical fiction, it might have been easier to connect with. But instead we sit somewhere between them and it left the tone feeling a little strange.
This is not a bad book. It's researched and I love the inclusion of queer characters in classic tales. I just think this one didn't quite get me the way I wanted it to.
April 19, 2025
Lady of the lake was one of my most anticipated releases of 2025 and it did not disappoint. It is a beautiful sapphic Arthurian retelling focusing on Viviane (The lady of the lake) and Morgan. You follow Viv and Morgan as their relationship blossoms from friendship to love, they learn to understand each other and bring out the best in each other. The story was beautifully written and elements of Arthurian legends were woven throughout. You know a book is good when you find yourself researching the different legends and stories because you want more. I will definitely read more by Jean Menzies in the future
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