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Origins of Morgana Le Fay #1
Darkness Sleeping
Every proper villain has a tale. This is mine.
Follow the journey of Morgana Le Fay from her early beginnings through her rise to power and infamy.
Book one.
Morgana has spent years in an orphanage in Pons Aelius, but at 18, she must leave her temporary home and head for the convent where she plans to spend the rest of her days.
An old woman who lives in the attic chooses Morgana as her student and begins the task of teaching her to read every day at noon. One day, the old woman gives Morgana a new book and that book will change her life forever.
Suddenly finding herself on the run from the religious zealots, she takes her horse and travels across the great country in search of a place she only knows by name: Avalon.
Will Morgana find this mythical place, and will she finally find a home there?
Or will the darkness sleeping within her rise as she faces forces that threaten to end her very life?
What early reviewers are saying:
"Captivating"
"An exciting and entertaining read"
"Excellent take on an old theme"
231 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 27, 2019
42 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Jen Pretty
32 books61 followersJen Pretty is a well- known and prolific writer of smart urban fantasies. Her novels are character driven, witty, often violent, and with a liberal sprinkling of coarse language. Some of her books genre-hop into mythology, pulling characters and situations from a variety of sources.
When not writing, Jen can be found in the barn with her horses, or knee-deep in the vegetable garden at her home in rural Ontario, Canada, which she shares with her husband, three children, and a white husky dog named Salt.
When not writing, Jen can be found in the barn with her horses, or knee-deep in the vegetable garden at her home in rural Ontario, Canada, which she shares with her husband, three children, and a white husky dog named Salt.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 31, 2019
As I have already reviewed two other books by Jen Pretty, I anticipated that this will be beautifully written, a real page-turner and hard to put down. I was not disappointed. I haven’t read any Arthurian fiction and I’m not familiar with Morgana le Fay’s story. So I won’t be comparing it to other books or legends.
Morgan has spent a good part of her childhood in an orphanage but once she’s old enough to be on her own, they inform her she must leave to work as a servant at a convent. Her only possession is her horse named Copper that she has raised since he was born.
At the convent, Morgana is often belittled and mistreated by the nuns, except for an old woman living in the attic who teaches her how to read and gives her a spellbook instructing her to go to Avalon and claim her birthright.
“Have you heard of Avalon, Morgan?”
Of course, I had heard whispers, but it sounded like stories, not truth.
“When I am gone, you will travel there. You will run and never look back. Until then, read.” She closed her eyes again, letting her foot rock out a rhythm that set a beat for my reading. I knew more words every day, as if my mind was practicing even when I slept or worked. But I didn’t understand just how dangerous it was to read that book, in that cramped bedroom on the third floor of the convent.
I could never regret meeting Margarette nor accepting the gift she gave me.
After a horrible incident that forces her to flee the convent, she heads to Avalon, a place she isn’t sure even exists. Her adventures are sprinkled with danger, but fortunately, she doesn’t have to struggle alone.
She meets Paxton, a man she doesn’t completely trust at first, but who is there for her when things get ugly. He rides a black horse named Midnight. He seems to know more about her but never reveals enough about himself. Paxton calls Morgan by the name Morgana le Fay and she uses it to introduce herself in Avalon.
“Is your owner trustworthy?” I asked the horse. I rarely trusted humans, but I trusted animals. They never lied.
The large horse stomped a foot and shook his head. I wasn’t sure if that was an answer or not, but in my experience a well-kept horse was a sign of a good horseman. But was a good horseman a good man?
Read the complete review here: https://www.summonfantasy.com/book-re...
Morgan has spent a good part of her childhood in an orphanage but once she’s old enough to be on her own, they inform her she must leave to work as a servant at a convent. Her only possession is her horse named Copper that she has raised since he was born.
At the convent, Morgana is often belittled and mistreated by the nuns, except for an old woman living in the attic who teaches her how to read and gives her a spellbook instructing her to go to Avalon and claim her birthright.
“Have you heard of Avalon, Morgan?”
Of course, I had heard whispers, but it sounded like stories, not truth.
“When I am gone, you will travel there. You will run and never look back. Until then, read.” She closed her eyes again, letting her foot rock out a rhythm that set a beat for my reading. I knew more words every day, as if my mind was practicing even when I slept or worked. But I didn’t understand just how dangerous it was to read that book, in that cramped bedroom on the third floor of the convent.
I could never regret meeting Margarette nor accepting the gift she gave me.
After a horrible incident that forces her to flee the convent, she heads to Avalon, a place she isn’t sure even exists. Her adventures are sprinkled with danger, but fortunately, she doesn’t have to struggle alone.
She meets Paxton, a man she doesn’t completely trust at first, but who is there for her when things get ugly. He rides a black horse named Midnight. He seems to know more about her but never reveals enough about himself. Paxton calls Morgan by the name Morgana le Fay and she uses it to introduce herself in Avalon.
“Is your owner trustworthy?” I asked the horse. I rarely trusted humans, but I trusted animals. They never lied.
The large horse stomped a foot and shook his head. I wasn’t sure if that was an answer or not, but in my experience a well-kept horse was a sign of a good horseman. But was a good horseman a good man?
Read the complete review here: https://www.summonfantasy.com/book-re...
October 14, 2019
Title Darkness Sleeping (Origins of Morgana Le Fay #1)
Author Jen Pretty
Description from Amazon
Morgana has spent years in an orphanage in Pons Aelius, but at 18, she must leave her temporary home and head for the convent where she plans to spend the rest of her days.
An old woman who lives in the attic chooses Morgana as her student and begins the task of teaching her to read every day at noon. One day, the old woman gives Morgana a new book and that book will change her life forever.
Suddenly finding herself on the run from the religious zealots, she takes her horse and travels across the great country in search of a place she only knows by name: Avalon.
Will Morgana find this mythical place, and will she finally find a home there?
Or will the darkness sleeping within her rise as she faces forces that threaten to end her very life?
Initial Thoughts
I really enjoy King Arthur retellings and I thought this book sounded really interesting. Morgana Le Fay is typically a villain in the story and I was very interested to see how her backstory would be portrayed when she is the star.
Some Things I Liked
A villain’s backstory. I got all kinds of Joaquin Phoenix Joker vibes from this book. It gave so much clarity and background to a villain that I thought I knew well. I loved that.
History. I really enjoyed the history woven into the story. I hope to see more of that in the next books but I really enjoyed the mentions of the Saxons and Romans brought up in this book. I thought it grounded the mythological elements of the story and made it feel more like a historical fiction story (which I loved).
One Thing I Didn’t Like
I get that this is the story of a villain, but I was somewhat disappointed that there was so much death. Morgana was not exactly remorseful (the scene at the school) and I think I was secretly wishing she’d become a hero. I think I have to embrace the fact that this is the story of how she becomes a villain (and not a redemption story).
Series Value
This story is definitely interesting. The ending left me desperate for the next installment (a certain character from the original legend makes an appearance 😉). I will continue reading this series when the next book comes out (later this month).
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed this book. I thought the story was captivating and I am excited to read the next installment. I also was surprised how much I enjoyed getting inside the mind of a villain. This was a change of pace for me as I usually want to read stories of heroes. Morgana is a rich and complex character and I can’t wait to read more about her regardless of how her story plays out.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
Kingdom Cold by Brittni Chenelle – if you enjoy retelling of the legend of King Arthur, definitely give this series a try. Also, the Morgan / Morgana character has a really interesting story.
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo – if you enjoy a likable villain, check out this series. The Darkling is one of my all time favorite villains.
Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta – if you like the Arthurian element but are looking for a more futuristic / sci-fi setting, give this book a try.
Author Jen Pretty
Description from Amazon
Morgana has spent years in an orphanage in Pons Aelius, but at 18, she must leave her temporary home and head for the convent where she plans to spend the rest of her days.
An old woman who lives in the attic chooses Morgana as her student and begins the task of teaching her to read every day at noon. One day, the old woman gives Morgana a new book and that book will change her life forever.
Suddenly finding herself on the run from the religious zealots, she takes her horse and travels across the great country in search of a place she only knows by name: Avalon.
Will Morgana find this mythical place, and will she finally find a home there?
Or will the darkness sleeping within her rise as she faces forces that threaten to end her very life?
Initial Thoughts
I really enjoy King Arthur retellings and I thought this book sounded really interesting. Morgana Le Fay is typically a villain in the story and I was very interested to see how her backstory would be portrayed when she is the star.
Some Things I Liked
A villain’s backstory. I got all kinds of Joaquin Phoenix Joker vibes from this book. It gave so much clarity and background to a villain that I thought I knew well. I loved that.
History. I really enjoyed the history woven into the story. I hope to see more of that in the next books but I really enjoyed the mentions of the Saxons and Romans brought up in this book. I thought it grounded the mythological elements of the story and made it feel more like a historical fiction story (which I loved).
One Thing I Didn’t Like
I get that this is the story of a villain, but I was somewhat disappointed that there was so much death. Morgana was not exactly remorseful (the scene at the school) and I think I was secretly wishing she’d become a hero. I think I have to embrace the fact that this is the story of how she becomes a villain (and not a redemption story).
Series Value
This story is definitely interesting. The ending left me desperate for the next installment (a certain character from the original legend makes an appearance 😉). I will continue reading this series when the next book comes out (later this month).
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed this book. I thought the story was captivating and I am excited to read the next installment. I also was surprised how much I enjoyed getting inside the mind of a villain. This was a change of pace for me as I usually want to read stories of heroes. Morgana is a rich and complex character and I can’t wait to read more about her regardless of how her story plays out.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
Kingdom Cold by Brittni Chenelle – if you enjoy retelling of the legend of King Arthur, definitely give this series a try. Also, the Morgan / Morgana character has a really interesting story.
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo – if you enjoy a likable villain, check out this series. The Darkling is one of my all time favorite villains.
Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta – if you like the Arthurian element but are looking for a more futuristic / sci-fi setting, give this book a try.
May 2, 2020
Writing: 3
Characters: 1,5
Plot: 1,5
Original: 1
Topic and theme (did it resonate with me?): meh, eh
It was an Amazon freebie and I am usually cautious with these, but I've made a decision to read everything and anything this year, so here I am, doing just that.
I had low expectations and I was pleasantly surprised from the beginning to the middle part. There were some issues, like the protagonist feeling a bit flat from time to time, but the writing was okay and I kind of enjoyed the pace at which it was going.
I liked the robustness of the first half of the book. The protagonist had simple and practical problems that she had to solve — like where to get food, finding warm clothes, etc. The pace was slow, but it did not bother me. I enjoyed the kind of "everyday" life that we were going though with some of the magical aspects being hinted.
The characters should have been more three-dimensional though. At times, the protagonist just felt like a talking head and it was troublesome because it was written in first person and from her POV. The man introduced in the middle also felt a bit generic, but I was okay with that, until *spoilers* he died kind of randomly. I have a feeling it was supposed to show how rough the world they live in was, but with little hints of these horrors before, it just felt random.
However, the middle to end just made me shake my head. A lot of death and there wasn't much of a reaction from the protagonist to that at all. Her reflection was weak after all the horrors. It was mentioned how she felt about it, and that it was horrible, but it did not click with anything from her personality or why it would matter to her (and therefore me, reading it).
I also felt like the ending was very high-paced, while, like I said, I enjoyed the mission of trying to find bread in the beginning entertaining; then around the end, all hell broke lose in one chapter. It just did not feel balanced and realistic (fantasy is also supposed to feel realistic as well).
All in all, I won't be reading the next book in the series, but it was not as bad as expected. It was actually better than some hyped books in the YA fantasy genre.
Characters: 1,5
Plot: 1,5
Original: 1
Topic and theme (did it resonate with me?): meh, eh
It was an Amazon freebie and I am usually cautious with these, but I've made a decision to read everything and anything this year, so here I am, doing just that.
I had low expectations and I was pleasantly surprised from the beginning to the middle part. There were some issues, like the protagonist feeling a bit flat from time to time, but the writing was okay and I kind of enjoyed the pace at which it was going.
I liked the robustness of the first half of the book. The protagonist had simple and practical problems that she had to solve — like where to get food, finding warm clothes, etc. The pace was slow, but it did not bother me. I enjoyed the kind of "everyday" life that we were going though with some of the magical aspects being hinted.
The characters should have been more three-dimensional though. At times, the protagonist just felt like a talking head and it was troublesome because it was written in first person and from her POV. The man introduced in the middle also felt a bit generic, but I was okay with that, until *spoilers* he died kind of randomly. I have a feeling it was supposed to show how rough the world they live in was, but with little hints of these horrors before, it just felt random.
However, the middle to end just made me shake my head. A lot of death and there wasn't much of a reaction from the protagonist to that at all. Her reflection was weak after all the horrors. It was mentioned how she felt about it, and that it was horrible, but it did not click with anything from her personality or why it would matter to her (and therefore me, reading it).
I also felt like the ending was very high-paced, while, like I said, I enjoyed the mission of trying to find bread in the beginning entertaining; then around the end, all hell broke lose in one chapter. It just did not feel balanced and realistic (fantasy is also supposed to feel realistic as well).
All in all, I won't be reading the next book in the series, but it was not as bad as expected. It was actually better than some hyped books in the YA fantasy genre.
January 3, 2020
I’m a big fan of Arthurian legend, so I was excited to try a story from the perspective of Morgana. I liked the way that author didn’t give Morgana a redemption arc, but still made her an interesting character to read about.
The plot was well thought out, and I couldn’t put it down to the point where I managed to read it within a day.
I did find that the ending a little abrupt, but I know it is part of a series, and that being said I would read the next book in series.
The plot was well thought out, and I couldn’t put it down to the point where I managed to read it within a day.
I did find that the ending a little abrupt, but I know it is part of a series, and that being said I would read the next book in series.
May 13, 2021
Intrigued
I'm a huge fan of Athurian legends and always wanted to learn more about Morgana and her relationship to Arthur and Merlin, so I'm interested in reading this series.
So far, I'm definitely intrigued and look forward to more, especially as it's written from her point of view.
I'm a huge fan of Athurian legends and always wanted to learn more about Morgana and her relationship to Arthur and Merlin, so I'm interested in reading this series.
So far, I'm definitely intrigued and look forward to more, especially as it's written from her point of view.
December 22, 2020
Interesting concept but the writing doesn’t quite bring it to life. Morgana is supposed to be 18 but comes across more as 13. She’s drawn into petty squabbles easily but has this amazing power so she can basically control the world? No thanks.
Want to read
December 31, 2019Freebie on Amazon 31st December 2019
January 2, 2020
Darkness sleeping
Morgana is an interesting character who learns she can do magic but without training. She has a tough road but soon that changes.
Morgana is an interesting character who learns she can do magic but without training. She has a tough road but soon that changes.
October 18, 2019
Morgan ages out of the orphanage and is sent to be a servant at a convent. There she meets an old woman who gives her a book of spells and tells Morgan to go to Avalon to find her birthright. A perilous journey ensues.
This book was a quick read. It's perfect for Arthurian lovers. I found the writing simplistic and the plot predictable.
December 5, 2020
Fun tame on Moganna Le Fay
Well turned story of an iconic Arthurian figure who iz often done as such a cliche evil character. I look forward to more in this series.
Well turned story of an iconic Arthurian figure who iz often done as such a cliche evil character. I look forward to more in this series.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews