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Morgan le Fay #1
Morgan Is My Name
"A very real, passionate retelling of Morgan le Fay's story, with detail about political and magical lives, and the women who are such a vital part of the tale." —Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"This is the powerfully feminist, intricately woven, and realistically enchanting Arthurian tale you've been waiting for. Morgan is her name, and I love her." —Kiersten White, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Camelot Rising Trilogy
A powerful feminist retelling of the early life of Morgan le Fay, the famed villainess of Arthurian legend, this dazzling debut is the story of a woman both mortal and magical, formidable and misunderstood, told in her own words.
Young Morgan of Cornwall lives a happy life in Tintagel Castle until King Uther Pendragon, with the help of the sorcerer Merlin, murders her father and tricks her mother into marriage. Furious, brilliant, and vengeful, Morgan defies her brutal stepfather, taking up a secret education, discovering a lifelong affinity with the healing arts, and falling in love with a man far beneath her station. However, defiance comes at a cost. Used as a bargaining chip in her stepfather’s war games, Morgan finds herself banished to a world of isolated castles and gossiping courts, amidst the machinations of kings, sorcerers, and men.
But some desires are not easily forgotten, and the search for her independence is a quest Morgan cannot give up. As the era of King Arthur approaches, she must use all her wit, knowledge, and courage to fight against those who wish to deny her intelligence, crush her spirit, and control her body. But, in seeking her freedom, Morgan risks losing everything–her reputation, her loved ones, and her life.
"This is the powerfully feminist, intricately woven, and realistically enchanting Arthurian tale you've been waiting for. Morgan is her name, and I love her." —Kiersten White, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Camelot Rising Trilogy
A powerful feminist retelling of the early life of Morgan le Fay, the famed villainess of Arthurian legend, this dazzling debut is the story of a woman both mortal and magical, formidable and misunderstood, told in her own words.
Young Morgan of Cornwall lives a happy life in Tintagel Castle until King Uther Pendragon, with the help of the sorcerer Merlin, murders her father and tricks her mother into marriage. Furious, brilliant, and vengeful, Morgan defies her brutal stepfather, taking up a secret education, discovering a lifelong affinity with the healing arts, and falling in love with a man far beneath her station. However, defiance comes at a cost. Used as a bargaining chip in her stepfather’s war games, Morgan finds herself banished to a world of isolated castles and gossiping courts, amidst the machinations of kings, sorcerers, and men.
But some desires are not easily forgotten, and the search for her independence is a quest Morgan cannot give up. As the era of King Arthur approaches, she must use all her wit, knowledge, and courage to fight against those who wish to deny her intelligence, crush her spirit, and control her body. But, in seeking her freedom, Morgan risks losing everything–her reputation, her loved ones, and her life.
368 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2022
660 people are currently reading
27241 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Keetch
9 books697 followersSophie Keetch has a BA in English Literature from Cardiff University, which included the study of Arthurian legend. She is Welsh and lives with her husband and son in South Wales. For her debut novel, she was drawn to Morgan le Fay because of the progression of her character through time, becoming ever more villainous as she was written and rewritten in the words of men. But beneath the infamy, Sophie felt there was an unsung story and was compelled to seek out the woman behind the myth and give a voice to her contradictions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,721 reviews
March 29, 2023
Rated 4.5/5 stars!
It can be hard to live up to a story quite literally built from legend, but Sophie Keetch has managed it.
From the very first page, I knew this would be a story I adored. The writing is enthralling, instantly pulling you into a story deeply entwined with politics and family ties, feminine rage and power plays. It’s a story that is at once gritty and whimsical for its understated magic, and one that infuses a long retold story with life after centuries of tellings. Morgan is the sea personified, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her wisdom and rebellion through this book. Easily one of the strongest myth inspired stories I’ve read.
It can be hard to live up to a story quite literally built from legend, but Sophie Keetch has managed it.
From the very first page, I knew this would be a story I adored. The writing is enthralling, instantly pulling you into a story deeply entwined with politics and family ties, feminine rage and power plays. It’s a story that is at once gritty and whimsical for its understated magic, and one that infuses a long retold story with life after centuries of tellings. Morgan is the sea personified, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her wisdom and rebellion through this book. Easily one of the strongest myth inspired stories I’ve read.
June 23, 2023
Morgan is My Name is a beautifully written feminist retelling of the villainess Morgan le Fay.
Until her father’s death, Morgan had a happy childhood. Morgan’s hatred for her father’s killer, King Uther Pendragon, ignites when he tricks her mother into marrying him. Morgan’s parents allowed and encouraged her to pursue her education. But the king strictly forbids it, only allowing her to pray.
However, with the help of her father’s priest, she continues her education in secret. As she grows up, she falls in love and learns she possesses special powers. Powers that might cast her as a witch in the eyes of men. Powers that might rival Merlin, the king’s sorcerer.
I know next to nothing about Arthurian Legend, but when I saw that this was being touted as a feminist retelling from the villainess’s pov, I snatched it up immediately.
And I’m glad I did because the writing is beautiful and captured my attention right away. It is a slowly-paced character-driven novel. Morgan’s voice seamlessly transitions from that of a child to a young woman. We see Morgan’s hatred for the king and the constraints of her time spill over.
The ending has me itching for more Morgan. After some Googling, it seems like her story is just getting started, and this is the beginning of a trilogy.
If you like retellings, I’d highly recommend giving this a go.
4.5 rounded up.
Thank you to Random House Canada for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
Until her father’s death, Morgan had a happy childhood. Morgan’s hatred for her father’s killer, King Uther Pendragon, ignites when he tricks her mother into marrying him. Morgan’s parents allowed and encouraged her to pursue her education. But the king strictly forbids it, only allowing her to pray.
However, with the help of her father’s priest, she continues her education in secret. As she grows up, she falls in love and learns she possesses special powers. Powers that might cast her as a witch in the eyes of men. Powers that might rival Merlin, the king’s sorcerer.
I know next to nothing about Arthurian Legend, but when I saw that this was being touted as a feminist retelling from the villainess’s pov, I snatched it up immediately.
And I’m glad I did because the writing is beautiful and captured my attention right away. It is a slowly-paced character-driven novel. Morgan’s voice seamlessly transitions from that of a child to a young woman. We see Morgan’s hatred for the king and the constraints of her time spill over.
The ending has me itching for more Morgan. After some Googling, it seems like her story is just getting started, and this is the beginning of a trilogy.
If you like retellings, I’d highly recommend giving this a go.
4.5 rounded up.
Thank you to Random House Canada for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
July 25, 2024
Vanessa Kirby brilliantly narrates this tale, and her voice fits Morgan le Fey incredibly well. The narrator can add or subtract so much from a book!
In the retelling of this classic Arthurian legend tale, we meet Morgan, a star with a strong feminine presence who is quite the rebel; the malevolent High King, Uther Pendragon, who claims her mother, Lady Igraine, after her husband's murder; and the equally pernicious sorcerer Merlin, using his magic to manipulate the events.
I love it and cannot wait to hear the second of this trilogy.
In the retelling of this classic Arthurian legend tale, we meet Morgan, a star with a strong feminine presence who is quite the rebel; the malevolent High King, Uther Pendragon, who claims her mother, Lady Igraine, after her husband's murder; and the equally pernicious sorcerer Merlin, using his magic to manipulate the events.
I love it and cannot wait to hear the second of this trilogy.
June 30, 2025
Sophie Keetch's Morgan Is My Name goes beyond Morgan's infamous reputation as a villainous sorceress to a feminist retelling of her childhood and early adulthood.
Sophie does a great job exploring Morgan's fierce character and ambiguous morality with beautiful writing and good world-building. There are some great secondary characters, though all the antagonists seem to be one-dimensional men. The story describes the evolution of her character very well, however, the end feels a bit rushed. It would have been great to see some more of the relationship between Morgan and Arthur.
I enjoyed the book on the whole and seeing Morgan's relentless efforts towards education and helping others.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
[One star for the premise and the whole book; Half a star for the characters; Half a star for the story; One star for the writing; One star for the world-building - Four stars on the whole.]
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sophie does a great job exploring Morgan's fierce character and ambiguous morality with beautiful writing and good world-building. There are some great secondary characters, though all the antagonists seem to be one-dimensional men. The story describes the evolution of her character very well, however, the end feels a bit rushed. It would have been great to see some more of the relationship between Morgan and Arthur.
I enjoyed the book on the whole and seeing Morgan's relentless efforts towards education and helping others.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
[One star for the premise and the whole book; Half a star for the characters; Half a star for the story; One star for the writing; One star for the world-building - Four stars on the whole.]
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2023
Morgan is My Name is a feminist retelling of the Arthurian legend, told from the perspective of Morgan Le Fay.
I've always been fascinated by Arthurian legend, and as such was interested to see what this new take could bring to the table. The book is I believe the first part of an intended trilogy, and I did perhaps find this first part to be rather drawn out at times. Still I am interested to see where the author goes with the series, as this first book seemed very much a set up for events to come.
Morgan Le Fay of legend is an intriguing character, often morally ambiguous, and Keetch does a decent job I thought of her Morgan's character journey thus far. She is spirited and rebellious from the off, intelligent, with a thirst for knowledge and often feeling trapped within this man's world she lives in. She is also subject to tragedy from an early age, losing her beloved father and having to suffer at the hands of her cruel stepfather, Uther Pendragon. Through the course of the book we see her try to pursue her passion for knowledge and her innate gift for healing, only to be denied to follow this path by the men that dictate her life, be it Uther, or later her husband. We follow her as she makes enduring friendships, falls in love, and knows betrayal and loss. Through it all her spirit never breaks, and by the end of the story one can begin to see the sorceress of legend take shape.
I enjoyed the various nods to Arthurian legend, and there were characters and aspects here that were new to me, such as Accolon of Gaul and Urien. Though only featuring in the story for small parts, I thought the character of Niniane particularly intriguing. Queen Igraine was a particularly sympathetic character, and Alys another favourite, her friendship with Morgan a highlight.
The novel features romance, hints of magic and political intrigue, but more than anything it is the story of a woman's journey and growth. There are various settings within the story, but I think my favourite was Tintagel Castle, and the wild and mystical atmosphere of the Cornish coast.
The book is not without its criticism. Whilst I appreciated the strong female characters, I did find the depiction of most of the men rather one-dimensional in their villainy, as if they were merely tools for Morgan's own character arc, without any nuances of their own. In this way, I found the book rather simplistic, and would have preferred more shades of grey. I'm not sure how the story will progress, but I would personally hope that as Morgan becomes more of a villainess, there is more culpability given to her own decisions and choices, as opposed to all the blame being laid on the men around her. I want her to have flaws, and feel the author needs to be a little braver and bolder in her depiction.
Of the men, I did think that Accolon and Arthur were at least given some qualities and likability, and whilst Morgan feels betrayed by Accolon, I personally could appreciate his perspective. Arthur, we do not yet see too much of, and going forwards, I would be particularly interested in his character development. I will say that I was disappointed in Merlin's depiction. It is not that I mind him being portrayed as untrustworthy, but that I just didn't find this rendition of him in any way compelling.
I did also find the book rather slow-paced and a bit repetitive at times.
Overall, as a fan of Arthurian legend, there were aspects here that I enjoyed, and I am interested to see where the story goes. However, thus far I don't think the true potential has been achieved, and would say this pales in comparison to another Arthurian retelling that I have read in recent years, Lancelot by Giles Kristian. 3.5 stars
I've always been fascinated by Arthurian legend, and as such was interested to see what this new take could bring to the table. The book is I believe the first part of an intended trilogy, and I did perhaps find this first part to be rather drawn out at times. Still I am interested to see where the author goes with the series, as this first book seemed very much a set up for events to come.
Morgan Le Fay of legend is an intriguing character, often morally ambiguous, and Keetch does a decent job I thought of her Morgan's character journey thus far. She is spirited and rebellious from the off, intelligent, with a thirst for knowledge and often feeling trapped within this man's world she lives in. She is also subject to tragedy from an early age, losing her beloved father and having to suffer at the hands of her cruel stepfather, Uther Pendragon. Through the course of the book we see her try to pursue her passion for knowledge and her innate gift for healing, only to be denied to follow this path by the men that dictate her life, be it Uther, or later her husband. We follow her as she makes enduring friendships, falls in love, and knows betrayal and loss. Through it all her spirit never breaks, and by the end of the story one can begin to see the sorceress of legend take shape.
I enjoyed the various nods to Arthurian legend, and there were characters and aspects here that were new to me, such as Accolon of Gaul and Urien. Though only featuring in the story for small parts, I thought the character of Niniane particularly intriguing. Queen Igraine was a particularly sympathetic character, and Alys another favourite, her friendship with Morgan a highlight.
The novel features romance, hints of magic and political intrigue, but more than anything it is the story of a woman's journey and growth. There are various settings within the story, but I think my favourite was Tintagel Castle, and the wild and mystical atmosphere of the Cornish coast.
The book is not without its criticism. Whilst I appreciated the strong female characters, I did find the depiction of most of the men rather one-dimensional in their villainy, as if they were merely tools for Morgan's own character arc, without any nuances of their own. In this way, I found the book rather simplistic, and would have preferred more shades of grey. I'm not sure how the story will progress, but I would personally hope that as Morgan becomes more of a villainess, there is more culpability given to her own decisions and choices, as opposed to all the blame being laid on the men around her. I want her to have flaws, and feel the author needs to be a little braver and bolder in her depiction.
Of the men, I did think that Accolon and Arthur were at least given some qualities and likability, and whilst Morgan feels betrayed by Accolon, I personally could appreciate his perspective. Arthur, we do not yet see too much of, and going forwards, I would be particularly interested in his character development. I will say that I was disappointed in Merlin's depiction. It is not that I mind him being portrayed as untrustworthy, but that I just didn't find this rendition of him in any way compelling.
I did also find the book rather slow-paced and a bit repetitive at times.
Overall, as a fan of Arthurian legend, there were aspects here that I enjoyed, and I am interested to see where the story goes. However, thus far I don't think the true potential has been achieved, and would say this pales in comparison to another Arthurian retelling that I have read in recent years, Lancelot by Giles Kristian. 3.5 stars
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August 16, 2023I'm not going to rate this overall. I suspect that some of my fury at this book comes from it not being The Mists of Avalon. (Yes, I know what MZB did but that book still does everything this book attempts to do and does it a hundred times better. Doesn't matter if I can never pick up tMoA again.)
The writing is gorgeous. Seriously, this is one of the most beautifully written books of this genre I've read. In this regard, it deserves a comparison with the otherwise incomparable Circe by Madeline Miller. For a lexical synesthete like me, this was a word play banquet that never overwhelmed with purple prose or awkward phraseology.
And it had it's good points. I quite liked some of the quieter scenes with Alys and Morgan. The 1st chapter was an easy 5 stars. The final chapter was a decent 4 stars. But everything in between was just meh.
- This adds absolutely nothing to the vast body of reimaginings tacked on to even huger body of Arthurian myth. And lets be clear, 'fan fiction' is mostly what we have of the Arthurian cycle now because the original stories were probably part of an oral tradition and they have been written down over and over again, reshaped by the time each set was written in. But this really doesn't add anything new, not even a new perspective.
- the idea of considering things from Morgan le Fay's pov isn't new and this is an inferior version of it. I get that this is trying to be a villain origin story but it just doesn't work for me. I will own that that is at least partly because I know too much about the myths but there is also something very trite and nauseating about filtering a very 21st century mindset and set of grievances through a very early Medieval character.
- In fact is it even medieval? Keetch seems to be trying to pull off setting it in 'the Dark Ages' and also the Middle ages whilst committing to neither. Perhaps it's supposed to be a modern fable that pays little heed to history or setting but if so, you can't just wheel out Saxons and modern devices when it suits you.
- Was any historical research attempted? I can't tell from the book. Maybe that's the reason for the flimsy setting. But essentially this imports a brand of sexism into the narrative that historically would not have been there. Yes women (and men) of high born families often had to marry for political rather than personal reasons. However, until 1066, women could own land and property in Britain. Depending on how far back you go, women were the default for owning lands because they were less likely to die in battle (although not impossible by a long shot) and because a woman always knew that her children were hers, unlike men who in pre-paternity test days could never be entirely sure. This is why Royal lines in early Britain were followed matrilineally and men did not pass on crowns and thrones to their sons but to their nephews.
- Marriage was equal between a man and a woman. It wobbled a bit thanks to the far more Christianised Normans coming in after 1066 but if you intermarry with Saxon ladies, you're going to find out that what flies in France will not fly in England. So marriage became equal again right up until the late 1500s.
- It was not unusual for almost all women and quite a few men to have some basic herb craft. In fact healing was such a skill that no lord would disdain to have a wife with the skill. So Uriens' actions towards Morgan make literally no sense other than as a contrived plot point to cast him as a bad guy.
- Marriage was not presided over by the Church until the late 1400s. Why do authors keep putting priests in to officiate weddings in these things? A simple google would tell you it wasn't true. Also, leaving your husband or wife was entirely lawful. A woman could and did divorce her husband. A man was no more permitted to beat his wife then than he is now. In fact it was a worse idea then because her parental household probably had its own cadre of warriors who would happily engage in civil war on her behalf. Aside from which, Goddess worship - whether via old religion or Virgin Mary - was very prevalent and the head woman of a household was held to be sacred. So it probably did happen, but just like rape it wasn't a given. This is incredibly story telling.
- why is every man in this book apart from Arthur (who appears for about 5 mins at the end) an absolute piece of shit? Is the definition of 'feminist retelling' now a story in which we tear down all male characters and make them into 2D avatars? Because I'm pretty sure most female fantasy readers got really sick of that when it was the other way around. It's still sexism if its men you're treating that way.
- Honestly not much happens. Man is unjustly cruel to Morgan or another woman. Morgan rises above it and defies them by reading books or going for a walk. (Her boundary pushing is pretty bloodless tbh.) She succeeds a little then a man is mean to her again. Lather rinse repeat.
- At this point it's just silly. During the medieval era (which was 1000yrs long!) women did everything men did. Yes, everything. Male blacksmiths married female blacksmiths because what good would someone who couldn't work in the business be? Lords married lord's daughters or female landowners in their own right because if he was to be away fighting in battle, a wife who understood military tactics and strategy and would defend his castle was invaluable. And yet at every turn Morgan is denied an lessons, access to money and reasonable freedom. All things which as a women of the era she would have expected as a matter of course. This is done just to make whichever man she is at odds with look bad, instead of giving them proper characterisation. More lazy writing. And why? It would have made her unsuitable to be a king's wife because she would not have been educated enough.
- I actually like character study pieces with little plot but no real character development happens either.
- And forget the fantasy. It's so light it's almost non-existent. Morgan has special powers which she only remembers to use when it's convenient for the plot.
- the end suggests this will be a series *shudder*
- Feminist retellings should not have to rely on demonising or removing all the male characters in order to make a female lead look strong in comparison. By the time Alys starts saying how strong Morgan is after all she's been through, I just snorted.
- why is it so Christian? Britain wasn't fully Christian until after the Norman conquest. Probably not even then. Pre 1066, most places were a mix of pagan and church of the Celtic rite. It took a very very long time to get Britons to join Christianity. Not even the Romans managed it. Even when people did convert, they continued worshipping the polytheistic deities under the big umbrella of monotheistic religion. There has never been a time when everyone agreed about God. Especially not in Britain which was cut off from the Rome and the Church. That doesn't mean there wasn't religion - there were many. Where is the diversity of thought?
Overall this was a very annoying book. I am aware that I do not like 'historical fantasy' books which do not deliver on either the history or the fantasy. I'm finding most 'feminist' retellings these days to be watered down versions fit for people who don't want to work too hard. But this could have been a much better story without importing 21st C sexism, and if it had actually picked a century and looked at the political and social issues that were really a problem.
The writing is gorgeous. Seriously, this is one of the most beautifully written books of this genre I've read. In this regard, it deserves a comparison with the otherwise incomparable Circe by Madeline Miller. For a lexical synesthete like me, this was a word play banquet that never overwhelmed with purple prose or awkward phraseology.
And it had it's good points. I quite liked some of the quieter scenes with Alys and Morgan. The 1st chapter was an easy 5 stars. The final chapter was a decent 4 stars. But everything in between was just meh.
- This adds absolutely nothing to the vast body of reimaginings tacked on to even huger body of Arthurian myth. And lets be clear, 'fan fiction' is mostly what we have of the Arthurian cycle now because the original stories were probably part of an oral tradition and they have been written down over and over again, reshaped by the time each set was written in. But this really doesn't add anything new, not even a new perspective.
- the idea of considering things from Morgan le Fay's pov isn't new and this is an inferior version of it. I get that this is trying to be a villain origin story but it just doesn't work for me. I will own that that is at least partly because I know too much about the myths but there is also something very trite and nauseating about filtering a very 21st century mindset and set of grievances through a very early Medieval character.
- In fact is it even medieval? Keetch seems to be trying to pull off setting it in 'the Dark Ages' and also the Middle ages whilst committing to neither. Perhaps it's supposed to be a modern fable that pays little heed to history or setting but if so, you can't just wheel out Saxons and modern devices when it suits you.
- Was any historical research attempted? I can't tell from the book. Maybe that's the reason for the flimsy setting. But essentially this imports a brand of sexism into the narrative that historically would not have been there. Yes women (and men) of high born families often had to marry for political rather than personal reasons. However, until 1066, women could own land and property in Britain. Depending on how far back you go, women were the default for owning lands because they were less likely to die in battle (although not impossible by a long shot) and because a woman always knew that her children were hers, unlike men who in pre-paternity test days could never be entirely sure. This is why Royal lines in early Britain were followed matrilineally and men did not pass on crowns and thrones to their sons but to their nephews.
- Marriage was equal between a man and a woman. It wobbled a bit thanks to the far more Christianised Normans coming in after 1066 but if you intermarry with Saxon ladies, you're going to find out that what flies in France will not fly in England. So marriage became equal again right up until the late 1500s.
- It was not unusual for almost all women and quite a few men to have some basic herb craft. In fact healing was such a skill that no lord would disdain to have a wife with the skill. So Uriens' actions towards Morgan make literally no sense other than as a contrived plot point to cast him as a bad guy.
- Marriage was not presided over by the Church until the late 1400s. Why do authors keep putting priests in to officiate weddings in these things? A simple google would tell you it wasn't true. Also, leaving your husband or wife was entirely lawful. A woman could and did divorce her husband. A man was no more permitted to beat his wife then than he is now. In fact it was a worse idea then because her parental household probably had its own cadre of warriors who would happily engage in civil war on her behalf. Aside from which, Goddess worship - whether via old religion or Virgin Mary - was very prevalent and the head woman of a household was held to be sacred. So it probably did happen, but just like rape it wasn't a given. This is incredibly story telling.
- why is every man in this book apart from Arthur (who appears for about 5 mins at the end) an absolute piece of shit? Is the definition of 'feminist retelling' now a story in which we tear down all male characters and make them into 2D avatars? Because I'm pretty sure most female fantasy readers got really sick of that when it was the other way around. It's still sexism if its men you're treating that way.
- Honestly not much happens. Man is unjustly cruel to Morgan or another woman. Morgan rises above it and defies them by reading books or going for a walk. (Her boundary pushing is pretty bloodless tbh.) She succeeds a little then a man is mean to her again. Lather rinse repeat.
- At this point it's just silly. During the medieval era (which was 1000yrs long!) women did everything men did. Yes, everything. Male blacksmiths married female blacksmiths because what good would someone who couldn't work in the business be? Lords married lord's daughters or female landowners in their own right because if he was to be away fighting in battle, a wife who understood military tactics and strategy and would defend his castle was invaluable. And yet at every turn Morgan is denied an lessons, access to money and reasonable freedom. All things which as a women of the era she would have expected as a matter of course. This is done just to make whichever man she is at odds with look bad, instead of giving them proper characterisation. More lazy writing. And why? It would have made her unsuitable to be a king's wife because she would not have been educated enough.
- I actually like character study pieces with little plot but no real character development happens either.
- And forget the fantasy. It's so light it's almost non-existent. Morgan has special powers which she only remembers to use when it's convenient for the plot.
- the end suggests this will be a series *shudder*
- Feminist retellings should not have to rely on demonising or removing all the male characters in order to make a female lead look strong in comparison. By the time Alys starts saying how strong Morgan is after all she's been through, I just snorted.
- why is it so Christian? Britain wasn't fully Christian until after the Norman conquest. Probably not even then. Pre 1066, most places were a mix of pagan and church of the Celtic rite. It took a very very long time to get Britons to join Christianity. Not even the Romans managed it. Even when people did convert, they continued worshipping the polytheistic deities under the big umbrella of monotheistic religion. There has never been a time when everyone agreed about God. Especially not in Britain which was cut off from the Rome and the Church. That doesn't mean there wasn't religion - there were many. Where is the diversity of thought?
Overall this was a very annoying book. I am aware that I do not like 'historical fantasy' books which do not deliver on either the history or the fantasy. I'm finding most 'feminist' retellings these days to be watered down versions fit for people who don't want to work too hard. But this could have been a much better story without importing 21st C sexism, and if it had actually picked a century and looked at the political and social issues that were really a problem.
August 1, 2023
POWERFUL AND INSPIRING 🪄
This is a coming-of-age retelling of the most famous villainess of the Arthurian legend. Slow paced but very interesting, this story captivated me! A few pages in, and I was already craving to go back into it. It has short chapters and takes you from the very first moment of despair for Morgan as a child and onwards. Despite the slow pace, I found myself holding my breath waiting for the turning point, for the ball to drop, the twist…yet this never fully happened. But for a good enough reason.
I learned about 70% of the way into the book that this was actually just the START of a trilogy! I was a bit disappointed this wasn’t advertised stronger as such, but it does explain a lot. I decided not to let this little fact affect my overall rating though it would have been much appreciated to have this knowledge beforehand!
Anyway, this is a strong start to an amazing trilogy. I was rooting for Morgan the entire time to find some happiness and peace in her predestined life. Through all her losses, wronged moments, the mistreatment, the frustration, the darkness, the submission, the hopelessness…and finally I got the moment I was waiting for in the very last few pages…🔥🔥 🔥(hehehehe) igniting my excitement for the future books!
Having little experience and knowledge about the Arthurian legend other than watching the TV show Merlin a few years back and reading about it here and there, I was super excited to have something reflect solely from Morgan’s point of view. I admit I loathed Morgan in the Merlin show, but that’s exactly what the show wants! It paints her as the ultimate evil villain with no explanations why! So I appreciate how this retelling is providing us with some of this background to shape our own opinions. Morgan is fierce, powerful, underestimated, and strong. Everything I want her to be and more! She deserves her story be told in such a manner, and I entrust Sophie Keetch will continue to do it right!
❤️ Favorite Quotes (that I can relate to way too much):
“True power comes from freedom, and the ability to survive what befalls us.”
“I know where my darkness lies, Merlin. You may trust that my reserves are endless.”
“Happiness seemed an abstract notion now, a word I had heard but never felt.”
“Quick as I had prevailed, I was once again felled, torn down by a world where, no matter how much I learned, or raged, or fought to the end of my wits, I would never be allowed victory.”
This is a coming-of-age retelling of the most famous villainess of the Arthurian legend. Slow paced but very interesting, this story captivated me! A few pages in, and I was already craving to go back into it. It has short chapters and takes you from the very first moment of despair for Morgan as a child and onwards. Despite the slow pace, I found myself holding my breath waiting for the turning point, for the ball to drop, the twist…yet this never fully happened. But for a good enough reason.
I learned about 70% of the way into the book that this was actually just the START of a trilogy! I was a bit disappointed this wasn’t advertised stronger as such, but it does explain a lot. I decided not to let this little fact affect my overall rating though it would have been much appreciated to have this knowledge beforehand!
Anyway, this is a strong start to an amazing trilogy. I was rooting for Morgan the entire time to find some happiness and peace in her predestined life. Through all her losses, wronged moments, the mistreatment, the frustration, the darkness, the submission, the hopelessness…and finally I got the moment I was waiting for in the very last few pages…🔥🔥 🔥(hehehehe) igniting my excitement for the future books!
Having little experience and knowledge about the Arthurian legend other than watching the TV show Merlin a few years back and reading about it here and there, I was super excited to have something reflect solely from Morgan’s point of view. I admit I loathed Morgan in the Merlin show, but that’s exactly what the show wants! It paints her as the ultimate evil villain with no explanations why! So I appreciate how this retelling is providing us with some of this background to shape our own opinions. Morgan is fierce, powerful, underestimated, and strong. Everything I want her to be and more! She deserves her story be told in such a manner, and I entrust Sophie Keetch will continue to do it right!
❤️ Favorite Quotes (that I can relate to way too much):
“True power comes from freedom, and the ability to survive what befalls us.”
“I know where my darkness lies, Merlin. You may trust that my reserves are endless.”
“Happiness seemed an abstract notion now, a word I had heard but never felt.”
“Quick as I had prevailed, I was once again felled, torn down by a world where, no matter how much I learned, or raged, or fought to the end of my wits, I would never be allowed victory.”
September 30, 2024
I am a sucker for anything Arthurian and this retelling, focusing on Morgan le Fay, did the trick. It tided me over on a 9.5 hour flight, during which I did not even watch a movie, so invested was I. I rarely read fantasy anymore, except retellings, and I was really pleasantly surprised by this one and pleased to know there's a sequel!
December 2, 2023
A superb start to a trilogy focusing on the villainess-origin story of Morgan Le Fay set in the legends of King Arthur
5 ⭐️
I would recommend this book to fans of Circe and The Bear and the Nightingale. Circe because it's a myth-retelling of an enchantress, and The Bear because being the first of a trilogy, this book is a bit slower-paced, and focuses heavily on Morgan's character arc.
When you hear origin story, it really is. As in, we're going back to Morgan's birth. I love it when authors really take time to describe a character's childhood, because to me, those initial chapters mean that I know who Morgan is. We see her love for her father and mother. We see her anger and betrayal when her mother gets tricked, and her father dies. We see her fall in love. We see her discovering her powers innocently. Every second made her a richer character in my eyes.
I must also commend Sophie Keetch's writing. For a debut it is impressive. Her prose paints a wonderful picture of rural Cornwall, of castles and the seaside. The entire novel is atmospheric and made me desperate to visit Tintagel Castle!
There is some romance, and it was forbidden, heart-wrenching and wonderful all at once. It took precedence in the early chapters of the book, and then became an undercurrent to the plot, but the novel had a strong enough narrative and purpose to not be hindered by this (note: I dislike it when the romance carries the novel, but Keetch is skilled enough to not let this happen). I'll let my favourite quotes speak for themselves:
Their love is so pure. I know very little of the legends involving Morgan Le Fay (and I haven't googled anything to avoid spoilers), but my heart is aching for her to have a happy ending in the rest of the books.
Some other highlights for me were the strong female friendships and the female education and independence we saw. Morgan and Alys are loyal to one another, honest, strong-willed and both have a strong sense of justice. We see Morgan's desire to use her magical gifts to help heal those undergoing the perils of child labour in the 5th/6th century. Both her and Alys value education and seek to use it to help those around them. I really enjoyed reading about their friendship, as well as Morgan's interaction with other women (such as her sisters and mother) in the book. I also loved the moral dilemma Morgan struggles with between using magic deemed as 'dark' by the nuns versus the ability she has to heal those close to death with it. Fantastic writing here!
The only flaw of this books is that it's a bit slow in the middle, and also we don't yet see that much of Morgan's magic. However, I am sure we are going to watch her come into her own in the next two books. I simply cannot wait to read them, and to re-read book one again.
Sophie Keetch, please hurry up with the sequel!
5 ⭐️
I would recommend this book to fans of Circe and The Bear and the Nightingale. Circe because it's a myth-retelling of an enchantress, and The Bear because being the first of a trilogy, this book is a bit slower-paced, and focuses heavily on Morgan's character arc.
When you hear origin story, it really is. As in, we're going back to Morgan's birth. I love it when authors really take time to describe a character's childhood, because to me, those initial chapters mean that I know who Morgan is. We see her love for her father and mother. We see her anger and betrayal when her mother gets tricked, and her father dies. We see her fall in love. We see her discovering her powers innocently. Every second made her a richer character in my eyes.
I must also commend Sophie Keetch's writing. For a debut it is impressive. Her prose paints a wonderful picture of rural Cornwall, of castles and the seaside. The entire novel is atmospheric and made me desperate to visit Tintagel Castle!
There is some romance, and it was forbidden, heart-wrenching and wonderful all at once. It took precedence in the early chapters of the book, and then became an undercurrent to the plot, but the novel had a strong enough narrative and purpose to not be hindered by this (note: I dislike it when the romance carries the novel, but Keetch is skilled enough to not let this happen). I'll let my favourite quotes speak for themselves:
“If you are unholy then I am damned along with you.”
“In truth, Morgan, I can no longer remember when I haven’t thought of you. It’s as if you’ve been my whole life.”
Their love is so pure. I know very little of the legends involving Morgan Le Fay (and I haven't googled anything to avoid spoilers), but my heart is aching for her to have a happy ending in the rest of the books.
Some other highlights for me were the strong female friendships and the female education and independence we saw. Morgan and Alys are loyal to one another, honest, strong-willed and both have a strong sense of justice. We see Morgan's desire to use her magical gifts to help heal those undergoing the perils of child labour in the 5th/6th century. Both her and Alys value education and seek to use it to help those around them. I really enjoyed reading about their friendship, as well as Morgan's interaction with other women (such as her sisters and mother) in the book. I also loved the moral dilemma Morgan struggles with between using magic deemed as 'dark' by the nuns versus the ability she has to heal those close to death with it. Fantastic writing here!
The only flaw of this books is that it's a bit slow in the middle, and also we don't yet see that much of Morgan's magic. However, I am sure we are going to watch her come into her own in the next two books. I simply cannot wait to read them, and to re-read book one again.
Sophie Keetch, please hurry up with the sequel!
September 8, 2025
Confession: I’m a sucker for feminist retellings. Make it about a goddess one that is fierce, brave, misunderstood, feared and I’m all in. So when I spotted Morgan Is My Name on NetGalley, I grabbed it immediately… and then let it linger on my shelf far too long. Why? No clue. But when I finally opened it, I wondered why I’d waited.
What Lit My Mood
I honor a few goddesses and feel their presence, and Morgan le Fay has always called to me, even if I’ve never fully understood her. This retelling reimagines her from her earliest years, showing what might have forged the many faces she wears: the misunderstood villain, the dark goddess, the healer, the destroyer, the woman who paces her own way and refuses to bend. I loved how the story leaned into that complexity, giving us a glimpse of her youth and the roots of her strength.
Where My Mood Flickered
At times, this Morgan felt a little too human making it harder to reconcile with the fierce archetype I’ve always envisioned. While I appreciated how her wounds and betrayals shaped her, it muted that dark goddess energy I was hoping for. Still, this is just the first in a trilogy, and I suspect that fiercer side of her is yet to come
.
Witchy Mood Reader Rating
Mood Met: The spell mostly held. Morgan’s story aligned with my energy.The magic is there, waiting to flare brighter in the next book.
Verdict
If you’re drawn to misunderstood women of myth, add this one to your altar. This Morgan isn’t fully formed yet, but her path to power is one worth following and I’ll definitely be picking up the next book in the series.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
What Lit My Mood
I honor a few goddesses and feel their presence, and Morgan le Fay has always called to me, even if I’ve never fully understood her. This retelling reimagines her from her earliest years, showing what might have forged the many faces she wears: the misunderstood villain, the dark goddess, the healer, the destroyer, the woman who paces her own way and refuses to bend. I loved how the story leaned into that complexity, giving us a glimpse of her youth and the roots of her strength.
Where My Mood Flickered
At times, this Morgan felt a little too human making it harder to reconcile with the fierce archetype I’ve always envisioned. While I appreciated how her wounds and betrayals shaped her, it muted that dark goddess energy I was hoping for. Still, this is just the first in a trilogy, and I suspect that fiercer side of her is yet to come
.
Witchy Mood Reader Rating
Mood Met: The spell mostly held. Morgan’s story aligned with my energy.The magic is there, waiting to flare brighter in the next book.
Verdict
If you’re drawn to misunderstood women of myth, add this one to your altar. This Morgan isn’t fully formed yet, but her path to power is one worth following and I’ll definitely be picking up the next book in the series.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
October 29, 2022
Hooked. HOOKED. From the moment this audiobook started I was sold and couldn’t stop listening. The narrator did a fab job and her voice was just so soft, soothing and effective, it made slipping into the audiobook effortless.
I love books based around Arthurian legends and having Morgan (Morgana) at centre stage was a great element. Following her life from early childhood to wife in service to a king, it made for such entertaining and enrapturing reading. I seriously loved it.
Although now? I’m sad I have to wait for the next one as I loved it so much! Patience will have to be exercised but I can’t wait to see what else will happen in this series and Sophie Keetch did a great job at writing this and portraying all the characters as she did. Roll on the next one!
I love books based around Arthurian legends and having Morgan (Morgana) at centre stage was a great element. Following her life from early childhood to wife in service to a king, it made for such entertaining and enrapturing reading. I seriously loved it.
Although now? I’m sad I have to wait for the next one as I loved it so much! Patience will have to be exercised but I can’t wait to see what else will happen in this series and Sophie Keetch did a great job at writing this and portraying all the characters as she did. Roll on the next one!
May 7, 2025
Morgan le Fay #1
I was dark and made of shards, formed under pressure where light did not reach. I was flint and always had been. And I was also steel, hard, forged in blazes bright and glittering..
Morgan is My Name tells the story of a young girl who was born of the sea, wild in nature, and thought to be bewitched. As a young girl, Morgan's comfortable life living in Tintagel Castle is short-lived after her father is killed by an evil ruler (Uther Pendragon), who quickly claims rights to her family by taking Morgan's mother as his queen. Where once she ran free, Morgan now finds that her life is constrained by an evil king. However, there are powerful forces inside Morgan that are desperately trying to get out. As the years pass and her powers grow stronger, Morgan's biggest threat is men, who would like nothing more than to conform her into being an obedient, submissive royal figure. Stretched to the brink, Morgan is finally tested one final time, which lands her in the halls of King Arthur's courts in Camelot.
____________________________________________
This story is magic.✨️ I loved every minute of it. This is the first book in a series, and I look forward to learning more about the formidable Morgan.
Audible Original
Duration: 11 hours and 45 minutes
Narrator: Vanessa Kirby -Did a phenomenal job!
I was dark and made of shards, formed under pressure where light did not reach. I was flint and always had been. And I was also steel, hard, forged in blazes bright and glittering..
Morgan is My Name tells the story of a young girl who was born of the sea, wild in nature, and thought to be bewitched. As a young girl, Morgan's comfortable life living in Tintagel Castle is short-lived after her father is killed by an evil ruler (Uther Pendragon), who quickly claims rights to her family by taking Morgan's mother as his queen. Where once she ran free, Morgan now finds that her life is constrained by an evil king. However, there are powerful forces inside Morgan that are desperately trying to get out. As the years pass and her powers grow stronger, Morgan's biggest threat is men, who would like nothing more than to conform her into being an obedient, submissive royal figure. Stretched to the brink, Morgan is finally tested one final time, which lands her in the halls of King Arthur's courts in Camelot.
____________________________________________
This story is magic.✨️ I loved every minute of it. This is the first book in a series, and I look forward to learning more about the formidable Morgan.
Audible Original
Duration: 11 hours and 45 minutes
Narrator: Vanessa Kirby -Did a phenomenal job!
June 12, 2023
I finished this book assuming it was just a standalone, which felt a bit unfair considering it ended juuust as we get to the best part of Morgan's story, but a quick glance through GR says it's going to be a trilogy so phew, thank goodness. Because I think future books will rate a lot higher as a result of what's to come.
Having said that, I think the best part of this series starter, and the retelling of Morgan's life so far, was the beginning. I did unfortunately get a little bored by the latter half as it focuses primarily on her marriage and yet more restrictions placed on her life, but it also does introduce her, and us, to Arthur who has just come into his kingship. So that was a good little tease of what's to come and we certainly end on a highnote as she attempts to take back some of her power as both a person and a woman.
It's been a while since I found myself in the Arthurian world and I liked this retelling for a few reasons beyond nostalgia. One of those being it's nice to have a version of Merlin being an absolute dickhead. Most adaptations have him benevolent and this one does not seem to be going that way and I dig it. Not what he does, of course, but that he doesn't try to make it out to be for good reason or show any kind of remorse for his horrible actions. Igraine, too, was a total highlight. But Morgan, and rightfully so, is the star of this show. It might seem like a gimme but trust me sometimes the MC is not all that. But she is.
Obviously this is also being told with a feminist bent, making many of the women characters strong and capable, and I appreciated those parts -- the observation about women's bodies and how few to no texts actually detail them medically despite their supposed "added complications" was also so so on point -- but I like that not every man was actually The Worst. Most were because yeah, that tracks, but we have a few outliers amongst the rifraff.
I'm looking forward to more of this take on Morgan, especially after this note in the author's bio -- "she was drawn to Morgan le Fay because of the progression of her character through time, becoming ever more villainous as she was written and rewritten in the words of men."
If you are at all into this trend of feminist retellings, or have childhood nostalgia towards Arthurian tales like many of us from a certain generation, this might be the book for you!
3.5 stars
** I received a finished copy from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
Having said that, I think the best part of this series starter, and the retelling of Morgan's life so far, was the beginning. I did unfortunately get a little bored by the latter half as it focuses primarily on her marriage and yet more restrictions placed on her life, but it also does introduce her, and us, to Arthur who has just come into his kingship. So that was a good little tease of what's to come and we certainly end on a highnote as she attempts to take back some of her power as both a person and a woman.
It's been a while since I found myself in the Arthurian world and I liked this retelling for a few reasons beyond nostalgia. One of those being it's nice to have a version of Merlin being an absolute dickhead. Most adaptations have him benevolent and this one does not seem to be going that way and I dig it. Not what he does, of course, but that he doesn't try to make it out to be for good reason or show any kind of remorse for his horrible actions. Igraine, too, was a total highlight. But Morgan, and rightfully so, is the star of this show. It might seem like a gimme but trust me sometimes the MC is not all that. But she is.
Obviously this is also being told with a feminist bent, making many of the women characters strong and capable, and I appreciated those parts -- the observation about women's bodies and how few to no texts actually detail them medically despite their supposed "added complications" was also so so on point -- but I like that not every man was actually The Worst. Most were because yeah, that tracks, but we have a few outliers amongst the rifraff.
I'm looking forward to more of this take on Morgan, especially after this note in the author's bio -- "she was drawn to Morgan le Fay because of the progression of her character through time, becoming ever more villainous as she was written and rewritten in the words of men."
If you are at all into this trend of feminist retellings, or have childhood nostalgia towards Arthurian tales like many of us from a certain generation, this might be the book for you!
3.5 stars
** I received a finished copy from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
July 10, 2023
4.5 stars
***100 Days of Summer Reading 2023***
Reading prompt: Book based on a fairytale or mythology
Virtual 12 sided dice role: 9
King Arthur retellings, especially those that centre on the women of the myth, hit me where I live. Morgan le Fay has always been on of my favourites, so this tale which features her seems to have been written just for me. Including the mysterious Merlin, the lovely Ninniane, and adding in healing powers exhibited by Morgan, and I was well and truly hooked. I chalk it up to Celtic blood in my mother's family, this love of mystical, magical stories.
I also appreciate the current trend of writing the old tales through a feminist lens. It doesn't change the chauvinist society that existed in that time period, but it does introduce the notion that women may have felt much the same as they do today—resentful, rebellious, wrathful. The smug male view that women should be satisfied with childrearing and keeping the household accounts gives me heartburn, and I cheered Morgan on as she carved out a place for her medical studies and hid her manuscript on women's health concerns from Urien's prying eyes.
At this point, this book seems to be a stand alone, but there is definitely potential for a sequel. Should one be forthcoming, sign me up to read it too! I love this reinterpretation of Morgan le Fay, who has been written as a villain by the men who originally wrote down the mythology. It's always seemed to me that she was a much more complex woman than that, more sinned against than sinning.
***100 Days of Summer Reading 2023***
Reading prompt: Book based on a fairytale or mythology
Virtual 12 sided dice role: 9
King Arthur retellings, especially those that centre on the women of the myth, hit me where I live. Morgan le Fay has always been on of my favourites, so this tale which features her seems to have been written just for me. Including the mysterious Merlin, the lovely Ninniane, and adding in healing powers exhibited by Morgan, and I was well and truly hooked. I chalk it up to Celtic blood in my mother's family, this love of mystical, magical stories.
I also appreciate the current trend of writing the old tales through a feminist lens. It doesn't change the chauvinist society that existed in that time period, but it does introduce the notion that women may have felt much the same as they do today—resentful, rebellious, wrathful. The smug male view that women should be satisfied with childrearing and keeping the household accounts gives me heartburn, and I cheered Morgan on as she carved out a place for her medical studies and hid her manuscript on women's health concerns from Urien's prying eyes.
At this point, this book seems to be a stand alone, but there is definitely potential for a sequel. Should one be forthcoming, sign me up to read it too! I love this reinterpretation of Morgan le Fay, who has been written as a villain by the men who originally wrote down the mythology. It's always seemed to me that she was a much more complex woman than that, more sinned against than sinning.
June 25, 2023
I cannot believe how botched this retelling of Morgan Le Fay was. One of the most interesting and misunderstood female characters in folklore and legend, but we just got 350 pages of slow, mundane exposition. Madeline Miller got sons, I tell you, because this felt like a poor Arthurian imitation of Circe. With the bare bones of female rage coupled with superficial girlboss clichés, Morgan felt like a side character in her own story, passed from stepfather to husband to brother and with literally no real growth or evolution.
November 30, 2022
If you love the arthurian legends and want to read it from the perspective of the women, skip this book and read the classic, Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley.
I personally felt like this was a badly written version of that series. It was very slow, hard to finish, and left me wishing I re-read the Mists of Avalon instead.
I personally felt like this was a badly written version of that series. It was very slow, hard to finish, and left me wishing I re-read the Mists of Avalon instead.
dnf
August 28, 2024Dnf at 30%
Got bored.
Got bored.
July 22, 2025
Morgan (le Fay) burning bright
In the most familiar versions of the legends of King Arthur, which are those of Thomas Malory and its many, many derivatives, Morgan le Fay is an evil sorceress enemy of Arthur's. What I learned on reading Morgan is my Name is that in the oldest versions of Arthurian legend Morgan was not evil nor an enemy of Arthur's. Indeed, Sophie Keetch's Biography reads
The Biography continues
Besides reimagining Morgan, Keetch introduces us to new visions of Merlin and the Lady of the Lake, as well as her version of Arthur, who was novel to me. Morgan is my Name ends shortly after Arthur is crowned High King. Her Arthur is a teenage boy king, perhaps the most appealing and believable Arthur I have met.
Although I have seen no hints that Keetch and her publishers are thinking of sequels, they MUST be! There is so much more of the story to come! If she publishes a sequel, I will certainly read it. Morgan is my Name is a fresh version of Arthurian legend, centered on one of the key women in the story, and told by someone who knows her stuff. I want more!
I thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an advance reader copy of Morgan is my Name. This review expresses my honest opinions.
Blog review.
In the most familiar versions of the legends of King Arthur, which are those of Thomas Malory and its many, many derivatives, Morgan le Fay is an evil sorceress enemy of Arthur's. What I learned on reading Morgan is my Name is that in the oldest versions of Arthurian legend Morgan was not evil nor an enemy of Arthur's. Indeed, Sophie Keetch's Biography reads
Sophie Keetch has a BA in English Literature from Cardiff University, which included the study of Arthurian legend. She is Welsh and lives with her husband and son in South Wales. For her debut novel, she was drawn to Morgan le Fay because of the progression of her character through time, becoming ever more villainous as she was written and rewritten in the words of men.In broad outline it seems clear what happened. Morgan was a woman and powerful -- she could only be evil in the eyes of men retelling the tale.
The Biography continues
But beneath the infamy, Sophie felt there was an unsung story and was compelled to seek out the woman behind the myth and give a voice to her contradictions.In my opinion, although that is not exactly what Keetch accomplishes, the result is a success. Keetch's Morgan (Malory's name "Morgan le Fay" meaning "Morgan the fairy" appears nowhere in Morgan is my Name) is a splendid, intelligent, generous, loving woman and getting to know her is the chief delight of Morgan is my Name.
Besides reimagining Morgan, Keetch introduces us to new visions of Merlin and the Lady of the Lake, as well as her version of Arthur, who was novel to me. Morgan is my Name ends shortly after Arthur is crowned High King. Her Arthur is a teenage boy king, perhaps the most appealing and believable Arthur I have met.
Although I have seen no hints that Keetch and her publishers are thinking of sequels, they MUST be! There is so much more of the story to come! If she publishes a sequel, I will certainly read it. Morgan is my Name is a fresh version of Arthurian legend, centered on one of the key women in the story, and told by someone who knows her stuff. I want more!
I thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an advance reader copy of Morgan is my Name. This review expresses my honest opinions.
Blog review.
June 12, 2023
I am a huge historical fiction fan and had high hopes for Morgan Is My Name & it didn’t disappoint. I absolutely loved it & finished it in just 2 days - I was so engrossed!
Morgan’s father is murdered by King Uther Pendragon & her mother then tricked into marrying him. Uther attempts to crush Morgan’s spirit but she remains steadfast & discovers secret powers, which she begins to learn to use & control. Over time, she becomes a worthy adversary to Merlin.
Morgan is the type of female character I adore. Strong-willed, fierce & unwilling to cave in to the rule of men, Morgan will not go anywhere quietly or without a fight. I found myself rooting for her & at every turn, wanting her to give Uther a punch in the face!
The love story (no spoilers so I won’t go into detail!) was beautifully told. And there was a wee bit of spice in there aswell!
I’d forgotten that it was a trilogy & got to the end & needed to know more! I can’t wait for the next instalment. It’s fabulously written. If you’re a fan of a head strong female character from a historical past, you’ll love it!
Morgan’s father is murdered by King Uther Pendragon & her mother then tricked into marrying him. Uther attempts to crush Morgan’s spirit but she remains steadfast & discovers secret powers, which she begins to learn to use & control. Over time, she becomes a worthy adversary to Merlin.
Morgan is the type of female character I adore. Strong-willed, fierce & unwilling to cave in to the rule of men, Morgan will not go anywhere quietly or without a fight. I found myself rooting for her & at every turn, wanting her to give Uther a punch in the face!
The love story (no spoilers so I won’t go into detail!) was beautifully told. And there was a wee bit of spice in there aswell!
I’d forgotten that it was a trilogy & got to the end & needed to know more! I can’t wait for the next instalment. It’s fabulously written. If you’re a fan of a head strong female character from a historical past, you’ll love it!
December 19, 2024
4.5⭐️ I may come back and give it a full 5⭐️ this was so good!!
‘My name is Morgan,’ I said. ‘And there aren’t enough words for all that I am.’
‘My name is Morgan,’ I said. ‘And there aren’t enough words for all that I am.’
May 21, 2023
I used to be obsessed with the TV show, Merlin, when I was in high school, so I'm always a bit of a big fan of Arthurian legend retellings. I was really excited to read this one since it's from Morgan Le Fay's point of view.
The world building in this story was absolutely amazing, but I found the pacing to be really slow. A good chunk of the plot follows a love story between Morgan and Sir Accolon, which isn't bad per say, but the book isn't marketed as a romance; I was just expecting more magic and mayhem based on the synopsis.
I also found the characters to be a bit flat; I didn't find anything special about Morgan other than the fact that she can be a little rebellious at times.
Overall, this retelling wasn't for me, but I'd recommend it if you're looking for an Arthurian legend romance story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the gifted copy.
The world building in this story was absolutely amazing, but I found the pacing to be really slow. A good chunk of the plot follows a love story between Morgan and Sir Accolon, which isn't bad per say, but the book isn't marketed as a romance; I was just expecting more magic and mayhem based on the synopsis.
I also found the characters to be a bit flat; I didn't find anything special about Morgan other than the fact that she can be a little rebellious at times.
Overall, this retelling wasn't for me, but I'd recommend it if you're looking for an Arthurian legend romance story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the gifted copy.
July 24, 2023
3.5 stars.
I've read a fair few Arthurian retellings, most of which have disappointed me for one reason or another. However I feel like Morgan is my Name is up there with one of the better stories to tackle the legend - even though the great king himself doesn't turn up until the concluding portion.
This is the story of Morgan, known through history as Morgan Le Fey, the witch half sister of the golden king Arthur. She often has a morally ambiguous story, sometimes helping Arthur and other times conspiring against him. Morgan is my Name looks at Morgan's origins, her life in Cornwall and eduction in a nunnery. We see her fall in love, realise she has an interest in healing and form a formidable friendship with fellow student Alys. I found Morgan to be well developed overall. We see her grow as a person, always firey and independant, but initially sheltered she learns to stand up to those around her, never quite bending her will to her King or her husband.
I liked the bond between Morgan and Alys, however I found the story moved too quickly through Morgan's childhood for the reader to really see this relationship blossom. I wanted more of their story at the convent, developing their skills and eduction however after a couple of chapters we'd already moved on to Morgan moving North, skipping several years of development in the process. This happens a few times in the book, as we also skip over Megan's furtive married years which again I would have liked to see.
I would say that there isn't much of a plot beyond some rumblings of Uther going off to war and a distant northern uprising. A lot of the book is spent in the castles Morgan calls home, developing her healing skills, falling in love and trying to break free from the rules of the various men she finds herself under. I feel like it's very much a set up for future books, with some tension with Merlin and the coronation of Arthur acting as the possible catalyst.
Overall a pleasant surprise, and I hope the author continues the series to incorporate more of Arthur's story.
I've read a fair few Arthurian retellings, most of which have disappointed me for one reason or another. However I feel like Morgan is my Name is up there with one of the better stories to tackle the legend - even though the great king himself doesn't turn up until the concluding portion.
This is the story of Morgan, known through history as Morgan Le Fey, the witch half sister of the golden king Arthur. She often has a morally ambiguous story, sometimes helping Arthur and other times conspiring against him. Morgan is my Name looks at Morgan's origins, her life in Cornwall and eduction in a nunnery. We see her fall in love, realise she has an interest in healing and form a formidable friendship with fellow student Alys. I found Morgan to be well developed overall. We see her grow as a person, always firey and independant, but initially sheltered she learns to stand up to those around her, never quite bending her will to her King or her husband.
I liked the bond between Morgan and Alys, however I found the story moved too quickly through Morgan's childhood for the reader to really see this relationship blossom. I wanted more of their story at the convent, developing their skills and eduction however after a couple of chapters we'd already moved on to Morgan moving North, skipping several years of development in the process. This happens a few times in the book, as we also skip over Megan's furtive married years which again I would have liked to see.
I would say that there isn't much of a plot beyond some rumblings of Uther going off to war and a distant northern uprising. A lot of the book is spent in the castles Morgan calls home, developing her healing skills, falling in love and trying to break free from the rules of the various men she finds herself under. I feel like it's very much a set up for future books, with some tension with Merlin and the coronation of Arthur acting as the possible catalyst.
Overall a pleasant surprise, and I hope the author continues the series to incorporate more of Arthur's story.
October 25, 2022
Where to even begin with my praise for this book? The premise, the writing, the characters, the audio... it's all just phenomenal. I ate through the first few hours of this in one sitting and then had to force myself to enjoy it in chunks, drawing out the experience over a week.
Let's talk about Morgan for a minute. "My name is Morgan," I said, "and there aren't enough words for all that I am." What. An. Icon. She could burn the whole world to an ashy crisp and you would still not catch me saying a bad word about her. She's smart and fierce and passionate and she does not deserve to live in the world she is forced to inhabit.
And the writing? Goodness me, the writing. This is one of those books where you'll find yourself skipping back in the audio (or re-reading a page when it's in print, because you will definitely want it in print!) just to hear a line over again. Not a single word is wasted, so clean is the prose, and you'll easily find yourself drawn into the story. If I were to pull out my favourite lines I'd just be copying the whole book, so you'll simply have to listen for yourself to see what I mean.
Vanessa Kirby was also an excellent narrator, just perfect for this book!
Let's talk about Morgan for a minute. "My name is Morgan," I said, "and there aren't enough words for all that I am." What. An. Icon. She could burn the whole world to an ashy crisp and you would still not catch me saying a bad word about her. She's smart and fierce and passionate and she does not deserve to live in the world she is forced to inhabit.
And the writing? Goodness me, the writing. This is one of those books where you'll find yourself skipping back in the audio (or re-reading a page when it's in print, because you will definitely want it in print!) just to hear a line over again. Not a single word is wasted, so clean is the prose, and you'll easily find yourself drawn into the story. If I were to pull out my favourite lines I'd just be copying the whole book, so you'll simply have to listen for yourself to see what I mean.
Vanessa Kirby was also an excellent narrator, just perfect for this book!
March 15, 2023
A solid 4 for a solid start to the story of Morgan le Fay.
She's certainly a lot more fun than King Arthur (who I can't think of now without summoning a picture of Graham Chapman and the Python crew trotting along being accompanied by Terry Gilliam on the coconuts).
Back to Morgan who remains an interesting part of the Arthur myth. A powerful sorceress in her own right, a wife, mother and sister. Sophie Keetch certainly brings her to life in the first of this trilogy.
This book's only drawback is the fact that it is the first and therefore is setting the scene for the more interesting part of Morgan's life bit it is important to get those seeds right. Sophie Keetch does it very well. As you'd expect with the first act there's quite a bit of treachery and deception but there's also friendship, love and some magic. With a action packed start and a lull in the middle, it certainly picks up the pace at the end.
A good start and I'll certainly be looking out for the next part of Morgan's story.
She's certainly a lot more fun than King Arthur (who I can't think of now without summoning a picture of Graham Chapman and the Python crew trotting along being accompanied by Terry Gilliam on the coconuts).
Back to Morgan who remains an interesting part of the Arthur myth. A powerful sorceress in her own right, a wife, mother and sister. Sophie Keetch certainly brings her to life in the first of this trilogy.
This book's only drawback is the fact that it is the first and therefore is setting the scene for the more interesting part of Morgan's life bit it is important to get those seeds right. Sophie Keetch does it very well. As you'd expect with the first act there's quite a bit of treachery and deception but there's also friendship, love and some magic. With a action packed start and a lull in the middle, it certainly picks up the pace at the end.
A good start and I'll certainly be looking out for the next part of Morgan's story.
August 12, 2023
4.5 stars
Excellent book! The story was not what I expected, but was terrific nonetheless. The audiobook was a gem. The narrator did a lovely job. I’m really hoping there will be a sequel.
Excellent book! The story was not what I expected, but was terrific nonetheless. The audiobook was a gem. The narrator did a lovely job. I’m really hoping there will be a sequel.
August 12, 2023
I've long been fascinated with the story of Morgan le Fay, so the news that there was going to be a new book about her was something I was excited about.
As is the trend with women in mythology, this book takes a woman who is often vilified or portrayed a certain way and breathes new life into her, a feminist retelling. I have often been frustrated by these retellings because oftentimes it feels that all they do is talk about how hard it was to be a woman in those times and it doesn't actually add much to the stories nor does it feel particularly feminist. This didn't feel like the case here at all. Morgan's spirit was felt strongly throughout, even during times when she didn't have a choice in her actions because of being a woman in society. And, even better, we got to see other women's strength too. Perhaps my favorite part of this book was that an actual voice was given to Morgan's mother, Ygraine, a woman who was badly mistreated in the legends and yet very little attention is given to that.
I also loved the unique feel of how Morgan's magic developed, including a strong background in herbal remedies and traditional medicine, while there was also plenty of actual magical stuff too.
This is the start of a trilogy, so this covers Morgan's youth and early adulthood. Another thing I loved about this book is that as Morgan experiences new things she reflects on what happened in the past with new eyes, something that made this book feel incredibly nuanced and rich. I went through a range of emotions reading this book, and it will be one that will linger for a long time.
What a strong debut from Keetch, and I can't wait to read more! The audiobook was also lovely, read by Vanessa Kirby.
As is the trend with women in mythology, this book takes a woman who is often vilified or portrayed a certain way and breathes new life into her, a feminist retelling. I have often been frustrated by these retellings because oftentimes it feels that all they do is talk about how hard it was to be a woman in those times and it doesn't actually add much to the stories nor does it feel particularly feminist. This didn't feel like the case here at all. Morgan's spirit was felt strongly throughout, even during times when she didn't have a choice in her actions because of being a woman in society. And, even better, we got to see other women's strength too. Perhaps my favorite part of this book was that an actual voice was given to Morgan's mother, Ygraine, a woman who was badly mistreated in the legends and yet very little attention is given to that.
I also loved the unique feel of how Morgan's magic developed, including a strong background in herbal remedies and traditional medicine, while there was also plenty of actual magical stuff too.
This is the start of a trilogy, so this covers Morgan's youth and early adulthood. Another thing I loved about this book is that as Morgan experiences new things she reflects on what happened in the past with new eyes, something that made this book feel incredibly nuanced and rich. I went through a range of emotions reading this book, and it will be one that will linger for a long time.
What a strong debut from Keetch, and I can't wait to read more! The audiobook was also lovely, read by Vanessa Kirby.
December 25, 2024
Oooh my gosh this book has everything! An Arthurian story that centers on the Lady Morgan as she grows into the powerful woman of legend. Sophie Keetch does a masterful job creating a lush and beautiful world that kept me on my toes from chapter one. There was such a great contrast with how strong willed Morgan is with the hardships women had to endure while being seen as possessions in this age. This book touches on girlhood, womanhood, love, loss, family ties, sisterhood, motherhood, while being fast paced and to the point. There were more than some moments I could not put this down!
May 19, 2025
Si os gusta la leyenda del rey Arturo, Camelot, Merlín y toda esta ambientación junto con los dramas cortesanos de romances prohibidos, estrategias políticas y demás, este es vuestro libro.
Lo he devorado por completo, y venía a quejarme precisamente del final abierto cuando he visto que era una trilogía...así que ahora estoy DESESPERADA por una segunda parte.
Lo único que me ha faltado ha sido ver algo más de desarrollo de magia en Morgan, al principio parece que va a tener mucha relevancia y finalmente queda en segundo plano. El tema de las mujeres, el matrimonio y la medicina acaba teniendo mucho enfoque, cosa que no esperaba y me ha parecido muy top. Siento que la historia va a ir oscureciéndose poco a poco a partir de ahora, por lo que repito: NECESITO EL SEGUNDO LIBRO.
Lo he devorado por completo, y venía a quejarme precisamente del final abierto cuando he visto que era una trilogía...así que ahora estoy DESESPERADA por una segunda parte.
Lo único que me ha faltado ha sido ver algo más de desarrollo de magia en Morgan, al principio parece que va a tener mucha relevancia y finalmente queda en segundo plano. El tema de las mujeres, el matrimonio y la medicina acaba teniendo mucho enfoque, cosa que no esperaba y me ha parecido muy top. Siento que la historia va a ir oscureciéndose poco a poco a partir de ahora, por lo que repito: NECESITO EL SEGUNDO LIBRO.
August 17, 2024
4.0/5
An Arthurian inspired novel with female rage is exactly what I wanted today.
I was a bit surprised that the book shifted the focus from the MC discovering her magic to the romance plot, but that was just the process of building female rage to exploit later.
This is a "Men suck" type of book and I'm here for part 2 to see if all do or at least the brother is as nice as he looks.
An Arthurian inspired novel with female rage is exactly what I wanted today.
I was a bit surprised that the book shifted the focus from the MC discovering her magic to the romance plot, but that was just the process of building female rage to exploit later.
This is a "Men suck" type of book and I'm here for part 2 to see if all do or at least the brother is as nice as he looks.
June 27, 2023
I am such a sucker for these new books coming out showing the woman's perspective on well known myths, and this book does NOT disappoint! It was such a joy to read, and I want to thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for allowing me to read this early in exchange for an honest review...
Morgan le Fay is a relatively well known character in the King Arthur myths, but usually she is seen as a horrid witch, ugly and gross, evil to the core. Sophie Keetch has written a book about Morgan's life showing a different side, and a side that seems more truthful to whom Morgan actually might have been. In many myths, women characters are usually seen as awful or one sided, they lack depth and are seen as secondary to the male front figure. Keetch here has done an amazing job of showing off Morgan and telling the tale of her life from her perspective.
This book is wonderfully written. Even if you know very little about who Morgan was in the myths, this book will fill in all the blanks. I was very heartbroken and cried at certain points, I laughed when Morgan felt joy, I struggled with her when she went through conflict. This book is a tale that women everywhere can relate to easily, and it was hard for me to not think about and be concerned for Morgan when I had to put this book down. Historically, time has not been kind to women and Keetch does a wonderful job of showing how hard life could be during Morgan's time period, while also showing Morgan's want to rebel from that society.
This book does not tell the whole story, partly because I suspect there will be more written in the future about the next "sections" of Morgan's life...and boy am I excited to read them when they come out!
If you love myths, magic, time period specific stories, history shown by women, or just a general love for a great read...READ THIS! I cannot stress how much I enjoyed this book and I am so excited to see what Sophie Keetch writes next !!!
Morgan le Fay is a relatively well known character in the King Arthur myths, but usually she is seen as a horrid witch, ugly and gross, evil to the core. Sophie Keetch has written a book about Morgan's life showing a different side, and a side that seems more truthful to whom Morgan actually might have been. In many myths, women characters are usually seen as awful or one sided, they lack depth and are seen as secondary to the male front figure. Keetch here has done an amazing job of showing off Morgan and telling the tale of her life from her perspective.
This book is wonderfully written. Even if you know very little about who Morgan was in the myths, this book will fill in all the blanks. I was very heartbroken and cried at certain points, I laughed when Morgan felt joy, I struggled with her when she went through conflict. This book is a tale that women everywhere can relate to easily, and it was hard for me to not think about and be concerned for Morgan when I had to put this book down. Historically, time has not been kind to women and Keetch does a wonderful job of showing how hard life could be during Morgan's time period, while also showing Morgan's want to rebel from that society.
This book does not tell the whole story, partly because I suspect there will be more written in the future about the next "sections" of Morgan's life...and boy am I excited to read them when they come out!
If you love myths, magic, time period specific stories, history shown by women, or just a general love for a great read...READ THIS! I cannot stress how much I enjoyed this book and I am so excited to see what Sophie Keetch writes next !!!
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