Morgan is My Name is a feminist retelling of the Arthurian legend, focusing on the character of Morgan Le Fay. The book explores Morgan's early life, portraying her as a complex and powerful woman with a thirst for knowledge and a rebellious spirit. Through the story, readers witness Morgan's journey of growth, enduring friendships, love, betrayal, and loss, all while navigating a world dictated by men. The novel features romance, hints of magic, political intrigue, and various settings, such as Tintagel Castle and the mystical Cornish coast.
Sophie Keetch's writing style is described as mature and flowing well, with natural and wonderfully written dialogue that is accessible yet not jarringly modern. The plot is characterized as being more of a character study, focusing on Morgan's growth and journey through her early life. While the book introduces new visions of well-known Arthurian characters like Merlin, Lady of the Lake, and Arthur, it also sheds light on lesser-known figures like Accolon of Gaul and Urien, providing a fresh take on the Arthurian legend.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of domestic violence and historical inaccuracies that may affect readers' sensitivity.
Has Romance?
The romance element is present but is not the main focus, with hints of love affairs and relationships contributing to character development.
From The Publisher:
"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
"Sophie Keetch's prose is as mesmerizing as the ocean's tides, illuminating Morgan's life with a deft and attentive hand." -Rebecca Ross, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows
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.
Ratings (3)
Loved It (3) |
Reader Stats (12):
Read It (3) | |
Want To Read (9) |
1 comment(s)
A fiery retelling of the legend of Morgan le Fay, which follows her childhood, adolescence, education, tumultuous marriage, and her role in the establishment in Arthur's court.
In one word, it is a book about suffering. Keetch draws from familiar ground to create a healer type figure who struggles to find peace and purpose in a world where she is treated as property. Keetch's Morgan is courageous, brash, angry, and the story telling pulls readers into these headspaces with her.
When she is harmed, you feel the snap of rage. When her expertise is stifled and dismissed, then forbidden, you experience the suffocation, the frustration of knowing what it is to be able yet forbidden from helping others. When she takes up defiance in her honesty and courage, you soar, and when trouble knocks on her door, you flinch. It is evocative.
Well-paced, movingly crafted--up to the very end, which felt sudden. There were a few plot threads that I had expected to be addressed and were not. Morgan's internality is teetering on a precipice of dark and light, and this feels more like the first entry in a duology or trilogy than a standalone.
Women's healthcare and agency is a thematic heartbeat underneath the story, and many readers might relate to Morgan's frustration that female bodies are so unstudied and unsupported by the medical field in comparison to male ones.
What can you read after
Morgan is My Name?
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