This was an INCREDIBLE debut!!!! I cannot explain how enthralled I was from the very first page of this book; every single character was compelling and riveting on the page. The imagery and descriptions throughout the story were so vivid and I could almost feel myself walking alongside Morgan as she faced life head on. Truly one of the best books of the year for me!! Huge thanks to the author and publisher for sending me this advanced copy! Also, that COVER DAMN!!

A wonderful look into an important time in history. Loved this point of view. I also enjoyed how colorful the writing was in reference to feminine issues, politics, family issues, and power. It was so easy to lose myself in this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Why I love this title
-Arthurian legend era With a focus on Morgan la fey
-a woman coming into her power and forging her own path despite rougher circumstances.
-Atmospheric writing
-excellent pacing
What didn't work as well for me
-seeing Merlin painted in a less friendly light was odd for me given other titles I have been reading in this current Arthurian legend boom
-I love the sequel potential but wasn't quite ready for the book to end
Who I would recommend this title for
Fans of Arthurian Legend re imaginings who also like feminist lens stories will find themselves enjoying Morgan is My Name.

Morgan le Fay's early life unfolds in this condensed debut novel by Sophie Keetch. Despite experiencing loss and family upheaval, Morgan embraces the healing arts and her unique gifts. However, the men in her life constantly seek to control her, hindering her efforts to use her talents for good. While Morgan shines as a free-spirited protagonist, the male characters lack depth, appearing somewhat one-dimensional. Nonetheless, the book captivates with its beautifully written prose and immersive storyline, particularly in Morgan's exploration of healing studies. Though initially expecting a standalone, the story's ending hints at a potential sequel or series, which I eagerly awaits.

Morgan is My Name, is bitter sweet. So much of Morgan's life is out of her control. Her spirit is fiery and you can't help but fall in love with her. I found my self consistently frustrated for her and wished there was more to be done than her petty defiance. Her ladies in waiting are timid but slowly gain backbone the more that they are with her and are a lovely pair. This book is amazing and pulls hard at the heart strings. Its not full of direct action but its there constantly in the background guiding the story. This book will continue to haunt me.

This novel is a beautiful retelling of the early life of Morgan Le Fay, the Arthurian villainess, from a feminist standpoint.
It is always very entertaining to read how authors imagine these remarkable women with a new, modern perspective. I really enjoy the passion behind Morgan decisions, even when it implies a painful resignation, and her implicit competition with Merlin. Morgan is a force of nature that you definitely need to have on your team.
Beautifully written and highly entertaining.

I always enjoy historical fiction with strong female characters, especially during a time that strength in women was mistaken for evil, or disobedience. Women were much like children and meant to be seen and not heard. A voice in a woman wasn't a good thing.

I love that this book isn't about King Arthur and his legend, but is about Morgan le Fey and the misinformation and inaccurate portrayal of a woman who should have been a heroine, and was instead seen as a villain and so often portrayed as an archetype rather than as a person with emotions, beliefs, and actual motivations. Because we start earlier in that legend, we get to see what Morgan desires, get to care for her as in individual and root for her and her success. This looks to be the start of a strong series, and I can hardly wait to read the next one!

I didn’t know a whole lot about Morgan before reading this book. I knew she was around during the time of King Arthur but otherwise didn’t know much. I really enjoyed this story and the scene that seemed to be set. I’m excited to see what’s next.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and author of this novel for an e-ARC.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. Maybe some of it is right book, wrong time, so I'm adding it to my re-read list for the future. I felt like it just didn't really focus as much on the Arthurian legends and Morgan Le Fay's story as much. I would classify this as more of a fantasy romance with some Arthurian legends added, but I know a LOT of people love this genre, so I think it will end up resonating with other readers. I just don't really like fantasy romance as much as I enjoy mythology and legends.

I did enjoy the world building though and the first few chapters where Morgan is a child. Overall, I think this was well written and would be a great pick for romance readers.

Review will be posted on Instagram (@ellie.reads.a.lot) before the publication date (I'll most likely have it posted by or before June 2nd)

I don’t know about you, but I’m getting tired of all retellings with a female lead being proclaimed to be ‘feminist’ retellings. It’s not necessarily true, for one — you can have a retelling with a female lead and the book be almost misogynistic. Having a female lead doesn’t mean you’re feminist. Luckily, Morgan is My Name does have feminism coming off of it in waves — but don’t expect a woman to lead a queendom or anything inside it’s pages. This is Dark Ages Britain we’re talking about here. There’s only so much Keetch could get away with here without losing the historical accuracy that she was so clearly going for.

Because yes, while this book does have magic in it, there is very much a layer of historical realness here that isn’t usually present in these sorts of books. It truly feels like we’re right beside Morgan in these cold and drafty castles, watching as war after war is started. Morgan is My Name reminded me very much of Lucy Holland’s Dark Earth that I read last year and loved. These are both dark books with a heavy dose of female companionship and love. The Arthurian legend is here, but it’s very much in the background at first. Arthur isn’t even born until maybe halfway through the book. What we start with, and where we’re based is in Morgan’s childhood.

The aforementioned Morgan is, of course, Morgan le Fay or Morgana of the Arthurian legend. While she’s usually painted as something of a villain, in this particular book she’s just a wild-at-heart girl eager to learn everything she possibly can about healing. We see her heal someone miraculously with just her hands, and we see her dip into what we are supposed to assume is dark magic to bring someone else back from the brink of death. Morgan has magic, and she’s desperate to use it. Unfortunately for her, her brute of a husband all but forbids her. (She ends up going behind his back and doing it anyway.) We see all sorts of familiar names and places in this book, but a great deal of it seems to be pulled from either history or made up. It’s fine! It works wonderfully.

I really enjoyed Morgan is My Name — I love the Arthurian legend and always have. This was a fresh new look at a character that is most often shoved to the side or painted in rather broad strokes. I loved getting a look at what her childhood must have been like, at what forced her to become what she does.

I truly thought this was a standalone novel, but the end of the book proves that to be absolutely false. I am very much looking forward to where Keetch is going with this. Right now, I can’t see this Morgan doing what Morgana does in the original legends, but I guess we’ll see how she gets there! Four stars!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Cananda for my free-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book tells the story of Morgana le Fay before she became the villain in King Arthur's story. It's a poignant telling of her beginnings and sheds light on her often misunderstood character. The book explores the life of a young Morgan, her hopes, happiness, and loss, as well as her journey to finding her voice and place in the world.

One of the standout aspects of this book is its portrayal of the patriarchy and how it affected Morgan's life. It shows how women were oppressed and silenced during that time and how Morgan refused to let society's expectations dictate her path. Her resilience and determination amidst the challenges she faced are genuinely inspiring.

Sophie Keetch's captivating writing style and storytelling kept me hooked. The characters are well-developed, and the world-building is vivid. The book is a fantastic example of how well-written historical fiction can transport readers to different times and places.

Overall, I highly recommend Morgan is My Name to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or those interested in learning more about the legend of King Arthur. It's a thought-provoking and engaging read that will stay with you long after you've finished it. I'm grateful for the opportunity to read it.

Morgan is My Name is the first book of a trilogy described as a “feminist retelling of the life of famed villainess Morgan le Fay, et against the colourful chivalric backdrop of Arthurian legend.” Though I know the general story of King Arthur, outside of watching the show Merlin when I was a teen, I had never delved deep into the story of Morgan le Fay.

Morgan is My Name was, in my opinion, an excellent introduction and interpretation of an iconic character.

My main criticism is that I felt there was a bit too much time spent on the early romantic subplot, and though I’m not sure if Keetch is going to bring that character back in the following books, I personally would not miss him. Especially knowing what else is to come for Morgan.

The relationships between Morgan and all the women in her life , be it her mothers, her sisters, her friends, were fleshed out and beautifully written.

The climax of the book sped by and made me so excited to see what’s next for Morgan. Can’t wait for the next book in the series, hopefully we get to see her powers grow even more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC.

5 ⭐️ 5 ♥️ - I received this ARC from NetGalley.

Let me start by saying that this reads more like a historical fiction than most fantasies I’ve read in the last couple of years, that’s not a bad thing but if you are expecting a full blown fantasy with a Sanderson esque magic system, this isn’t the book for you lol.

This book was pure poetry, we follow Morgan from birth through events that are more often than not traumatic that shape her. The ending has me sobbing, I cannot recommend enough.

“True power comes from freedom, and the ability to survive what befalls us.” He had sent the peregrine up again to wait on, though I saw now it was us who waited on her. “There’s nothing keeping her here other than the respect she’s been shown.”

TW; sexual assault, domestic violence

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 grabbed this as a Read Now on NetGalley because I'm always interested to see what a writer will do with Morgan Le Fey. I didn't dislike it by any means, but as someone raised on Marion Zimmer Bradley and with other amazing queer and feminist retellings, Morgan Is My Name just didn't hold up for me. If you are looking for a female centric and straightforward King Arthur story with men stupid enough to make your blood boil, you'll probably enjoy this!

3.5 stars

I don't know much about Arthurian legend, but I do love me a good myth/legend retelling. From what I understand, Morgan is normally painted to be a darker figure and a witch. As I'm sure you can guess, this is because she went against the grain and didn't act how women of the time did and her image got more skewed as time went on. A good retelling and I hope to see more retellings by this author.

Morgan Is My Name is a retelling of the legends of Morgan Le Fay. This retelling focuses on Morgan growing up as a young girl, being married, and eventually becoming a mother. We see glimpses of Morgan’s magical powers in this book, but I had hoped to see more of them. Instead we see Morgan’s humble and non-magical beginnings, but as a young girl she often sees more than she is supposed to. Morgan’s relationships with her sisters and mother are highlighted, as well as her rebellions against the vile King Uther.

King Uther, Merlin, and her eventual husband are all shown through Morgan’s eyes and how they treated her. In this retelling, they viewed her as little more than a chess piece to be moved around without agency. Morgan does not accept this role and uses all of her wits and connections to other women to find a way to strike out on her own. I loved how the author highlights that women are often branded as witches by men when they are feared and in positions of power. While Morgan finds fleeting love, it was not fully explored due to the reprehensible King Uther. She also finds herself the half-sibling of a young King Arthur. I hope that these relationships along with her magical abilities are explored more in a future book!

Readers who enjoyed The Shadow of Perseus (Claire Heywood), would enjoy this clever and nuanced retelling of Morgan Le Fay and the women associated with King Arthur, such as Queen Igraine.

Thank you to Sophie Keetch, Penguin Random House Canada, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

CW: assault, mentions of rape, misogyny

Read as an ARC via NetGalley. Pub Date: June 17, 2023

Rarely in the ancient legends is the woman actually the villain. More often than not, she’s been portrayed that way by the men telling the tales to explain her lack of malleability. The witch who knew too much; the wild sorceress who could not, or would not, be controlled. The innate moral failing, naturally, lies within the woman herself, not in the men surrounding her. But when the women tell the story, the narrative changes. The healer who learned outside of the conventional methods; the survivor who reclaimed her power. Not a moral failing, then, but an unapproved reallocation of power. So it should be no surprise that Morgan le Fey is portrayed just as frequently as a villain, the opposition to glorious King Arthur’s reign. But what if that isn’t what happened?

I love this book. I loved everything about it. Morgan is fierce and unforgiving and wickedly smart. She knows when she cannot win a battle and knows when she absolutely can, and she has no reservation about wielding that power. She is kind and good and wild. I have no words for how amazing this story actually is.

I’ve always loved the King Arthur legends; heroic knights and mysterious wizards and the amazing battles they fought. And it always struck me as completely unfair that the person with the most potential, the strongest and most fearsome being in many of the stories, had been transformed into the bad guy. Morgana, Morgan le Fay, King Arthur’s half sister hell-bent on destroying him. That’s not how she started in the legends, though. Her legends begin, first and foremost, with her power. And this story does an amazing job of embracing that origin.

I could go on for pages and pages about how amazing this book was. I could tell you that everything about it paints Morgan as strong and clever and free. That my very first note about this book could sum it all up very neatly: *immense amounts of Feminine Rage* I could tell you that, for many readers, she’s going to feel incredibly relatable, and you’ll ride the highs and lows of her life right alongside the character. I could even attempt to put into words the absolutely feral screeching my soul has been emitting since I finished this book. I could tell you all of those things, but you really should go read it for yourself.

Good book but wrong time.

Personally this book wasn't for me (right now), I've been in a contemporary mood but see so much potential in this book. Keetch gives Morgan such authority it's incredible and I wanted to be more drawn in but found I couldn't. I will however, be revisiting this book.

I just find that I tend to be really picky when it comes to retellings like this, because they so often lack any emotional depth for me. And that's unfortunately what happened with this one as well. It felt repetitive, and the pacing felt odd, where we jumped from scene to scene and forward in time really abruptly. And even though the story was trying to discuss serious topics, such as abuse, it felt very surface level to me, and I felt as though not enough was done. As the reader, even though the book is from Morgana's perspective, it still felt like everything was told to us, not shown. So, overall, it was disappointing to me, but I've realized that it's actually more of a rarity for me to enjoy retellings like this, because I often have these same feelings with all of them.