Arthurian myths are something I'll never tire of being retold. With the sheer number of interpretations of them, they all feel so different. Sadly, Morgan is my Name felt different in a bad way.

Morgan is my Name fell short in the way a lot of these "feminist" retellings do. I had the same problem with Circe and Ariadne. They retell a myth from the eyes of a female character, sure. But they don't actually give her agency. They don't make her a major point of her own story. Somehow, these retellings still manage to cast the MC of their book as a side character in the myth.

This is so incredibly disappointing to me because Morgana is such a complex and intriguing character in the myths. She can be interpreted so many ways: evil seductress, morally-grey villainess, misguided hero. Morgan is my Name somehow took all of those and ignored them. In this, Morgan was merely a bystander. She did some things, but nothing consequential. Even her healing, which could've been so fun to explore, was barely there. It almost felt like Keetch needed Morgan to be doing something, so she gave her healing as a hobby. A compelling character this does not make.

Even worse, not even the side characters were compelling. The only one I felt any affection for was Alys, and that was the affection of a disinterested bystander. Tressa had so little page time she barely existed. As for Accalon, he was a boring love interest. Especially because any impact his character could've had was wasted when he was sent away. Seriously, what did his presence accomplish?

The most disappointing books are always the ones that seems like they're going to be good. This one seemed like it was going to be amazing, but couldn't have been farther from it.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read rate and review this arc which is available June 13,2023 for purchase.

This is a very raw passionate retelling of Morgan Le Fey the eldest sister of King author. It is an extremely feminist retelling of women empowerment and what she must do to claim her own autonomy. I liked it. It was well written and emotionally investing.

The gorgeous cover and the promise of a story steeped in Arthurian legend had me more than excited to dive into its pages. Morgan Is My Name takes the mythical sorceress most often written as the villain, and brings to life a more real and fierce woman fighting to find her own happiness… sort of.

The beginning really drew me in, following her POV, and experiencing the origins of Morgan and her painful childhood. I was quickly reminded of Circe by Madeline Miller, because this story is so much more of character study than a plot driven fantasy novel. But where Circe hits the emotions hard and finishes with a satisfying ending, Ketch’s story left me wanting. I kept waiting for Morgan to truly own her power or fight for her desires, yet it isn’t until the last pages we see her take a true stand against the prison she felt her life had become. Morgan was the most fleshed out character, but I had trouble connecting deeply with anyone.

There was a much missed opportunity to showcase significantly deeper magic and play up the tension between Morgan/Merlin/Arthur. I felt that much of the actual Arthurian legends were left out leaving only the vaguest essence of characters to created this story.

Overall this was a quick and easy read but not a favorite.

Each time I review an Arthurian legend retelling I feel the need to give a bit of a disclaimer. I was named after the Morgaine from Marion Zimmer Bradley's 'The Mists of Avalon'. My upbringing was rooted from the start in respect for the feminine voice in retellings. So, of course, I jumped at the chance to read 'Morgan is My Name', the newest in a line of feminists retellings of Arthurian legend.

I expected a more fantastical retelling heading in (not a surprise considering my first introduction to these legends), but I grew to appreciate the more historically-based narrative as time went on. It was nice to read about the small ways in which women did reclaim power in the Middle Ages. The magical elements felt more like book ends to this story and I do wonder if there is any sort of sequel planned that will explore this more.

Arthurian Legend? Check. Giving voice to a female who was previously typecast? Check. Great read? Check.

3.5 stars

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows Morgan, daughter of Igraine and half-sister to King Arthur, from her early childhood through early adulthood as she is used as a pawn in the political machinations of the men around her. All the while, she has a power for healing and brilliant mind that she tries to use for good, only to be prevented by those around her - some of whom have good intentions, and some who do not. This novel contains complex examinations of power: who has it, what it means, and how it is used to influence others and control outcomes. Themes of freedom, agency, family, and knowledge were deftly woven throughout the narrative.

I did not like this book very much at the outset - Morgan’s Not Like Other Girls attitude really turned me off and I initially found her very difficult to root for or sympathize with. However, as the story progressed I was taken in by her curiosity, intelligence, and integrity as she grew in complexity as a character and ultimately earned my respect. I also really loved her relationships with the other female characters in the story, especially her friendship with Alys, but also the palpable love between her and Igraine, Elaine, and Morgause.

This one also lost a few points from me because of how predictable it was - every time Morgan entered a new situation, I could easily see how it was going to end. I also felt that it ended somewhat abruptly, in a way that left a lot of story threads still hanging - in particular, the connection between Morgan and Merlin, and the explanation for why Morgan has powers at all, were not explored with any kind of depth or resolved in any way. However, the lovely prose and richly imagined characters carried the novel a long way.

If you’re interested in a King Arthur retelling from Morgan’s perspective, this one is fairly solid and I’d recommend giving it a try!

I received an advance reader copy of this novel from netcalli in exchange for a fair review. I was very impressed with this novel, and even though it might not be the literary giant that many people consider Miss of Avalon to be, I found the visceral nature of Morgan's relationship with Pendragon to be pretty realistic in my opinion. The fiery nature of her character really came through loud and clear in this story. Overall I found it a good read, very entertaining, with well-rounded characters. I finished this novel in less than 24 hours.

I imagine there maybe a sequel in the making, based on the way the story ends. But regardless, this is a fabulous story, with a lot of interesting characters and although we know the plot twists are coming, not all of them occur with little surprise. I was actually enjoying the fact that some of the plot twists were far beyond what I had expected for this novel. Although, they all made sense given the plot line that we had been working with. Highly recommend reading this novel for anyone interested in Arthurian legends or stories with strong female characters.

An interesting take on Morgan of Arthurian legend. Somewhat reminiscent of Mists of Avalon, but more contained to Morgan's personal, limted experiences..
The story follows Morgan from a young girl in Tintagel, through her adolescence under the dark hand of King Uther, and her life until the early days of Camelot. Throughout, we see Morgan as a girl drawn to knowledge and healing. She is strong and wilful, but mostly uncompromising in her principles. The male characters from the Arthurian legend we see little part of except as villians who make appearances to bring conflict and pain into Morgan's life. King Urien is one who is shown more, but even he is darker on personality than in most stories. The thrust of the book is that women have little to no power in the society Keetch shows and Morgan fights against that to have the life she wants.
Morgan is my Name is written mostly from a first person perspective (Morgan's), and our knowledge is limited by hers. The book has an expectant finish and, with the number of unresolved stories, I fully expect to see a sequel in the future.
If you enjoy Arthurian legend, you will find this book enjoyable. It is written in a way that is good for older teens and young adults and is an empowering female story for that age group.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
#Netgalley #MorganismyName #SophieKeetch #ArthurianLegend

I have loved the story of King Arthur since I first saw A Sword in the Stone as a child. Reading the story from Morgan's point of view is something I have always enjoyed.

Morgan Is My Name follows Morgan from age 8 to about 28 and catalogs her journey from precocious child to mother. We learn of the death of her father at the hands of King Uther and how she is forced into the role of Princess by her father's murderer, how she rebells in the small ways she could and the resulting mental and physical abuse she endured at his hands; of her first love; of her love of learning; her years in a convent; and her ultimate marriage and the rise of King Arthur.

This story is a more realistic look at her life, with magic kept to a minimum and framed as a divine sort of Godly magic. This is not a fast paced or action packed story, there were chapters where nothing of note happened, but I still could not put it down, which is a testament to the writing ability of Sophie Keetch. The book almost feels as if it is nothing but a really long prologue setting up a more thrilling second book, however, this is 100% a story of love. Love can be seen in almost every interaction and it is a supremely honest look at the many kinds that surround us. Sisterhood is also a huge theme and the feminist vibe is strong.

I am hoping that Morgan's story will be continued and we will get to learn more about her days as an adult and mother.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

In the same vein as Madeline Miller's CIRCE, Sophie Keetch has perfectly captured Morgan, the sister of Arthur Pendragon's story in MORGAN IS MY NAME. Feminist at its heart.

A retelling of Morgan le Fay? Sign me up. The story follows Morgan’s early life as a misunderstood but magical woman who is dealing with not only a difficult family situation but a forbidden love and untapped magical powers. Morgan lives a happy life in Tintagel with her beloved father, until he is killed and now King Uther Pendragon along has violated her mother and taken the throne for himself. Morgan was born with a fiery temper and she will not let this brutal man stop her. She is educated in secret, discovering a love for ealing and soon finding a love of her own, albeit a forbidden one. But all good things end and soon she finds herself separated from her beloved and forced into a marriage she does not want. Things only get worse for her as she loses her love, is forced to deal with a husband who is terrible, and isolated and threatened. But Morgan has magic and a will that is unbreakable. This is the first book in the series if I am correct and so it ends very abruptly and you still have so many questions left. This book was just a really long read of this poor woman facing horrible circumstance after horrible circumstance. Everyone in it is unlikable ( except for you Alys) and you just kind of want Morgan to burn this whole place to the ground and just run off. Don’t even get me started on the angst of that relationship, definitely not a good time. Seriously this was a frustrating read and I just didn’t have a good time with it at all by the end. I am a huge fan of arthurian retellings but this one kind of just missed the mark for me unfortunately. So despite that, if you are looking for a Morgan le Fay retelling, give this a go maybe it will work out better for you than it did for me.

*Thanks Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada, Random House Canada for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I found this work to be average, perhaps because I have read a lot of Arthurian retellings. I dont feel like anything fresh or original was added to the character of Morgan le Fay. Unless a patron had already read a lot of Arthurian fiction, there are other works that I would recommend over this. It was not bad or flawed but just not special.

3.4/5

I'm an absolute fiend for Arthurian retellings- especially anything to do with Morgan le Fay.

Morgan is My Name was nice. I don't think it lives up to some other retellings but it was a really good attempt and I enjoyed myself nonetheless.

The pacing was slow but forgivable. Characterization was fine. The ending was not my favourite.

This is a fun book, a beautiful in its own way. Definitely a feminist retelling, and not just using the term as a buzzword.

I would recommend it.

This book was really good! I grew up loving King Arthur legends, and of course I’m a huge fan of Morgana. So this retelling was fun, to see a backstory and how everything came to be. Though I had wished there was more mysticism, I did like seeing the real historical aspects influenced in the story. A good book!

Actual Rating: 4,5 ⭐️

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Morgan is My Name is the first book in this trilogy by Sophie Keetch and what an amazing beginning.

Plot

Morgan doesn't give up after King Uther Pendragon murders her father and coerces her mother into becoming married. She finds secret abilities while trapped among men's schemes in a world of remote castles and gossipy courts. Brilliant and vengeful, Morgan doesn't take long to establish himself as a worthy rival to Merlin, the king's powerful magician. But by battling for her release, she runs the risk of losing everything—her name, her family, and her life.

This book shows Morgan early years and for me it was amazing seeing this character getting all the attention. The pacing can be slow, but this book is a character driven story and it's about Morgan and the events that make her who she is.

Characters

Morgan

Morgan was a wonderful protagonist. Most of the times, she is known because she is the antagonist. But, I don't think the reader can really blame her. She suffered so much since she was young. She lost her father, just because a man lusted after her mother, married to a king she didn't want and couldn't be with the man she loves. She is powerful, smart, intelligent and well educated. She has a passion for learning, especially healing. That's her motivation through the whole book. She wants to help people and she is a person that never bowed to Uther. Amazing development of this character.

Alysa

She is Morgan's best friend and I really liked her. Sarcastic, mischievous, she was always there for Morgan and was always trying to help her.

Urien

Urien became Morgan's husband. I hated him, what a horrible man. I wish she could have just killed him by the end of the novel.

Uther

Uther was a character well written, but he was despicable. I hated him. What he did to Morgan and her mother was simply horrible.

Igraine

She was always doing her best to protect and help Morgan. She has a deep love for her husband and daughters. She was a very calm person.

Acolon

Acolon is Morgan's lover and I love how he was portrayed. He is handsome, brave, intelligent. All he wants is to become a knight and I hope I can see more of him in future novels.

Writing

For a debut novel, the writing of this book was actually good. I loved the descriptions and the dialogue between the characters was really well done.

World-Building

Sophie shows us how it was to be a woman in those times. We see Morgan struggle to be seen and heard in a world ruled by men, shows how difficult it was to be a woman. I love some politics that was discussed in the books.

Romance

The romance was really good. I was surprised when I saw Acolon. In most versions, Acolon is a man that Morgan manipulates to help her destroy Arthur. But here, they truly fell in love while they were very young. I really loved their story, it was beautiful and tragic, as it was impossible. Because Acolon appears much later in the legend, I hope I can see more of him and Morgan in the next novel.

Final Thoughts

An amazing novel that explores the early years of Morgan.

Enthralling, engaging, ethereal. I couldn't get enough of this book. For anyone who is a fan of Arthurian legend, this is a must read! Keetch's reimagining of Morgan and the story as told from Morgan's perspective is a total triumph. Rich with imagery and depth of character, littered with themes of honor, injustice, betrayal and powerlessness, incredibly evocative of deep feeling and emotion - I can already tell this will be one of my favorite reads of the year. I will be eagerly awaiting the next piece of Morgan's journey. Well done!!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC!

Morgan lives as a happy and willful child with her parents and sisters in Tintagel Castle. But when King Uther Pendragon murders her father and forces her mother to wed him, Morgan's life is changed forever. Ever bright and defiant, Morgan pushes back against her fate and discovers the power within herself. The prose moves along beautifully and truly felt as if I was transported back to medieval times.

Before starting this book, I was only vaguely familiar with the King Arthur legend. And not going to lie, after starting this story I did a deep dive into the legend. This story is perfect for both new and old fans. It truly is an origin story - even though Morgan is known as an evil enchantress in later tales, this story delves deep into her early life and experiences. Near the end there is a brief glimpse into her vengeful side (and the recipient was much deserving), but her character overall remains a protector and healer.

This book has a bit of everything - action, mystery, magic, romance. Morgan could not catch a break with love - I had such high hopes for Gaul. Even though Merlin appeared briefly in the story, his role was monumental. He is a fascinating character. His character wasn't presented as inherently good as in other depictions. I really hope the author continues this series! I would love to read more about Morgan's life, magic, and revenge!

5/5 Stars

TL;DR - This book is a triumph. It gives a hauntingly beautiful voice to a legendary woman too long vilified and never explored save for her relevance to a man. Everything about this book is as breathtaking and beautiful as it is heart-wrenching and devastating. Morgan’s power is not just her sorcery, but her indomitable will - and I was enchanted from the first word to the last.

**An immense thanks to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this amazing book in exchange for an honest review - and honestly, I loved it!**

‘Morgan Is My Name’ by Sophie Keetch aims to tell the story of Morgan of Cornwall, better known as Morgan le Fay, filling in the gaps of her early life that are so often discarded by storytellers focused on King Arthur. We meet her at seven years old, already a force to be reckoned with, and follow her as she grows into a woman, endures loss and betrayal, finds love and friendship, and is forced to conform to the expected life of a medieval woman when she, in many respects, is anything but.

It’s hard to know where to begin for this review - rarely does a book leave me speechless, and though I shouted and cheered countless times over this tale, it’s hard to put into words the sheer brilliance of this book. It’s like trying to catch mist with your hands - you can try, you can touch it and feel it on your skin, but you can never really capture it. I’m in silent awe after turning the last page, and I know my recovery will be a long time coming.

This book is presented as “an atmospheric, feminist retelling”, and I am always wary of anything labeled as such - I’ve been burned before, but I never stop hoping that I’ll get the true feminist take I so desperately crave. And let me tell you plainly - this book is, beyond any shadow of a doubt, unapologetically feminist and worthy of that hype. Every female character, from Morgan down to commoners in the villages, is written so damn well. Every woman detailed is complex and nuanced, and is presented as such with careful and lyrical prose. Deep themes of patriarchal structures and the harm they cause to women, especially in medieval times, are explored thoughtfully, but the author never shies away from the harsh truths that comprised the lives of women during this time, and the lingering ways these systems still affect women today. These realities were (and are) often bleak and heart-breaking, but at the same time filled with hope and defiance and fire unable to be extinguished - and ‘Morgan Is My Name’ captures it all in prose as sharp as Morgan’s hunting knife.

I knew the story of Morgan long before applying for this ARC, but until I read this book, I never truly *knew* her story. It was always framed against the larger mythos of King Arthur, and she was always boiled down to a flat villain, only interesting in the moments she clashed with Arthur. But here, she lives and breathes and loves and mourns, and it is a spectacular ride and a gift to be allowed to see her in a new light.

Morgan is an absolute powerhouse and I cheered her on at every turn. At seven, this girl stands up to and defies the King of Britain and doesn’t so much as blink. She breaks countless rules and social norms, she goes against her superiors in pursuit of what she knows is right and good, and she never flinches when faced with cruelty or subjected to violence. She’s so certain, so defiant, so full of conviction. Everything she does is calculated, even when she’s defying what’s expected of her and risking her safety, and she is beyond clever. Reading this book, I was constantly in awe of her, and rooting for her in everything she did. It was such a wondrous experience to watch her find her power, both fantastical and earthy varieties, and she truly became the woman of legend before my eyes. My heart bled for her, I reveled in her triumphs, and I loved every minute I got to spend with her.

Queen Igraine is, in short, an absolute queen. She passed her wit and gift for words onto her daughter, and she protects her fiercely, pushing the boundaries of what is allowed by women of her day to see that Morgan is safe and cared for. I admire her greatly, and I do not envy her position at any point in the book, but it’s so heartening to see a mother caring so deeply for her daughter despite the patriarchal society trying its best to stifle her.

Alys and Tressa are pure gold, and it was so, so refreshing to see the deep, loving friendship they shared with Morgan. This book perfectly captured the power of platonic love, and the way these women cared for each other and supported one another through their darkest hours was the balm my heart needed - and I didn’t know I needed it until this book served it to me on a silver platter.

This book is written so incredibly well. Every line is tight and concise, every description beautiful, every line of dialog necessary and enthralling. There were so many poignant moments of symmetry in the story - moments where something somewhat mundane was happening, but the way it was described and how it paralleled what Morgan was feeling and experiencing was just breathtakingly beautiful. Over and over, Morgan and the women in her life stand their ground and deliver such powerful, raw statements of passion and defiance, and each one is as much a stab to the gut in its power as it is ethereal and captivating poetry. I am stunned that this book managed to leave me breathless over and over and over.

The only thing that disappointed me about this book was the fact that we only ever see Morgan’s fabled power in its infancy. I wanted to see the legendary sorceress in all her glory, but this is the tale of her early life and everything that culminated into her ascent to her power. However, in hindsight, though I didn’t get what I wanted, I found that I got what I needed, and that I was deeply satisfied with it. Morgan had to endure all these things to become who she was destined to be, had to be pushed to the brink of discovering her power so that she could later wield it, and I’m profoundly grateful that I got to witness it.

Final Thoughts:

This book absolutely destroyed me, and I couldn’t be happier with it. I know I will be coming back to this book again and again, picking it up and losing myself in it whenever I needed to be reminded of my own inherent feminine power.

I feel so honored that I got to read this early, and I will absolutely be buying a physical copy and displaying it with pride alongside my other most-favorite books of all time.

Thank you, Sophie, for giving a long-needed voice to Morgan, and for blessing me and the world with this book.

Sophie Keetch's retelling of Morgan La Fey is refreshing and exciting. In the legend of Arthur, Morgan is either an incestuous or over-looked character. Keetch gives Morgan a new life in this first-person point of view. Morgan is courageous and strong-willed. His idea of Uther Pendragon would have anyone agree, he is a dirtbag. Merlin is merely his tool for getting Lady Igraine with a child that would be King Arthur. Morgan, who is outspoken about his falsehood and falling in love with a knight is sent away. In this convent, Morgan learns more about her healing gift. The middle part did get slow and I los,t some interest but with the arrival of Arthur. I was interested again. I wonder if Keetch will do a sequel diving into more of the Arthurian Legend that has been around for 100s of years. She does a great job with this story. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys retellings and King Arthur.

DNF. It wasn't to my taste - I liked the description of this book, but the actual reading of it was disappointing. It felt cliched and shallow. None of the characters, but in particular the main ones, were very fleshed out. Morgan was the usual sort of Mary Sue - misunderstood by her family, except for her father, who of course then promptly dies. Evil stepfather, long suffering mother, insta-love with an unsuitable boy, sent away to a convent, insta-best friend. There was potential, but I wished for something more compelling than this.

I received this as an ARC from Net Galley