Morgan is My Name by Sophie Keetch

 

Summary (from the publisher): The first volume in a stunning trilogy set in the world of Arthurian legend and told from the perspective of its traditional antagonist, Morgan Le Fay.

Even as a girl Morgan has always been wild, like the seas which batter the cliffs beneath her home, Tintagel Castle. But she has always been safe, too.

Then one day her father is called away to a war from which he does not return. In his place comes the High King, Uther Pendragon, with the sorcerer Merlin lurking in his wake. Uther claims Morgan’s mother, the Lady Igraine as his queen.

Now, in a world of knights and chivalry where she is all but voiceless, Morgan is faced with a choice: to follow her own fierce intelligence or to submit to the limitations powerful men would place upon her. She cannot, she will not choose submission.

So begins this richly told debut from Sophie Keetch, which traces Morgan’s journey to adulthood. She will fall in love with a man saved from the sea. She will defy kings and suffer the consequences. At times she will almost despair. But ultimately, she will discover a power in herself that even Merlin is awed by–a power that will give her control of her own destiny and which see her join Arthur at Camelot.

Review: In this retelling of the King Arthur tale, author Sophie Keetch presents the story from the perspective of its traditional antagonist, Morgan Le Fay. As a girl, Morgan is headstrong but happy in her home Tintagel Castle. Until her beloved father is killed, and her mother is forced into marriage with King Uther Pendragon. Reluctant to submit to anyone by nature, Morgan rails against the confines of her world and seeks knowledge, learning, and love on her own terms in secret. 

I loved the reimagining of Morgan and her origin story in this novel. Morgan is headstrong and passionate, eager to learn and deeply resentful of anyone who attempts to control her. She is drawn to healing and her powers to heal. In this novel she is presented as a brilliant girl who is slowly being shaped by those around her to become bitter. 

This is the first in a planned trilogy, so the story really cuts off just when Morgan's story is reaching a peak. I am curious to see where Keetch takes Morgan's tale in the next two installments. I listened to the audiobook version of this novel and narrator Vanessa Kirby did an outstanding job at bringing life to Morgan's story. 

Stars: 4