★★★★☆ Morgan (le Fay) burning bright

Morgan is my Name

Sophie Keetch

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.

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