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sj_54's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
 I have always loved finding new Arthurian retellings, and this one really drew me in right from the start.
Not a tale of knights and quests but rather the strength of women as the undercurrent of all stories.
It definitely read like a modern lens (the unexpected LGBTQ rep was heartwarming) rather than stuck in the stodgy old "A man is destined for greatness!" track, which may ruffle some more traditional feathers but I was in love through the whole thing.
The characters are vibrant, the storyline is a touch slow at times but with enough plot twists to entertain even those familiar with every detail of the legends.
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for access to the eBook ARC!
Not a tale of knights and quests but rather the strength of women as the undercurrent of all stories.
It definitely read like a modern lens (the unexpected LGBTQ rep was heartwarming) rather than stuck in the stodgy old "A man is destined for greatness!" track, which may ruffle some more traditional feathers but I was in love through the whole thing.
The characters are vibrant, the storyline is a touch slow at times but with enough plot twists to entertain even those familiar with every detail of the legends.
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for access to the eBook ARC!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Rape
kazino's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada, and Sophie Keetch for providing me with an advanced electronic reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this feminist retelling of Arthurian legend. I've always been fascinated with Morgan le Fay and the many contradictory narratives surrounding her character. Although, I am going to admit that my knowledge of Arthurian legend is heavily influenced by the BBC Merlin adaptation (I know it is woefully inaccurate). That being said, I was expecting to see some sort of villain origin story. It is clear that the author is knowledgeable about Arthurian legend and is genuinely passionate about telling Morgan's story.
Keetch's writing was compelling and elegant, her characters rich and complex. I fell in love with the setting of Tintagel and St. Brigid's Abbey (and even the hint of Camelot). Keetch breathes life into these settings and transports the reader there, immersing them within the story. Morgan made an amazing anti-heroine and I found myself rooting for her throughout the story. I would have loved to see more of her familial relationships since the female friendships seemed to make up the emotional core of the story for me.
My biggest issue with the novel was the pacing. I know we don't need to see every minute of Morgan's life, especially because we're following her from birth to her mid-twenties, but at certain points, it felt that we were skipping through crucial moments of her life. When these time skips occurred within chapters, rather than between them, I couldn't help but feel that some elements of the story were lost. Additionally, I went into this novel thinking it was a standalone, so I was a little disappointed when Arthur only came into play in the last 25% of the book. However, after looking at other reviews, I see that it is the beginning of a series. With this new perspective in mind, I believe this is a solid start to a duology or trilogy, but at the same time, I am left wondering if a series was necessary in the first place.Â
I enjoyed this feminist retelling of Arthurian legend. I've always been fascinated with Morgan le Fay and the many contradictory narratives surrounding her character. Although, I am going to admit that my knowledge of Arthurian legend is heavily influenced by the BBC Merlin adaptation (I know it is woefully inaccurate). That being said, I was expecting to see some sort of villain origin story. It is clear that the author is knowledgeable about Arthurian legend and is genuinely passionate about telling Morgan's story.
Keetch's writing was compelling and elegant, her characters rich and complex. I fell in love with the setting of Tintagel and St. Brigid's Abbey (and even the hint of Camelot). Keetch breathes life into these settings and transports the reader there, immersing them within the story. Morgan made an amazing anti-heroine and I found myself rooting for her throughout the story. I would have loved to see more of her familial relationships since the female friendships seemed to make up the emotional core of the story for me.
My biggest issue with the novel was the pacing. I know we don't need to see every minute of Morgan's life, especially because we're following her from birth to her mid-twenties, but at certain points, it felt that we were skipping through crucial moments of her life. When these time skips occurred within chapters, rather than between them, I couldn't help but feel that some elements of the story were lost. Additionally, I went into this novel thinking it was a standalone, so I was a little disappointed when Arthur only came into play in the last 25% of the book. However, after looking at other reviews, I see that it is the beginning of a series. With this new perspective in mind, I believe this is a solid start to a duology or trilogy, but at the same time, I am left wondering if a series was necessary in the first place.Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Child abuse, Infidelity, Death, Child death, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship
rdorka's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Sexism, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy
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