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A review by savage_book_review
Morgan is my Name by Sophie Keetch
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is an amazing piece of writing, brought to life with a flawless performance by the narrator. I'll examine each in turn, but it just needs to be said right out of the gate that this is probably my favourite 'straight' audiobook (I.e. not graphic audio) of the year so far. Everything about it; character, imagery, vibes, all of it, is incredibly well done!
First, the writing. It follows the trend of taking a character traditionally seen as 'the bad guy'; in this case, Morgan Le Fay / Morgana of the Arthurian legends, and humanising her to shed light on her motives and the reasons why she is the way she is. She certainly isn't the evil sorceress in this version! It deftly weaves in elements of the well known tale - King Uther slaying her father and forcing her mother into marriage, for example - while also introducing new elements that feed into her development and make her the educated, strong willed, independent soul that was the antithesis of what a woman should have been at that time. The writer has produced an incredibly sympathetic, layered and nuanced character that the reader cannot help but side with through her trials, tribulations and triumphs.
Each secondary character has also been meticulously crafted; there isn't a single person of import in here that doesn't feel real. I have to say, it's great to see Merlin in a different light - as much as I love the wizened old wise guy or the clotpole youngster, his having a bit of bite really works! Likewise the relationship between Morgan and her two ladies, Alice and Tressa, is beautifully done - it's heartfelt, genuine friendship with no bitchiness or power dynamics, just a deep and abiding care for each other. I adore Alice and Tressa's relationship development in the background - it's never a main focus, but the little glimpses you get are wonderful, and when the nature of their relationship is stated outright it somehow doesn't come as a surprise - it's just right.
The romantic element of the story again is wonderfully done. The pace is just right; while it feels like a slow burn, it's not actually that slow, but it still manages to give you everything you want when watching two people fall in love. If I have one criticism, it's that there is a 'cliff-edge' moment where everything suddenly shifts out if no-where, which just doesn't match the flow of the rest of the narrative. As a result, you then spend the rest of the book preparing for another moment like it rather than living in the moment with the characters.
As for the narration... wow. Every word is perfectly pitched and lends an extra layer of intensity, emotion and general brilliance to the written word. The pace is spot on for the story - it is on the slower side, but it absolutely works. She manages to embody Morgan completely, and with only slight tonal changes (no silly accents or putting on voices) manages to bring to life the rest of the cast as well. It's an absolute pleasure to listen to and I actually think I got more out of the audiobook than I would if I had just read it myself. I would absolutely happily buy this, so the fact that it's currently included in the Audible Plus catalogue (as is the sequel, I think) astounds me!
Seriously, go listen/read. You won't regret it.
First, the writing. It follows the trend of taking a character traditionally seen as 'the bad guy'; in this case, Morgan Le Fay / Morgana of the Arthurian legends, and humanising her to shed light on her motives and the reasons why she is the way she is. She certainly isn't the evil sorceress in this version! It deftly weaves in elements of the well known tale - King Uther slaying her father and forcing her mother into marriage, for example - while also introducing new elements that feed into her development and make her the educated, strong willed, independent soul that was the antithesis of what a woman should have been at that time. The writer has produced an incredibly sympathetic, layered and nuanced character that the reader cannot help but side with through her trials, tribulations and triumphs.
Each secondary character has also been meticulously crafted; there isn't a single person of import in here that doesn't feel real. I have to say, it's great to see Merlin in a different light - as much as I love the wizened old wise guy or the clotpole youngster, his having a bit of bite really works! Likewise the relationship between Morgan and her two ladies, Alice and Tressa, is beautifully done - it's heartfelt, genuine friendship with no bitchiness or power dynamics, just a deep and abiding care for each other. I adore Alice and Tressa's relationship development in the background - it's never a main focus, but the little glimpses you get are wonderful, and when the nature of their relationship is stated outright it somehow doesn't come as a surprise - it's just right.
The romantic element of the story again is wonderfully done. The pace is just right; while it feels like a slow burn, it's not actually that slow, but it still manages to give you everything you want when watching two people fall in love. If I have one criticism, it's that there is a 'cliff-edge' moment where everything suddenly shifts out if no-where, which just doesn't match the flow of the rest of the narrative. As a result, you then spend the rest of the book preparing for another moment like it rather than living in the moment with the characters.
As for the narration... wow. Every word is perfectly pitched and lends an extra layer of intensity, emotion and general brilliance to the written word. The pace is spot on for the story - it is on the slower side, but it absolutely works. She manages to embody Morgan completely, and with only slight tonal changes (no silly accents or putting on voices) manages to bring to life the rest of the cast as well. It's an absolute pleasure to listen to and I actually think I got more out of the audiobook than I would if I had just read it myself. I would absolutely happily buy this, so the fact that it's currently included in the Audible Plus catalogue (as is the sequel, I think) astounds me!
Seriously, go listen/read. You won't regret it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Child death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Vomit, and Murder