“Love…is potent and powerful — it gives pleasure, meaning. But it also dominates, weakens, is a beast greedy and selfish, requiring constant sacrifice. To love is to cede our own power, an act of surrender we cannot guarantee will be returned,” (Keetch 203).
Morgan of Cornwall lives a happy life with her mother, father, and two elder sisters in Tintagel Castle. But her happy life becomes clouded after her father is killed by King Uther Pendragon in battle and with the help from the sorcerer Merlin, tricks her mother into marriage. Unlike her elder sisters and mother, Morgan refuses to obey the new king and instead learns all she can, studying the healing arts and discovering great power within her as well as true love. Even when she is used as a pawn in her stepfather’s war games, Morgan finds a way to be cunning and fierce and find her power in a world ruled by men.
When it comes to mythological figures, I know very little when it comes to Arthurian myth. I know the character of Morgan le Fay, as most young girls with an interest in witchcraft will stumble upon her and a list of other fictional witches. But back when I found out about Morgan it was as a villain, what she’s been turned into. When I’ve heard of Morgan le Fay it’s always been as an antagonist to King Arthur, never as any sort of hero. So I was curious about what I might learn from Keetch’s novel and how, based on the myth, Morgan was originally portrayed.
Morgan is My Name follows in the same vein as Madeline’s Miller’s Circe, Jennifer Saint’s Ariadne, Constanza Casati’s Clytemenestra, Natalie Haynes Stone Blind and, I’m sure, countless others to come seeking to give a voice to characters in mythology whose stories have either been misunderstood as they’ve been retold through word of mouth or, especially for women characters, been villainized and simplified because of their gender. I think Keetch does an excellent job retelling Morgan’s story and turning a character who has been villainized for her power into someone layered, human, and relatable. As other reviewers have mentioned, a big theme of this book includes female rage and women being forced to repress themselves, their wants and needs and interests in favour of the men around them who hold power. This book is about women, particularly Morgan, finding a way to become powerful in their own lives while living under the control of powerful, and at times dangerous, men. Keetch relays this to reader’s easily in a way I think many women-identified readers will be able to relate too.
The problem with novels like these are that reader’s often follow the characters lives from their births to their death, and at least for me if the dates aren’t shown, I struggle to keep up with how old the characters are and how much time has passed. I managed for the first half of this book because Keetch made sure to have Morgan make reference to the number of years passing, but the last half got a little more confusing. I also had an issue with the fact we never actually learn where Morgan gets her magical powers from. Ninianne (sorry, Nimueh is a cooler name) makes a small reference to what it could be, but I would have liked to dig a little deeper into why Morgan has these great healing abilities and why she is naturally gifted in magic.
I’ve seen some reviewers mention this is a series but can find no mention of it on Goodreads aside from a vague post on the author’s Instagram. As much as I enjoyed Morgan’s story I think it would work well to end Morgan’s story here, but I hope that Keetch continues exploring the perspectives of other figures in Arthurian mythology. I’d love to learn more about Morgan’s sisters, especially Morgause who seemed just as clever and much more vicious than Morgan.
Morgan is My Name is a wonderful debut sure to introduce readers into Arthurian myth and a hero too often villainized. I’m excited to see what Keetch writes next!
Publication: June 13 2023
Publisher: Random House Canada
Pages: 368 pages (paperback ARC)
Source: OLA
Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Retelling, Mythology
My Rating: ⛤⛤⛤.5
Summary:
Young Morgan of Cornwall lives a happy life in Tintagel Castle until King Uther Pendragon, with the help of the sorcerer Merlin, murders her father and tricks her mother into marriage. Furious, brilliant, and vengeful, Morgan defies her brutal stepfather, taking up a secret education, discovering a lifelong affinity with the healing arts, and falling in love with a man far beneath her station. However, defiance comes at a cost. Used as a bargaining chip in her stepfather’s war games, Morgan finds herself banished to a world of isolated castles and gossiping courts, amidst the machinations of kings, sorcerers, and men.
But some desires are not easily forgotten, and the search for her independence is a quest Morgan cannot give up. As the era of King Arthur approaches, she must use all her wit, knowledge, and courage to fight against those who wish to deny her intelligence, crush her spirit, and control her body. But, in seeking her freedom, Morgan risks losing everything–her reputation, her loved ones, and her life.
Sarah O'Connor 