‘And God strike me down if it weren’t true. There it was, waves crashing at the window, coming to claim us all. I ran to see, but by the time I got there, the water was exactly where it should be, and when I looked back, so were you: born, alive and open-eyed. Your mother insisted it was the sea that delivered you, and so you were named.’

Morgan is my name

Morgan is my Name is the debut novel by Welsh author Sophie Keetch. It’s a retelling of the story of Morgan le Fay from Arthurian legend, joining the recent popular surge of Arthurian retellings but feeling very much like a stand-out amongst them. Morgan le Fay, Morgen y Dylwythen Deg, Morganna, Morgaine… she has as numerous names as there are stories; starting as a benevolent figure, she evolves over time to become something of an antagonist to King Arthur. A sorceress, an enchantress, unpredictable; an ambitious and power-hungry villain. Keetch takes this figure and strips back these labels to find the woman underneath, and in doing so uncovers a poignant and utterly recognisable story waiting to be told.

The first in what will be a trilogy, Morgan is my Name covers Morgan’s childhood in Tintagel and her early adult life, up until the emergence of Arthur. It’s a stirring opening; beginning with the tempestuous birth of Morgan, Keetch opens with a storm and truly sets the tone for what her Morgan le Fay will be. I found myself immediately swept into this story by Keetch’s easy style – illuminative rather than informative, trusting of her readers, and drawing us into the lives of her characters. Morgan’s childhood home is brought evocatively to life; the magic of this castle perched upon the cliffs, the siren song of the sea, the squabbling nature of family life.

It’s immediately clear that Morgan herself is a spirited creature, her affinity for the sea and her falcon perfect allegories for her wild and untameable nature. She has a thirst for knowledge which drives her, and throughout the book, she rails against attempts to constrain her. She only ever wishes for freedom to be her authentic self, to utilise her skills and knowledge; those few who celebrate her for that and far between and quickly taken away. And so builds the picture of a woman wronged again and again, and we see how easily the foundations can be laid for a path of vengeance. But I’m getting ahead in my foreknowledge of the character from legend.

Fans of Arthurian legend will love this retelling for the care taken with familiar stories and names. There’s a real historical-fiction sense to this one, and I wasn’t sure at first what route Keetch would take, how speculative it would be. The test, as it often is, was Arthur’s conception. It’s a distinctly dark aspect of the legends which Keetch handles very well, avoiding any sugar coating whatsoever and firmly declaring the books stance on both magic and Merlin, and it was one of the stand-out moments of the story for me. Despite knowing exactly what was happening, I had gooseflesh I felt so in the moment with Morgan.

This isn’t to say any prior knowledge of the legends are required to appreciate and enjoy Morgan is my Name, far from it. There’s a clear love for the legends on display, but as I said above, there is such an ease to the writing that makes this story a truly accessible one for anyone new to these stories, or anyone just wanting a powerful historical-fantasy. Morgan is very much the sun of this story around which the traditionally larger players can’t help but orbit and depend upon. Keetch has done for Morgan le Fay what Madeline Miller achieved for Circe; she’s shown us a new perspective of an old figure and taught us a new way to read into her story by stripping away the male perspective.

Morgan is my Name is a truly enchanting story of self-discovery, first loves, betrayal, and a woman’s fight to be heard. This is a heart-rendering opening to what it’s clear will be a ferocious trilogy. A vital new entry not only into the canon of Arthurian legends, but also that of feminist retellings of myths and legends.

Morgan is my Name is out today in paperback, you can pick up your copy HERE