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POWERFUL AND INSPIRING 🪄

This is a coming-of-age retelling of the most famous villainess of the Arthurian legend. Slow paced but very interesting, this story captivated me! A few pages in, and I was already craving to go back into it. It has short chapters and takes you from the very first moment of despair for Morgan as a child and onwards. Despite the slow pace, I found myself holding my breath waiting for the turning point, for the ball to drop, the twist…yet this never fully happened. But for a good enough reason.

I learned about 70% of the way into the book that this was actually just the START of a trilogy! I was a bit disappointed this wasn’t advertised stronger as such, but it does explain a lot. I decided not to let this little fact affect my overall rating though it would have been much appreciated to have this knowledge beforehand!

Anyway, this is a strong start to an amazing trilogy. I was rooting for Morgan the entire time to find some happiness and peace in her predestined life. Through all her losses, wronged moments, the mistreatment, the frustration, the darkness, the submission, the hopelessness…and finally I got the moment I was waiting for in the very last few pages…🔥�� 🔥(hehehehe) igniting my excitement for the future books!

Having little experience and knowledge about the Arthurian legend other than watching the TV show Merlin a few years back and reading about it here and there, I was super excited to have something reflect solely from Morgan’s point of view. I admit I loathed Morgan in the Merlin show, but that’s exactly what the show wants! It paints her as the ultimate evil villain with no explanations why! So I appreciate how this retelling is providing us with some of this background to shape our own opinions. Morgan is fierce, powerful, underestimated, and strong. Everything I want her to be and more! She deserves her story be told in such a manner, and I entrust Sophie Keetch will continue to do it right!

❤️ Favorite Quotes (that I can relate to way too much):

“True power comes from freedom, and the ability to survive what befalls us.��

“I know where my darkness lies, Merlin. You may trust that my reserves are endless.��

“Happiness seemed an abstract notion now, a word I had heard but never felt.��

“Quick as I had prevailed, I was once again felled, torn down by a world where, no matter how much I learned, or raged, or fought to the end of my wits, I would never be allowed victory.��