Le Fay is the second installment in Sophie Keetch’s Morgan Le Fay series, and my favorite so far. While I enjoyed Morgan Is My Name, Keetch’s writing prowess has grown considerably and she shows her full talent in this sequel. This book feels more mature, and not only because Morgan is older. This novel feels deeply intimate while exploring everything from power, parenthood, second chances, acknowledging mistakes, to corrupting influences and unwillingness to change. And while Morgan still irritated me at times, Keetch knows who her character is and offers no apology (and by the end, I would die for Morgan). She is no longer trapped unwillingly in marriage; this Morgan is doing what she wants, when she wants, with whoever she wants. She is the same knowledge-hungry, articulate, at times short-tempered queen, but she has grown in her compassion and her understanding.
I also really appreciated this characterization of Merlin as an obsessive (and disgusting) hermit, and his interactions with Morgan were so rich. Getting to see more from Ninianne was also a welcome addition, and the complexities of her relationship with Merlin were terrifying and intriguing. Arthur’s arc was, if not satisfying, certainly contributed a lot to the plot and Morgan’s character development, and while some aspects of it were easy to see coming, others kept me guessing until the end. I also loved the time spent at Fair Guard, which was a beautiful setting, and getting to see Morgan enjoy some times of peace and enjoyment.
A few things bothered me, but truly only a few. The scabbard of Excalibur was briefly introduced in the beginning and seemed like a very important plot device, but then was nearly forgotten until the end. I also felt that the book didn’t quite end in the right place, and the final two chapters should have been the beginning of book 3. (We should have concluded on Morgan’s big decision).

When I read Morgan Is My Name by Sophie Keetch, I was blown away and didn't think anything could remotely follow and live up to that book. I was wrong.
Le Fay, the sequel to that outstanding novel, continues the enchanting and encompassing story of Morgan, the half sister of King Arthur, with the same exquisite storytelling style as found in the first book. I was once again completely swept away into a retelling of the Arthurian legend that speaks to the complex nature of the lives of women in medieval times and the entitled attitudes of the most of the men around them. What struck me in this book was the fact that there are always two sides to a story, and each side believes themselves to be right. But it is the woman's story, so often left untold, that Keetch focusses on, and that focus puts the Arthurian legend we thought we knew into a completely different light.
Keetch solidifies her position as a magical storyteller with this book, using stellar writing full of suspense and heart-wrenching realism. I heartily hope for and look forward to another volume in her retelling of Morgan's saga. I wish I could give it more than a mere five stars!
I was provided with an ARC of #LeFay courtesy of #PenguinRandomHouseCanada and #NetGalley.

This was a wonderful (and not going to lie, stressful) continuation of Morgan’s tale. This woman was thrown such a hard and devastating hand that honestly I was hoping she’d get some kind of reprieve only for that to not even last for long. 😢

Le Fay takes places around 2 years after the events of the first book. Morgan is struggling to fit into a court that expects her to conform to its rigidity all the while trying to keep her beloved son from her abusive husband. I really enjoyed getting more into the rift that puts Morgan up against Guinevere consistently; this depiction of the queen really reminds me of another woman from a VERY popular TV show (*ahem* House of the Dragon) who doesn’t realize that she is upholding horrible and very conservative expectations of women, but still demanding to have a seat at the table. 👑

Speaking of that table, Arthur really flips it in the second half of the book and I really loved getting an antagonistic version of this beloved figure. I won’t go into too much detail to avoid spoiling it for others, but I really enjoyed and at the same times loathed in the best way possible this character development. ⚔️

Speaking of despicable characters, Merlin. I’m living for his continued depiction in Arthurian retelling as a power hungry sexual predator who uses his influence of a younger man to achieve his goals. Because really, what other way is this man except toxic? 🧙🏼‍♂️

All in all, I felt my heart being ripped out for Morgan this entire book. From being used, abused, and scapegoated, I really can’t wait for her to go unhinged in the next book! The only thing that kept picking at the back of my mind while reading is what happened to the men that followed Morgan, Alys, and Tressa after leaving Gore? I felt like they were never mentioned in this installment of her tale. 😕

Big thank you goes to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this sequel in exchange for an honest review, and to the author, Keetch, for ripping my heart out in the best way possible for Morgan. 🥲

Publication date: July 16!

Overall: 4.75/5 ⭐️

This dragged. I had a hard time coming back to it, to finish it. Character motivations changed on a whim and didn't make sense, there wasn't enough character development, and it was confusing. Guinevere is this book's flat villain (like Morgan's husband was in the last book) with little shown to how that developed. I'm tired of everyone making Gwen an evil character in Arthurian retellings. No time was spent on explaining what Christian law means to Arthur and his court, so I was confused about his and Gwen's motivations because I'd not been given context to them. I felt confused a lot, reading this, like I was missing half a book, like the author knew what was going on but couldn't get it written down on page for the rest of us. There are long, drawn out, slow sections, followed by rapid chaos, and it creates whiplash. There's no build up of tension, no narrative structure.

Kinda disappointing, I liked the first one a lot, despite its faults.

A new look at the Arthur legend. By focusing on Morgan Le Fay. I loved seeing the story from her point of view and getting her story.

Since I enjoyed the first book in this series, I was hoping that I would enjoy this one as well. But, unfortunately, I lost interest in the story a few chapters in, and just couldn't get back into the story no matter how much I tried. So, for the moment, I'll have to put this in my 'did not finish' pile. Perhaps at a later time I'll pick it up again and give it another shot.

This isn’t the first time I have posted about Arthurian legend stories. Growing up I was a King Arthur stan. I loved him. It got to the point, I was so obsessed that I was sure he had existed. I needed him to have existed. Now that I have grown up, and I have the ability to think about things in a new way, I can see where I was wrong in so many ways. Maybe Arthur wasn’t all that he was cracked up to be. Maybe he did make mistakes. Maybe Morgan or Morgana (depending on whose book you’re reading) wasn’t necessarily the villain. 

Keetch writes Morgan the way she deserves to be written. For hundreds of years, she has been the villain in Arthur’s story. She has had very little backstory, and is kind of blamed for everything. I love that women are taking back the narrative and giving the women of King Arthur’s court the attention, love, and respect they deserve. 

Le Fay is the sequel to Morgan is My Name. Both books are incredibly well written. When I first finished Morgan is My Name, I immediately started searching for the sequel. Finally, a year later, I have had the joy of reading it as an ARC reader. 

Keetch tells Morgan’s story in a beautiful way. From the first word you are drawn into the story. You can see everything around you, and it is so hard to go back to real life. The book picks up a few years after the end of book 1, but Keetch does a great job of connecting you to the previous book. I had such a hard time putting this book down once I picked it up. Do yourself a favor and get this pre-ordered today! This book comes out July 16th, so you still have time to read the first one!

Le Fay by Sophie Keetch is the second book in the Morgan Le Fay trilogy, it tells the story of Morgan. She is the sister of King Arthur and finds herself in a legend where she’s the villain or just misunderstood because she’s a woman who wants to make her own decisions. She fights constantly to be able to choose her own path but she lives in a world that revolves around Camelot and the chosen king, her brother. The meaning of le fay is “a woman of great skill, with knowledge vast and well earned”. Morgan is also fiercely courageous and willing to make sacrifices for the people she loves.

I would recommend this book for all readers, especially fantasy readers. My favorite characters are villains, the stories that show how they are made to fill the role even when they fight against a path of destruction. Morgan is faced with insurmountable barriers to choosing her own life course. Being a woman has made it impossible to make decisions without judgment or repercussions to her character and happiness. This book dives deeper into how she became the formidable adversary in her own story.

Morgan is My Name is the first book in the series. It is available now, I highly recommend you read it first.

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Sophie Keetch may my new favorite author. I am absolutely obsessed with this series. I love Arthurian retelling and the mythology of Arthur in general. I love Morgan and her story and I am becoming angry and more vengeful with her. I love her relationship with Alys and more importantly I love her relationship Accolon. Also she would be a great mom if i given the chance. I am super excited to se Morgan continue down her path, Arthur and his Jesus lovely wife deserve everything they have coming to them. I will forever champion for Morgan le Fay and forever think of Arthur as a Self righteous Bible Beater. Long Live Le Fay.

Since I really enjoyed the first book in this series, I was a little worried that Le Fay would suffer from “second book syndrome.” I should not have worried. Le Fay is not only every bit as good as Morgan Is My Name, I think it is actually better! I’m not sure how that’s possible, but it is.

Author Sophie Keetch does an outstanding job bringing all the characters of this book to life and making you really see them. From Morgan and her allies to Arthur and the court of Camelot, they all became so alive. As the reader, I understood why they did the things they did even as I was telling them to stop. I was reduced to tears more than once while reading this book.

Le Fay continues the retelling of the story of Morgan from her point of view. It is well written, fast paced and, simply put, not to be missed. My copy of the book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

Le Fay, the second volume of the Morgan le Fay series takes us in to Camelot, the kingdom of Morgan's brother where she fled with her infant son. And though her asylum with the court seems to start well, all is not a Lerner & Loewe musical in faire Camelot. This retelling has it all romance, magic, and treachery in spades plus the origin story of the surname "le Fay". This is the story of a strong, intelligent woman trapped in a world ruled by men where women are little more than property, where her husband is free to keep a mistress but adultery on her part is an act punishable by death, and where a power-hungry magician can use her for her abilities and take credit for her successes. Much as I enjoyed Morgan is My Name, Le Fay lit the fires of this woman's story that kept me turning the pages from start to end. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the first volume and recommend the series to anyone who enjoys a feminist slant to mythic retellings, enjoys the Arthurian legend from a different perspective, or tales of headstrong female characters swept up in magic and fates. After reading this book, I can't wait for the conclusion of the trilogy and though I lack Merlin's sight, I predict events where a king shrouding himself in lofty standards will gaze in a mirror of his duplicity and maybe even see a certain judgmental high queen prefers a lance to a crown, and I predict I will enjoy that finale as much delighted in this book. (4.5/5)
I received advanced access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Penguin Random House Canada) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Arthur and Morgan become enemies

Le Fay is the second book in Sophie Keetch's Morgan Le Fay series. It is currently (4-Jun-2024) the final book, but after reading it, I have no doubt that a third is on the way. I will certainly read it.

If you're familiar with Arthurian legend, you know that Morgan Le Fay has traditionally been an enemy of Arthur's, the most potent of all. And of course, any enemy of Arthur's is, almost by definition, evil. At the end of Morgan Is My Name Morgan and Arthur have such a good understanding that I wondered whether Keetch's Arthur and Morgan would become enemies. The publisher's blurb reports, "Rising from the ashes of desperation, she emerges hard, crystalline and unforgiving - now she is Morgan Le Fay. And hate is in her heart..." So that would be a "Yes".

The big difference, of course, is that Le Fay is told from Morgan's first-person point of view. She doesn't see herself as evil -- she sees herself as betrayed. That's one of the big stories of Le Fay. It's a good story. And Keetch does it without herself betraying Arthur -- Arthur remains a sympathetic character, if you squint...

The second big story, hinted at in the title, is Morgan's leveling up. The name "Morgan Le Fay" has always meant Morgan the Fairy or Morgan of the Fae -- meaning that she was, in the old Arthurian legends, something more than human. The Morgan of Morgan Is My Name was entirely human -- a remarkably learned, intelligent, and able human, but still human. Now she discovers "strange but wonderful powers of her own she is still exploring" and is named "Le Fay".

The third big story is a romance. I won't tell you who it is, but if you guess, you'll probably guess right. This, to my taste was the least satisfactory story. Morgan spends a lot of time with her lover in loving bliss; indeed, it felt as if the story came to a halt to enjoy Morgan's happiness. As an old aromantic grump I found these interludes too long. As always, YMMV.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an advance reader copy of Le Fay. Release date 16-Jul-2024.

Morgan Is My Name was one of my favorite reads and I was so excited when I got the ARC of Le Fay. Many times I find that the pacing in multiple book series to be off in some places but I didn't in these two books. Le Fay is a great continuation of the first book while also making new stories and introducing new characters to keep the audience engaged. Morgan is such a strong and complex character that is so intriguing to read and honestly I could read a dozen books about Morgan and seeing how she moves around this world and interacts with those around here. I feel like there is so many ways this character can be taken and I loved her.

Morgan is My Name blew me away last year and I wasn’t sure how Sophie Keetch could top such an amazing debut, but WOW. Just, wow. Le Fay was JUST AS GOOD. Le Fay has the same gorgeous prose that hooked me in the first novel and in this installment, we get to know some of the big names of Arthurian Legend - Arthur, Guinevere, Merlin, Ninianne. Morgan’s story really evolves and I was so curious to see how she would go from beloved, trusted sister of Arthur to a complete enemy of the crown. This was SO WELL DONE. Everything about the story evolved so naturally and evoked so much feeling (rage! anger! disgust! sorrow! heartbreak!). The injustices and constant barriers Morgan finds herself thrown up against over and over are enough to make you scream. By the end of the novel, Morgan has been completely unleashed. I am THRILLED to see Morgan come into her power and embrace her abilities. She is heartbroken, she is devastated, she has been betrayed by those she trusted, but she is Le Fay, and she is not going down without a fight. I will now commence screaming at everyone to go read this series and then I will reread this innumerable times until book 3 comes out. This series is an absolute masterpiece. Thank you, @netgalley, @penguinrandomca and @sophiekeetchauthor for the absolute privilege of reading this installment.

This is the Arthurian retelling I’ve been searching for since reading The Mists of Avalon 20 years ago!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Side note, this book is best read immediately after book 1 of the series: Morgan Is My Name.
Le Fay does not refresh the reader on what occurred in the previous book. A prologue would be helpful! 🙂

Another beautiful story by Sophie Keetch, LE FAY continues where MY NAME IS MORGAN left off and continues the beautiful, twisty story of the sister of King Arthur.