Louisa Morgan was able to weave a strong tale of Morgan Le Fay and thoroughly enjoyed the overall concept of this book. I was engaged with Morgan's story and thought it worked well in this universe. It was everything that I was hoping for and enjoyed in the genre and was invested in what was going on in this world.

5 out of 5 stars

Magical, Atmospheric, and Unapologetically Feminine

Louisa Morgan’s The Faerie Morgana is a spellbinding take on one of the most iconic figures in Arthurian legend. Rather than painting Morgana Le Fay as the usual villain or seductress, this novel gives her depth, agency, and mythic presence.

Told through multiple perspectives—including a suspicious priesthood, a wary court, and a devoted acolyte—the narrative brilliantly explores the many ways Morgana is viewed, and how those perceptions fuel fear and fascination in equal measure. Morgan’s writing is lush and lyrical, evoking a world filled with mystery, ritual, and slowly unspooling destiny.

The heart of the book is Morgana’s journey of self-discovery and reckoning with the truth of her power. Her choices shape kingdoms, and her presence unsettles the fragile balance of Camelot.

Highlights:
• Complex, magical female lead who doesn’t apologize for her power
• Rich, vivid setting and mythic tone
• Slow-burning tension with political and magical consequences
• A fresh, feminist reinterpretation of a legendary figure

Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for the early copy. The Faerie Morgana is not just a retelling—it’s a reclaiming.

As someone who isn't deeply versed in the lore of King Arthur, I wasn’t sure what to expect diving into this book—but what an unexpected and rewarding journey it turned out to be.

This novel takes a refreshing approach to the Arthurian myth by centering the story around Morgana, often sidelined or vilified in traditional retellings. Here, she emerges not as a shadowy figure, but as a strong, compelling enchantress with her own rich backstory. Abandoned in childhood due to her mother’s poverty, Morgana’s path is one of resilience and self-discovery. Her transformation from an unwanted child to a respected figure in Arthur’s court is a powerful narrative that breathes new life into the legend.

One of the most striking dynamics in the book is Morgana’s relationship with Guinevere. Despite the underlying tension and Guinevere’s prickly nature, Morgana manages to maintain a respectful civility—if not for friendship, then for the sake of her relationship with her half-brother Arthur. This nuance adds depth to Morgana’s character, showing her emotional intelligence and strength.

What impressed me most was how accessible the story was, even without a deep knowledge of Arthurian history. The author does a great job of grounding the fantastical elements in human emotion and conflict. Morgana's narrative is intimate, and her growth felt authentic. The magic is there, but so is the raw humanity.

Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read, rich in character and atmosphere. I'm glad I took a chance on it. Whether you're a longtime fan of Camelot tales or a newcomer like me, this book is worth picking up.

I was really excited about this retelling since I love stories set in that time period. But honestly, the author didn’t go deep enough with the story or the characters, so it just didn’t keep my interest like I thought it would.

The writing itself was solid, but the plot and pacing felt kind of flat to me.

2.5 stars

As someone who read multiple retellings of Arthurian legend, I found Morgan’s a refreshing take. As we have seen in other retellings, Morgan Le Fay has been cast as a powerful healer who assists Arthur to Merlin’s rival and a great threat. It was refreshing to have a villain in the story who was NOT Morgana. I loved the role of the far throughout the book. A big selling point of the book for me is Braithe. I found her to be well-written and I enjoyed watching her character growth throughout the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to receive an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback. All thoughts are my own.

I love Arthurian legend, so I was excited to give this book a read. The writing was beautiful and I felt the characters were well developed. I did feel it moved a bit slow though. I think this will go over well with fans of Circe.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! It is hard to do a retelling really well, this book gets close but is not quite there

An interesting take on the legend of Morgan Le Fay! The author did a good job of including the basis of Arthurian legend while also putting her own spin on it. The story features a strong and beautiful female friendship, which was my favorite part of the book. While I loved following Morgana, I was enchanted by Braithe. She grows so much throughout the novel. The story takes place over multiple years. It was nice to see both her and Morgana grow as characters. There were a few twists I didn’t see coming thanks to the author’s fresh take on the story. It kept the story from feeling redundant. I loved the role the fae played in the story. My only wish was that there was more page time with the fae or even the fae realm! But I also understand why that was not possible. Fans of the Book of Gothel and reimaginings of powerful, misunderstood women are sure to enjoy this story!

3.5 Stars

This was a beautifully written story with excellent prose and beautiful atmosphere. It was vivid and immersive with a very distinct tone which I really admired and appreciated. I felt like the flowery prose and heavy handed narration took over a lot of the story and often left me feeling more adrift in the world instead of grounded with the characters. It was very fresh and beautiful, and what it did well it really knocked out of the park. That being said, I did find that the lack of solid footing really affected the emotional pay off in the victories for the characters. I couldn't quite connect with them the way I think they deserved.

This book wasn't bad, but I didn't find it extremely entertaining. I felt like there was almost too much going on and a shorter story would have been better

This book is so atmospheric and well-written in a way that immersed me in the world as well as the time. The perspective and prose are beautiful. This book is an amazing re-imagining of the Arthurian legends, focused on Morgana. I genuinely loved this unique story for Morgana.

However, it felt like an excess of exposition with minimal dialogue. For most of the story it felt like I was being narrated at, it would probably be an amazing audiobook experience. What I missed from many sections was feeling like I really experienced the story. Heavy exposition and slow pacing left some parts a little confusing, but even by the end I was still left wanting more.

If you like Arthurian legends, retellings and seeing the familiar characters through fresh perspectives, this book is absolutely for you.

I went into this pretty much blind and loved every second of it! the story was amazing and interesting, you don't want to put this book down, in fact moving it up to the top of your TBR is the right move to do.

Regardless if this is your first retelling of the Arthurian myths or the hundredth, you'll likely find some fresh detail in each author's interpretation. In The Faerie Morgana, we see this story from the viewpoint of a character, sometimes villain, sometimes witch, but never boring, the lady some may know as Morgan le Fay. Fay...fae...faerie Morgana and her handmaid Braithe guide us through a story of a young girl taken from her mother to be raised as an acolyte and then priestess who aides her brother as he becomes the king of legend. We do have a villain in this story but it is not Morgana and I found this twist to be a refreshing take. The book was a delightful fantasy read that can be enjoyed by newbies to Arthurian lore as well as those who like the myths enough to revisit any chance they stumble upon.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Orbit - Redhook) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

The Faerie Morgana offers a beautifully imagined world with rich, magical elements and intriguing power dynamics rooted in Arthurian legend. The setting is lush, and the concept of a priestess raised in the Lady’s Temple grappling with identity, power, and loyalty has a lot of promise. Morgan le Fay is portrayed with nuance, and the blend of myth and character introspection gives the book a thoughtful, almost meditative tone.

That said, the pacing holds it back. The story spends a lot of time circling the same emotional territory and internal conflicts without enough payoff. Key moments feel stretched out, and while the writing is elegant, the plot can feel like it’s spinning its wheels—especially in the middle. Some twists, particularly around Morgana’s relationships and Arthur’s fate, are compelling but come a bit too late.

Thanks to the author, Orbit Books, and NetGalley for the ARC.

To start off, I have a soft spot for literally any King Arthur/Camelot inspired works, so I was looking forward to reading this. And The Faerie Morgana did not disappoint! I really enjoyed seeing both familiar and original characters and content. Following Morgana in the three part setup throughout her life in service to the Lady and to Arthur was quietly gripping the whole way through. And Braithe was a wonderful, devoted, and quietly powerful character! The writing was evocative and atmospheric, and it reminded me of TH White's The Once and Future King.

Definitely recommend picking up this book!

I will admit that I am not completely familiar with the story of King Arthur and all of its characters but I will say that reading this book was definitely an interesting journey. This novel focuses on Morgana who is a very well liked Enchantress in the court of King Arthur. It's a very intriguing story as from childhood her mother couldn't afford to take care of her so she was literally abandoned. Then of course her half brother Arthur manages to lift the sword from the stone and become King. I admire her strength of being cordial with Guinevere for the sake of her relationship with Arthur because Guinevere is not exactly the most easy person to get along with. Overall I was very impressed with this book and I am glad I took the time to read it.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.