This was a beautifully written book! I was wonderfully surprised by the gorgeous prose used by Louisa Morgan throughout The Faerie Morgana. It was refreshingly lyrical in its writing and had the feel of a classic fairytale.

There were times when the story came more slowly, and plot points took a while to unfold. I also wish Morgana and Braithe had more agency within the story but understand why they hesitated as often as they did. As with any story based on Arthurian Legend, I had the distinctly irritating experience of knowing how the story ends yet still being surprised and dissappointed when it slapped me in the face (in the best way possible).

Overall, this is absolutely a book I would recommend and I will likely look into other novels by Louisa Morgan. Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books/Redhook for the opportunity to read and review The Faerie Morgana.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for an early copy of this title in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I was really excited to see an Arthurian legend retelling from a female perspective since I could not slog through Mists of Avalon lol. This is told mostly from 2 female perspectives, Arthur’s half sister Morgana and her hand maiden Braithe, and a few segments from the Blackbird.

This book was enjoyable and not difficult to read. It does however assume you are at least somewhat familiar with the legend because it doesn’t go out of its way to explain a lot. This was definitely character forward more than plot forward.

What didn’t really work for me was the mid chapter POV switches. They were generally marked with a little symbol but you had to figure out who’s head we were in now which did detract a little from the story. It didn’t seem necessary to switch so often.

This seems more like a low stakes version of the well known legend and I would recommend if that sounds like it would be your thing.

Louisa Morgan’s *The Faerie Morgana* is a beautifully written, super atmospheric take on Morgan Le Fay that totally flips the script. Morgana’s not the villain here—she’s powerful, complicated, and honestly kind of awesome. She doesn’t fit into anyone’s box, whether she’s being worshipped, feared, or misunderstood, and watching her try to make sense of her place in Camelot’s world is both magical and heartbreaking. If you’re into feminist spins on mythology or loved *Circe*, this one’s definitely worth picking up.

This atmospheric retelling offers a fresh and lyrical look at Morgana, balancing magic and mythology with rich character moments. Though the pacing is slow and the action muted, the immersive worldbuilding and complex relationships make it a rewarding read for fans of thoughtful fantasy.

Thank you Orbit Books for an advance copy in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

Dark, immersive, and unsettling in all the best ways. Historically, Morgan Le Fay is a mysterious entity. She has been both the savior and the villain, the healer and the killer. Here Morgana isn't the stock antagonist current iterations tend to make her. She's fierce and powerful, but painfully human and being shaped by a world that delights in blaming ambitious women for every downfall.

The pacing was not always consistent, but the prose was warm and personal, so it was easy to forgive. The story is a beautiful feminist take on a misunderstood story. If you love myth retellings, King Arthur, and morally murky stories, you will love The Faerie Morgana.

The Faerie Morgana is a beautiful retelling of the Arthurian legend that focuses on the life of Morgana (Morgaine), and her time as a temple Priestess. I have always loved the legend of Arthur, from books like The Mists of Avalon and series like Merlin and Camelot, and Morgan completely drew me into The Faerie Morgana.

The book is divided into three parts, and I loved that Morgan kept the familiarity of the Arthur legend, but added some new twists that brought originality to the story. This is a slow paced book, that takes you through the lives and relationships of the characters, so it does not include a lot of action or fast pacing, but there are some mentions of battles that take place off page. I thought the two main female characters were very well written, and I enjoyed the relationship between Morgana and Braithe, and the way the two of them interacted with other characters in the story. The world building is also really well done, and it kept me immersed in the story, as I was reading.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
* Arthur Retelling
* Female Friendships
* Magic & Fae
* Secrets & Revenge
* Complicated Relationships

𝐈𝐬 𝐈𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐲?
🥶 (No)

If you love stories with magic, strong female characters, the role of Priestesses in the Arthur legend, and a fresh take on retellings, then I would definitely recommend The Faerie Morgana.

Thank you to NetGalley, Louisa Morgan, and Orbit Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Faerie Morgana is beautifully written: lyrical and rich with atmosphere. From the very first page, I was drawn into its mythic world. It's a quiet reimagining of Arthurian legend that centers on Morgana, offering a fresh and introspective perspective.

While I enjoyed reading this book, I felt a bit empty. Despite the depth of feeling in the narration, not much actually happens. Major events occur off-page with filtered narrow perspectives that don't fully come alive. There is a lot of exposition and inner reflection with no dramatic action. The pacing is slow and some parts felt confusing, especially when real historical references were mixed with vague magical elements without much explanation. I think I expected more agency from Morgana but her arc felt muted by the end.

That said, readers who love lyrical retellings and thoughtful, character-driven fantasy might find this to be exactly their kind of book. (:

The Faerie Morgana is an atmospheric and lyrical Arthurian retelling featuring Morgana Le Fey. Many Arthurian retellings show Morgana as the villain or a seductress. In this story, Morgana is a daughter, a sister, a friend, an acolyte, a priestess, and an adviser. Morgana’s main goal and purpose now is to keep Arthur and Camelod safe.

I loved the lyrical storytelling and getting to see a different version of this story through Morgana’s viewpoint. However there are some different POVs, and there were times when the POV would switch and I would be confused as to whose eyes I was reading from.

Normally I don’t enjoy books without romance in them. This book has minuscule romance plot points, and I found that I didn’t need any more than the book gave. I still got to see the intimacy and connection between the characters. I found the my favorite relationship was actually the friendship between Morgana and her acolyte Braithe.

This book reminded me a lot of Circe. You will enjoy this book if you like:
🗡️Arthurian Retellings
🏰Women coming into their powers
✨Scrying & healing magic
💕Complex relationships

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an e-arc of this yet to be published book.

3.5 (rounded to 4)/5 stars.

I was super excited to dive into an Arthurian retelling centered around Morgana, and The Faerie Morgana by Louisa Morgan offers a unique, imaginative take on the legendary enchantress. This is a quieter, more atmospheric story that leans into character and magic over swordplay and battles. I think this would be age appropriate from 12 and up.

Morgan’s worldbuilding stands out—details like calling Merlin “Blackbird” (a clever nod to the French merle) and using “Camulod” instead of Camelot added an old-world texture that grounded the myth in something both familiar and new. The author clearly did her research, and her reimagining of Morgana as a misunderstood, often alienated, woman—feared by some, revered by others—felt both original and true to the spirit of the legend.

That said, the pacing and emotional depth were a bit uneven for me. I loved the setup and was intrigued by the main villain, but the central conflict dragged on longer than necessary. I sometimes found myself questioning why Morgana and her loyal acolyte, Braithe, didn’t act sooner and the tension didn’t quite hold me through the middle of the book.

This is a solid read with a unique lens on Arthurian myth, and I think younger readers or fans of character-driven fantasy will find a lot to enjoy. For me, it was an engaging but slightly distant read—enchanting in its premise, but not as emotionally resonant as I’d hoped.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for providing an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book offers a captivating reimagining of one of the most fascinating figures in Arthurian legend. Morgan le Fay has always been a complex character, and I loved seeing her story told from her own perspective. She’s portrayed with nuance, strength, and a kind of quiet enchantment that drew me in right away.

The world-building is immersive and richly detailed. The magical elements are easy to follow but still feel fresh, offering a new layer to a familiar mythos. Every aspect of the setting feels carefully crafted, and the lush descriptions add depth to the atmosphere without slowing down the pace.

What really stood out for me was the portrayal of relationships, especially the strong bond between Morgana and Braithe. Their friendship is tender, evolving, and refreshingly central to the narrative. Braithe’s growth throughout the story was compelling to watch, and she became just as important to me as Morgana herself.

It’s difficult to retell a legend without falling into repetition, but this story manages to stay original while still honoring the myth. It’s enchanting, thoughtful, and offers a new lens through which to experience a tale that many readers already know. If you’re drawn to Arthurian retellings or powerful female leads, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC!!

This was such a refreshing take on the Arthurian legends of Camelot. Being a namesake of Morgana myself, perhaps I am partial but it was so cool to see her story unraveled and center of attention in this book. If you’re working in de-centering men from your fiction tales, this is a good one.

Only a little disappointed in the last quarter or so because I feel like we didn’t get any answers or resolution for Braithe and her fledgling magic? What was the purpose in taking Arthur’s body to the fae? I assumed we were building up to Braithe pulling the sword out of the stone after Arthur died and it was returned to the island but no…kind of anti climactic but I was sat the entire novel nonetheless. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC!!

This was such a refreshing take on the Arthurian legends of Camelot. Being a namesake of Morgana myself, perhaps I am partial but it was so cool to see her story unraveled and center of attention in this book. If you’re working in de-centering men from your fiction tales, this is a good one.

Only a little disappointed in the last quarter or so because I feel like we didn’t get any answers or resolution for Braithe and her fledgling magic? What was the purpose in taking Arthur’s body to the fae? I assumed we were building up to Braithe pulling the sword out of the stone after Arthur died and it was returned to the island but no…kind of anti climactic but I was sat the entire novel nonetheless.

Just finished this magical Morgana retelling and my heart is full! 🧙🏻‍♀️💜✨

This story was an absolute treat! Not only was it beautifully written and immersive, but I also loved the author’s notes at the end, they gave such thoughtful insight into the research and character development. I especially appreciated how Morgana’s character was reimagined in this retelling.

Her relationship with Arthur was so wholesome! Full of mutual respect and emotional depth. I also adored the found family element and those loyal bonds truly warmed my heart.

Funny enough, my previous read was another retelling of the same legend, but this one stood out with its magical touches and emotional pull. If you love fantasy, strong heroines, and myth retellings with heart, this one is for you!

Thank you, NetGalley, Louisa Morgan and the publisher, for the chance to read this gem! 💫

3.5/5⭐️
This was a beautifully written story that I really wanted to love but overall, it didn’t quite hit for me.

I appreciated the more grounded version of Morgana, not evil or jealous, just a powerful woman who doesn’t quite fit in. That angle was refreshing and one of the things I liked about the book.

The writing itself? Gorgeous. But the pacing was slow. It took a long time for the story to get going, and even once it did, It felt like the story lingered on the same conflicts without much real progression. I never felt fully pulled into the plot, and much of the story felt more like being told about events rather than experiencing them firsthand.

If you’re looking for action, big stakes, or fast moving plot twists, this probably won’t be for you. Still, I think there’s a lot to appreciate here, especially if you enjoy character driven fantasy with a slower, more reflective tone. While it didn’t completely click for me, I can definitely see it resonating with the right reader.

This was an interesting read on the Arthurian legends. It felt new and fresh despite me having read many other books inspired by the Arthurian tales. I would recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC. 

I was actually not really familiar with the stories of Morgan le Fay, haven't really read the Arthurian legends in many years, so I was coming into this story with a clean slate for Morgana. 

I really enjoyed Morgana and Braithe and the story was very interesting. The pacing in the beginning was a little off, but the second half of the book was great. 

The author's note about the names and their origins/meanings was fascinating.

I’ll be the first to admit that Louisa Morgan’s The Faerie Morgana took a moment to gain its footing—for anyone coming into this book looking for something fast paced, they might want to wait a while until they are more ready for something more reminiscent of a slow trickle. This story follows Morgana from an incredibly young age, taking us through the full journey of her life as it relates to Arthur Dragoun, the one true king, and her younger half-brother.

I think anyone who knows anything of the legend involving Arthur and Morgana will come into this story with some preconceived notions as to what would occur. And, in all fairness and actuality, a decent number of those ideas will follow through—the thing is, there are many varying accounts of the events surrounding this tale. There are some that are consistent, of course, across tales and I do believe that the vast majority of those fall in line here. But Morgan also does a rather excellent job of weaving these events into a flourishing and beautiful story of her own.

I find myself in deep appreciation for the story of Morgana’s life that is told here. I was actually quite enamored with her handmaid, Braithe, which I genuinely was not expecting. But she was honestly such a beautiful addition, overall, which only lead to a litany of emotions surrounding Arthur that just near about broke my heart. The true villains of the story were surprising at times, but ultimately made quite a lot of sense. And while it wouldn’t be the way that I would write my own retelling, were I to set something to pen and paper, I was quite impressed with the way everything wove together in this novel.

All in all, I found this book to be rather beautiful and enjoyed the reading experience overall. As with pretty much any story covering the Arthurian legends, it is heartbreaking at times as well. There’s an undercurrent to the idea of how one’s actions can have the most disastrous of results, despite our trying for everything otherwise. I can’t help but feel it viscerally with this one.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

The book offers a reimagining of one of the most interesting characters in Arthurian Legend, in my opinion, which really piqued my curiosity. She is a complex and powerful character, and I loved seeing the story unfold from her point of view.

The world-building is really immersive, and no detail has been overlooked. The magical elements were easy to understand and added a new flavor to the myth we already know.

The writing is what I preferred. Her prose is enjoyable and fluid, evoking emotion and atmosphere without ever becoming boring whatsoever.
One of the biggest highlights for me was the relationship between the two main characters. We are talking about a mentorship, as well as a strong friendship that really warmed my heart. Watching their dynamic evolve across the book and following them through their journey together was mainly what kept me invested in the story.

That said, the book’s length did eventually wear on me, and I found myself losing interest in the final third and disengaging before the end.
Some scenes felt repetitive—even though they made sense within the context of the story—and didn’t bring anything new or important to the storyline.

I really appreciated this read, based on a classic legend with strong characters and an immersive world enriched by a magical twist.

The Faerie Morgana, based on the Arthurian legend, was beautifully reimagined. It was rich with magical elements and had a setting that was lush and well written.

Morgan le Fay is nuanced, powerful and enchanting. While it is hard to not be monotonous while retelling the story, the author kept it fresh enough that I wanted to continue reading.

The story's strong female friendship was beautiful and a welcome change. Braithe is enchanting and goes through so much growth.

It was refreshing and made me want to check out more by the author!

The Faerie Morgana was a cozy read with an immersive medieval atmosphere and digestible wartime politics that made it clear who you should be rooting for and against. Though it took me a while to truly become invested in the plot, I grew to appreciate the central main characters. Their strict adherence to their morals and commitment to serving their king made them easy to root for.
The magic system in this novel is fairly simple. If you are looking for a high-stakes fantasy with ferocious battle scenes, this may not be the book for you. If you are interested, however, in how a female protagonist with near perfect morals navigates wartime in the kingdom while her half-brother King Arthur is abroad, this may be worth picking up. The story centers women who work behind the scenes during times of war. Handmaids and priestesses alike are integral to supporting the kingdom and picking up the mess warriors bring in their return from battle. Louisa Morgan's depiction of their collaboration connotes an "all-hands-on-deck" sentiment in time of war, as well as provides a refreshing perspective on peripheral entities in the legend of King Arthur.
Thanks to Orbit Publishing and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had such a fun time reading this book. Having done some light studies on Arthurian legends, leaving a lasting impression on different facets of my life, I was excited to delve into this exploration of Morgana and her handmaid, Braithe. The writing felt very fresh, with character portrayals that both felt familiar yet just foreign enough that you want to follow them through the woods on their journey. It's a very refreshing read, done with a familiar cast of characters. I'm not sure how else to reflect how beautiful I found this novel-- I felt both in awe of Morgana, her story as told by Louisa Morgan, and the way she walked through the world, and at peace with how things unfolded. It's not Camelot as you hear tossed around, but elevated. I could spend more days wrapped in Morgana's world.