To the other priestesses of the Nine, a powerful council at the Lady’s Temple, Morgana is haughty and arrogant as she performs feats of magic no human should be capable of. Rumors start that she must be a fearsome fae.
To King Arthur, Morgana is a trusted and devoted advisor, but his court is wary of her and her prodigious talent at divination. But his wife sees Morgana as a rival and a malevolent witch.
To Braithe, Morgana’s faithful acolyte, she is simply the most powerful priestess Camelot has seen.
Morgana doesn’t know why she’s so different from everyone else, and she doesn’t much care. But when she aids Arthur to ascend the throne before his time, she sets off a series of events that will change everything Morgana believes about her power.
The Faerie Morgana is a slow-burn atmospheric fantasy retelling of Arthurian legend with Morgana center stage. It has forbidden faerie magic, priestesses, and a character-driven narrative that’s cozy and magical—a perfect autumn read!
The story follows Morgana, daughter of the queen of Lloegyr, who is sent to the Lady’s Temple on the Isle of Apples to become a priestess. When Morgana proves to be different with strong magic & talented scrying, rumors swirl that she is part‐fae. As she becomes a full priestess, she aids her half-brother Arthur in ascending the throne, only to discover that danger resides not just outside Camelot but within!
Morgana is an introspective, quietly defiant protagonist who’s also haunted for being different. Braithe, her handmaid, who lacks magic, is a loyal counterpoint, and their relationship is one of the emotional cores of the story. Arthur is more of a secondary character, but Morgana cares deeply for him, and she is quick to act when something dark threatens his reign. In contrast, Guinevere has a more central role and is depicted as a villainous queen with darker magic and a bad temperament—so be prepared for the typical Arthurian legend to be turned a bit upside down. By the end, Morgana’s emotional arc is profound and satisfying as she learns to trust others and her own power.
The pacing is slow-burn throughout, and the mid-section has a lot of character development, rituals, court politics, and prophecies—so if you’re expecting epic magical battles or intense confrontations, you may be disappointed. While the ending is emotionally satisfying, there could have been better resolution with certain conflicts and the fae mythology world-building. Overall, fans of Arthurian legends (especially those who want to see Morgana redeemed) and readers who enjoy priestess magic, faerie lore, character-driven slow-burn cozy fantasy, and atmospheric world-building will find a lot to love with this book!
Narrator Performace
The audiobook is narrated by Ana Clements, who portrays Morgana with an emotive, confident voice with a hint of vulnerability. In contrast, Clements gives Braithe a warm and inviting voice, perfectly capturing her loyalty and strong bond with Morgana. The dialogue and rivalry between Morgana and Guinevere is a highlight of the listening experience, and Clement’s dramatic performance heightens the emotional stakes. Clements also provides distinct voices for all the characters, with individual pacing and intensity, to make each character feel real and give the audiobook an overall cinematic feel. Overall, the narration feels lyrical and very immersive—perfect for a character-driven Arthurian retelling!
Narrator Performace
The audiobook is narrated by Ana Clements, who portrays Morgana with an emotive, confident voice with a hint of vulnerability. In contrast, Clements gives Braithe a warm and inviting voice, perfectly capturing her loyalty and strong bond with Morgana. The dialogue and rivalry between Morgana and Guinevere is a highlight of the listening experience, and Clement’s dramatic performance heightens the emotional stakes. Clements also provides distinct voices for all the characters, with individual pacing and intensity, to make each character feel real and give the audiobook an overall cinematic feel. Overall, the narration feels lyrical and very immersive—perfect for a character-driven Arthurian retelling!
The audiobook is narrated by Ana Clements, who portrays Morgana with an emotive, confident voice with a hint of vulnerability. In contrast, Clements gives Braithe a warm and inviting voice, perfectly capturing her loyalty and strong bond with Morgana. The dialogue and rivalry between Morgana and Guinevere is a highlight of the listening experience, and Clement’s dramatic performance heightens the emotional stakes. Clements also provides distinct voices for all the characters, with individual pacing and intensity, to make each character feel real and give the audiobook an overall cinematic feel. Overall, the narration feels lyrical and very immersive—perfect for a character-driven Arthurian retelling!
