I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley!!
I adored this book I didn't know what to expect going in but it gripped me from start to finish
I have a full review on Amazon, Goodreads and Fable

Fabulous retelling of the story of The Morrigan, never read a book based on the subject before and was excited to read it for that reason alone. The book didn't disappoint and is totally the kind of book that I love to read. It was fun and easy read with a subject matter that was intriguing to me and kept my interest throughout the book, well written and fleshed out to create something quite beautiful.

Highly recommended for fans of mythology!

A fascinating retelling of The Morrigan, weaving tales from Irish mythology together in a way that added a magical realism to the tales. Often times this book was brutal, it did not shy away from blood lust and pain (what can you expect from a book told from the perspective of a war goddess). This book spans centuries and so much happens, little of which held any joy to it. There was satisfaction in the way the prophecies came together and the ways in which they came true slowly but surely. Overall really enjoyed this one.

This one felt reminiscent of Sophie Keetch's Morgan le Fay series, bringing a firey and exciting voice to the figure of The Morrigan. It's beautifully written with some poetic passages and an ever-enjoyable feminist streak, leaning into the darkness that underpins most mythological retellings.

Unfortunately it does lack a bit of oomph in the plot with a slightly flat ending, but the gorgeous writing and fascinating mythologies make this a worthy read.

4.5 ⭐ rounded up.

This is a little outside of my usual genre, as I generally don't read many mythology retellings, and I knew next to nothing about Irish mythology. This one, though, is great. If you like female rage and feminist retellings of mythology, you'll love this.

Right from the start, the writing style drew me in, it kept me engaged throughout despite a narrative that spans 100's of years.

Honestly, the main draw, though, is the Moriggan herself; she is vicious, fierce and cunning but also bitter, vengeful and manipulative in equal measure. I'd definitely define her as an anti-hero, but god, did I love her perspective. I was rooting for her every step of the way, when she was betrayed or hurt, I felt it with her when that anger kicked in, I felt that too and when she was reaping revenge one shitty man at a time I was cheering her on.

The only downside I had was that with this story spanning hundreds of years, there are a LOT of characters that we meet, and at times I had a hard time remembering who was who and keeping names straight, but it didn't seriously affect my enjoyment.

The premise of this book was really intriguing and I like mythology stories. However, I did find myself struggling with this one. I've seen lots of great reviews but unfortunately I didn't gel with this one.

I’m not familiar with Irish mythology but I thoroughly enjoyed The Morrigan. A feminist retelling of the myth of the Irish War Goddess, it captured my from the start. Highly recommended!

A stunning retelling of Irish mythology and folklore, focused on the Morrigan, the Irish goddess of war. Kim Curran seamlessly weaves together multiple tales of the Morrigan into a novel-length saga, never deviating from the titular figure. I'd recommend this if you want a starting point to investigating Irish mythology, or are just a fan of mythology-based retellings such as Circe.

This was definitely a different type of book that I usually reach for regarding telling an actual story based on so much history.

This novel had heavy feminist elements and the fight for power and equality. From the moment I read the description I was pulled in.
I enjoyed the retelling of Irish mythology that I was more familiar with and with a classic twist to storytelling - this time the story was told through the eyes of Morrigan.

I knew nothing about this myth going into it.

Unfortunately as I have also read a lot of myth re-tellings in general, I found I couldn’t quite get into the writing of this, however I did enjoy the plot.

This was a brilliant read based on Irish mythology and was definitely a change to some other mythological books that I’ve read.
This was a feminist spin to the story and I loved every minute

The Morrigan has intrigued me over the last couple months so reading this as I dive deeper into Irish mythology has been an experience. This retelling was beautifully written even though I most likely butchered all the names along the way. I think I have a soft spot for The Morrigan and I hope she did find the courage to be with her sisters again.

Thank you to NetGalley & PRH for the opportunity to read and review this arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Penguin/Michael Joseph for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: murder, death, miscarriage, violence, war, injury, abuse, child death, sexual violence

‘The Morrigan’ is a retelling of the Irish war goddess, from the moment she lands on its shores as part of a tribe of long wandering gods, as she finds her place as the goddess of warfare amongst decades of battles and fighting, and as she grows to become legendary. Forced to learn that even goddesses are forced to bow before kings, the Morrigan experiences love, loss, violence and hatred throughout the centuries, watching as the land she loves and the people she helps change and develop over time. This is a beautiful retelling and I followed it very easily despite knowing little about Irish mythology, her character is strongly written and passionate. She is so powerful and angry but forced consistently to shackle her anger and try to conform with the society her fellow gods have built; the moments when she finally lets loose and is completely herself were beautiful. The Morrigan is blunt and stark in its storytelling, even in its most beautiful moments. I loved the idea that she has never truly had a voice throughout mythology, though everyone knows her various names and deeds, and that this is her opportunity to finally have her say. Her different selves were all so engrossing and the relationships she built, whether as a wife, a mother, a friend or a goddess (particularly with women) were a highlight. This is a slow build of a book but it’s worth it, you get to see the Morrigan's relationships with her fellow gods, her family and eventually the legendary humans of myth. It’s a brilliant debut novel that seamlessly retells the various stories around the Morrigan while letting her speak it. I have so many new things to read up on!

This was a fantastic read! I loved reading about Irish mythology and discovering figures I hadn’t known about. The pronunciation guide was excellent and although the Morrigan was my favourite character, I loved reading about her friends and family on her way to become her full self. This is a great exploration of a mythology not frequently written about.

Over the years Irish mythology has been something I'd loved to have read more, understood more, known more about... Reading The Morrigan was my first insight into Irish Myths and honestly it couldn't have been better!

The Morrigan is a fierce, feminist retelling of Irish mythology, from the perspective of the titular goddess herself. The Morrigan, a key figure in Irish mythology, is a force of nature—both feared and revered. Often depicted as a trio of goddesses, she represents not only war, death, and fertility but also the inescapable thread of fate that weaves through human lives. As one of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the ancient race of divine beings, she holds a position of great power. Known as a prophetess and a shapeshifter, the Morrigan can take on many forms, though her most recognizable manifestation is that of a crow, a symbol of battle, transformation, and prophecy.

In *The Morrigan* by Kim Curran, the goddess is given a unique voice, allowing her to tell her own story. The novel spans centuries, weaving through significant moments in Irish history, each one marked by the Morrigan's intervention or presence. This is not just a retelling of myth, but a powerful exploration of the goddess’s role in shaping the world around her.

A central theme in the novel is the exploration of female rage, a force that has often been misunderstood or suppressed. The Morrigan, unapologetically fierce, embodies this rage in a way that is both empowering and necessary. She does not shrink from her role as the harbinger of death and destruction, understanding that sometimes chaos is required to restore balance or to shape a new path. Her actions, though seemingly destructive, are presented as necessary upheavals in the face of injustice or stagnation, highlighting the complexity of her nature.

The novel dives deep into the fierce power of the Morrigan, not just as a goddess of battle, but as a symbol of resistance, autonomy, and the full spectrum of human emotions and experiences. It is a narrative that celebrates the unapologetic nature of the feminine, acknowledging the raw, unbridled force of female energy that is often both feared and celebrated throughout history. Through the Morrigan’s eyes, readers are invited to experience the world from a perspective that is both ancient and timeless—an indomitable force of nature, unafraid to claim her place in history.

As someone who has a general interest in mythology, and has historically enjoyed mythological retellings I had really high hopes for this book but unfortunately, this wasn't for me. I was intrigued by reading about a myth that I had no prior knowledge about but I found the writing style quite dry, almost like reading a textbook rather than being in someone's voice despite the story being a first-person narrative and as a result ended up DNFing this title at about 25%. I'd still be interested in more from this author, but I don't see myself returning to this book.

I have always liked myths and legends but very rarely have read any from Ireland.
A strong telling of The Morrigan, didn’t know what to make of it to begin with but glad I stuck with it. The Morrigan seems to be the goddess of battle or death I think and vengeance. Especially for women who are wronged. Especially in the time of the forming of Ireland when women were there to be used, abused and mainly ignored.

The Morrigan was a fierce retelling of Irish Mythology.

📖 Following The Morrigan Ireland's goddess of War and Fate through 1000's of years.

📖 She doesn’t fit in with her people. She is powerful but cannot heal; her magic causes harm. She longs for bloody battles, for death and destruction. She is used as a weapon in the wars of her people and otherwise largely ignored. She stands alone, apart from them, and apart from the humans who later settle on the same green shores. Until they, too, need her battle cries and fury. They will know her by many names, and she will have many forms, but over a thousand years later, they will not have forgotten her.

They twisted her story, stripped her away. But she will tell it now in her own voice.

✨ Review ✨
I was instantly gripped by the prose, it was captivating and drew me in straight away. The feminine rage, the vengeance was spilling off the pages and I loved it. I would check triggers as this is a cynical violence and the tone is heavy.

The world building was fantastic and I felt transported however I will say somewhere in the middle it lost me a little. This spans such a huge amount of time that some things felt rushed while others things dragged a little.

The highlight of this is Morrigan herself. It's a introspective character study and explores how woman who seek to rule will always be in danger – and that there are far more treacherous figures in this land than the gods who raised her.

If you are interested in a powerful story of Irish Mythology that explores grief, rage and vengeance then I highly recommend.

I have always liked myths and legends but very rarely have read any from Ireland.
A strong telling of The Morrigan, didn’t know what to make of it to begin with but glad I stuck with it. The Morrigan seems to be the goddess of battle or death I think and vengeance. Especially for women who are wronged. Especially in the time of the forming of Ireland when women were there to be used, abused and mainly ignored.

What I loved: the underlying premise of this story is The Morrigan reclaiming her own story, telling it from her perspective, and this was a powerful narrative tool throughout. It was enjoyable to be exposed to so much of Irish mythology, but have it told from a more inter-connected perspective. The Morrigan is unflinching in her love of war and violence, but has a deep devotion to those she loves, almost to the edge of her undoing. She burns fiercely bright, incandescent in her feminine rage, and it makes it hard not to feel your own taste for vengeance rise alongside hers. It's a darker story, but a satisfying one.

What I didn't love: this felt more like a series of short stories, rather than a novel, and so felt a bit disjointed at times. The Morrigan isn't exactly a lovable or relatable character, which made it hard to read the book in longer stints, but that it a personal preference.