Ruler. Mother. Goddess. Warrior.

An excellent retelling of Irish mythology from the POV of the goddess of war. Beginning with the Tuatha De Danann's arrival on the shores of Ireland and concluding with the reign and battles of Queen Medb, this story is filled with female rage, strife and power.

I was drawn to this book by the cover and the frequent mentions (and theories surrounding) of The Morrigan in fae fantasy, and I wasn't disappointed. This story spans centuries and so much violence against women, but the Morrigan is a force of fury, justice, and revenge.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for this eCopy to review

I recently finished reading The Morrigan by Kim Curran, and it was quite an intriguing journey.

The story begins with a tribe of gods arriving on the rocky shores of ancient Ireland. Among them is a strange, hungry, red-haired girl who can change shape from bird to beast to goddess. This girl, who dreams of battle, blood, death, and power, is none other than The Morrigan. As she grows, she learns that a woman who seeks to rule will always be in danger and that there are far more treacherous figures in this land than the gods who raised her. Her journey spans a thousand years, filled with love, pain, and rage that will be remembered for millennia.

Curran's retelling of the mythic Irish goddess of war is both fierce and captivating. The prose is lyrical and powerful, making every page crackle with energy. The Morrigan is portrayed as a complex and compelling protagonist, whose rage and power are palpable throughout the narrative. The book delves deep into themes of power, love, and the raw, unfiltered emotions that drive us.

The Morrigan is a beautifully dark and powerful tale that will resonate with fans of mythological retellings and those who appreciate strong, multifaceted female characters

Rating: 3/5, good. Book to be released 6 February 2025.

Since my teens I've been interested in paganism. In The Morrigan, Kim Curran depicts a mythical Ireland where gods and creatures roamed free in the land. Curran uses her bold writing to explore The Morrigan, goddess of war and prophecy, and her people the Tuatha Dé Danann, arriving from the liminal space to a land later called Ireland. The "second" part of the book is related to the Ulster Cycle, where the famous hero Cuchulainn and queen Medb meets The Morrigan.

The Morrigan is a ferocious, shapeshifting, warmonger, short-tempered, priestess, goddess, with long and unruled red hair, who is constantly plotting and desiring war. Her relationship with her kinsman is complicated, with some harrowing moments. With time, they follow different paths, leading her to isolate herself in Ireland. The themes explored in this book (sexual assault, war, violence, abortion, feminism) are dark and may not be for everyone. The feminist rage in this book compares well with many current feminist retellings.

Once in Ireland, The Morrigan becomes involved in several parallel stories, serving more as a background character to depict the Ulster Cycle (around 1200 CE). I honestly did not enjoy this second part as much as I did the first part. While the first half of the book, the story of the Tuatha Dé Danann, was extremely impactful and dark and fun, this second felt rushed and lackluster. Here, the feminist rage goes berserker and the banter between characters is childish. The book never recovers.

Even with these issues, The Morrigan is a fun book that perhaps would benefit from a narrower scope of story. Nonetheless, it is a powerful book (especially the first half) that opens an important door for Irish mythology retellings. I would recommend this book if you enjoy fantasy, historical fiction and feminist rage. I am grateful for receiving this advanced copy from Kim Curran and Penguin.

An Irish myth-retelling of the Tuatha Dé Dannan from The Morrigan’s perspective.

The story starts from the Tuatha Dé Dannan return journey to reclaim Ireland through the wars they wage with various other tribes, their banishment and the spread of humans.

I generally enjoy myth retelling and I think lots of people will enjoy this but, I have to say that this isn't my preferred style of retelling - I like more historical fiction/fantasy based on myths and this felt more like a straight retelling of myths (if that makes sense).

I'm not familiar with the stories of the Morrigan, I get the impression that this story pulls together a lot of tales involving her and that gives the first part, especially, the feeling of a collection of short stories. I didn't feel any real connection to anything, nor did I have much sense of the time or place. On landing on Ireland, The Morrigan seems to immediately have anger, blood and battle lust but with no reason for it - making her a difficult perspective to read from.

I have seen this described as a feminist retelling but I don't think that just because something is told from a female perspective means it’s feminist. For a lot of the story, The Morrigan is very "not like other girls" and it's quite late on that she realises she’s spent her time try to be masculine, hasn’t spent time with women and been generally unsympathetic to their lives.

So whilst it wasn't my favourite style, and was a bit too dark and brutal for me, I thought it was a well-written and powerful retelling of an overlooked mythical figure and I did enjoy learning more about the character. I'm sure it will be very popular with a lot of people

Rage, thy name is The Morrigan.

From the across the ocean to Ireland's rocky and desolate west coast, a tribe of Gods return to claim their ancestral lands.

Amongst their number is an extraordinary shapeshifting girl with red hair and a heart full of rage. Blood and battle are in her future and her name will be remembered for eons,

Ireland's Goddess of War - The Morrigan

If you enjoy mythological or folklore retellings then this sweeping, epic tale about the goddess The Morrigan will be right up your street.

I've read a lot of mythology retellings in recent years and had a good time reading this one. At the beginning there was a few things in the writing that I found overly exaggerated and made me roll by eyes a bit, and the motivations for characters doing pretty wild things was a little fuzzy. However this definitely improved as the book went on and I ended up enjoying the story. Sometimes I found the magic a little inconsistent, the power certain characters had made some plot points a little convenient but then you question why they couldn't use that same power in other circumstances within the story.

Nevertheless I had a good time reading this, it was a great book to pick up before going to sleep, just a fun time all-round. Would recommend for fans of Sophie Keetch and Lucy Holland,

Kim Curran's 'The Morrigan' is a captivating and fiercely original retelling of the Irish goddess. Curran weaves together strands of ancient Irish Myths following the Ulster Cycle and other elements of Irish folktale to create a complex and compelling protagonist. Despite the ancient setting, this woman, warrior, goddess is just as relevant to women today as she struggles with all the myriad emotions and expectations that make up womanhood. The writing is vivid and fast-paced and almost reads like a spoken word tale of old, packed with action and poignant moments.
This is a must-read for fans of strong female characters and mythological fiction.

Thanks to net galley for approving my request for an arc.

What a story, I was only vaguely familiar with the mythology of the Morrígan so this was a fascinating read. The story itself spans over hundreds of years following the life of the Morrigan through many battles, trials and loss. I found it a little hard to sink into at first but once I caught the flow, I was away for the ride. The prose is beautifully poetic and reads exactly each a myth should.

A poignant dark tale of female rage, grief and anger. I’ll definitely be getting a physical copy when it’s released.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for giving me an ARC copy of this book.

I am a huge fan of Celtic mythology, and was excited to receive an ARC of this book.

While i initially found the first half of the book a little slow and often lacking in places, the author's characterisation of The Morrigan was badass, and the book very well-written.

Looking forward to reading more by this author.

The Morrigan is one of the most complex figures in Irish mythology. Part of the Tuatha dé Danann, but apart from them, She rules over death, war, prophecy, fate and fertility, a broad range. She has many names, including but not only Badb, Macha and Nemain. She may be a triple goddess, or one with many facets. Always She is represented by crows or ravens, sometimes by wolves or eels. She is a complex, complicated figure, fading in and out of many Irish tales long after the rest of the Tuatha had gone across the sea. But Her stories are almost always told from the male point of view. This new novel seeks to give Her back Her voice and Her history.

And a bloody history it is. The Morrigan comes from a different age, an age when nothing was yours if you couldn't protect it. As the goddess of Death she glories in war and fighting, and She's not above provoking a fight if She feels the urge. However She does also have a gentler side, and - mostly - she doesn't harm anyone who doesn't go against her.

This book conflates her with two other Machas from Irish myths, one who was the only High Queen of Ireland, and one who laid a curse on the Red Branch of Ulster. Scholars disagree about whether these were the same woman or not, but the way it's told here it makes perfect sense for them all to be aspects of the Morrigan, exploring different parts of Herself. While the portrayal of male characters as universally flawed added weight to the theme, it occasionally felt repetitive; even the one explicitly described as a good man turned out to be weak and pathetic. Kim has a 'women oppressed, men with power evil' undertone running through the book that might have been more effective if it had been lighter. However this didn't affect my enjoyment of the book at all, it's just something that I noticed.

This is an adult read, or at least an older teen; the men are coarse, the battles are bloody, and one scene with Medb and CuChulainn made me blush just reading it. I highly recommend it for anyone with an interest in Irish mythology, or simply an interest in beautifully written stories.


Book recommendation; for another highly poetic look at a misremembered Irish mythological female, try Savage Her Reply by Deirdre Sullivan. The book takes on Aife, the second wife of Lir, and gives her a motivation beyond just jealousy.

Movie recommendation: The Mists of Avalon, based on a novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley, looks at the life and legacy of King Arthur through the eyes of four women in his life. the mythological tone and theme of giving women back their voice matches with this book beautifully.
Please note: The Mists of Avalon offers a mythological tone and a theme of reclaiming women's voices that aligns beautifully with this book. However, readers should be aware that Bradley has been the subject of serious allegations regarding abusive behavior, which may influence how some approach her work.

An atmospheric, captivating depiction of the Morrigan and her history. I want to learn more about Irish folklore to see just how many tales were included in this one book, but it truly felt like I was standing on a foggy Irish hillside with the Morrigan hearing her life story in an objective way with sufficient time passed that she could see all the consequences her decisions had and the lessons learned from her life as a warrior, mother and queen. I also think the message about female empowerment and the fire inside all of us was absolutely beautifully done. I love this book and plan to pick up a physical copy in February!

Unfortunately I really did not get on well with the writing style of this book. I love mythology retellings so I was really excited about this book. I ended up giving up about 50% of the way through. Although the Morrigan has a very distinctive voice, I felt like this written more as a lot of individual short stories rather than one continuous story which made it very difficult to actually get invested and I didn't connect with any of the characters. Personally I feel like the author would have been better picking a few stories from the mythology to focus on rather than trying to include so many. I can see why other people would enjoy this book, it just wasn't for me sorry!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for granting me early access to The Morrigan.

I find myself somewhat conflicted about this book. On one hand, I appreciated how it explored timeless themes like womanhood, feminine identity, misogyny, love, grief, and loss, all woven with elements of folklore. However, these themes were sometimes presented in ways that felt shocking and graphic, which may not resonate with all readers.

On the other hand, the story often lacked a clear direction. With so many plot points and subplots, it occasionally felt overwhelming, as though the book tried to tackle too much at once. While the exploration of the characters, including The Morrigan herself, had great potential, I wished there had been more depth and development. Some relationships, particularly the dynamic between The Morrigan and a human female character toward the end, were compelling, but unfortunately, this part of the story felt rushed. This sense of haste pervaded much of the novel, leaving me wanting more—more time to explore the characters, more moments to dive deeper into the themes.

Overall, The Morrigan was a book I enjoyed, but it left me wishing for a more focused and developed narrative.

The Morrigan by Kim Curran is a powerful book filled with fierce battles, complex political intrigue and feminine rage and power.
The Morrigan is a powerful figure from Irish mythology , commonly known as a goddess of war and death and this book would make an excellent introduction to her story to readers who are unfamiliar with the mythology. It is a long and complicated tale with many characters and in general Kim Curran does an excellent job here of streamlining the story and making it easier to follow for the reader. The writing style is wonderful - powerful yet poetic and I frequently found myself highlighting passages as I read because of the striking imagery or unusual turns of phrase, like " I would lick their pain from my fingertips like honey, sucking one delicious agony after the other. "
We first meet the Morrigan as a young girl newly arrived with her family and fellow Gods and Goddesses to the shores of Ireland. She tells us her story in her own words which seems fitting for a woman who was always ready to stand and fight for herself. The narrative style does take a little getting used to at first because it is almost like a stream of consciousness and once the story starts to flow it seems to meander and fork off into several directions before circling back. As a character the Morrigan is fascinating, sometimes cruel and inhumane as one might expect from a Goddess, especially a Goddess of war, but at other times so lonely and afraid that it is easy to forget her power and rage.
This is a story that spans thousands of years and so we are introduced to a huge number of characters, some obviously more important than others. It is a lot to keep track of for the reader and there is a character list that helps but I think readers who are completely unfamiliar with the mythology may struggle a little to keep it all straight. I am torn because while spreading the story out into a series may have helped with that issue, the story as written is so sweeping and epic and powerful that I could not help but love it .
This is a wonderfully immersive read and Kim Curran's version of The Morrigan is a character that will stay with me for a long time.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own

Thank you to Jack Hallam at Penguin House for emailing me about this book.

This book is so detailed that at times it did feel a bit like an information overload, but it is necessary information. The book achieves a great deal and I went in quite blind which I loved, it has fantastic feminine rage and fantasy.

Thank you, Michael Joseph and Kim Curran, for a Netgalley eARC of The Morrigan.

Before reading this story, I must admit, I knew nothing of The Morrigan. The blurb intrigued me with the potential to be the epitome of feminine rage.

This retelling is incredibly detailed and felt slightly autobiographical. For me, I struggled with this, especially the first 30% of the book. I did get used to it but when you're deciding to read this just know that it is a lot. So much happens its slightly difficult to remember where you are.

The book absolutely did give me what I needed in respect of Feminine rage, the characters, description and story was beautifully written. Just maybe this style of writing wasn't for me.

This is a bold story, filled with angst and feminine rage. I wasn't a fan of the writing style and I struggled to follow the story at times. I was intrigued by the story as I love Mythology tales and it was an interesting read.

Thank you, Michael Joseph and Kim Curran, for approving my request for a Netgalley eARC of The Morrigan.

The Morrigan explores eons of Irish mythology in a whirlwind tale spanning thousands of years of cutthroat agendas, political games, betrayals of turmoil, and trickery. A light horror with a vengeance, gore, and dark themes runs throughout the plot of The Morrigan. I would encourage readers to check the trigger warnings to ensure this is a book you would enjoy reading, as some parts detail bloody battles, grief, death, and abuse.

Kim Curran’s writing is beautiful, bold, blunt, and fiercely descriptive, and she feels as ageless as the goddess telling her story. The storytelling has a slow, drifting pace, covering centuries of years of early Irish history in the making, seen from different identities the Morrigan takes in her journey. Kim Curran’s world-building shows the care and painstaking detail implemented to bring this story to life and invokes the energy behind the complex character of the Morrigan many identities through Irish mythology.

I loved Morrigan’s evolution of her identity and ever-changing forms. She’s so inhuman at times with her untamed, bloodthirsty nature, wild as the sea with her power and rage, and then so bleakly mortal with her battles with loneliness and moments of weakness. She’s a character of many faces that are all bewitching as she reinvents herself through grief, joy, and unyielding in the face of her suffering and limitations imposed upon her by the male form of both human and Tuath. I enjoyed the many forms and emotional states of mind the Morrigan journeys through.

An immersive, feminist retelling of Irish myth and legend of the origins of this ancient land full of magic, mythical heroes, shapeshifters, and games of Celtic gods. A book to symbolise why we should never stop fighting for our rights and challenging perceptions to be true to ourselves (though hopefully with a little less tearing warriors’ limb from limb). If you enjoyed Juliet Marillier Sevenwaters Series or Lucy Holland’s historical Celtic retellings, you would enjoy reading The Morrigan’s dark, fierce feminist retelling of the ancient Irish origin story.

"They reduced me to an old woman wailing for the dead. But I was so much more than that."

Curran's debut novel twists the myths and folklore of Irish Mythology, specifically the Morrigan, into a tale of wartime, revenge, and love.

"They called me the Morrigan and a great many things besides. Phantom Queen. Battle Crow. Hag. But the Morrigan will do".

Before this book, I knew only briefly about the Morrigan because little information was available online. I knew about her connection to Cú Culann, but I wanted to know why she was called the other names and what her story was, and this book did exactly that.

The Morrigan is a Goddess, but she is also a warrior, a sister, a mother, and so much more. I grieved for her losses and understood her pain, suffering, and loneliness.

Others misunderstand her in many ways, seeing her only as a Goddess of death and war. However, she is so much more than that.

She is clever, prophetic, strategic, and a goddess who has experienced and dealt with a lot of pain.

This retelling is so incredibly detailed and powerful. It makes me want to learn even more about Irish myth and folklore. Another Goddess that made an appearance that I want to learn more about is Airmed, the goddess of Healing. Seeing parts of her in this story, intermingling with the Morrigan, fascinates me to read more about her.

This feminist retelling is one you need on your shelves!

You know that feeling when Shania Twain says 'lets go girls' and you feel like you can take on the world? That is exactly how I felt reading this book.

A big thank you to Kim Curran and Net Galley, as well as Penguin Random House for allowing me to read this absolute gem of a book.

Typically, this type of writing style isn't one I would go for. But this almost 'autobiographic' story telling completely blew me away. I was in love with her strength, how she kept her rage at bay. How she tried to strengthen the woman around her & how she desperately above it all, just wanted to be seen and loved.

There were some fabulous strong feminine lines throughout that just took my breath away and gave me chills. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone who loves a strong FMC.

just. bravo for this.