I am a big fan of fictional mythology and the like, and have read a lot in this genre, so I requested this with enthusiasm. I did engage with the main character of the Morrigan and liked the strength of her and the other female characters. And indeed the supporting cast were all interesting and well portrayed. But I didn't get on with the narrative as a whole really and found myself wanting to finish so I could get on with another book on my pile/list. I found the storytelling around the characters to be a little functional - I think I expected more innovation away from the traditional style of folklore narration.
I wouldn't NOT recommend this as there is a lot of excellent character exploration and development, but it might not engage those expecting more of an accessible reworking

I selected this book because I thought it would be the Irish version of Circe. Or Silence of the Girls. Mythology meets feminine rage etc. But I’m afraid this just felt really masculine to me. - the entire last 20% of the book is a huge drawn out battle and in fact most of the beginning and middle is as well.

I felt like I was wading through hundreds of pages of graphic violence without any respite or contrast in tone. I did wonder if maybe Irish readers would connect more fully to the legends, but then I’m not Greek either and I delight in novels about Achilles and Hera.

The prose is good, don’t get me wrong; she’s clearly a decent writer but whereas I could feel the divine feminine in the Arthurian lore in Mists of Avalon and feel the choking suffering of forgotten women in the Medusa tale of Stone Blind - The Morrigan just never seemed female. Nothing seemed to ever have happened to her to make her a battle fury, filled with rage and violence. She just turned up on page one that way. It just didn’t work for my expectations and it felt like an incredibly long slog.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of The Morrigan. I couldn’t put this book down and it was hands down one of the best mythology retellings I have read and easily stands with books such as Circe and Song of Achilles. I would 1000% recommend this book, especially to those who read a lot of mythology and are looking for something different. I loved the way that this story was retold and the new angle that the author came from. The description, characters, and story were so vividly and beautifully written that they jump off the page!

This was a fascinating take on Irish mythology- the nonhuman perspective was so unique as The Morrigan took on different personas. Due to the nature of the story and The Morrigan’s status as an outside observer living different lives, I think it would perhaps have worked better as a short story collection, though I get why the author didn’t make that choice.
I really liked how unique and interesting the overall story was. It’s depressing at times (almost too much so- it was a little frustrating to just read about horrible things happening over and over again) though I ended up satisfied and fulfilled by the ending. I also appreciated how complex and developed the character of the Morrigan was. She was very compelling, though not always the easiest to empathise with due to her inhuman nature. It was very true to the portrayal of an immortal, god figure but I struggled to connect with her at points and that sometimes detracted from the overall story.
The prose was gorgeous though and it really did immerse me into the world.
So overall, a really interesting, unique and original story, even if I did struggle to invest in it personally sometimes due to the nature of the narrative and protagonist.

A rare feminist retelling of Irish mythology. This contained tales I was unfamiliar with and kept me engaged throughout. Full of witchy magic, I’d definitely recommend picking it up

This was an amazing look into Irish mythology. I especially liked how there was a pronunciation guide at the start. it helped greatly when reading the book.

'A woman who has mastered her rage, learned not to fear the power that stems from it, that is terrifying to little men'

The Morrigan by Kim Curran is an exquisite storm of mythology, rage, and resilience—a fiercely feminist retelling that captures the raw essence of Ireland’s goddess of war. The writing is electric, weaving myth with mastery, and reminds me of Lucy Holland’s poignant storytelling, saturated with emotion and unrelenting power.

From the very first page, The Morrigan demands your attention. She is fierce, untamed, and unapologetically herself—a shape-shifting goddess whose rage and love fuel a journey spanning millennia. Curran threads multiple Irish myths into the narrative with ease, creating a tapestry of battles, heartbreak, and rebirth that feels timeless yet urgently modern. The themes of female defiance and resilience echo strongly, laced with a healthy dose of righteous fury.

What sets this apart is the prose: ferocious, lyrical, and alive with intensity. Every sentence pulses with energy, pulling you deeper into The Morrigan’s world. It’s a story of transformation, of embracing power and loss in equal measure, and it will leave you wanting for more.

For lovers of Lucy Holland, Costanza Casati, or anyone seeking a narrative that howls with female rage and mythic beauty—this is an unmissable triumph. I honestly cannot believe this is a debut, Curran is surely a new voice to watch.

Huge thanks to NetGalley & Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for my ARC of 'The Morrigan'.

’It begins, as all the best stories do, in darkness.’

Anyone whose fond of mythology retellings will surely find themselves longing to check out ’The Morrigan’ as soon as possible. A debut offering that tells the story of Ireland’s Goddess Of War and covers a time span that can’t be considered anything other than epic. How could any fan of these sorts of tales possibly resist? Especially if, like me, you constantly find yourself watching out for more examples that branch into more mythology than that of the Greeks alone.

For me there were two elements of ’The Morrigan’ that truly stood out: its voice and its mythological basis. Irish mythology isn’t something that I know much, if anything, about so I can’t truly say how well this book does at retelling the tale of the Morrigan, but it certainly left me longing to discover more of the country’s myths and legends. Many figures, presumably from a variety of stories, are depicted across this novel and I’d happily spend time learning more about them all. It was utterly riveting to lose myself within a tale like this where pretty much everything was new to me. Discovering new mythology always delights me and I’m sure that many readers feel similarly. So, for that alone, ’The Morrigan’ is well worth checking out if you’re in a similar position.

Likewise its narrative style and beautiful prose makes this novel well worth a read. There were so many enchantingly crafted sentiments and vivid imagery. There were beautifully depicted tender moments and disturbingly detailed scenes of carnage too. There was love, hunger, despair and hatred along with an underpinning theme of feminine rage. Like many of these kinds of stories it shows how women have suffered throughout mythology but depicted through the eyes of a fiery Goddess of War its painted in a whole new light. Needless to say I was utterly hooked.

Yet I can’t deny the fact that there were a couple of times when I longed for a bit more depth. Much of the novel is beautifully described and vivid but some of its scenes, such as one of its early battles, felt a little too swift to me. In the grand scheme of things I can understand why, as condescending thousands of years of live into one book is no small feat, but I did long for a little bit more on occasion.

Similarly there was the odd incident that didn’t quite ring true. Actions were made or feelings described that felt somewhat contradictory to what had previously been established. It was never strong enough to truly pull me away from the story but it did tend to disappoint me somewhat in the moment, as much of what surrounded those scenes was easily worthy of five stars. So there were times that I felt slightly disheartened but regardless I was hooked upon this novel throughout.

Ultimately I certainly advice checking ’The Morrigan’ out, particularly if you’re fond of mythological retellings in general. Its a beautifully written and powerful novel that’s left me longing to discover more of Ireland’s myths. There were a few moments when I craved more but on the whole I adored this book. I, for one, will certainly be keeping an eye out for whatever the author pens next.

I have mixed feelings about this book.

I mostly really enjoyed it - I was eager to keep reading, and there were some absolutely delicious bits of writing, like "poets are in love with women's pain." I felt the Morrigan's pain when she was confronted with grief, and cheered her on when she was exacting revenge.

My biggest problem with the book was the lack of overall narrative arc...the author crammed so many short stories into one book, which I liked, but it never felt like it was building towards an ultimate climax, which meant the ending felt a little empty to me as there was no final goal or battle that usurped any of the earlier stories.

I also felt like it could have been worthwhile to build on the Morrigan's reason behind her thirst for blood and battle - it was never really WHY she wants to see so much violence.

But overall, I enjoyed reading this fresh and feminist folk tale.

Oh wow, this book was fantastic!

It was absolutely epic! I have no idea how the author managed to fit so much in to this number of pages! I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author and the publisher.

This is a novel exploring Irish mythology and it was absolutely fascinating! It took me a minute to get used to the timelines jumping ahead so much and how much time passes in relation to a human lifetime but it was so gripping! This was a real page turner! I was so invested in the main character! She was so raw, powerful, driven. She’s an outsider and yet has these incredible moments of connection with people at different points. She suffers so much tragedy, so much cruelty in a way that was absolutely rage inducing! I hated the way certain people treated her and the tragedy she suffered as a result. Often in spite of her immense power, she’s actually powerless against those who wrong her creating an interesting conflict and a tempering that makes her approach her foes in creative ways.

This was some of those most engaging exploration of mythology I’ve read and I will definitely be buying this book. It was magical, with other worlds, prediction, shape shifting and mythical beings and heroes. It was epic in the span of time that passed and the rise and fall of kings and queens. It was ferociously written in the intensity of the prose. What a brilliant book!

The Morrigan is a fierce, feminist retelling of Irish mythology, from the perspective of the titular goddess herself. The Morrigan is boldly and unapologetically herself, powerful and unyielding beyond our mortal comprehension- yet she is every woman. The writing style is blunt, poetic without waxing lyrical. There is no place for flowery prose on the battlefield.

As we follow the goddess of war whilst she shapeshifts and reinvents herself, there is a flavour of Patrick Suskind’s Perfume: Grenouille hibernates and travels, deciding who to portray himself as next; the Morrigan changes her form and is reborn over time to yield power and connect with others. Both characters, despite having completely opposing values (does Grenouille really have any?), are at peace with their unusual disposition that sets them apart from their peers. It was refreshing to read of a female character like this!

I LOVED this book and it has become an instant favourite. It grabbed hold of me and wouldn’t let go, then left me feeling stronger and more in tune with myself than I was before I picked it up. I found myself laughing, crying, and smirking along with the characters. Read this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

A novel based on Irish mythology is relatively rare and I really enjoyed the story in this novel. Highly recommended and would give it 10 stars if I could.

I really enjoyed this book. I'm not familiar with much Irish mythology, and this was well told and interesting. A great sense of female rage. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review of the book.

The Morrigan is a stunning tapestry of Irish folklore and female rage.

“The biting, rending, shredding rage I had buried deep within me for fear of it consuming me. Let it, I thought, let it burn through me and leave nothing in its path like a purging fire. Let me unravel and leave nothing but that fury.”

I have grown up on so many of these tales and I will always love a mythology retelling. You could feel the pain, grief and justifiable anger pouring off of these pages and I was fully immersed in this ancient world.

The prologue was incredible; I adored the opening of this story! “I was magnificent. I was multitudes.” I do think the author got a little lost as the story progressed, but I appreciate Morrigan fades into the background in many of the tales so this may have been a stylistic choice.

Overall, this was a really strong retelling of a well-loved goddess and I would highly recommend this to lovers of Celtic mythology.

This was a really enjoyable read about Celtic mythology with beautiful writing.
I wasn't the most familiar with the myths behind the story but it was great to learn more about The Morrigan.
It was a perfect autumn read with a story full of witches and magic!
However, it was a bit slow for me to get into the story.

Love mythology and this book was a great look into Irish Mythology an area i haven't really covered. Great to be from a view of a female with such rage and power. The amount of detail and character development is amazing.Loved diving into this book it is a hidden little gem and I hope it does well. Looking forward to reading more for this author in the near future.

This book is witchy and full of magic and perfect for the autumn. I was not familiar with the mythology it’s based on but I loved the story and the Irish setting. It is feminist and fully absorbing - I can’t wait to see what Kim Curran writes next as well.

I really enjoyed this book! I rate it 4.5 stars.

We need more of these, to bring lore back to the modern world before it is forgotten, or just lost to the world of academia where it is not accessible to the general public.

The glossary in the beginning of the book is very helpful with all the characters, and correct name pronunciations.

I really enjoyed that the story was told in the first person, and this book couldn't come at a better time when we need more female voices to elevated. To have the voice of a Goddess that is a protector of women and symbolises women's rage.

I’ve been crying out for some Celtic mythology retellings so I was very excited to read this arc.
The story was engaging and well written while the characters were interesting and the book had good world building and interesting historical elements
I found it quite slow paced but that didn’t take away from the immersive experience of the story
The author had obviously done their research into Celtic mythology and that really showed

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

Kim Curran's THE MORRIGAN will do for Irish mythology what Madeline Miller did for Greek. She weaves the often disparate strands of this multi-faceted goddess together into a cohesive narrative that never forgets its mythological roots. I fell in love with her lyrical prose and the way she immerses you in the Irish landscape. The writing is so powerful, rousing, wise and beautifully complex, while The Morrigan herself is spiky and powerful and conflicted - Kim never boxes her in, rather choosing to allow every aspect of her to have its moment. Allowing her to own her story for the first time. It's a thought-provoking read that doesn't shy away from uncomfortable truths - making The Morrigan as relevant today as it has always been to Irish mythology. An absolute triumph.