The Morrigan by Kim Curran

They called me The Morrigan. I was magnificent. I was multitudes.

They twisted my story, stripped me away. But I will tell it now in my own voice.

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

From an ancient, storm-tossed sea, a tribe of gods reach the rocky shores of Ireland. Among them, a strange, hungry, red-haired girl. A girl who can change shape, from bird to beast to goddess. A girl who dreams of battle, of blood, of death and power.

She does not know yet that a woman who seeks to rule will always be in danger – or that there are far more treacherous figures in this land than the gods who raised her.

She does not know that one day love will burn so deep in her heart that its scars will never heal. That she will know pain so raw and pure it will almost tear her apart.

She does not know that her journey will take a thousand years. That her name will be remembered for a thousand more.

She is The Morrigan, and she is a girl with rage coiled in her chest. Beautiful, powerful, ravenous rage. A rage that will live forever.

An electric debut retelling of Ireland’s mythic goddess of war, from a bold and powerful new voice.

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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.

The Morrigan publishes on the 6th February, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.