Rating: 5/5
I’ve been waiting for this one. Forget the Greek pantheon, time to listen to the cry of the Celts. As readers already know I have a huge interest in Celtic folktales/myths/deities. So when I heard about Kim Curran’s plan to write a story about one of my favourite Celtic goddess I just had to get my hands on it.
Acting as her debut novel for adults, The Morrigan (2025) follows the titular character in all her chaotic splendour, offering an engaging insight into an empowering figure.
Asides from its gorgeous cover, The Morrigan was a book I could not put down.
Admittedly I still did have my concerns. While I am all for the female voice I do hold to account books whose narrative tends to border on the lines of preaching.
Thankfully The Morrigan weaves its mythology and female voice so beautifully together I didn’t find myself wanting to close its pages. The writing in The Morrigan is smooth and keeps things brief, the descriptions colourful and clear. Though it’s really the book’s titular character that drives the story.
When reading The Morrigan, I found myself viewing the goddess as a kind of anti-hero. She isn’t always right in her actions but neither is she wrong with her sense of judgement. What I enjoyed most about her character, she wasn’t portrayed as this emotionally indestructible force, capable of conquering all emotions. Throughout the book, The Morrigan takes on multiple roles, from a mother, a queen, a wife and even an advisor, learning from the feelings she experiences with each transformation. But one thing that stays constant in her journey is this concept of feminine rage, which ultimately leads to her becoming the symbol for wronged and silenced women, a satisfying mantle for such a deity.
Passionate and entralling, The Morrigan is a beautifully rendered telling of a goddess, whose voice is crying out, screaming for readers to hear her call.
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