I AM MORGAN LE FAY by Nancy Springer

I AM MORGAN LE FAY by Nancy Springer
A Tale from Camelot
Philomel - 2001
ISBN 0399234519 - Harcover
Young Adult - Fantasy

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore, MyShelf.com
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This story takes the reader back to the years preceding Arthur and Camelot to explore the life of his powerful half sister, Morgan le Fay, and how she came to hate him.

Her story begins when the king kills her father in order to wed her mother, Igraine. She and her sister Morgause are left in their nurse's care when Igraine is taken away by King Uther. When he dies, the two girls are spirited away to a place of safety by the nurse, who is revealed to be one of the fey, and True Thomas, a squire for whom Morgan has developed a girlish affection. During their flight, Morgan has need to call upon powers she did not know she had to save their nurse's life, and thus commits her life to the fey.

Years later, she is summoned to fulfill that promise in Avalon. At this time, she meets Thomas again and saves his life. He becomes her knight, but she has to send him away. Loving one of the fey is death to a mortal. Yet, she cannot avoid tragedy forever, and eventually loses all she sought to save. Arthur's coming to kingship ends the story with Morgan a much harder and colder person than the little girl who began the tale.

Parents, be advised that this is a very dark novel, with much violence and pain. It should not be read by younger children. There are few historical details to comment on whether or not it presents a true picture of the time. Knowing the events that will come later in the legend, it provides a valuable character study of one of the key figures of the Arthurian legend, but a more in depth plot would have been welcome.