Book Review: The Faerie Handmaid by Louisa Morgan

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

The Faerie Handmaid by Louisa Morgan

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy, Mythology

Series: Book 2/Stand Alone

Publisher: Redhook (September 15, 2026)

Length: 432 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

First, while the publisher description does not explicitly state this, The Faerie Handmaid is actually a follow-up to Louisa Morgan’s The Faerie Morgana, a reimagining of Arthurian legend that follows the title character as she grows from a magically talented girl into a powerful priestess. Since the focus shifts to her devoted handmaid for this book, I suppose one could technically read it as a standalone, though I would not recommend it. You’ll be missing quite a bit of the background and character development which adds considerably more weight to this story, so that’s just something to keep in mind.

When the book opens, King Arthur is gone, and a new ruler sits on the throne of Camelud. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the Blackbird, or Merlin himself, things are not going particularly well under his reign. Suspecting some outside influence, possibly magically related, Merlin calls upon the High Priestess Morgana for help, knowing her connections may offer some insight into the mysterious curse that seems to have settled over the new king. Following a hunch, Morgana sets out for the heart of the faerie realm, bringing along her loyal handmaid Braithe and a young ferryman’s apprentice named Idhri, who helps guide them across the water to the White City’s shores.

But answers prove harder to come by than they had hoped, especially when dealing with the arrogant and fickle fae. Despite Morgana’s reputation, the inhabitants of the White City are hardly welcoming towards humans wandering in their midst. They have little patience for outsiders, and Braithe soon discovers that navigating the faerie realm is going to be more dangerous than she imagined. With Morgana’s attention occupied elsewhere, Braithe must take matters into her own hands to protect Idhri when his life is threatened, pushing her to discover just how much she is capable of.

Because I’ve already read The Faerie Morgana, I was happy to return to this world and spend more time with its characters, especially with Braithe who previously played a more supporting role. As Morgana’s handmaiden, she has spent much of her life on the Isle of Apples, but even though she has never shown any particular aptitude for magic herself, she’s perfectly content to serve the priestess whom she also considers a friend. One of the best things about this book was being able to see Braithe step up and out from behind Morgana’s shadow, becoming a worthy central character and given a chance to develop in a different direction. Of course, Morgana still maintains a strong presence, but with the magic she has always relied upon proving less dependable in the fae realm, having someone else around who can think outside the box adds an interesting new dynamic to their partnership.

Next, we have the wonderfully atmospheric prose filled with plenty of evocative detail that makes the author’s books feel so immersive and lived-in. I’ve always had a soft spot for Louisa Morgan’s witchy novels, especially her ability to weave folklore and feminine magic into stories that have an almost enchanting quality. Compared to her earlier work though, these two books are not as firmly rooted in historical settings, leaning further instead into fantasy and mythology, but I’m definitely not complaining. Obviously, Morgan draws on the Arthurian legend as her inspiration but leaves plenty of room to build an intriguing world and populate it with characters who feel like their own people rather than clichéd archetypes. The narrative also has a strong sense of immediacy, with conflicts that feel more urgent and a steady sense of forward momentum, which I found made it easy to settle into the story.

Overall, The Faerie Handmaid was an enjoyable return to the world of Louisa Morgan’s Arthurian legend retelling. I have to say, these two books have been a welcome change of pace, and as much I adore her witchy historical novels, I’d be just as happy to see her continue exploring this corner of mythology. This one would be perfect for readers who enjoy accessible, atmospheric fantasy with a healthy dose of faerie lore and Arthurian magic, but I would highly recommend reading The Faerie Morgana first!