Angry Robot lands 'fresh' feminist retelling of Arthurian legends by McKenna

Angry Robot Books has landed an “exciting and fresh” feminist retelling of the Arthurian legends by Juliet E McKenna. 

Simon Spanton acquired world rights, including audio and translation rights, for The Cleaving from Max Edwards at Aevitas Creative Management UK. It will publish on 9th May 2023.  

The book follows the tangled stories of four women: Nimue, Ygraine, Morgana and Guinevere, as they fight to control their own destinies amid the wars and rivalries that will determine the destiny of Britain.  

McKenna said: “The Arthurian myths were among the earliest fantasy stories I encountered and they helped nurture my love of the genre. As I read more versions and as I grew older, I saw more and more contradictions in what are supposedly tales of noble ideals, especially in their treatment of women. There came a point when I had to pick up a pen to do something about that. Epic fantasy flourishes when we find a balance between the genre’s rich history and its relevance for contemporary fans.”  

Spanton added: "It’s high time we had a fresh feminist take on the Arthurian legends—an action-driven narrative that centres Morgana, Ygraine, Guinevere and Nimue in the politics, passions, intrigues and magics of these well-known stories. A story with a feel for the world and a deep knowledge of the source materials and a fresh perspective on the challenges and strengths of the women at the centre of them. It’s impossible to imagine a writer better qualified to bring all this to a new generation of readers and we can’t wait to publish The Cleaving and to welcome Juliet to Angry Robot.” 

Edwards commented: "Juliet’s voice and storytelling remains as brilliant now as it did two decades ago with her first books – and she continues to reinvent herself time and again. The Cleaving is a wonderful, modern, take on the quintessential medieval fable – and is sure to resonate with readers as it did with me."