Arthurian legend in a modern-day setting with adolescent characters. True enough to the original to satisfy Arthurian myth fans like me, but different enough that it's a new and really fun story. I can't even remember how many years it's been since the last time I stayed up hours past bedtime reading a book because I just couldn't put it down. Which is what I did with HENGE three days in a row till I finished it. That's how good it is.
Morgan le Fay is a wonderful character and narrator, and made me feel sympathy for the character for the first time, after years of reading tales of "Morgana the evil enchantress vs noble King Arthur". She's had a very strange, very rough life prior to the beginning of the book (which you'll learn more about during the story), and it reflects upon her as a person. Sure, she's angry at injustice against her and her family and magic-users like her. And she's suspicious of everyone she meets during the dangerous, magically sabotaged competition to become Prince Arthur's right-hand mage. But it never stoops to the annoying endless angst that plagues too many teen protagonists. When she lashes out or is frightened by her insecurities, it's very much the way a real teen would react to betrayal or an uncertain future. And she has to deal with consequences to her actions as well, such as the aftermath of unleashing her anger on others. Too many main characters unrealistically get away with being downright abusive without consequences because the author doesn't want to remove the character from an imaginary pedestal. Realm Lovejoy wasn't afraid to make Morgan human, and that's a huge part of HENGE's appeal for me. Her fear and anger actually make her even more likeable because it's easy to put yourself into her shoes. Sometimes she lashes out more than you'd think the situation demands, but even that fits in: she's a frightened child who grew up in seclusion. And now she is completely out of her depth, surrounded by unknown enemies, and not knowing how to handle things like basic human interaction, or even how to appropriately react to other people because she's never had friends or colleagues before.
The plot twists and turns had me more and more eager to find out what was going to happen next. The dangers in the book are lethal, not tame drama tossed in to make it look like the story has higher stakes than it actually does. And Lovejoy doesn't hold back on describing the fear and betrayal Morgan feels whenever she has to face off against a new attack. You definitely get the feeling that lives and livelihoods are at stake as each event unravels. Morgan is actively involved in her own story, refusing to sit on the sidelines and let things happen in the next room where the audience can't "see", which means you get a front-row seat to the action going on.
The illustrations in the paperback edition, done by the author, are beautiful. Where her first novel, CLAN, had very sharp and stark images to reflect a cold society, HENGE has lots of clean, flowing lines, showing the more organic nature of the characters and their world.
I don't have any major gripes with this book. I'm not normally a fan of present-tense writing, but the story flows so smoothly and swiftly that I honestly forgot I was reading present-tense after a few pages. I hit on something near the beginning that seemed like a continuity error, but I actually had to go back to check if it even could be because it was so minor.
Also, I kinda want to punch Mordred in the mouth about three dozen times, but that's not a complaint with the book. He's just such a jerk! As he should be.
I can't wait for the next book to come out. I'm really glad Realm Lovejoy decided to make this a series. There's just too much action and story to fit it into one book.
(Disclosure: I purchased the e-book and received a free copy of the paperback book from the author. However, this was not in exchange for a review. I'm writing this of my own accord.)
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