As a part of the Henge by Realm Lovejoy run by Xpresso Book Tours I reviewed Henge, a YA fantasy novel.
To check out the rest of this blog tour go here for the official schedule.
I
was provided with a review copy of the book via Xpresso Book Tours -
however, all opinions expressed in this review are purely my own. To
find out more, please visit my disclaimer page.
Book Details
Title: Henge (Le Fay, #1) Author: Realm Lovejoy
Publication date: November 11th 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Book Synopsis: Modern-day Camelot. Where knights no longer carry swords. Magic is dangerous. And those who seek control are not to be trusted.
Sixteen-year-old Morgan le Fay is a fire user. An ordinary girl with an extraordinary skill, she has the ability to create and command fire at will. Her dream is to become the Maven—the right hand of the future King Arthur. In the chance of a lifetime, Morgan is selected to join Arthur’s Round, an elite group of young magic users from which the new Maven will be chosen.
Along with the other fire, water, and wind users in Arthur’s Round, Morgan is rigorously trained and tested. The handsome Merlin, a brilliant water user, takes a particular interest in her. Is his friendship to be trusted, or is Merlin simply trying to win the position of Maven for himself? Among the many rivals Morgan faces is the current Maven, Mordred, who seems determined to see her fail.
But Morgan has a secret—years ago, her mother was executed for using fire magic, and Morgan’s desire for justice makes her more than ready to take on the challenge before her. Can she prevail in Camelot’s tests of survival and magic?
Only time—and Morgan’s powerful fire—will tell.
Praise for the series
“Camelot meets Hogwarts meets Panem in this intriguing, well-written beginning to a planned YA series.” - Kirkus Reviews
And now for my review of...
My rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars
Fave quote: ''She may have never expressed her love for you, but you know she loved you through her actions"
I don't know why,. but those words tear a hole through me every time I remember them. I scream as a horrible black hole consumes me. I imagine Mordred standing in front of me - the man who took her last breath. Fire lashes out of my hands, deep red - coiling with fury. It speeds down the lane like a whirling dragon, flinging out. Then it fades into the distance.
This is my fire - mine alone.'
My thoughts on the book:
Modern-day Camelot is an intriguing place to be.
Realm Lovejoy's Henge draws from the Arthurian legend, whilst at the same time creating a world that is its parallel in every way. The result? A refreshing perspective on the court which has lasted through the centuries by means of myth and legend - a new and exciting Camelot, full of possibilities.
The magic element is far brighter, and much more complex in Henge. It is brought to life through the story's characters. I particular enjoyed this description of Lovejoy's Camelot:
You only see the surface - that a Maven provides counsel and protection to the King - that is part of the role, yes, but it's also a facade Camelot has created.
Anyone who has read the Arthurian legend (or indeed, any legend) would know this concept - this idea of a many-layered system, a world that is divided into unseen sections. On the surface, Camelot's systems, rules, and everyday workings appear simple and to have a common goal. But the closer you analyze them, the more you begin to see that hidden motives and lies are the true foundations of a city, its ruler, and its people.
Who holds the true power in a world with magic?
Realm Lovejoy explores this concept throughout Henge, as well as another important one: the relationship between love, hate, and power.
The most painful part isn't that you executed her. It's that I can't project all my hate onto you anymore. The hate flows inward now, toward myself.
In Henge, everything links back to power. This includes: the things people will do for power, what happens when people can't control their own powers, and how people will use their own powers to secure even more power.
Having magic is power in itself. It opens doorways for the user. However, Henge highlights the dangers of using one's powers for evil or for one's own merit...as well as the dangers of losing control.
Lovejoy's Morgan le Fay is a complex main character. Her journey of self-discovery, closely followed by the reader, is twisted. She aims for success, but it's tainted by her longing for revenge and justice.
But the path to success is not any easy one. How can Morgan trust others when she guards her heart so closely? And without trust in others, how will she succeed?
Rife with trials and filled to the brim with magic, Henge is an enjoyable fantasy tale that is sure to sit well with lovers of sorcery and legend.
Author Bio: Realm Lovejoy
She grew up in both Washington State and the Japanese Alps of Nagano, Japan. Currently, she lives in Seattle and works as an artist in the video game industry.
CLAN is her first book. You can find out more about her and her book at realmlovejoy.com
Connect with Realm via her:
Giveaway
Tour-wide giveaway
- (x1) signed copy of Henge + swag (US only)
- (x1) $20 Amazon giftcard (INT)
- (x2) paperbacks of Henge (US only)
- (x4) ebook copies of Henge (INT)
Wonderful review! This sounds like a really well-written book with great characters to boot! I'm not familiar with the Arthurian legend but I can say I'm intrigued! Glad you liked it! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I really liked this book as well. It was so different, and Morgan was such an interesting, well thought out character!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for reading Henge and taking the time to write a detailed review! Great summary! I'm very glad that you enjoyed the book. Hope you'll stay tuned for the next book coming out later this year!
ReplyDeleteI really do like the sound of this one and I have seen it on multiple blogs! It seems like a good fantasy which mixes a bit with historical fiction to churn out something new and wonderful!
ReplyDelete