Henge

Le Fay #1

by Realm Lovejoy

"Camelot meets Hogwarts meets Panem in this intriguing, well-written beginning to a planned YA series."--Kirkus Reviews
_____________

Inspired by one of the greatest legends of all time…

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.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Magic, Urban Fantasy, Retellings, Arthurian, Mythology

333 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 11, 2014

About the author

Realm Lovejoy is an American writer and an artist. 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

Reviews

[Paula M · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can also read my review HERE.

"This is my favorite feeling in the world. Hot energy spawns in my heart like the sun and travels through my arms. My veins burn. My body becomes like the earth, sizzling with flowing lava.."

I have found The Book. The book that makes me feel that Harry Potter, Vampire Academy (not because of the vampires) and The Hunger Games feels~



Nope. I'm not exaggerating or anything like that. I dare you to read this book and NOT be so invested like I did.. I swear, you will fail. Despite of the all those feels that I mentioned, Henge is original and totally stand on it's own. This book needs more audience because it's truly deserving. Realm Lovejoy is a very talented and brilliant author.

Henge is modern retelling of Camelot that focus on Morgan Le Fay. If you're like me and you just heard that for the very first time, I suggest you Google it like I did because the story is really rich and intriguing. Much like this retelling that Realm Lovejoy crafted. The main protagonist is, of course, Morgan. She's a Fire user. And something happened when she was still a child that gave her determination and courage to be a Maven (Its like a Kings adviser) But she's not the only one who wants that position. Unfortunately, she's one of the many magic users that wants that position and all of them are competing to be the Kings maven.

Henge is a fantasy book that doesn't lose thrill in every chapter. Secrets, lies, action, kickass characters, this book has it all. Morgan is a very likeable protagonist. I actually like her more than Katniss. She can be so badass, be a girl (you know, that gets crushes and all that) and still be smart, intuitive and make logical actions. She's my favorite part. Every characters in this book is a gem actually, they're real and even though we are seeing them through Morgan's eyes, it feels like we know them. They're fantastically and wonderfully written. All of them, even the antagonists.

I still don't know when will the sequel be out but I AM TELLING YOU, I'M DYING!! ITS TORTURE. I WANT IT NOWWWWW. I've never wanted a sequel so bad (okay since World After, Murder of Crows.. etc) Anyway, HENGE IS THAT GOOD. We always have some problems about first book in a series, this one is too much awesome to hate. Its perfection.

Henge richly written with beautiful characters that will satisfy your YA read need. This book is made for every readers! If you're fan of HP, VA, or THG.. I absolutely suggest you read Henge!

PS.

 I ship Morgan with Lancelot. Pls author, MAKE IT HAPPEN. I KNOW THERE'S SOMETHING THERE. I. JUST. KNOW. IT.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Avid Reviews: www.avidfantasyreviews.com

I have been a huge fan of Arthurian legend for as long as I can remember. I started out with T.A. Barron’s novels on Merlin and then in middle school graduated to Mary Stewart’s novels on Camelot. In high school I first read Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Mists of Avalon, an Arthurian legend told from the perspective of all female characters, and since then I have taken a class in college that had a unit on the subject, and have read and re-read any Arthurian novel that I could possibly get my hands on. You can probably understand why I was both excited and apprehensive when I found out about Henge, which is a re-telling of the legend in a modern day setting. Would the story transfer well to a modern setting, or would the book end up as a weak attempt to duplicate Harry Potter with mythical characters? Thankfully I really enjoyed Lovejoy’s unique take on my favorite tale, and I was impressed with her storytelling ability, world building, and her capacity to make my favorite legend come alive and capture my imagination all over again. Henge is a novel that will be perfect both for readers that are familiar with Arthurian legend and those that are new to the subject, and will delight anyone that is looking for a new series to become invested in.

This novel has all the components that make a novel thrilling as well as engrossing. The plot is fast paced and full of twists and turns, and there are mysterious magical “accidents” that seem to follow Morgan le Fey and that manage to imbue the story with plenty of mystery. In addition, the competition between the candidates in Arthur’s Round makes the relationships between the characters complex and compelling. Throughout much of the novel Morgan seems to have all of Camelot against her, and every day becomes a challenge to survive the politics and rivalry that permeates every aspect of life in Camelot. Lovejoy did a wonderful job of reviving the story of Arthur Pendragon and company with new life, and I love that she augmented the story by including characters found in legends from the same Medieval time period, like that of Tristan and Isolde. It could not have been easy to adapt this ancient story to fit so well in a modern setting, but Lovejoy makes this transition seem effortless.

The magic in Henge is based off simple concepts (that of the elements- water, wind, fire, ext.), but the execution of the magic is intricate and unique. I was also impressed with Lovejoy’s focus on how magic affects the society and politics of Morgan’s world. These types of world building details are what really makes a story come alive for the reader. Also, the interactions between Morgan and the secondary characters are seem natural and are full of plenty of nuance. One of my literary pet-peeves is when conversations and relationships between characters feel forced or unnatural, and I am glad the characters in this novel avoid this pitfall, and instead feel like real people with complicated morals and desires.

There is one aspect of this novel that troubled me, but it resolved itself slowly throughout the story. My issue was with the pacing, and by this I do not mean the profusion of exciting and engaging scenes, which this novel happens to have in abundance. Instead, I felt that some scenes in the beginning of the novel were unnecessarily short, and Morgan seemed to dance from setting to setting before I could fully absorb what had happened. This issue is definitely one of taste, as I tend to like my novels to go in-depth with descriptions and details, but either way, I became more engrossed in each setting as the story went on, and it did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel overall. This is a novel that I would recommend to both YA and adult readers that love fantasy and re-tellings of myths. The Le Fay series is sure to delight readers who are searching for a new series to capture the imagination, and a story that is good enough to loose yourself in.

My Rating: 7.5/10

I received a copy of this novel for review from CBB Book Promotions and the author in return for an honest review, and I want to thank them for the opportunity to read such a fun and engaging story!

[Kimber Wheaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

First things first: if you are a fan of Arthurian legend then this is definitely the book for you. Henge is a modern urban fantasy featuring many of the Arthurian characters in an interesting, high-stakes story.

Morgan is a very passionate character. Somehow Ms. Lovejoy managed to draw me to Morgan's corner practically from page one. When we first meet Morgan, she is sneaking away from home to follow her dreams, which her father doesn't agree with-- for very good reason, we learn as the story progresses. We also meet Merlin early on, and I found his character rather fascinating. In fact, I enjoyed reading Ms. Lovejoy's take on all of the classic characters.

The suspense in this novel builds from chapter to chapter, with new twists and turns to keep the pages turning. In some ways it reminded me of the Harry Potter books, especially at the beginning when Morgan was leaving for the magic academy. Bad guy Mordred was well-written... my skin crawled whenever he appeared. I seriously couldn't stand him. Since this is book one of a series, don't expect closure at the end. I have a feeling you'll be craving book two once you've finished reading.

Fantastical, fast-paced, full of magic and suspense-- Henge will appeal to readers from teens to adults, especially those with a soft spot for King Arthur.

[Rhea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many of us have grown up reading about the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. And the Camelot legends. And the forgery of the Excalibur at the Isle of Avalon. But with Henge, a modern day retelling of the legends, Realm Lovejoy has taken this to a whole new level.

Reading Henge gave me a new insight on some characters I’d never even thought of for so many years. Particularly, Morgan le Fay and Sir Lancelot. We’ve all heard of these characters, of course, (if you haven’t you need to, like yesterday!) but thanks to the author’s modern outlook and a complete new set of personalities for each character, it was so, so good to read them from a fresh perspective.

For starters, Morgan le Fay (daughter of Morgause and her lover Sir Gorlois) has been kept sheltered all her life. Being a fire user and witnessing her mother’s capture and downfall through fire has made her father wary of allowing magic to be used. But when sign ups for the Arthur’s Round open, Morgan knows what she has to do: she has to become the Maven—King Arthur’s right hand and the one to lead him to Avalon.

Therein begins Morgan’s journey in the magical school that will train and guide her, while also simultaneously trying to break her and kill her. While in school, she meets many other characters that we’ve read in the legends—Gawain, Guinevere, Maleagant, Tristan and of course the wizard Merlin.

I think the most interesting part, at least for me, was reading about all these characters and how they were in their youth, especially knowing how they will be. It was all kinds of awesome.

The magic in the Camelot world is simple and elemental—while also interesting and really well used among the characters. Each one had a unique attribute to them and I liked reading the diversity of these powers among each competitor. Obviously, Henge is the first part of the Le Fay series and so it’s a bit early to take sides and ship ships but the writing was such that you can’t help but take these sides. And ship the non-canon ships.

My only major complain with the book was that I expected much, much more from Mordred. He’s an important character to both the legend and to Morgan le Fay but I hardly saw him or heard from him in the book. I’d really like to see him more because he’s the supposed bad guy so he needs to do some bad stuff. Another issue was the pacing of the book. Up until 70% there wasn’t anything interesting happening; just fires and floods all aiming to kill Morgan. It was interesting, no doubt, but it kind of dragged on and I was waiting for some action and reaction.

There’s a lot of plotting and planning going on with the most unexpected people so that was a pleasure to read. All in all, the world that Henge is based on is one of my favorites and Realm Lovejoy did it complete justice. Looking forward to more Lancelot, Mordred, Merlin and of course King Arthur himself :D




*I was provided a free ecopy of this book in exchange of an honest review. This did not in any way, however, influence the content of this review.*

[Veronica of V's Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very strong YA urban fantasy, bringing a contemporary twist to the Camelot story.

Morgan La Fay is a fire user, a fact her father has tried to hide her entire life. Morgan's mother, Morgause, was executed a decade before for the murder of her husband--while in self-defense--but no one would hear Morgan's testimony. It seems that Morgan's father wasn't Morgause's husband, and Morgause took great pains to keep Morgan's identity secret.

Still, Morgan has a lot of anguish over losing her mother, and she's unhappy about the restrictions placed on all magic users in the realm. She wants to be the Maven, or head magic user charged with protection of the next king, Arthur. As Maven, Morgan would use her power to help magic users have a better life.

Morgan auditions for a spot in Arthur's Round, the selection cycle for Arthur's Maven, and comes up against some talented magic users. Morgan and Guinivere, who has healing energy, become friends, but Morgan suspects something about water-user Merlin that isn't straight up. There are others, and the plot thickens when Morgan learns her mother was a member of the Luminary--a rogue group of magic users who attempted to kill King Uther, Arthur's father, fifteen years before. This attack resulted in the sweeping crackdown on magic use under which Morgan now exists.

There are some definitely dangerous goings on, with Morgan sometimes smack in the middle of what appears a plot to incapacitate, or even kill, her. It also becomes clear that powers are working behind the scenes to promote Merlin ahead of Morgan--when Merlin doesn't even want to be Maven. Morgan struggles to figure out whom is responsible, and keeps coming up just short, but her determination and craft catapult her into the neck-and-neck race for Maven.

There's significant mystery here. Morgan isn't a dishrag; she fights hard for all she believes, risking her very life to save others. The tension is real, though I sometimes felt the story jumped too fast. The end is a fierce resolution with plenty more story to tell...in the next book.

I definitely would read on in this series. A great start with believable drama and well-crafted characters. Innocent, excepting, well, the grisly deaths of a couple baddies. So, safe for all ages.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net** 

It has been so long since I have read a good magical fantasy book that reminded me of Harry Potter. But not a Harry Potter rip-off. That is key. I loved the magical school atmosphere and I loved that it was mixed in with the stories of king Arthur and Camelot. Henge is the start of what I am sure is going to be a very loved series. There is something for every fantasy and magic lover. Awesome magic, a fantastic plot line that is detailed and twisty as they come, and a dark and suspenseful characters and storyline that will have you guessing who the bad guy is and just what exactly is going on until the last page. I loved Henge. I am not ini love with the cover, but don't let that distract you from the gem of a story found within its' pages.

Morgan is one of my favorite female main characters that I have had the pleasure of meeting in a while. She is so perceptive. I loved how shrewd, but still kind she was. She knew when to be distrustful of people, even when she didn't want to be. You could tell that she longed for some real friends, but because of events in her life she has always been kind of isolated. She is so powerful, but I can't wait to learn more about her powers. Specifically, how her powers interact with her emotions. They seem to feed off of the more negative emotions and I want to learn why that is.

Merlin, Gwen and the whole secondary cast also captured my attention. I was bummed when one of them deceived me, but I soon learned to follow Morgan's instincts. She was almost always dead on, even when she didn't know why or didn't want to be. She got it wrong a few times, but overall she was so impressive in her ability to read people and pick up on subtle clues.

The elemental magic in Henge was great. I loved watching the water and fire users. I am still unsure of just what my feelings are on magic and camelot and Mordred but I look forward to finding out more about all three in the next book. The setup is all there for this to be an amazing series, and Henge was an epic first installment. If you liked Harry Potter and want another magical story that is not just a cheap imitation, but rather has a life of its' own, you need to check out Henge!

 This review was originally posted on Book Briefs

[Majanka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/book-tou...

Henge is hands down the most original YA novel I’ve read all year. It’s one of my favorite books I’ve read all year, if not the absolute favorite. While the writing wasn’t spectacular (the writing was all right but not amazing), the characters were fantastic and the world building blew me away. In terms of world building, this book ranks right up there with Harry Potter.

It’s actually similar in some ways (and totally differnet in others). Our protagonist, Morgan, is a fire user who has the ability to command fire at will. Her dad is opposed against magic because of what happened to her mother, but either way Morgan decides to participate in a contest to get selected in Arthur’s Round, a group of elite young magic user. One of them will be chosen as Maven – and it’s always been Morgan’s dream to become the Maven. Even more so, she once had a vision about it.

Morgan wins second prize after a boy named Merlin, but because she has no official magic license, she isn’t allowed to participate in Arthur’s Round. However, for some reason she’s allowed in anyway and despite her Dad’s protests, she goes. Along with other magic users – fire, water and wind, and a healer, Guinevere who she becomes friends with, Morgan trains to become the most powerful magician she can be in order to become the next Maven. But the past has a way of catching up with her, and although powerful, the boy who beat her at the contest, Merlin, is very powerful as well. Is he a friend or a foe? When her life becomes endangered, Morgan will have to figure out who she can trust.

I’ve been in love with the Camelot legend for decades (well, a decade at least) so to see it in a contemporary, original context makes my heart race. And all the familiar characters drop by yet they’re totally original at the same time. Morgan is an easy to like protagonist. She’s been shaped by her past, always watching her back, always weary. At the same time she’s independent, intuitive, strong and this definitely isn’t a girl who needs a boy to make her feel special. She’s quite capable of holding her own.

I’m dying to read the sequel to this book. It’s a rare gem, and I would recommend it to everyone who likes the Arthurian legend, Camelot, and just YA fantasy in general.

[LaviniaAlexandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you, XPressoBookTours for having me and my blog, the screenbook., into this blog tour. This way I was able to read Henge, by Realm Lovejoy.

First of all, I'd like to mention the very fact that the only two reasons I did not DNF it in spite of a certain urge and crave to do so when I was at 45% of the book were the actual Arthurian legend which is a masterpiece of history and the very guy that you've got right below:



The premise of the book is good and I just have a thing for magical heroines and stuff that includes chracters named Merlin, Arthur, Mogan/a, Lancelot, Gwen ... this and that. As I said, the actual legend is unbelievably fantastically unbelievable and fantastic. I know I sound very coherent!

[Booknut 101 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was reviewed as a part of the Henge by Realm Lovejoy Blog Tour.

[Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours and author Realm Lovejoy for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review!

Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!

The first novel in Realm Lovejoy’s new Le Fay series, Henge is a marvelously imagined story that focuses around the Arthurian legends of Camelot, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. An urban fantasy set in modern day times, Henge is a unique twist on an old favorite that sees readers drawn into this intriguing world of magic and mayhem as Lovejoy sets up a great start to a promising new series.

Henge follows sixteen year old Morgan Le Fay, a talented fire user whose magic is more powerful than that of anyone else she knows and who has plans to become the Maven; the individual tasked with leading Prince Arthur to Excalibur, if only she can be drafted to Camelot and win Prince Arthurs favor. Wanting a chance to change the laws of Camelot after losing her mother at a young age, Morgan is invited to participate in the Rounds, an elite competition and series of tests tasked with examining her magic and other talented magic users her age in order to determine who is worthy of different rolls, including that of the Maven, within Camelot. During the rounds Morgan meets a number of gifted individuals including Merlin and Guinevere, and discovers that something sinister is going on within Camelot. A series of incidents make it clear someone wants to stop Morgan, only she doesn’t know who, and why……

Heading into Henge I was really excited. I’ve always been a fan of Arthurian legend and had high hopes for this novel; hopes I am thrilled to say were met with total abandon. I really enjoyed this book. Realm Lovejoy creates a very magical tale with Henge and a very promising start to a series that is shaping up very well. Set in modern times, Henge is an intriguing, yet extremely magical twist on everything that is Camelot, Excalibur, King Arthur, Merlin and the Knights of the Round Table…..basically everything Arthurian.

Our heroine in Henge is Morgan Le Fay, and in an ingenuous twist on the story, Morgan is an honorable, kickass heroine who has big plans for her future. She wants to serve Camelot and protect Prince Arthur and is willing to do anything she can to get into this position. Morgan comes from a family of powerful magic users, most notably her mother, a powerful woman who was executed for magic fueled crimes. Morgan is understandably angry over her mother’s death and it’s her desire to bring about change that fuels her hopes for her future. As a participant in the Rounds, Morgan has the opportunity to meet other talented magic users and see just what is out there magic wise—something that makes her appreciate what she can do all the more.

Lovejoy explores the different Arthurian characters wonderfully in Henge with many of the minor characters famous in their own rights. There’s a lot of mystery surrounding who is the good guy and who is the bad guy in this novel as Merlin, Mordred and even Lancelot seem to have their own agendas; none of which are brought to light in this novel, although it doesn’t stop you as the reader from speculating just what they have in store or what they are privy to.

Setting up a promising new world and ending on a small cliffhanger that will have you wanting to read the next book straight away nonetheless, Henge is a whimsical take of Arthurian legend and will entice you from the very beginning. Be prepared to want more as Realm Lovejoy plays with a fan favorite and gives it a fresh new vibe!

[Anna Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it. Full review to come when it's my turn on the blog tour in February! :-)

FULL REVIEW

It's hard to find a good Arthurian retelling these days - even harder to find one that's a MODERN retelling of the well-known legends. Realm Lovejoy's Henge, the first in a series about a teenaged Morgan Le Fay, is both of these things. I started reading this book and was immediately drawn in by Morgan who seems like such a good girl, living in an isolated area with her overprotective father Gorlois, who has been told to hide her elemental ability with fire most of her life. At least, she's been hiding her abilities ever since her mother was executed for the murder of her husband using her abilities. But it's Morgan's dream to one day be Maven (basically main advisor) to Arthur once he's on the throne, like her Grandfather was to the Prince's grandfather. So Morgan sneaks away to compete for a place in the trials for Arthur's Round, whom the Maven will ultimately be chosen from. Even competing with a forged license and against her father's wishes, Morgan is chosen to participate in the competition. But does she even have any chance of winning when the man who convicted her Mother, the current Maven, Mordred, seems to be blocking her at every turn? And when some very fishy incidents involving the other candidates (including her friend Guinevere, and rival Merlin) and near death experiences seem to point towards illegal magic usage, Morgan may be fighting for more than just Maven - she might be fighting for her very life...

Morgan was such an easily connectable main character. She loves her father and still misses her mother, even after all these years. She just wants a chance to prove that she's not going to make the same mistakes her mother, Morgause, did and to renew her family's legacy. Morgan starts to really come into her own once she's competing in Arthur's Round, really learning to control the fire and do things with it she never imagined. I liked that Lovejoy put Mordred in a position of power, and in opposition of Morgan, especially considering that in the legends he's her son! It was an interesting dynamic, almost verging on complete role reversal. Morgan's the one trying to take over Mordred's position of power, instead of helping him depose Arthur. The take on elemental magic was interesting and the conspiracy involving some of the other candidates, along with the iffy-ness of Merlin's honesty/innoncence in the incidents makes things even more interesting. But probably my favorite things about this book were: Morgan's friendship with Guinevere, who has a healing ability (I have NEVER seen them represented as friends before in ANY retelling!), the twist near the end about what really happened the night Morgan's mother murdered her husband (never saw it coming) and the prophecy/visions Morgan has for her future. Not going to say anymore because I don't want to spoil it, but I really enjoyed this book! Can't wait to read what happens next and I'm really excited for Morgan's further adventures. I highly recommend it!

VERDICT: 4/5 Stars

*An ebook copy of this book was provided via the author, Realm Lovejoy, and Xpresso Book Tours, in exchange for an honest review. No money or favors were exchanged. This book was published November 11th, 2014.*

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henge is one of the most original YA novels I’ve read in a long time – an updated take on the Arthurian legend in a skewed modern setting. All the usual suspects are there: alongside the viewpoint character, Morgan Le Fay, we find Merlin, Guinevere, Lancelot, Mordred, Vivian, Uther, etc., etc. But in this reality, Knights carry guns, students have cars and mobile phones, Camelot rules the UK and magic is strictly licensed.
Morgan’s mother, Morgause, was executed for illegal use of magic, but before this happened, she took Morgan to the Henge where the child had a vision that confirmed she would be Arthur’s Maven. So, despite her father’s attempts to keep her away from Camelot, Morgan pursues her goal by joining Arthur’s Round, the elite set of student magic-users from whom Arthur’s closest advisor will be chosen.
Before I say more, I’m going to start at the end which, for me, prompted an explosion of annoyance.
Whilst the main story arc – that of Morgan striving to become Maven – was wrapped up, this book is in no way a stand alone, and for me, I consider cliff-hanger endings to be a total cheat. Having said that, this story is so original and compelling that I definitely want to find out what happens, so I am reluctantly forced to admit, job well done by the author.
My other bugbear – I really find the use of present tense a turn off, but this one was so well done I was willing to go a long with it.
The writing was really excellent: great dialogue, description, action, pacing, incredible twists and turns that keep you guessing and questioning right along with Morgan. The world building is unique and believable, and whilst most of the story takes place in a familiar school-like setting, this is in no way a Harry Potter rip off.
I do feel that the cover suggests this book is aimed at a younger audience than it is – I would say with the traumatic scenes, the politics and some rather more adult themes, this is definitely YA, not middle grade as the cover tends to imply.
Probably the strongest part of the novel, aside from the imaginative setting, is Morgan herself. She is a masterful creation, with intense drive, a fantastic depth of character, and filled with ultimately believable conflicting emotions resulting from her troubled history.
So at the end, I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who doesn’t care that they will need to buy the next book to find out what happens.
I received this book in return for an honest review, which in no way influenced my opinions.

[Adriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Folklore has always been fascinating to me. Diving into the world of Camelot, I quickly recognized the names of knights and wizards. Reading about King Arthur when he was a prince, Merlin as a mysterious yet caring figure, and the first real introduction of Morgan Le Fay I've had made the inner nerd in me glow with delight. Following around Morgan and seeing her pain and passion completely had me transfixed. Morgan's relationship with Merlin was always very intriguing and complex. This world that I've read about came to life in a more modern world but where magic users are rarely seen as good. They are seen as dangerous and Morgan wants to change all this by becoming the Maven.

Morgan is a fire user and as the story progressed I really got to see how she used her pain to become stronger while she was competing to become Maven. The Maven basically runs the show behind the scenes. The Maven for Prince Arthur is being chosen. Their goal is to lead Arthur to Excalibur. Morgan has had a vision of becoming the Maven so she is determined throughout the competition even when it is clear that she is being targeted by an unknown source. I loved her personality and how her emotions got away from her only because I could see her as a character with depth more clearly. She lost her mother when she was a child. Her mother was executed for killing even if it was self-defense. The Maven of this day, Mordred, killed her. Morgan believes he has made it difficult on magic users to use their magic freely. Many, like her mother, have been killed even for helping others. There is a fog of mystery concerning Mordred and the whole competition. There is something sinister going on but you aren't sure what.

There's so many secrets and questions in this story. Merlin is a bit of a mystery. His real emotions are masked often but it seems that he cares for Morgan. I'd like to get to know his character more and what secrets he hides. I was always filled with questions about Morgan and her parents as well as if she herself is going to be contradictory to what she believes in the future. I don't know really much about her but she can be volatile yet you can tell she is a good person. I just don't know where the series will take her and that excites me. I really want to know what happens in this reinvented world and with Morgan. Morgan is such a wonderful character because you can feel her emotions through the pages. Wherever this series takes me I plan on enjoying the ride.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read other reviews about ‘Henge’ I read about people comparing ‘Henge’ to Hogwarts (Harry Potter) and Panem (The Hunger Games). I’m always a little skeptic when I read stuff like that. Those books are my favorites and there are not many books that can really get to that level. At least that’s my opinion. But ‘Henge’ completely blew my mind from the moment I started reading it. The world of Camelot is truly amazing. There is magic, there are knights and there are royalties. I loved how Realm Lovejoy used names as Camelot, Knight and of course Lancelot. And somehow those names completely fitted this new world of magic.

‘Henge’ is a grabbing story about a girl with a purpose. Morgan is determined to revenge her mother by becoming the next Maven. But the journey to become Maven isn’t an easy one. It seems everyone is against Morgan. Even though Morgan grew up alone, was home schooled, and hasn’t been allowed outside of her home much, Morgan really wants to find friends. But even people who are being friendly against Morgan have their own secrets. This story was really intense and exciting and Realm Lovejoy makes sure you never want to stop reading.

I loved Morgan’s character. I loved how passionate and determined she was and the way she just didn’t let herself be distracted. At times I felt sad for her because she worked so hard and nobody really seemed to notice that. If everyone just was honest with Morgan, she would have had on honest chance to prove herself.

I really loved this book. I really just didn’t want to stop reading. I loved this world of Camelot, the magic and the mystery. This book is definitely going on my favorite list and I completely understand the comparison to Hogwarts and Panem. Hogwarts is still on first place for me, but Panem and Henge are definitely on the same line.

This book is definitely a must read for every fantasy, magic and Arthurian legend lover out there. This book will blow your mind. Keep writing Realm Lovejoy, because I just can’t wait for the next book.

[Reading Bifrost · Rating 4 out of 5]

www.readingbifrost.com

“My will is pure, driven by madness. ‘Nothing is more powerful than madness,’ or so my mother used to say.”

Henge is a re-write of the Arthurian legends with Morgan le Fay as the central character. It’s more of an urban-fantasy, giving the tale a twist and bringing Camelot and magic to modern day Britain.

Morgan is a fire user, and with it she’s hot tempered and strong willed. Throughout the book she struggles with being herself and with being who she thinks other people want her to be: her father, her friends, the royals, and her instructors in the Round.

Merlin is a water user; calm and quick witted and everyone seems to like him without him ever seeming to try. Morgan can’t help but admire him for his talent with magic, but something keeps her from trusting Merlin.

The story is well-written with references to both an ancient Camelot (history class, ugh) and modern-day Britain. The magic is based more on elements then wizardry that’s seen in the usual Arthurian legends, but it allows each character to show unique skill sets.

It brings familiar characters into interesting new roles (who wouldn’t want a flirty Lancelot as an instructor?!) and it leaves the reader guessing who’s going to be the antagonist of the story and who’s the true protagonist.

Overall, I recommend Henge to anyone who is enjoying the wave of YA re-writes or if you enjoy stories on elemental magic.

[Chels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for Popsugar's 2018 Reading Challenge #10: A book about death or grief

I really enjoyed reading Henge! I love the twists on Camelot (I now feel like I need to read the original sometime soon) and it's always fun to see magic in our modern day world.

This story focuses on Morgan, a fire user, who is competing to be Prince Arthur's right hand man. I tend to love books with competitions like that and this one was no exception! The plot is fast paced and full of little surprises and some mystery so there was never a point where I was bored.

I also found the characters to be really interesting. There weren't really any characters I'd considered 'good' or 'evil', most were a mix between the two which made for a nice change. Even our main character seemed to struggle with what's right and wrong so I'm very interested in seeing where her character goes next!

If you love retellings and are looking for something different than the usual fairy tale retellings then try picking this one up! I don't think you'll be disappointed!

[Mika *My Name is Rio Blog* · Rating 2 out of 5]

*I received an ARC from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest*

The first thing I'm going to state is: It's not you, it's me. Maybe.

The overall feeling I got from this novel was that it sounded very young, middle grader young. I mean, it would fit better in that age bracket than in YA, not that middle graders aren't able to read a story with more substance and complexity. Gosh, I read The Mists of Avalon (the best Arthurian novel there is) when I was thirteen.

I liked the premises of Henge, an Arthurian tale embedded in our modern world. Honestly, Henge had all the right elements to be an epic read. But the story never managed to grip me. The dialogues were stiff, the writing uninspiring and very, very minimalist. It felt like I was reading a checklist instead of a novel.

It's a shame I couldn't enjoy this novel more. But others might. It just wasn't for me.

[Chrissy (The Every Free Chance Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Did I enjoy this book: It’s a big bowl of mashed Arthurian Legend with hints of Hunger Games and Harry Potter folded in. Henge is the sort of book that’s rapidly becoming my favorite — a classic recipe infused with a new round of flavor. The writing wasn’t earth-shattering, but then . . . I don’t eat mac-and-cheese when I’m hungry for seviche. It’s a fun, tasty version of Camelot, and I can’t wait to read the next installment.

Would I recommend it: If seeing teenage versions of Morgan and Merlin exchanging cell phone numbers isn’t reason enough to read this book I don’t know what is. Go for it.

As reviewed by Melissa at Every Free Chance Books.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

http://everyfreechance.com/2014/11/bl...

[Fee Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I thought this book was written well, though I couldn't get into the main character. She was way too immature for my liking. If you like whiny teenagers, and teenagers constantly questioning themselves, then this book is for you. I have no desire to read the next book.

[Isa (Pages Full of Stars) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You have fire in your heart. All that matters is that you don't let anything or anyone put it out."

My rating: 4.5

There's a new Arthuriana retelling that focuses on Morgan le Fay? Count me in! When I first heard about Henge by Realm Lovejoy and saw that it's not only a modern retelling of the legends but it's told from Morgan's POV, I knew that I have to read it and I wasn't disappointed.

Sixteen year-old Morgan lives with her father in secluded Tintagel. She is a fire wielder but a secret from her past keeps her from openly using her power, until she decides to take part in selection for Arthur's Round. Morgan's dream is to become a Maven, the right hand of the future King Arthur, and all seems to go well when she passes the preliminaries but soon things get much more complicated when Camelot is stricken with unexpected events and Morgan unvoluntarily finds herself in the middle of a bigger scheme.

Henge is an urban fantasy with a good doze of mystery and magic. The author took the basis and the characters we know from the legends but twisted them into a completely new story. The plot is engaging from the very beginning, it's really fast paced and barely ever stops! There's also a lot of plot twists and secrets, which make reading more interesting. You never fully know who to suspect, who's innocent and who's responsible for everything that's happening. Even when I was pretty sure that I managed to solve one mystery, Realm Lovejoy managed to surprise me with the actual outcome. And although some of the secrets were revealed, I feel that there's still much more to come in the next book of the series.

The worldbuilding is pretty complex, yet showed in a clear way, so that even the readers who are not fully familar with the Arthuriana should understand everything. I haven't read many modern retellings of the legends, so at first whenever there were any modern elements or technology mentioned I would be a little surprised but ultimately the blend of new and old was really fun to read. I also loved the little nods towards the original legends, such as young Arthur blushing when he sees Guinevere or Lancelot flirting with her. (and speaking of Lancelot, I sincerely hope there's more of him in the next book!)

The characters were well written and interesting, especially Morgan who's a very strong protagonist. She's feisty but also truly ambitious and determined to achieve her goal. She was a flawed character but she wasn't afraid to admit it and worked on her weaknesses. I'm really curious to know more of her and Morgause's background story, as well as what will happen to her next.

However, one thing that I kept on noticing were slight inconsistencies in the dialogues. Since it's a modern retelling, I would expect the dialogues to be modern too, but at times they would switch to medieval style which was a bit confusing. It did trouble me a little but it's not something that would take away from the overall enjoyment of the story.

One more thing worth mentioning is that the paperback version of Henge is illustrated by the author herself! I had the pleasure to read it in ebook format but you can check out some of the amazing illustrations in the book trailer.

To sum up, whether you're a fan of Arthurian legends or just enjoy a good urban fantasy, Henge by Realm Lovejoy is definitely worth picking up! It's a fast paced and suspenseful read, with interesting cast of characters, that will keep you guessing till the very end and want to run and get the second book right away.


I have kindly received a copy of this book from YA Bound Book Tours and the author in exchange for an honest review.

The review also appeared on my blog.

[Ashley Jellison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at The Word at My Fingertips

Oh. My. Gosh. Eeep! This book was so freakin' fantastic and I LOVED it!

First off, I love anything Arthurian-legend. I also have an obsession with the show Merlin, which was a huge problem reading this because I tried to put the characters to the actors and fit them to personalities and yeah. That didn't work. But I've also read Howard Pyle's original story of Arthur and I liked it a lot. So this was a story I couldn't pass up, as you can probably tell from how many times it's been on the blog so far.

I think one of my very favorite things about Henge is that we are in Morgan's point of view. She tells the story (by the way, she's a wonderful story-teller). I like how it works out, because the whole time, I could only think about how Morgana ends up being Arthur's doom. And I just couldn't see that through Morgan. Until the story progressed. And I LOVE how Realm shows Morgan's struggles to remain kind and friendly when her dreams are being ripped away. I love how we go through and see reasons why Morgan changed. And I like seeing her before. The ending almost killed me because of what it did to her. But I still loved it.

Merlin. Oh, Merlin. Merlin, Merlin, Merlin, Merlin. If I type his name more, maybe he'll show up. Because I'd like that. Merlin. Okay, fine, it won't work. But Merlin is seriously awesome. For one, he's portrayed as the perfect teenager who literally is just perfection. But as we get to know him, we realize he is not completely perfect. He has flaws. But he is also pretty confident, so usually we don't see the flaws. He starts to care for Morgan, which I totally ship, but then he does stuff she hates but it's for her own good and yeah, they have a friendship-fall-out. Sadness. But Merlin is simply amazing and I want him as a friend.

I'm just so happy with the twist on such a classic. This is modern-day, and the world knows about Camelot, which is just sitting in the middle of the U.K. To get into Camelot, teenagers audition using their magic and are judged. The top users are drafted in. Of course Morgan makes it, and then we get to see how Camelot is. It's definitely more modern, but I can just picture it in my head. Morgan is shooting for the spot of Arthur's right-hand man, the Maven. Camelot picks the top student for the job. Arthur is also only thirteen, so a very impressionable teenager. I like that twist. It's cute, but it gives the story a lot of room to develop him.

Whoa I did not see the antagonist coming. No spoilers, but whoa. Huge surprise. That went crazy. I can't say any more without giving it away.

The only problem I had was the very beginning was rushed. The first few chapters, especially when Morgan was at home. I wanted to get more of a feel for the story before plunging headfirst into it. There was a part with her father that was so fast, and I wanted to feel out the relationship more. Because that particular scene would not have been over so quickly.

I definitely recommend this to anyone and everyone and I need the sequel right now. ASAP. It's not in my hands yet. This could be a problem.

I was going to give this a 4.5 because of the slight rushing, but as I wrote this, I realized I can't do anything under 5. The rushing wasn't distracting to me and I thoroughly enjoyed the story as it was. I have to go find myself a paperback. I cannot live with only an ebook.

5 stars

[books are love · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic take on King Arthur well before King Arthur is King. It's a great look at how Merlin ended up as his adviser and as Merlin. A richly developed story and character driven look at Merlin Morgan, Mordred and Arthur. We also get a glimpse of Lancelot and Guinevere

Here Morgan and Merlin are in the Arthur Camelot rounds. Both wanting to be Arthur's Maven and lead him to Excalibur and his powers as a Pendragon. Merlin is a water controller and Morgan is fire. Each has a past that shapes who they are and why they are at the rounds. Merlin is more complex and mysterious. Many questions arise around this intriguing character. He is there with a agenda one that doesn't make him happy but as we go on in the story his reasoning changes. He originally is working towards the agenda of his guardian and someone else. Who this is we don't know but several characters are involved and the plot of what this is is revealed in the end. Unfortunately Merlin begins to care for Morgan and wants to protect her. This leads to a friendship and also Morgan losing her trust in Merlin. She is a tough cookie to crack. Being protected by her dad her whole life because of who her mom is, she doesn't really trust easily but when you break it it is hard to get her back on your side. She is powerful and her visions in the henge are incredible. Her future is directly related to Arthur and affects him. Her and Merlin tiptoe around their feelings and each others past until the end when Merlin helps Morgan out once again. Merlin does reveal all he knows at this time and this gets Morgan to begin to warm up to him once again.

Throughout the training to see who will be what in Camelot, danger lurks everywhere for Morgan. merlin tries to protect her but this leads to questions and more danger. We see alliances and breaking of some of these alliances. Feelings form and be swept aside when suspicion grows. And we see Morgan begin to question herself and her mother. She begins to feel guilt over what happened to her mother and wonder about her mom's past. She wonders the connection between her mom and mordred and why he hates her so much.

The vivid and intricate detail in the book is perfectly balanced. We get the detail when needed and left to wonder and become intrigued when necessary. We get to learn about the characters, their passions, dreams, and left wondering what is driving them.

a wonderful character driven plot and story with hidden agendas, plots, pasts that leave questions and feelings left unexplored as we trench into the world of Camelot and King Arthur. A great twist to his tale and can't wait to see what is next for Merlin and Morgan.

[Ginny Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Gin's Book Notes

My Review

Henge is book one in Realm Lovejoy's Young Adult Fantasy series Le Fey .

It's one of a few books that I could easily see being made into a popular movie or TV show. The characters are compelling and the story is unique.

I really enjoyed the cast of characters (Morgan Le Fay, Merlin, Tristan, Isolde, Guinevere, Lancelot, etc.). It was easy to feel an instant connection with them because I am already familiar with who they are. I found myself looking forward to seeing how the author would pair the characters up in her version of the story.

It was fun getting to experience them in a modern, but still magically, setting and the writing is so well done that you can easily picture them performing all the magical tests and competing for the role of Maven to the a future King Arthur.

Morgan is a fantastic protagonist. She is strong and determined and by the end she is aware that the things that have driven her may not be based in truth. I enjoy seeing a strong character grow and change and I feel that Morgan will be experiencing a lot of that through out the series.

Henge is book one in a continuing story line. It's a wonderful introduction to the fantastic world of Arthurian legends set in modern times. At the end I definitely had more questions than answers but I look forward to following the series and discovering all the mysteries and adventures of the Le Fey series.

Summary: I really enjoyed this introduction to the Le Fey series by Realm Lovejoy and plan to continue the series. Recommended for young adult and adult lovers of Arthurian legends, magic, and adventures that don't mind a "to be continued ending." It's a story that you will want to keep reading.

Henge is currently available for free download for KINDLE UNLIMITED SUBSCRIBERS.

Was this review helpful? If so, please consider voting for it on Amazon!

[Leeanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review originally appeared on my blog, Leeanna.me.

==

HENGE kicks off a new series featuring Morgan le Fay, set in modern-day Camelot. Morgana le Fay is my favorite in Arthurian legends, so I’m always interested in seeing different takes on her character.

In Realm Lovejoy’s version of Camelot, cellphones and magic exist side-by-side. The ability to use magic isn’t guaranteed, and even if you can manipulate air, water, or fire, chances are you won’t be anything more than a performer. Unless, that is, you are chosen to become one of the upcoming king’s Rounds. The best Round will be selected as the king’s magic advisor, and the rest will be employed by Camelot as Knights or Relic Keepers. Political acumen is just as important as good magic skills.

Morgan’s dream is to become the king’s Maven. She wants magic users to have more rights, not less. And she’ll do anything to pursue that dream, including sneaking out from under her father’s watchful eye, or diving headfirst into the dangers of Camelot.

HENGE is quite interesting. I really liked the world the author created, the intriguing mix of magic and modern technology, old legends and new political tangles. There’s a lot of familiar names, including Merlin, Mordred, Guinevere, and Lancelot, but they’re not all straight from the old legends -- they all have their own personalities. I wanted to learn more about each of them, as well as Morgan’s mother, Morgause.

Morgan herself was the most interesting character for me, since I was curious to see how the author would develop and grow her. Morgan’s a bit impulsive and tends to jump to conclusions, but she also wants to get rid of the injustices magic users face. I believed her reactions to everything that happened, and the last line of HENGE? I’m not going to spoil it, but yeah. I can’t wait to read more about Morgan!

==

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

See more of my reviews:

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for a review.***

Henge is a reimagining of King Arthur and Camelot set in modern times, told from Morgan le Fay's POV. Magic and technology exist side by side, but not necessarily hand in hand. Magic is confined to six schools of discipline- and only four of those make an appearance in this, the first novel of the series.

Magic, once a respected and powerful ability, is now illegal without a license and any who can use it are relegated to second-class citizenry, barely able to earn a living in the entertainment industry doing special effects. But it does make them eligible to serve at Camelot... In fact, those chosen for the royal court are selected via an American Idol-style competition- held after the heir's thirteenth birthday to pick those who'll serve the monarch when he takes the throne. Then they spend what amounts to a year at finishing school where the highest competition is to become the Maven- essentially the king's right hand man. Imagine being selected to become the future king's closest companion and advisor as well as a defender of the realm... and you're barely able to shave, let alone had your first kiss.

Arthur, Guinevere, Uther, Igraine, Tristan, Isolde, Lancelot, Mordred- the gang's all here, just in different forms. Morgan's story is not what you've come to know. Her history is troubling, intriguing and intimately entangled with the current state of affairs at court. Morgan's struggles and agnst are palpable- she's a very sympathetic character. You'll absolutely feel for her struggles and want her to succeed.

The story gets muddled and convoluted at times; there's several plots afoot and nearly everyone's got something to hide- Merlin especially so. He clearly knows more than he lets on and you're never sure if he's friend or foe. Morgan definitely isn't.

Henge is an entertaining and engaging read, despite it's flaws. It's a layered, tightly-knit story filled with small moments that have great impact. My only real complaints are that since it's YA the rush to get them through school and into life at Court diminishes the importance of things. Aside from that, Henge deserves a place on your shelf.

[Naturalbri (Bri Wignall) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I Thought:
So many artists try and take on the Arthurian legends, and most of them cannot come close to doing it justice. From television shows to films and books, there are a wide variety of stories trying to retell our old classic tales of Arthur and the gang.

However, that is not what Realm Lovejoy has done at all. Yes, the legends are the base of the story, but we aren't being told the stories of Camelot we have heard before. Not only are we being told stories of their youth, rather than their renowned adventures, but we are also being told them in a modern day version of Camelot and the world.

Personally, I like it. I wasn't certain, once reading the full blurb and the excerpts, but when I got a few pages in, this book had me hooked. it is a fun, fast-paced tale of magic, young love and betrayal. There are everyday adventures and lessons to be learned, all while in the world of magic.

We learn about some of our favourite characters, when they were mere teenagers, most of them still growing into their powers and who they would become in later life, as we know them from the tales. Some are cocky, where they are kind and gentle later, others are the epitome of sweet and caring, where we know they will turn to evil and hatred.

All these brilliant differences in character make you yearn for the next book in the series, a way to see into the life of each, a way to discover what befalls them, in order to change them so.

I thought the characters were fun, exciting and a good representation of the originals, and this helped create a youthful feel to each. I liked the relationships built between each, especially those we have ideas of how they turn out. It's like knowing a secret, but not wanting to tell the characters in your book.

I also found the level of reading great. it is exciting, fun and easy to read, making it perfect for YA, but also still a great read for adults, especially with the connection to our legends.

This book brings out youth, spunk, excitement and an imaginative world for all who read it. I highly recommend giving it a go, especially if you are fans of Harry Potter, and the likes.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is indeed a Camelot meets Hogwarts meets Panem type of story. Morgan le Fay has (nearly) mastered her talent of fire. She takes hold of a chance of a lifetime and enters into a competition in hopes of being selected as the next Maven, the right-hand of the next king. Morgan had a premonition in which she becomes Maven, and sees so much more in her vision of what is to come.

There’s one thing, though: her mother was executed for use of her fire magic. No one besides the father knows that she bore a child. Morgan can’t let loose any of this information in Camelot. Nearly burning down Mordred, the man who executed her mother, lands Morgan in some very hot water.

As Morgan makes her way around Camelot and through the Rounds and the magic testing, she soon realizes there are many connections in Camelot. All of the major characters from Arthurian legend appear throughout, in the same context as they appear in Arthurian legend, but their positions are slightly different. It’s as if Henge is a retelling with a different beginning but with the ending we know.

I liked Morgan’s character. She is a very determined girl, with a sensible head on her shoulders. She loves her father deeply and has the capacity for a great amount of guilt, but it is equally weighed and measured with her ambition to go forward with her dreams.

She meets Merlin in the Rounds, and he is an exceptional water user. He is an oddity of a character. I couldn’t quite get a grasp on Merlin for a while, but he comes to Morgan’s aid and I was quite impressed!

[Pratr- Authors · Rating 5 out of 5]

Independent Reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock.

Morgan le Fay is a fire user. She goes to the try outs to be part of Arthurs Round. Her dream is to become Maven the person who will be right hand to the future King Arthur. She is selected to join Arthur's Round and heads off to Camelot with the other young magicians. The magicians are able to command fire, water or wind. They all going thru training and testing to see who will be the Maven. Morgan who is not very good with people has a hard time making friends. Her mother was executed for killing her husband with fire when Morgan was six. Her father raised her alone and home schooled her so she is not use to interacting with people. Morgan keeps having accidents that appear to be someone trying keep her from her dream of Maven. She is not sure who she can trust at Camelot.

This book is awesome. The characters are very well written. Even though Morgan is finding out things that she thought were true may not be she is not losing her drive to the Maven. Merlin's character is very complicated. It is hard to tell if he is really a friend or just pretending to be. Morgan seems to have so many against her but she stays strong in conviction that she is to be Maven to Arthur. The story moved along fast. I had trouble putting this book down and can't wait for the sequel. This book has it all a budding romance?, mystery, magic, action and suspense. This book has lots secrets and only a couple were revealed in this book.

I would recommend this book to YA but is also a great read for adults.

[Autumn (Triquetra Reviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Goddess Fish Promotions for putting this together and for giving me a paperback copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Hi everyone! First, as usual I'm going to be going over the cover. The cover is awesome - I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the author illustrated the cover and all the art that's in the pages as well. It's always nice to see that.

The paperback format itself is nice. It is larger print and there are images throughout the book which makes for a really easy read.

I liked this book well enough to give it three Triquetras which is that I liked it, but it's not something I would run out an buy right now. It is an interesting take on Camelot and I appreciate the creativity, but my mind just couldn't click with a modern day Camelot for whatever reason. The writing is good, the characters are interesting and well rounded and the pl

[Fatima Quddus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it, but tbh I was kind of annoyed at the roles given to the characters and the incorrect ages, along with incorrect parents. Felt somewhat like the author just took names of Arthurian characters and decided to write her own story which technically when it comes to Arthurian literature is probably not really a critical and horrible thing to do, especially since Arthurian literature is technically fanfiction but generally the characters roles and stories do stay the same. There is an element and feeling of Arthurian to an extent in the story especially in terms of character relationships and to be fair the same story can't be regurgitated again ans again without it being a bit boring.

Realm Lovejoy's Le Fay series starting with Henge gives us a new fresh story centering Morgan Le Fay as protagonist in a futuristic world where the Arthurian story takes place, only it's not our modern world per se. This isn't the UK of our world but a UK where Pendragons are kings and magic exists. It's magical, utopian, and dystopia. It's seemingly utopian because a majority of the characters besides Morgan doesn't seem to have a problem with how Camelot is run and worship the Pendragons, not just as kings but as Gods too... granted, they aren't really Gods. I'm unsure what religion is followed in this fantasy world where Camelot is the capital of the UK, but they seem to really hate the Pagans.

I really enjoyed the politics and the scheming. Something is afoot and poor. Morgan is in the middle of it, even though she intends to shake things up, but only once she becomes Maven, the top magical advisor of the King. Her only problem is her rival Merlin, who seems to be the top running to get the position. I also like how in a subtle way the author places Merlin and Morgan in opposite sides of the political spectrum though I wouldn't call Merlin conservative per se but he isn't the kind of person who would shake the boat and generally believes in following the rules. I always saw Merlin and Morgan representing that politically in the story, and that's partly why I enjoyed the story a lot. I also felt bad for Morgan, though in the mission of fighting for what you believe is right, you're going to have enemies who will try to take you. The thing is her enemies might not be trying to end her due to her beliefs but maybe something deeper. They seem to also hate the Pendragons for some reason which is also interesting.

In this first book, the center plot revolve around Morgan trying to be Maven and competing against others, mostly Merlin, to fulfill her destiny as Maven to the future King Arthur. Does she succeed? Does she fail? Find out by reading Henge by Realm Lovejoy.

Of course, for those of you who can guess the end and believe this is just another typical Arthurian retelling, I assure it's not. One of my annoyance is that the characters and their roles just don't fit, like yes I understand somewhat why Morgan's powers are fire because of her personality but originally she seemed to be of water and she herself was a healer in the legends before Le Mort'd Arthur erase that part of her character. This part of her before Le Mort'd Artur was always portrayed as benevolent, though it seems the Morgan of Henge is like Mort'd Artur though living in a futuristic Camelot but she's not really evil. Nothing she does really is but she seems to be demonized and misunderstood by those around her and personally for me, that's what I find compelling about this book. It's how misunderstood Morgan is to those around her and how out of place she feels. While she doesn't resembles the original good Morgan superficially, at heart she is and overall it seems to be a retelling of how the good Morgan became looked at as a villian when deep down she isn't...Anyway what I'm saying sort of spoil a bit to later stories. I highly recommend starting this book. You'll get hooked and then want to read the next!

Also hehe I forgot to mention though this may not be important, I started out obsessed with Arthurian legends thanks to BBC Merlin and a ship I was obsessed with which was, no not Merthur (Merlin/Arthur, which is the most popular ship in the fandom) but Mergana (Merlin/Morgana) and gotta say loved the Mergane?? (Merlin/Morgan), but also loved the hints of other ships such as...Morgalot?? (Morgan/Lancelot, gotta say they were pretty hot, loved their dynamics, this series actually made me love Lancelot who is generally not really my favorite character but man his dynamics with Morgan is gem) and a hint of ArMor (Arthur/Morgan, only because Morgan seems devoted to him but more as a citizen/servant to her future King) and I loved the Morgwen (Morgan/Guinevere) dynamics too. I low-key sort of shipped Morgwen in BBC Merlin but not that much. I just loved their friendship tbh. They were honestly more like sisters (but the fanfics damn lol people do be seeing shipping everywhere in relationships lol)

Anyway the ships are neither here or there. I mean there's an underlying feeling of romance but what I love about Morgan is that she's not really a romantic character, especially in this book. That's what makes her and this book amazing in my opinion.

4/5 stars.