Ahe'ey

by Jamie Le Fay, Milan Jovanović (Cover Designer), Carlota Hernandez (Illustrator)

Ahe'ey - The Complete Collection

"A thoughtful look at empowerment for women."
"A rollicking trip into a fantasy world complete with dragons, love and strength, and ideas that really get you thinking."
"Highly recommended for all ages."

Morgan is a dreamer, change maker and art lover. She is a feisty, slightly preachy, romantic feminist full of contradictions and insecurities. Morgan uncovers a world where women have the power, and where magic is no longer just a figment of her wild imagination. Sounds like a dream, but it may, in fact, turn into a nightmare.

The world of the Ahe'ey challenges and subverts her views about gender, genes, and nature versus nurture.

The strong and uninvited chemistry between her and the dashing Gabriel makes matters even more complicated. His stunning looks keep short-circuiting her rational mind.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

- Reader's Favorite Awards - Gold Medal Winner - Young Adult - Fantasy - Epic
- Reader Views Awards - 1st Place - Fantasy
- CIPA EVVY Book Awards - 2nd Place - Fiction - Mythology
- B.R.A.G. Medallion Recipient
- Eric Hoffer's Da Vinci Eye Awards Finalist for Best Cover Artwork
- The Wishing Shelf Book Awards Finalist - Books for Adults
- Awesome Indies Approved

EDITORIAL REVIEWS

"A bracing mix of emotionally and intellectually honest fantasy." - Kirkus Reviews

"This book is a thoughtful look at empowerment for women. At the same time, it’s a rollicking trip into a fantasy world complete with dragons, love and strength, and ideas that really get you thinking. This book is highly recommended for all ages." - HUGEOrange

"They're flawed, real, and honest characters that can be easily related to. Ahe'ey is the kind of novel society needs to read, to create inspiration and to make people think. Ahe'ey is daring, complex, and honest. A must-read novel that tackles heavy and real topics with a mix of serious and humorous, charm and tragedy." - Reader's Favorite - 5 Star Review

"Ahe’ey contains a richly imagined world that raises complicated and timely questions about our own.

Jamie Le Fay’s Ahe’ey is an action-packed love story that puts forth a nuanced vision of gender stereotypes, body politics, and the dark side of seeking perfection." - Foreword Clarion - 4 Star Review

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

625 pages, Paperback

First published April 26, 2017

About the author

From as young as I can remember, I have soothed myself to sleep by imagining epic stories of heroes, heroines, sorceresses, dragons, angels, and demons. I based my stories on the books and movies I was watching and the narratives that moved and inspired me.

I was as excited and delighted with Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre as I was with Battlestar Galactica (the original TV series). The Mists of Avalon, an Arthurian legend retelling from the point of view of the female characters, had as much effect on me as Cosmos by Carl Sagan.

I imagined myself occupying the boots of the hero as much as I occupied the glass slippers of the damsel in distress. The first one was what I wanted to be; the second was what society wanted me to be, and I believed them, for a little while.

I am fascinated by my inner world when it comes to associating myself with the male hero. From childhood, I wanted to be him and marry him. He was my role model, the courageous, honourable, virtuous, humble, and sometimes conflicted hero that is so well expressed in Aragorn, Darcy, or Apollo from the original Galactica. I never had time for bad boys. I was always mesmerised by stories of brotherhood: two men that would honour and risk their lives for each other. How I wished at the time to see women portrayed in the same way.

My relationship with female characters was more complex, possibly reflecting my relationship with myself and mirroring the bare, deserted female landscape provided by the media at the time. My youth and my inner world were most influenced by Zimmer Bradley’s Morgaine Le Fay, the underdog, the magician, and the misunderstood and undervalued priestess of my childhood who painted a vivid picture that the world does not welcome powerful women, that they are rejected, vilified, and unloved. She was the character that made me want to be the powerful dark-haired, average-looking sorceress instead of the beautiful blond girl who got to marry the king.

As I grew into adulthood and discovered quite late in my life the welcoming arms of the feminist movement, I went through all stages of grief, including rage. Fortunately, rage does not last long in the body of a creative optimist.

As I gained the courage to write my own fiction, I was conflicted. I knew my imagination and power came from my truth, but I also knew I needed to honour the millions of voices that are screaming for better representation of minorities. I am one of those voices, dissecting each new book and movie, criticising the stereotypes, the common places, and the limiting depictions of gender, race, and sexuality.

This book was a great teacher that opened my eyes about how difficult it is to write engaging fiction and do justice to the people of the world. Can a Western, Caucasian, European woman really do justice to diversity beyond gender? Can she avoid creating stereotypical villains and heroes?

In the end, I have done my best to honour the world while being true to myself and to the characters and stories that inspire me. To be able to pour my heart out, I had to let go of what I should be feeling and writing. I had to embrace my flaws and my inner demons.

So that is all, what is left is a book that fully embraces everything I love: feminism, romance, friendships, social justice, environment, science, magic, and art. I found a big old pot, put in a few archetypes that have inspired people from the beginning of times, and mixed in the story lines and characters that have touched me throughout my life. I seasoned it all well with social consciousness and the life lessons that have made me grow as a human being. I fully embraced my geekiness and my romantic heart. I have submitted to my, sometimes overwhelming, idealism—the idealism that keeps my fire burning and gave me the courage to write Ahe'ey.

Much Love, Jamie

Reviews

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was more epic than I ever imagined. The story takes place in New York City and also in the land of Ahe'ey. The descriptions and the people of Ahe'ey were breathtakingly beautiful. The people were broken into four tribes and each one was the best at their craft. There was so much history as well as intrigue in the land, it was a wonderful journey learning about the people.

Morgan was a strong woman's leader and when she was in danger, Gabriel came to help. He was not only beautiful, but he was a healer, wise, and complex. He was driven by a need to improve the world through advanced technology.

Rich well-crafted characters brought the story to life and although there was an ending, there was the beginning of book two. I hope that is the case. I certainly want to know more. Each character was so well written, Sky, Bastion, Morgan, Gabriel. Scout and the children all pulled at my heart with their passion and personalities.

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got a copy of this book via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This is a true fantasy novel. The world and people living there all came out of the mind of the writer. This is a world that's unique, I've never read anything like it. The story was hard to understand at some points, but after a good explanation, I could appreciate Ahe'ey.

This review was first posted on BiteIntoBooks Blog

Pros
Last few chapters: To my opinion, the last few chapters were the strongest. It made me give the book 4 stars and I could appreciate the story and the world even more. The ending was very strong as well, made me crave for more!
Very unique world: The family tree, maps and different "tribes" in the story are all highly unique. The fact that this world is parallel to "our" world and you experience this new world together with a human is a strong part in this book. I've never read a book with such strong heroine females and actually all the characters play a great part and add different layers to the story.
Thought through: Like I said, the book contains a family tree and a map. It was hard though, to take a peek at the family tree or the map, because I read the book on Kindle. So I would recommend you read the physical book, because those things really add to the story. Also; this book has a great deal of history before the story takes place and you also read about this. It's just very well thought through with no loose ends.

Cons
Hard to get into: This book was really hard to get into for me. I just felt like I was dropped into this story with characters I've never heard of and a world I've never heard off. In the beginning of the story you read pretty important things that have an impact on the rest of the story. But I was so busy figuring everything out that I forgot the first part of the book at some point and I didn't feel like reading it again. All the names, places and tribes are just too much in the first part of the book.
Explanation at 30%: I was like WHT?! There is an explanation somewhere around 30% in the book and I was like; "This should have been in one of the first chapters!" I really think the book would have been stronger if the explanation could have taken place sooner.
Never felt real tension: If you read my posts often, you maybe have figured out that I like my bit of tension in a book. This book kinda lacked the tension for me. It goes on and on and on without that much tension. There is one chapter (which I will not spoil) that give me the necessary action and I would've liked to see more of it!

If you're able to adapt to a whole new world and enjoy fantasy, then this is a book for you! The fact that the world is so unique and the book is thought through so well made me give the book 4 stars, despite the cons I also felt in the book. I actually felt that a second book could give me even more answers and I would love to know how my beloved characters are doing now...

[E.P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The problem with writing woman-centered, feminist, or matriarchal texts is that we don't actually have a lot of good examples to pull from. Our art and archetypes have been filtered through millennia of misogyny, so that all the storylines, tropes, topoi, cliches, and everything else that goes into making a novel have a base setting of "sexist." And if we want to flip things around and discuss what a matriarchal culture might actually look like, we don't have a lot to work with: while there were matriarchal cultures in antiquity, most of what we know about them is anti-matriarchal propaganda.

I start with this because "Ahe'ey" grapples with this as its central issue, both explicitly in its subject matter, and implicitly in its composition. It's a kind of a paranormal romance story about a human woman, committed feminist activist Morgan, who falls in love with the angelically powerful and angelically attractive Gabriel, who comes from a secret supernatural society where men are currently restricted from holding power, after a group of men led a war to enslave high-ranking, pure-blooded women and keep them as breeders.

"Ahe'ey" is at its best when it deals directly with social issues and current events. The book has an overt agenda, and it makes its position clear: it is against misogyny, racism, classism, and homophobia. Most of the action takes place in 2014, and one of the villains is an alarmingly Trump-like figure called Zanus who uses a toxic mixture of misogyny and racism to advance his pre-presidential campaign, blurting out sexist remarks while justifying Islamophobia, xenophobia, and racism by the need to protect women from predators. Zanus is considerably more villainous than Trump (at least I hope!), but is frighteningly close to the thoughts, and in some cases deeds, of a certain segment on the far right. So right-wing readers and Trump supporters are likely not to like this book at all.

However, although "Ahe'ey" in some ways conforms to the stereotypes of liberal do-goodism, it isn't afraid to face the complexity of the problems head-on. As Vivianne, one of the super-powered characters, tells Morgan after she leads a disinformation campaign against Zanus's and the KKK's white supremacy: "Everything about today was a lie, an illusion. Scout is not a normal human girl, and Quinn is not as powerful as you made her out to be. You spend your life telling imaginary stories to young girls, swapping crystal slippers in children's tales with swords. My son tells his children they can become as capable as an Ahe'ey. You both push a reality to others that you refuse to accept when it comes to your own potential. So, who is right? Is it as simple as changing a story, providing inspiration, changing a belief? Or are you manufacturing lies and raising hopes without merit or justification? Are men bad and women good? Are men strong and women weak? Does race matter? Genes or beliefs, which is it?"

This problem of nature vs. nurture is front and center throughout the story, as is the issue of causing harm by doing good. Morgan's successful online trolling of white supremacist groups sparks a violent backlash against the girls she's trying to nurture, and the angelic, god-like Ahe'ey live in an oppressive and rigidly hierarchical society of their own making, as "each flawed decision, taken with the best intentions, had the power to corrupt and distort the humanity and purity of their vision and values. In their nightmares lived a demigod who decided to fight inequality and racism by raping women. Power corrupts, and hell...hell is filled with good intentions." While there is a certain white-hat-black-hat element to the characters, everyone thinks they are acting for the best, and everyone has their reasons for doing bad things. As a liberal and committed feminist who is increasingly frustrated by the simplistic self-righteousness of my own side, and the belief that all that is needed is for a few smart people to start a revolution, I found "Ahe'ey" to be refreshingly multi-sided, while also maintaining its core beliefs.

Which is not to say that the book, like its characters, is not without its flaws. There's a huge amount of backstory and side-story, not to mention multiple mythologies, all jammed in there together, as well as the political/social commentary, which sometimes means that internal character development and momentous external events all proceed at a tremendously rapid pace, despite the overall length of the book. The central focus of the book is on developing its ideas, not its plot or its people, and sometimes that told on the artistic side of things.

Nevertheless, "Ahe'ey" is a bold and ambitious effort, one that is not afraid to jump into thorny issues, and a welcome and thought-provoking addition to the (all too small) genre of feminist fantasy fiction.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Kat Gibbons · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say, this book is a masterpiece. I'd only read the small excerpt before even cracking it open and wasn't sure what to expect. I was captured and couldn't quit reading until it was finished in one series.

Le Fay writes with ultimate precision. Her character development is extraordinary. You connect with every major character in the book. You cry for them, cheer for them and you can't wait to read on. The world that Le Fay has created is beautiful and original. What scared me was how close it was to what's happening in the current political sphere.

The novel or omnibus centres around two major characters, Morgan and Gabriel. Morgan is a fighter for women's rights, their equality in all things and their champion. Gabriel is a like a living god to her. There's magnetism between them that Morgan can't understand and fights at first. She doesn't understand his power over her heart and emotions.

What comes to light rather quickly is that Gabriel isn't just another guy, he's a member of an advanced civilisation living right alongside the humans. His people live right here on Earth, on an island hidden from the world. They keep to themselves but their community isn't a happy place. It's torn apart from civil war, distrust and the misguided rule of the pure blood monarchy.

Gabriel is forced to come home and he brings Morgan with him. She is looked down upon among his people because she's nothing but a human. Some view her with distrust, others with disgust. She tries her best to impart the same virtues that she teaches to the human women.

There is so much in this novel to love. Forbidden love, loss of family and the fight for justice. Among the future of the Ahe'ey there is promise for change. With that change comes danger. Danger that comes in many guises and even as the prologue finishes you see the dragons on the horizon.

Fantastic read. I'm really glad I happened upon it as an omnibus. As soon as I read the last line, I was searching for the next book in the series. I've not found any information on one, but a girl can hope!

Disclaimer: I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Lottie Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hey Guys,

I have a lovely treat for you. So you may have noticed my cool little sign. I have recently joined NetGalley to help me to do my reviews and also give you guys some great books. What could go wrong.... Maybe the fact I have downloaded 6 books already. And not like I have another 50 to read anyway... Woops.

Anyway. As you will see I have been recently reading Ahe'ey by Jamie Le Fay. I have included a short summery.

Morgan, a feminist who travels all over the world, lands in J.F.K for her latest meeting. Little does she know that she has been watched and admired but Gabriel for the last 3 years when he first saw her on the T.V. What she doesn't know is how much danger she has unintentionally put herself in. Being the feminist that she is and safe guarding girls and women around her in the world she has put a giant bull's eye on her back.

Between Gabriel and the CIA can they keep her safe and will she be accepted into Gabriel's weird and wonderful world.

Wow! I was so blown away by this book as it is so extremely relevant and now. Like literally now. I would ask where she got the ideas from, but I think you would know if you read it. This book is wonderful from the political to the fantasy, and everything in between. If you want something that gives it to you straight then this is the book fro you.

She could not have done any better. Its a long story but when you read it you know why and you understand why it has to be like that. It felt longer to me as I wanted to take my time and immerse myself with the characters. Become part of their world.

You know what is going on, as Jamie makes it obvious but she does this nicely. She tells you that she knows you know. You sympathize with all of the characters because you don't know what will go wrong next.

Jamie keeps the book real and very down to earth. The fact that dragons and sword fighting has no blow back on the reality side as she blends the two worlds perfectly. Mixing the traditions of the old world of Ahe'ey and its tribes with the technology of our world, the new world.

Also from the ending that has been left, I would be distraught if there was not a second one. It doesn't need to be a long series of 6 books but I feel that two would be the perfect amount. I am honestly blown away by the views and the personality behind this book. Behind the characters. Such strong belief and love went into this book. If you get a chance please find the time to read this incredible book.

Jamie and Morgan are inspiring. To create this book needed such creativity and understanding of our world and problems. For Morgan to try to solve those problems, yes in a fantasy world, but also through inspiring the people who read about her and understand the intent. I love a book with a good morale and this has one at every turn.

Bravo, Jamie! 5 stars. I am hoping people will read this and feel inspired by your views and belief. Find links to Jamie Le Fay's website below.

http://www.angeelseries.com/

Jamie Le Fay

[Natasha du Plessis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book by Jamie Le Fay. I loved the main characters as well as the storyline. This book also makes you think about the injustices that are currently prevalent in our world. I loved the strong male and female leads as well and got from this book that you can still be a leader without forcing people to comply with autocratic decisions. I also loved the setting of Ahe'ey and hope to see more about the people of Ahe'ey in a next book soon.
A great fantasy to read that keeps you interested until the end.

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for the copy.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morgan is a woman who fights for women’s rights. She is very well known and has people following her all over the world to hear her speak at different functions. Morgan doesn’t really trust men but when she meets the very gorgeous Gabriel he just may change her mind and the way she feels about men or about one anyways. Gabriel is not only attractive but he is addicting as well. Morgan can’t seem to keep her eyes off him and she acts just like a school girl whenever she is near him.

Gabriel is a very mysterious person and keeps to himself. What is he hiding? When Morgan’s life is put in danger Gabriel is put in charge of keeping her safe. Gabriel and Morgan are equally attracted to each other but fight it as long as possible. But when Gabriel is injured while saving Morgan’s life he is taken home to his world and Morgan is taken too.

Morgan discovers that Gabriel comes from a whole new world than her own with people that have magical powers. In this new world of Ahe’ey the woman are the leaders and the men take orders from them. Just the opposite of our world.

As we already know Morgan and Gabriel have fallen head over heels in love with each other. They have found their soulmates in each other. But the more Morgan learns of this new world Ahe’ey she finds out that she and Gabriel may never get to be together as Morgan is human and not born of their royalty. To keep their blood line strong and pure Gabriel must chose his bride from the royal line. He has no say in who he will spend the rest of his life with. He must do this for the sake of the people of Ahe’ey.

Ahe’ey is on the brink of another civil war. If they are not careful they may just have an uprising on their hands. Some of the people are getting restless and are tired of the way they have been treated and are in need of a change.

In Ahe’ey men and women do not live together. Men have their own little village and the women have theirs. Women are encouraged to go find a man to get them pregnant so they populate their world. In Ahe’ey you can have as many partners as your heart desires. Only if you are of royal blood do you have to be selective in your partner and that is only when you’re trying to get pregnant.

When I first heard of Ahe’ey I thought I would like to read that but well may be not now. But I kept seeing it pop up and I thought about it a lot. There was something kept pulling at me saying read me, read me so I finally gave in and read it. I am so glad that I listened to that little voice as I really enjoyed following Morgan, Gabriel, Bastian, Sky, Scout, Quinn and little Aria.

Ahe’ey had lots of action that kept me on the edge of my seat just waiting to see what was around the next corner. I loved that it was about two different worlds that were like mirror images of each other in so many different ways. The plot is just so out of this world amazing that feels your imagination with so many pictures it would be fantastic to see this on the big screen and watch as all of the angels just came alive. Oh and that cover is just as amazing. I would love to see that portrayed on the big screen too. I would love to read more on Morgan and Gabriel’s lives as well as the children and all the other characters. What in store for Morgan and Gabriel now?

I would recommend Ahe’ey to anyone who loves a good story someone who likes to see others standing up for the ones that can’t stand up for themselves or who just need a little push in the right direction or maybe they just need to know there is someone out there who has there backs as they say.

[Danielle Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahe'ey by Jamie Le Fay is a fascinating paranormal fantasy. This novel contains a lot of strong themes that are brilliantly woven into an enjoyable read. I loved the characters. Jamie Le Fay definitely knows how to write a book that sucks readers into her fictional worlds. Entertaining from the start. The main characters, Morgan and Gabriel have ways of pulling me further into their story. Powerfully written. Excitement, adventure, intriguing and romantic too. Ahe'ey has it all. I couldn't stop reading this book. Jamie Le Fay is indeed a talented writer. Her words are epic.

[Pegboard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie Le Fay astonishes us with a civilization that tries to demote men because of their flaws and anger of wanting their own freedom after being wronged by the royals. The land of Ahe’ey must protect the purity of the privileged and in doing so marriages are expected among relatives to keep the bloodline at its premium.

As the men in Ahe’ey struggle for equal rights, Morgan is inspiring women in the world to accept their flaws and not to be valued only for their beauty. But she realizes she judges herself harshly when she meets Gabriel. His mutual beliefs are what bring him and Morgan together. The word he tells his adopted children mirrors Morgan’s own speech, “The only limitations you will encounter are the ones you accept without questioning, as they will become your own sad reality.”

My favorite part of Ahe’ey is the beautiful speech Moran gives to women in Central Park. The speech of self respect and the toll the media has put on unflawed physical beauty was personal. Jamie Le Fay shows she isn’t just writing to entertain her readers but inspire both men and women to uplift the inward strengths and accomplishments of the female race.

[Em · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to DNF this book. I got about 20% in and just couldn't force myself to keep reading. I tried, oh I tried to get into it. The reviews in GoodReads and Amazon are mostly glowing, and the subject matter seemed right up my alley.

The biggest challenge I had is that although I love the idea of weaving in the feminist/gender studies points that the author seems to be making, so much of it was so on-the-nose that I had problems buying into the characters and plot around them. The world needs more blatantly feminist protags, and it needs more discussion/allegory for gender roles and issues, but here it seemed like Le Fay got so lost in trying to make her points that the characters and plot suffered. By about 20% in we'd had pages and pages of dialogue back and forth between Morgan and Gabriel that could have been lifted word-for-word from a women's studies text, but still very very little exposition explaining the Ahe'ey, Ange'el, etc. etc. It felt like the characters and plot were built in around trying to have these discussions, rather than built to incorporate them organically.

As a content warning, it's worth nothing that in the first 15% or so, there are also several rapes and at last one character is physically assaulted by a superior for engaging in same-sex relations. I didn't read enough of the book to know if these are handled delicately later on. Early in the book these incidents are presented matter-of-factly with little description or discussion of emotional impact.

[Jessa Julian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot think of a better introduction to Le Fay's wonderful writing style than Ahe'ey. I instantly fell in love with her imaginative and detailed descriptions and her subtle way of stating her political opinions.

Le Fay deserves praise for her characterization skills. Each one felt so real that I was able to understand their motives and ideals as easily as I can understand my own. The same can be said for her world building abilities. Not only does Le Fay bring a whole new world to life, she explains it well and it truly makes sense. It is very easy to understand the foreign concept that is Ahe'ey.

Additionally, Gabriel was such an easy character to fall in love with! I love how multifaceted he is. There is the side of him that he brings out around his family, at work, and around Morgan. Although I'm not completely convinced by their romance, I can definitely see the underlying attraction there.

The only problem I had with this book is that Morgan accepts Ahe'ey a little too easily. Personally, I would think that all of the people explaining their land and rules would be off their rocker if I was suddenly just there. I understand that she can see everything in front of her, but I was really surprised that she never had an overwhelming fit of confusion. She merely accepts it all. I'm not sure if that was meant as a survival tactic or if that was just part of Morgan's personality that I failed to understand. However, the more realistic approach would have been for her to have some form of freak out moment.

[Lila Lockhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahe'ey is an enjoyable and compelling read. Jamie Le Fay demonstrates her strength as a writer through a range of creative ideas, fantastic world building, intriguing characters, and social commentary. The world of Ahe'ey and magic was breathtaking and filled with intrigue. Furthermore, it was nice to see a quality depiction of feminism (I walked in with worries of 'misandrist-feminism'), with consideration not just of the oppression of females, but also ways in which males can be discriminated against, and other forms of social injustice, such as racism.

That being said, this book isn't prefect. Some of the social justice / feminist elements could have been reworked a little. For example, there is arguably an overuse of the word 'assertive'; and some quite generic, and perhaps not all of the most important, feminist arguments.. However, it is amazing all the same, and I would highly recommend this book for lovers of fantasy, romance, and social justice.

[just.one.more.paige · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. So I'm going to be honest.

There were a lot of good intentions here, but this book was just plain bad. I love fantasy, high fantasy, the creation of whole worlds and characters. I was really interested in this book based on the description and the rest of the reviews being so positive. So when this is what I got, I was really disappointed. And I don't think I have been this close to DNF-ing a book in years. Like I said, there were good intentions - the ideas were there (even if they still would likely have been a bit too cheesy) and the plot was fairly thought through/developed and the scope was wide and ambitious. Perhaps too ambitious for the author to actually be able to tackle. This was supposed to be a parallel world, rock solid feminist, romance, high fantasy novel. It can be done, I think, even if things stayed a little cheesy, but it wasn't done here.

I spent the first third or so of the book (32%, according the Kindle) being completely confused by the Ahe'ey world and society and class breakdown because it took that long for the author to explain it. And even after that, it was like she kept changing rules and structures and personality traits to fit what she thought was necessary for the plot advancement, so nothing was really ever fully clear or understandable. The character development was so poorly done, there was no consistency in feelings/reactions/relationships at all and I never really got to a point where I cared what happened for/to/between any of the characters. And from a romance angle, the main relationship's consummation was not even written well. Everything was over-explained and overdone and I've never read so many tropes in one place.

Nature vs nurture was discussed ad nauseum (and not well - like so overtly that if I actually read the words "nature" or "nurture" or "genes" of "slave to your genes" or "defy your genes" one more time I might have thrown my Kindle). Every relationship was strained or emotionally abusive, manipulative and hypocritical, and the amount of procreation among family members was really disturbing (I don't care what "science" or "gene manipulating" was made to make it ok, it's still didn't feel ok reading about it). It's a weird bastardization on the female power story, like the one we see in Wonder Women, and everything is just absurd to the point of ridiculousness.

And the part that makes me the most sad is that this is a book supposedly written about and in support of women's rights, but honestly the best parts for that just added up to be a whole lot of long winded and pompous speeches (more like lectures) that really didn't even make ME feel like I wanted to women to win or be in control. I mean, sure the land of Ahe'ey was led by all women, but they handled it as poorly as the men in charge of our own world handle it, which isn't really a ringing endorsement of female competence and power. And the literal grab bag of hot button equality issues (race, gender, sexuality, class, and more) just made each one that was addressed less impactful because it was too much and too in your face and, as I mentioned, all handled with pompous and condescending monologues and arguments mostly outside the actual plot. Also, in the end, our main character more or less abandons her causes in our world (America/NYC) in order to "support" her love interest (who SPOILER in the end she is genetically compatible with, in a twist that I literally saw coming from about a quarter of the way into the book, and the whole thing is a moot point and really makes you question the point of the entire attempt at a feminist dialogue to begin with). I wanted, so badly, to support the general feminist ideals that were technically espoused here, but I feel like the main character herself couldn't get a handle on her thoughts/feelings in that regard and it was executed so poorly that I just couldn't.

And one last complaint, on a personal annoyance level, I just don't understand why it was necessary to throw in like 6 basic Spanish phrases. It was completely gratuitous, like the author wanted to prove she passed her first semester of Spanish class in college... Ugh.

In any case, don't let the description fool you. This book tries really hard but doesn't achieve anything it wants to. I've never written a review this...scathing...before. And I feel bad because I know how much time and effort goes into writing something like this (and this long), but honestly it would not be truthful for me to try and find something nicer to say. I was just very disappointed and definitely feel like reading this was a waste of my time.

[Roxie Prince · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this review and more on my blog at [Roxie Writes].

‘Ahe’ey: The Complete Collection’ by Jamie Le Fay
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Finished on January 2, 2018
GIVEN A FREE COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
$2.51 on Kindle | $10.50 in Paperback

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Morgan’s feminist books didn’t prepare her to deal with the dashing Gabriel and the land of Ahe’ey . . .

Morgan, a feminist who works as a public speaker and activist to bring enlightenment and empowerment to young women, is a strong and passionate woman. She meets Gabriel when he is charged with protecting her at a speaking engagement. Things go haywire when she’s attacked there, and Gabriel is forced to take her to his homeland of Ahe’ey, a place inhabited by strong, beautiful, and angelic beings.

Ahe’ey is run by the women after a war instigated by the men. It changed the dynamics of Ahe’ey for decades, and it’s now up to the current generation to re-balance the power.

For Morgan, who has battled against sexism against women her entire life, the reverse sexism in Ahe’ey is challenging and subverts everything she has ever known, and her blossoming feelings about Gabriel add further confusion to an already overwhelming situation.

MY REVIEW:
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

‘Ahe’ey’ is an intelligent and empowering book. It challenges the societal norms a great many of us have come complacent with and provides perspective we need to take a look at. It’s poignant and perfectly timed with the climate we are in, currently, politically, and both girls and boys who read this can get strength from this story.

The world of Ahe’ey is rich and deeply crafted. It’s somehow got one foot in humanity while being just fantastical enough to sweep the reader into a new and brilliant world. Each race is unique in its own way, and every character is relatable, quirky, and flawed just enough to make them real and believable.

I am generally *so* sick of romances in teen and young adult books, but the romance between Morgan and Gabriel is neither tiresome nor trite. It’s not the sole focus of the story, nor is Morgan your typical damsel in distress. She doesn’t need Gabriel to save her; rather, their love is a complement to the story and to one another’s personal journey, as it should be.

Le Fay’s writing style is fluid and easy-to-read. The pacing of this novel is damn near perfect, especially for a story of this length. There were hardly any points in which I felt it dragged on, and nowhere where I felt as though something was inconsequential to the plot or as though I had been left wondering about something. My only (minuscule) complaint is that I wondered the entire time if I was pronouncing the names of things correctly.

This is an important novel, I think. It bridges the gap between a fun fantasy tale and a smart, educational, and empowering story. You should read this yourself, and if you have a young person in your life who enjoys fantasy, you should get it for them, too.

[Leigh Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahe’ey: The Complete Collection by Jamie Le Fay, 696 pages, March 8th, 2017, ISBN: 978-1370765775, Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Social Issues, Girls and Women. Warning: May Contain Spoilers.

This is a story about true love between a star-crossed pair: Morgan Lua, a human champion for female rights, and Gabriel, a supernatural prince from a hidden, mystical realm. The scenes switch perspective between familiar Earth and the ethereal land of the Ahe’ey; the distant past and modern day; and between major characters. Le Fay weaves a magical tale with complex characters, hidden histories, political intrigue, and desperate desires yearning for fulfillment.
But this is no traditional fairy tale. We human beings vacillate between hope and despair, living in a world where simple deeds of loving kindness can move mountains, while simultaneously the worst acts of evil we can imagine are committed. We worry about which worldview and values will triumph and resonate throughout human history. In each generation, we stand at a crossroads, and we support those with power and influence whom we think can steer us in the best direction. Morgan Lua is not content to stand on the sidelines. As the leader of the Hope Foundation, she works to improve human rights for women and minorities around the globe. Morgan is opposed by the white supremacist, far-right wing politician Zanus, who is responsible for attempts on Morgan’s life. Enter Gabriel Warren, leader of the Ahe’ey Foundation, determined to stay by her side and ensure Zanus and his hateful agenda fails. Experiencing a natural chemistry and attraction they’ve never felt before; Gabriel and Morgan fall in love.
As the story progresses, Morgan learns that there’s more than meets the eye where Gabriel is concerned. After an attempt on her life that leaves them both at death’s door, Gabriel’s mother, Viviane Queen of Ange’el, brings them back to their hidden home realm to recuperate. At first, the land of the Ahe’ey seems like a blend of fairy and angelic realms, a celestial delight. Its people are beautiful, strong, swift, and magical, none more so than the pure blood royal family. The royals believe the power within their genes will one day save humankind. As a result, they intermarry to preserve their genetic purity. A matriarchal society, women appear to be in control, but lower ranking women are controlled by higher ranking women. The caste system limits the freedoms of both royals and non-royals, men and women, alike. Although the Ahe’ey traditionally guide humanity, we find they are every bit as much in need of saving.
Ahe’ey presents many important themes and thought provoking ideas, such as nature versus nurture, the battle of the sexes, the meaning of sacrifice, the ethics of evil for the greater good, the loss of privacy in the modern age, and forging identity in a multi-cultural world. An epic, romantic, fantasy adventure, it nevertheless provokes deeper thinking on many issues facing us today.
Ahe’ey: The Complete Collection was originally released in twelve separate episodes. Although the collection is formatted as a single novel, its episodic nature provides it with a slightly different structure and rhythm than a traditional novel. Currently, readers can find the first three episodes free at Amazon, with each subsequent episode at .99 cents. The entire collection is priced at $4.99. I’d recommend this collection to anyone who loves romantic fantasy adventure with a social conscience.

[Di Haszard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally loved this series - thought it was well written and certainly had you involved with each of the characters. Couldn't put it down and then got to the last page, only to find that theres more to come!! Can't wait to get the next instalment. A great fantasy fiction reading!!

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars . .. because it did get a bit more interesting as it went on but overall I just didn't connect with the characters in this book. aside from Bas, they just didn't feel real. I mainly kept reading because I hate to not finish a book..... :/

[gj indieBRAG · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are proud to announce that -AHE'EY by Jamie Le Fay is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells a reader that this book is well worth their time and money!

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: AHE’EY
Author: Jamie Le Fay

Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 19
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 9/10
Of the 19 readers:
19 would read another book by this author.
17 thought the cover was good or excellent.
18 felt it was easy to follow.
19 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
14 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
16 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
19 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
‘This is bold stuff. It’s a fantasy, yes, but the author is focusing much of her writing energy on feminism and the empowerment of women. And she’s very good at it. The president in the White House – a nasty, evil misogynist pig – is a central character. Now, I wonder where she got him from?! Good read.’ Female reader, aged 43
‘There’s a lot happening in this fantasy story. Looking very much at gender stereotyping and women’s rights, there is also a wealth of interesting characters and well-described settings for a reader to enjoy. Will women enjoy it most? Probably. But men should read it too. It will do them good.’ Female reader, aged 51
‘A very clever writer who is capable of putting across a strong political/social belief yet still entertain with a character-driven fantasy novel. Congrats!’ Male reader, age 38
‘I wish there were more writers pushing the limits in fantasy writing.’ Female reader, aged 32

To Sum It Up:
‘A bold, often thought-provoking fantasy. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Veronica of V's Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I jumped on this book based on the recommendations, but I wasn't in love with the execution.

It's an epic fantasy about superbeings who live amongst us human on Earth, but the verbose descriptions between the human realm and the Ahe'ey were exhausting, to me. The complete collection here was about 200,000 words, and I think we could have done without a third of them. Plus, honestly, I was put off by the mundanity of it all. When I'm reading Fantasy, I want to be transported. I don't want the dialogue to sound like a contemporary YA/MG story.

The battles between the castes seemed forced, and the "drama" of this life-and-death arrangement also didn't make sense to me. I'm not a big women's studies genre reader, because I'm all about the romance, and this didn't draw me to the cause, I must say. It felt very formulaic, and I didn't connect with any of the myriad characters as a result. The pace bogged, like I mentioned, with large chunks of dense description which damped my interest right quick. The lackluster dialogue sealed Ahe-ey's fate, for me.

I think, for people who really love Fantasy and descriptive literature, you might find this intriguing.

[Majanka · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

Ahe’ey was originally released in episodic format, starting with “Beginnings”, the first episode which was released in September 2016. This book is the complete collection of all the episodes, bundled up in one book. Each episode has several chapters. In the navigation on the first page, it’s easy to see where each episode begins, and the chapters, so you can easily jump to the spot hwere you left off. A necessity, because this book is huge. 551 pages on Adobe Digital Editions. But the chapter navigation easily allows you to go to the chapter where you stopped reading (even if you want to continue on another device not synchronized to your first device – like I did; I read this partially on the computer, partially on my tablet). The book also has some helpful tools, like a map of Ahe’ey, and a royal family tree.

Anyway, that’s the technicalities. I do like the idea of serials being combined into a complete book. And the blurb intrigued me right away, so I was eager to start reading. Once I started, I didn’t really want to stop, but I had to take a few breaks because 551 pages is just too long to read in one sitting.

On to the story. Morgan is a dreamer. She’s a romantic feminist, an art lover, and she’s full of contradictions and insecurities. That’s how the blurb describes her, and it’s indeed how she comes across. She’s very realistic. Her actions too are realistic, and she could just be the woman living next door or someone you run into at the local supermarket. She discovers the world of Ahe’ey, where women are in power, and where magic exists. But this dreamlike world may turn into a nightmare as it challenges everything she’s ever known. On top of that, there’s Gabriel, stunning good-looking, and Morgan doesn’t know how long she can deny the chemistry between them.

While I enjoyed the fantasy aspects, what really pulled me in where the topics relevant for today’s society, now masked in a dystopian society but equally as important. Topics like patriarchy, like nature vs nurture, feminism. Part of the book reads like criticism on today’s society, and I quite enjoyed that. The plot is quite complex, and it took almost the entire first episode to make me fully understand what was happening. Once I did, I was fully engrossed in the story, but at the start I struggled a bit to keep track of what was what and how it would all fit together.

I enjoyed the story, the links to today’s society, and the characters. It’s definitely worth a read, especially if you’re a feminist, or if you enjoy reading dual-world fantasies with links to the current world, and that are not afraid to give criticism and demand social change.

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views (05/17)

Article first published as Book Review: ‘Ahe’ey’ by Jamie Le Fay on Blogcritics.

“Ahe’ey” by Jamie Le Fay is the complete collection of ten episodes or stories that take place in and beyond the fantasy world of Ahe’ey, spanning from the 1800s to present day.

Morgan is a strong, independent, influential woman who is making a difference in the lives of women all over the world. When she’s around Gabriel however, it’s a battle for self-control as the man leaves her weak in the knees! As political opposition threatens to shut down Morgan’s agenda at any cost, the two take refuge in the world of Ahe’ey, a place where women are in charge. But, this outwardly perfect world may not be as idyllic as it first seems.

There is a lot going on in this story and it is considerably impressive how the author interweaves the world of fantasy, dragons, and fairy tale qualities with modern day issues such as racism, gender equality, and political unrest. The story feels new and fresh – unique in the fantasy genre for certain, if one can even contain it to a single genre.

What I enjoyed most about “Ahe’ey” is the writing style. At over 600 pages, I was prepared to settle in for the long haul, but the natural flow of the storyline kept me engrossed throughout the entire read. Though I’m sure Le Fay put a considerable amount of time and effort into this work, the result is seamless and fluid from the perspective of the reader, a clear distinction of her talent. The ease and effortless movement through the story left me wanting more – I truly did not want it to end.

The characters are full of life, multi-dimensional and believable, commanding the reader to connect with and invest in the outcome of their plights. Women will fall for Gabriel, an enchanting, sensitive male and the very definition of a prince. Gabriel, of royal blood, is depicted in a much different light than the “common” male characters – Fay provides an excellent demonstration of role reversal at its finest with the men of Ahe’ey. It was the women however, that influenced me the most. I found each character to represent a certain trait in myself. For instance, Morgan represented all of my contradictions, Sky reminded me of my stubborn side, Sage was my calm, patient, and levelheaded self, and Quinn struck a chord with my determined self. The women of Ahe’ey absolutely stirred some heavy inward reflection.

“Ahe’ey” by Jamie Le Fay is very high on my list of reading recommendations. The story is unique, inspiring, and very well written. It will hold great appeal to fans of fantasy, adventure, and romance, as well as those interested in women’s issues and politics.

[Gordon Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about an uber-human race that lived pre-history, but were almost wiped out by a cataclysmic flood on their island in mid-Atlantic. They have since lived in an alternate universe, directing and sometimes interbreeding with humans. Their contact point with our earth is an uncharted island in the Bermuda Triangle. Their society in this refuge has become stratified, adopting some of the more detrimental elements of human societies through the ages, especially the creation of a caste system where normal humans are on the bottom, and where gender inequality reigns.

The plot jumps back and forth through history, mostly concentrating on these demi-gods in their alternate home and on a modern human who bears some of their blood and has an affair with one of them who is hiding out in human society. Her objective is to thwart a campaign in the US to use the fear of Muslim terrorism to drive the voters towards the conservative right, and to quiet resistance through attacks on the media.

As the title indicates, names in this story are created by adding apostrophes to known words and names. One group is called Ange’els. Oh, yes, and there are dragons. And a deus ex machina ending, which isn’t an ending because it leaves us with the beginning of the next book in the series.

And if this is starting to sound rather familiar, you have put your finger on the problem with this work. While a lot of trouble has been spent creating a detailed socio-historical background, complex characters and a logical conflict, everything in the book sounds just like every other novel in the genre.

This should be no problem. A lack of originality might downgrade a book from a five-star review. But unfortunately…proofing errors, misused words (“dwelled” instead of “delved”), use of the passive voice. Long philosophical conversations that don’t move the plot forward. Full passages telling what characters are like, not showing their personalities. Simply too many writing mistakes to allow the reader full and free access to the story.

So, despite likeable characters, some great conflict and a really good climax, I can only give this book three stars out of five.

Recommended to forgiving readers who haven’t read much Fantasy. You’ll probably really enjoy it.

[Shelby Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Ahe’ey” is a new novel by debut author Jamie Le Fay. It follows Morgan, proud feminist and progressive, and her infatuation and eventual entanglement with the mysterious Gabriel. It’s a fantasy novel with a strong political slant, that miraculously manages to do both things well.

The novel succeeds by placing the tumultuous, patriarchal U.S. that we all know alongside the fantastical realm of Ahe’ey, a violent and war-torn matriarchy rampant with misandry and class-ism. By showing both sides of the coin, and leaving Morgan to navigate both worlds, Le Fay effectively eliminates the need to explain her stance: equality is clearly the goal.

This set-up is all that is necessary to accomplish Le Fay’s agenda, but the dialogue is still ridden with political commentary that often became distracting and somewhat preachy.

For example comparisons between the novel’s presidential candidate and infamous bigot Walter Zanus and the campaign and platform of the current U.S. president are beaten into the ground. It’s clear who and what Zanus represents from the moment his character is introduced in a viral video, so the reiteration of these comparisons — and, let’s be frank, the name Walter Zanus — are crude and off-putting in a novel that otherwise retains the moral and intellectual high ground.

It is my opinion that if the politics took a subtler, backseat role to the story, the message of “Ahe’ey” would reach larger audiences.

The story speaks for itself; Morgan is every feminist bookworm’s dream come true. She practically echoed my thoughts on her romance, and by extension that of every fantasy femme fatale, as she struggled to maintain her ideals and self-respect and yet still give grace to the man with whom she is falling in love.

“Ahe’ey” is engaging and well-paced, with interesting characters and rich, colorful fantasy. The dialogue occasionally sounds canned or rehearsed, but if the characters were allowed to shine through the political agenda, they could easily develop more natural relationships and conversations. They’re so close as it is.

I give “Ahe’ey” 4.5/5 stars for its powerful message and high ideals, and hope that the story guides many young men and women to the same philosophies.

[Ivan Hecimovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best method of showing something to someone is letting them to experience that on their own. Because people understand only what they can relate to, that is well-known fact.
Ahe’ey is a book in which the author tries to do exactly that. We have main protagonist, a woman named Morgan. She is well, somewhat similar to most of us, because most of us sometimes feel insecure, uncertain and in contradiction; with each other and with ourselves.
Morgan lives in a world which is similar to ours- in some ways. Morgan is also a feminist and a radical one, which is not surprising if we consider her life and her perception on the world. That is why she needed a world of Ahe’ey- a mysterious and mythical world filled with many fantasy elements, including angels, dragons and demons. But with one important difference- Ahe’ey is a heaven for all women who struggle with injustice in any form, at least that is what our main protagonist will think.
What I loved about the book is the narrative. The book, even though it is a bit long, is written in a way that every reader can easily and quickly get into the story. I also loved the way how the author connected the opposites of Ahe’ey and ‘our’ world and how the main character is described as someone we all can relate to. Ahe’ey is, although a bit long, very interesting novel with a message; and novels with a message always have that ‘extra’ spice that true readers will know to recognize and to appreciate. Job well done.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahe'ey stands tall as a smart, full bodied fantasy written by the obviously talented Jamie Le Fay. Touted as a feminist's dream of a novel, the 'I am woman, hear me roar' vibe runs deep without being obnoxious. When you reflect on the fact that this manages to be a girl power work and a romance, you begin to see how insightful Le Fay writes. Piled on feminism and romance, Ahe'ey also mixes bits of action, fantasy, and paranormal in and still it doesn't feel overdone.

One of the few grumbles I have about the book is that the reader is thrown into this story seemingly in the middle. We have no idea who anyone is or why they might be important. For someone like me, that is jarring and my compulsive need to have everything known and straight in my head can't handle it. I am aware that some people enjoy massive unknowns in their literature; those people should have no issues. The appendices found at the end of the book laid out much useful information to help clear up aspects of the story. I wish I had known it was included, I think I would have been less lost.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still trying to figure out how to pronounce, “Ahe’ey”....just me? Ok.

I love that this is a self declared feminist book. Not that I think more novels need to declare themselves “feminist” but it just shows that it is ok and you can still be successful. The main character, Morgan, is multidimensional. She takes on multiple characteristics that traditionally, novels and movies stray away from. Which I love and is much more realistic. It shows that a woman can be smart, in love, powerful, and insecure.

It did take me a moment to navigate the book. Especially in the beginning when the author is setting the scene, building up to the story, and differentiating between each world. This made it a bit difficult to get into it but eventually everything started clicking and I dived in.

[Shanell Meek · Rating 4 out of 5]

For she who has strength will lead valiantly.

It’s kind of refreshing to see such a strong female lead in the fantasy world. I love that this story grabs the bull by the horns and addresses so many feminine issues, while still remaining entertaining and interesting. For me it started fairly slow but it picked up quickly and fast became a book I didn’t want to put down! I wanted to see what was in store for Morgan next and how she would handle it. I feel this book is great for young adults especially young women who are struggling with knowing their place in the world. It is truly inspiring to see such strength and value in a female leader.

[Jimmy Jefferson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read from a different point of view

This story is interesting. It has a bit of everything from feminism to fantasy. I think the author has a very creative method to story telling. The characters are well developed and the dual world story is quite engaging. Although this is not my normal genre of reading, I was really impressed with the writing skills of the author. I am glad I read this one. I would recommend if you like a good story with a new view of the world.

[Ima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

I actually enjoyed the story when I finally got into it. It was slow at first with so many characters introduced that I got confused. But it became clearer as past events were explained. I like action in books that portray the physical strength of characters, but I didn't get it here. Anyway, I loved reading about the other side of gender oppression. Gives me a lot to think about