Let there be Light (Hex 1 - Rhiannon Lassiter)

Member Name: Calexico

Product:	Hex 1 - Rhiannon Lassiter
Date:	24/11/02 (157 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: An easy, idealistic read, Good for trashy entertainment value, Pretty good character depictions

Disadvantages: De-ja vu?

First thing that comes to mind? Dark Angel. There are so many similarities with the cult tv series, including the futuristic location, the dark haired, strong, mysterious heroine, the fact that she's on the run from the law, the techy theme consistent throughout both, the genetically enhanced hodge-podge, Hex is hardly original at a glance.

Hex is a flashy sci-fi story, with everything you could possibly want for a trashy but sucessfully idealistic novel - Very pretty characters, (there's a different one for every type of reader to relate to), all 'wronged' by the law and set out to 'fight for the future', a lot of fancy technological stuff, 'Hex' being based on 'computer witches' genetically engineered to be computer literate, all glossed over government conspiracies. Raven is our Max - fiesty, strong and mysterious. Along with her 'Logan', freedom-fighting, honest and full of morals brother, Wraith, they set out to find their sister 'Rachel' - a suspected Hex.

The story runs from there, and I can't really say much without giving the story away.

Hex gets off to a slow start, and had I not been on a 21 hour flight with not much else to do, I would've put it down after the first page, but I found myself being sucked into the attractive world that is trashy entertainment. A little harsh maybe, but Hex really has nothing that most other sci-fi books haven't already covered, however, something about this book caught the young teenage fan in me, and I loved it!

A little background work told me Rhiannon Lassiter, 17 when she wrote the novel, is a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and similar WB programs - What a surprise? But with that knowledge, Lassiter really knows what appeals to teenagers of this present day, and it's a surprise that Hex isn't more popular, with Dark Angel and everything on our screens at present.

Hex is part of a trilogy, really

being one large story based across 3 books. Generally, the rule is that series's get worse as they go along, but Hex really doesn't lose it's sparkle, as it continues the story of Wraith, Raven, Ali, Kez, Luciel, etc, picking up more interesting characters, and developing others as it goes along. The story takes you with it, and you can't help relating to the characters, depspite your own personal resolutions never to waste money on trash like this.

Lassiter concentrates on character description, and depicts them clearly and very well. Yes, they may all be slightly cliched, and hint of a stereotypical WB character, but within those limitations, she creates very real characters, that still have much potential at the end of the triology. Kez is my favourite character, being the most subtle and having more than just one personality trait, however, most feel drawn to Raven for obvious reasons - she is a bitch, strong, beautifu and is so incredibly up herself, it would be funny if she wasn't always rightl.
Rhiannon herself is a good writer, especially for her age, and knows what will go down well with the modern demands of a younger reader. She displays a lot of potential that she has yet to fully tap into, and i'm interested in seeing more of her work.

Overall, a well written, light-hearted, entertaining novel - Nowhere near the greatest every written, but deserves a mention for being one of the best little teenage sci-fi novels around. I'm not sure where the class of 'children's book' comes from, but then again, it's hardly suitable for your grandparents (Well y'never know!). The trilogy ends a bit bizarely, and doesn't really come to a conclusion but it's satisfying enough. Although I can't help feeling I've been a little over-critical over these books as I really did enjoy the read, there really is nothing I've exaggerated, other than that un-pin-able x-factor that make
s this trilogy so highly addictive, and therefore, a sucessful story. As I said, characters could still be developed, but i'm sure that Lassiter's aware of it and deliberately (or maybe not) left the gap open for more oppurtunities within the Hex novels. Expect more spin-offs from this series.

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