Witty and inventive . . . the pleasure of the novel is the slow rollout of the rules. Creating a universe involves inventing lots of little problems, and the solutions here don’t disappoint.” — New York Times on Hench
“Hench is an engrossing take on the superheroic. It’s smart and imaginative; an exemplary rise-of-darkness story, one I won’t soon forget...I honestly can’t wait to see what Natalie Zina Walschots does next with the genre.” — NPR Books
“Walschots playfully pokes at both office politics and comic book absurdity while offering gripping action and gut-wrenching body horror. The inventive premise, accessible heroine, and biting wit will have readers eager for more from this talented author.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Hench
“A fiendishly clever novel that fizzes with moxie and malice.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) on Hench
“In this refreshing, subversive, and darkly humorous debut novel, poet and journalist Walschots slowly reveals the nuances of her superpower-filled world, keeping readers guessing. Hench reads like a comic without the illustrations and is packed with subplots and rapid-fire wit. With a diverse and inclusive cast of characters, Walschots’ original tale performs a brilliant and exciting variation on the superhero trope and is not to be missed.” — Booklist (starred review)