Skip to main content

Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Published by Simon and Schuster
Series: Hex Hall
Source: Gift from my blogging friend

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.


***
I've had Hex Hall on my shelf for a while but only recently picked it up because another blogger Jenny told me how fantastic it was and she was totally right.

From the very first chapter I was hooked as it threw you straight into the action. You first meet Sophie at on her Prom night. She decides to use her gift to help another girl. Unfortunately it all goes a bit wrong exposing Sophie's secret and as a consequence she is sent to Hex Hall, a boarding school to reform wayward teen witches, fairies and shapeshifters.

I enjoyed several aspects about this book. Firstly it is brilliantly funny throughout and I really loved Sophie as a character. She manages to royally put her foot in it countless times often due to her own naivety about the world she has suddenly found herself part of.

The first part of the story sees Sophie finding to find her feet at Hex Hall and all the random things that throws at her. She has a room mate who is a Vampire who other students suspect is a killer, she falls out with the popular crowd of witches, upsets teachers and gets drooled on.

Things start to change for Sophie as she starts to find out more about the world of Hex Hall and her own role in it when she meet the ghost of her Great Grandmother who tells her she is destined to become extremely powerful.

I'm not going to say any more about the plot for fear of spoiling it but there certainly was bits that I didn't see coming which were awesome. When it gets going the story goes along at break neck pace and leaves you stunned in places as you don't expect what happens at all until it hits you.

A fantastic first book in the series which I am looking forward to continuing a great deal.

Comments

I really enjoyed this too. Demonglass is even better, in my opinion, so I look forward to seeing what you think of it.

The humour in this book was one of my favourite parts. Rachel Hawkins is hilarious! What did you think of Archer?

Great review!
The second book is much better but I really like Sophie! She's such a funny and sarcastic individual and don't get me started on Archer!
I love him!

Wait... there's no archer in you review?? How is that possible :P


Krazyyme @ Young Readers
jayme said…
Sophie is one of my favorite YA characters :)

The UK cover of this book reminds me of sitcom, though.
I know I shouldn't judge a book by its cover .. but if I'm honest the only reason I've not read this book is because I hate the cover art. Am I really missing out?