Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hakwins

Hex Hall

Rachel Hawkins

My Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Back of the Book:

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 the 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 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.

My Review:

Due to the drama of my real life since the end of last month it's been about two weeks since I've done one of these reviews, and finished Hex Hall, so bare with me as I find my sea legs again. The waters may be a bit choppy at first.

Hex Hall was one of those books that I was excited about the moment I heard of it. It's a magical school with witches, faeries and werewolves and I was a crazy Harry Potter fan back in the day. I had high expectations going into this book, especially after all the amazing reviews for it surfaced.

And this book didn't disappoint. The story revolves around Sophie, a teenage witch being raised by her muggle....sorry, human (old habits die hard)...mother. Between her mother's job and Sophie's tendency to expose her powers to humans she's been bounced from one part of the country to the next. Finally, after doing a love spell for another student that goes horribly wrong, she's sent to Hex Hall.

Which is kinda like a reform school for magical beings.

While most of the students have been sentenced there since they came into their power, Sophie is new and works well as our introduction to this world (because, despite her own powers, she had never known anyone else who wasn't human due to her warlock father's estrangement).

Hijinx, in the form of witches being drained of all their blood, occurs and it's up to Sophie to clear her vampire roommate of the charges.

There's also a subplot where Sophie learns about her own history and place in this new world, which ties in nicely.

Overall, the story works well and Sophie is an excellent character. She's not perfect, a trait I'm sure you've all figured out I look for in leads, but she has a good heart and is likable. Even when she is making a decision or two which leave you with the overwhelming urge to shake her and shock her back to her senses.

Despite the five star rating I gave it, Hex Hall isn't completely perfect. The pacing isn't even, the last 1/3 of the book feels slightly rushed in the amount of time and events occur opposed to the first 2/3's which kept a steady rhythm. I think the book would have benefited with a few extra chapters to flesh out the ending more.

But I am very much looking forward to the second in this series.