"Hex Hall" by Rachel Hawkins

Despite its outward appearance, Hex Hall isn't your stereotypical paranormal romance. Rather than dark and angsty, Rachel Hawkins went for a blend of light and funny in her debut novel. Tinged with mystery and romance, Hex Hall was hard to put down.

Centered around a girl named Sophie forced to attend a reformation school for supernatural beings, Hex Hall explores the world of school-age Prodigium. Hecate Hall, or Hex Hall, as everyone calls it, is a sanctuary of sorts for students harboring more power than they know how to control. Sophie herself discovers she's classified as a Dark Witch upon her arrival. The school is full of fairies, werewolves, shapeshifters, and more. Her roommate, Jenna, is the school's lone vampire and the guy she loves to hate, Archer, is a warlock. Sophie soon learns more about her heritage and abilities as a witch, having been sheltered all her life due to her warlock father's absence.

The book really takes off when a girl is discovered in the shower, drained of blood, with two wounds in her neck and slashes across her wrists. Everyone blames the vampire, but Sophie doesn't think her roommate could have done something so hateful. Something about the situation doesn't sit right with her, and before long, our heroine finds herself up to her neck in danger.

Hex Hall incorporates a lot of twists and turns while building to its climax. There are some plot points readers will see coming a mile away, but others that won't be discovered until Hawkins chooses to reveal them. The characters were all well-developed. Sophie feels really real, as do her friends, enemies, and the unwanted attraction between her and Archer.

This was a great book to pick up for a lighter read that had me chuckling and rooting for Sophie, not to mention breathless as the plot began charging full speed ahead. I'm definitely looking forward to the release of Demonglass next month, as well as Hawkin's self-contained novel Rebel Belle later this year.

Comments

  1. What a thoughtful, informative review. I love your take on the book. I've wanted to read it for a long time, just haven't went out and purchased it yet. Maybe, I'll get lucky and pick it up at a discount since Book #2 is soon to be released.

    PS: I just LOVE the cover to this one. How about you?

    ReplyDelete
  2. I loved this book too. Sophie was a great character and I loved that she had a vampire friend =) Looking forward to book two coming out.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Gina, I can't wait to hear what you think when you get a chance to read it! I think they will have good deals on this book soon. I really like the way the cover reflects two different Sophies: Sophie the Meek, and Sophie the Powerful. It showcases her transformation at the school so well!

    @ The Slowest Bookworm: It was so interesting that her roomie was the only vamp at school, wasn't it? The fact that they just take in one is so interesting! I also can't wait for #2 now!!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for taking the time to stop and comment! I appreciate it more than I can say. I try to respond to each one!