Book Review: Hex Hall series by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Hex Hall (Hex Hall #1)
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: 1st April 2010
Read in: June 2012

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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.

Title: Raising Demons (Hex Hall #2)
Read in: June 2012

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Title: Spell Bound (Hex Hall #3)

Read in: July 2012

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*This review is for all three books in the series.* 

Since most of the points I wanted to make for Raising Demons are the same for Hex Hall, I have decided to review all three books in one review.

‘In front of me loomed Hectate Hall, which, according to the brochure clutched in my sweaty hand, was “the premier reformatory in institution for Prodigium adolescents.”
 Prodigium. Just a fancy Latin word for monsters. And that’s what everyone at Hectate was.
That’s what I was.'

This series was a little cheesy and a little corny, but it was good cheese. I’m used to reading a lot of deep emotional reads but recently I have been getting into some more light-hearted stuff. Even, though it was a little cheesy, I enjoyed it. 

The first thing that caught my attention was how funny these books were. I wasn’t expecting the laugh out loud funny moments, but all the gags made me smile. Sophie’s sarcastic approach to life added to the light hearted-ness. Also whenever Sophie and Jenna were together they were particularly entertaining; bouncing the jokes off each other. 

Also you do not get all the eggs in one basket; to use a popular expression. You do not find out everything at the beginning.  I find light books usually do not have a lot of twists. However, these books have loads of them. And they are not that predictable. 

I enjoyed the direction that Raising Demon’s took after the ending to Hex Hall. I wasn’t expecting it but I liked it all the same. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you much due to spoilers but I like the new characters and the continuation of the plot. I assumed it would be a new story but it isn’t. 

Spell Bound however was a slightly different matter. It was little bit more of a disappointment. There was action and yet there wasn’t. Things were moving forward very quickly. There was a lot of planning for the final battle. And, unfortunately, emotions got pushed to the side. Sophie’s and the others reactions, to certain events, became less believable and tough situations were taken with a brush off the shoulder. This was fine at first because the situations weren’t as serious or intense, however things have become a lot darker, in this book, but the characters haven’t changed. Everything became a little too easy to overcome. A new problem, the solution is found in the next chapter; the next problem, not as bad as it originally sounded. Too much relied on coincidences for my liking. Therefore, I felt it lost its tension. 

Also there was a love triangle. However, it was pretty obvious who Sophie had chosen. There wasn’t really a point to it. 

These are fun light reads; don’t go in expecting a deep emotional plot. You will be disappointed. If you are looking for something funny and entertaining, these books are a breeze to read. Go pick them up.

Ratings:

Hex Hall - 4/5 Stars

Raising Demons - 4/5 Stars

Spell Bound - 3.5/5 Stars

Overall:

 Becky