Review--Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

On her 12th Birthday,  Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. Three bumpy years later, after a prom-night gone horribly wrong, she's exiled to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day, 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. Then when a mysterious predator begins attacking students, and Sophie's only friend is the number-one suspect, a horrifying plot begins to surface. Soon, Sophie is preparing for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

Rachel Hawkins's Hex Hall was a wonderful read! I'm not sure what took me so long to jump on the bandwagon and read this, but I am so glad that I did! Definitely gonna have to find Demonglass on sale soon somewhere! Not sure I can wait to read it after the ending of Hex Hall!

This book blew me away and was far better than my expectations. I admit, I am a cover snob. Hate to admit it, but its true. And while the cover here intrigued me, it did leave me thinking it might be a bit too...juvenile? Whatever my hangups were, this book blew me out of the water! Sophie--although while the math makes it seem like she's 15, I'm pretty sure she said she was 16, whatever--was incredible! She's everything you look for in your Paranormal YA book! She's got sass and spunk! She doesn't let the bullies keep her down.

And I just say how evil and spiteful the witch trio she meets is? Lead by Elodie, she sets out to make Sophie's life extremely chaotic! At times I was surprised that Sophie fell for some of Elodie and her friends' tricks. I mean, why would she trust them after what she learns her first day?

Archer, the love interest, was a fabulous character too! He's sort of your typical smarmy high school boy, who happens to be dating Elodie. And for whatever reason, he can't see her cold-heartedness and ruthlessness. He says there's something more to Elodie, yet Sophie cannot see it. She develops a crush on him pretty fast and even faster was her ability to fall in love with the guy. That part really through me. Love? Seriously? She barely knows the guy, had a few conversations with him and served some detention with him as well, and suddenly she loves him? That went a little too fast for me, but I digress.

Sophie's roommate, Jenna, was wonderful! I mean come on, a pink-loving vamp?! How can that not be cool?! Jenna though is neck deep in trouble, because the attacks around the school keep getting blamed on her just because the victims were drained of their blood and there were puncture marks on their necks. Sophie is determined to prove her friend's innocence even when evidence is saying otherwise.

This was actually a very entertaining read! I found myself grossly involved with the characters and the mystery of the attacks. Quite a few shocking things happen and plot-wise, this story rocks! The characters are full of depth as well. Very complex people we're reading about here and learning about! They were quite enjoyable and more than one of them will surprise you in the end! 

The ending has a cliffhanger of sorts as well, there's a few questions that leave you wondering, but the bulk of the story does leave you satisfied. The ending hangs off with learning of what Sophie will do next.

Overall rating 4/5 stars