Spellbound by Rachel Hawkins

For Review: Simon & Schuster
Published: 29 March 2012

From Goodreads: Hailed as “impossible to put down,” the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted.

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

I'm always a bit apprehensive when I'm reading the last book in a series - just in case I don't like how it ends but I devoured this one! I was really excited to catch up with Sophie (and Archer!)

Everything I loved about the first two books is present in this one. Sophie is as sassy and sarcastic as ever. Archer is still wickedly hot and Jenna is perfect as Sophie's best friend. And, of course Call is still his sweet and caring self. We also get to meet a whole host of new characters and I loved them all!

The story is fast paced and totally addictive. I enjoyed every minute! I'm sad the series has ended but I'm glad Rachel Hawkins ended it on a high! While I would have liked a different outcome for one of the characters (you will know what I mean when you read it) I still loved the end and the sacrifice made. Contradictory I know - but I think it worked really well.

I'm super excited for whatever Rachel Hawkins gives us next!

Raising Demons by Rachel Hawkins

For Review: Simon & Schuster.  Published 3 March 2011
From Goodreads:  Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

I loved Hex Hall so I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this one.  I am pleased to say it lived up to all those expectations.

When catch up with Sophie she is still determined to go through with the Removal - convinced that her powers are dangerous.  Her father convinces her to think about it and takes her to England so they can spend some time together.  Joined by Jenna and Cal, Sophie and her father go to stay at Thorne Abbey with a few other guests.  Two of which have more in common with Sophie than she first realises.  Of course, things for Sophie are never simple and on top of someone using powerful magic to raise demons, Archer is also in England...

This series is so much fun - I can't help but really enjoy it.  It's very addictive!  Sophie is a great character and I really enjoy spending time with her.  Archer Cross is ...well Archer Cross (meaning hot, hot, HOT!)  I loved every scene he was in and the two definitely have great chemistry.  Interestingly, Cal has a bigger role in this one and I really found myself taking to him.  But Archer is still my favourite!

I really enjoyed the move of location to England  - Sophie getting to spend time with her dad was interesting to watch and I found myself really liking him (although I have to admit I wasn't sure if I should entirely trust him). The banter between him and Sophie is fantastic and had me laughing out loud!

All the twists and turns as Sophie discovers (part) of what was going on was really exciting - and makes this a really fast read.  Yes it ends with a cliffhanger - quite a big one too I thought - but for some reason I really liked it!  Usually I moan about it (perhaps I'm growing to like them?) but on this occasion I was expecting it and I found it exciting.  I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series - I have to know what happens! 

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

From Goodreads: When Sophie Mercer turned thirteen, she 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 Hecate Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward prodigium, a.k.a. witches, fae, 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, tag-along ghost; and a new roommate, who happens to be the most-hated person and only vampire on campus. Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her friend Jenna is the number one suspect. Meanwhile, Sophie has a more personal shock to grapple with. Not only is her father the head of the prodigium council, he's the most powerful warlock in the world, and Sophie is his heir. 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 think it’s safe to say I have been looking forward to reading this for months so I’m please to say it’s good. Really really good!

It’s one of those books that gripped me straight away. I loved the main character Sophie and really enjoyed spending time with her. I found her to be incredibly sweet and funny - someone I could easily imagine myself being friends with. I loved her friendship with Jenna and Archer Cross is just hot! Oh boy oh boy – I feel another obsession coming on!

I love the world created here and how we get to learn about it alongside Sophie. The story was really fast paced and I didn’t find it predictable at all. In fact there were some twists and turns I really didn’t see coming. The ending is somewhat of a cliffhanger, and because of this the book feels like part one of a larger story. This is not necessarily a bad thing – except that I have to wait until next year for book two! Nooooo! There are some loose ends that need tying up and there is definitely scope for plenty more books in the series – and if they are anything like this one they will be outstanding!

I can’t wait for more of this series. It is an amazing debut and I loved Hawkins style of writing. Completely addictive!

Cover Wars: Hex Hall

The US cover of Hex Hall is now featured on Goodreads and the author's website and Amazon uk is showing the following cover for the UK release. I've got to say I REALLY like the US cover - I just find it really appealing. I think the UK one is okay but just doesn't have the same impact.



US / UK
What do you think?