Hex Hall review

Hex Hall
Rachel Hawkins
March 2nd 2010
Disney Hyperion (US)/ Simon and Schuster (UK)




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 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. (Goodreads)

< UK cover.

When I first picked up Hex Hall, I will admit that I was a little bit wary. First of all, the UK cover is slightly horrendous. It doesn't even have anything to do with the book. ONE character looks a little bit like one of the girls on the cover, and even then, she's a minor character. I mean, Sophie isn't even blonde, and the uniforms don't even look like that. I know this isn't the authors fault, and it shouldn't put me off reading the book, but look at it. Blegh. (In my opinion, of course.)


But, as soon as I was done with the first page of Hex Hall, I knew I was going to love it. Hex Hall is an immensely fun and entertaining read that I would happily read through again.


One of the things I loved most about Hex Hall was Sophie (If I didn't like the MC I guess there would be a bit of a problem...) I think Sophie is probably one of my favourite characters out of most of the books I read this year. I would want to be friends with her. She's funny, pretty self-confident, smart and a super powerful 'witch' (I use the word Witch lightly. I don't want to spoil anything if you haven't read it,) even if she doesn't know it. I loved most of the characters in this book, except for Elodie, Chaston and Anna, because, to me, they did seem like stereotypical mean girls, even though Elodie became half acceptable by the end. And also, Archer. Despite his hot 'n' coldness, I still love him. I need book 2 NOW!


Hex Hall was also a lot more twisty-turny than I expected. If I hadn't read the blurb for Demonglass (note to self: DO NOT read the blurbs of sequels to books you have not read, if you have the intent to read them) then I definitely wouldn't have seem the twists coming. Yes, twists, plural.


I am eagerly awaiting the release of Demonglass, and I feel like an idiot for putting off reading this for so long. A funny, fast-paced, magical read which is definitely worth checking out. 4.5 stars :)