Book Review: SPELLBOUND (A Hex Hall Novel) by RACHEL HAWKINS

Title:    SPELLBOUND 
(A Hex Hall Novel #3)
Author:  RACHEL HAWKINS
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (in Australia)
Pages:  Mass market paperback 336
Acquired:  Received from publisher for review

RATING:   4.5 "CRY ME A CAL" STARS !

Goodreads Description:

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?

REVIEW:

Damn you Rachel Hawkins.......you made me cry!!

In this, the final instalment of the Hex Hall Series, Rachel wraps it all up with a big show down between good and evil.  

We left Demonglass with the burning of Thorne Abbey and Sophie Mercer heading through the Itineris in search of her mother and on her way to the Brannicks.  All the while not knowing the fate of her closest friends and father.

The fiery Brannick women are a hard bunch to crack but Sophie finds herself with an "in" she never expected. The Brannicks daily existence is military in style and lacking in compassion.  Sophie must learn to blend and behave if she is to earn the trust of the Brannicks.  

We are introduced to Aislinn, Finley & Izzy Brannick...plus Torin - a guy in a mirror!  There is a great story to be written with this family so let's hope Rachel Hawkins finds a new series with the Brannicks!

In Spellbound we are presented with a love triangle - one that had me angry one minute, cooing the next and crying at the end!   Unfortunately I can't say much more than that.....it would totally give far to much away and to know all the fans reading this are just ripping their hair out wanting to know if Archer and Cal are even alive - brings a smile to my face!!

The lovely Casnoff sisters are pure vengeful nasties.  Lara Casnoff leads the dastardly duo in their scheme to create a demon army. Warped? You bet!  But when they return to Hex Hall, things begin to change and Mrs Casnoff is a mere shell of her former existence.

The witty and sarcastic comments littered throughout Hex Hall and Demonglass are in abundance in Spellbound - and just as enjoyable!

Overall I loved Spellbound and the unanswered portions of the story leave it open for a new series to pop up at a later date!

ENJOY!

MARISSA

BOOK REVIEW: 4.5 Stars - RAISING DEMONS (Hex Hall #2) by RACHEL HAWKINS

Title:   RAISING DEMONS (Hex Hall #2)

Author:  RACHEL HAWKINS

Publisher:  Simon Pulse / Simon & Schuster

Pages:  359 paperback

Acquired:  Purchased from The Book Depository

RATING:    4.5 out of 5 DEMON STARS

Description from Goodreads:

Sophie Mercer's first term at Hex Hall turned out to be quite eventful. First the ghost of her evil grandmother haunted her every move, then her best friend was accused of murder and of course there was the discovery that Archer Cross, aka the boy of her dreams, was actually an undercover demon hunter - which would probably be something she could have worked on, if she hadn't also discovered that she was actually the demon Archer was hunting…
So, despite their issues, Sophie is actually relieved to be spending the summer in London with her father. But when your father is Head of The Council of Prodigium and your summer is being spent at the headquarters of everything magical, then a quiet holiday isn't really that likely. And, as Sophie struggles to come to terms with her new found demon powers, she finds herself thrust once again into a world of dark magic and conspiracies. The only thing that could possibly make things more complicated would be for Archer Cross to show up again, which of course he wouldn't, would he?

REVIEW:

Well Rachel, you witty little vixen!! Thanks for a continuation of the sarcastic, snarky and rough edged characters you delivered in Hex Hall.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading Raising Demons (others will know it as Demonglass).

Once again I was caught up in the world of Sophie Mercer.  She is tough, sarcastic and quite the powerful little demon!

Raising Demons is set in London at the headquarters of The Council of Prodigium - which her father heads up. Along with Sophie we are entertained with Jenna (Vampire best friend), the ever loyal and dependable Cal (also Sophie's betrothed!), Archer - Demon Hunter (and Sophie's smexy), plus the introduction of Nick and Daisy (Demons).

We get to see the relationship between Sophie and her father grow from nothing to a great connection. Sophie tries it on as any daughter would and yes she gets herself in a bit of trouble!!  Never too demon to be sent to your room for the rest of the day!! 

And for Archer and Sophie or is it gonna be Cal and Sophie?????? Well we see Archer and Sophie connect like wildfire - yet there is still this lingering best boy buddy connection that grows with Cal.  These are our teams to choose from people - uber smexy bad boy Archer......or trustworthy yet hot good guy Cal!!! What's your choice? 

Sinister master plans have been drawn up by those wanting the prodigium obliterated - among them The Eye. And of course the centre and main target is Sophie. 

We are of course left with a monster of a cliff hanger - true to Rachel Hawkins writing skill!!  Spellbound (Hex Hall #3) can't come out quick enough.

ENJOY!

MARISSA

BOOK REVIEW - HEX HALL by Rachel Hawkins

Title:  HEX HALL (Hex Hall #1)
Author:  RACHEL HAWKINS
Publisher: Simon and Schuster - April 1st, 2010
Pages : Paperback 323 pages
Book Gain:  Own Purchase

RATING:  4 STARS !!! - Wicked POW! towards the end!!

Description (from Goodreads):

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.

 REVIEW:
Rachel Hawkins has written a fantastic book and one that I totally enjoyed reading from start to finish. With a hint of Harry Potter and Evernight, Hex Hall is a fantastic read with it's own uniqueness and a few POW's! thrown in for good measure. And let me tell you........ the POW near the end...... I did NOT see that one coming!!!

Rachel has chosen some great names for  her characters - Chaston, Elodie, Jenna and Archer to just name a few - and there is no Gabriel!!!! I have read soooo many books with a Gabriel in it lately!!LOL!!   

Ooohhh Archer....... you guessed it - he's the gorgeous, popular male lead (and a warlock) that Sophie falls for. He IS the "it" crowd and all the girls want to be his girlfriend.  Sophie gets stuck on detention with him and a friendship blossoms....but you know there is going to be a hitch don't you??! and one you certainly wont see coming (well I didn't!).

As for dear Sophie she is totally oblivious to what her life should have been like growing up as a witch. she's thrown in to this world she knows nothing about and by the father she has never met (insert big POW near  the end!!).


Throw in a threesome of snitchy, bitchy witches that torment Sophie for her lack of knowledge of her own kind, a lone vampire student as a room mate and a witch killer..... and Rachel has created a great read from throwing a bunch of naughty spell wielding magical juveniles into boarding school. Hex Hall comes complete with humour, a "prom" and love with the wrong guy! And a story that I am looking forward to continuing when book 2 is released.

Enjoy!

Marissa