A review by jscarpa14
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
5.0
***NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS***
Sophie Mercer is not normal, she a witch that just can’t seem to fit in anywhere. When she attempts to help a crying girl get her ideal prom date and the spell goes horribly wrong she’s shipped off to a boarding school for Prodigiums like herself called Hecate Hall. Unfortunately she doesn’t fit in any better there either. When girls start being attacked and some die her only friend is accused of committing the crime. Sophie knows she didn’t do it, but can she discover who did before it’s too late for them both?
Okay so I completely loved this book. The characters were well developed and multifaceted. The plot line was excellent and it was so fast paced that I finished it in just a couple hours. I mean sure there were a few things I didn’t like, little plot twists with the characters that I’d prefer had never happened, but they were definitely surprising twists and it was more that I hated seeing bad things happen to the characters rather than anything actually being wrong with the book.
Rachel’s character is easy to relate to and what I loved about this book is that while Hawkins did make her different than all the other characters, stronger in ways, she didn’t actually make her better. Usually the hero or heroine in stories like this learns they’re different, special and more powerful because they’re there to serve some fated higher purpose and save everyone. Rachel has a twist similar, but not something that makes her the fated ideal hero.
I enjoyed seeing the multiple sides to the characters, the plot was highly engaging. Even though the boarding school for supernaturals plot line has been done before, her take on it I felt was surprisingly original and a delight to read. It was interesting to see the sheer variety of supernatural creatures she included in this book. I enjoyed seeing the distrust between the different species of Prodigiums because it reminded me of racism you see in everyday life because for most part it seems born of a lack of understanding for that which is different.
One of the other intriguing things she employed which I like was the difference in the way the Prodigiums are raised. It’ almost as if what makes them magical prevents them from moving forward with the times as they employ old fashioned practices like betrothals. While the practice is on the barbaric side it goes to further display how much their world is based on tradition and just one more thing to illustrate how their culture is very different from ours.
This review is a little shorter than most that I write because the few things I’d rather not have happened are definite plot spoilers that I can’t share and otherwise all I can think of is gushing praise for the book. This is one of those young adult paranormals that transcends ages and shouldn’t be missed. A definite must read.
Sophie Mercer is not normal, she a witch that just can’t seem to fit in anywhere. When she attempts to help a crying girl get her ideal prom date and the spell goes horribly wrong she’s shipped off to a boarding school for Prodigiums like herself called Hecate Hall. Unfortunately she doesn’t fit in any better there either. When girls start being attacked and some die her only friend is accused of committing the crime. Sophie knows she didn’t do it, but can she discover who did before it’s too late for them both?
Okay so I completely loved this book. The characters were well developed and multifaceted. The plot line was excellent and it was so fast paced that I finished it in just a couple hours. I mean sure there were a few things I didn’t like, little plot twists with the characters that I’d prefer had never happened, but they were definitely surprising twists and it was more that I hated seeing bad things happen to the characters rather than anything actually being wrong with the book.
Rachel’s character is easy to relate to and what I loved about this book is that while Hawkins did make her different than all the other characters, stronger in ways, she didn’t actually make her better. Usually the hero or heroine in stories like this learns they’re different, special and more powerful because they’re there to serve some fated higher purpose and save everyone. Rachel has a twist similar, but not something that makes her the fated ideal hero.
I enjoyed seeing the multiple sides to the characters, the plot was highly engaging. Even though the boarding school for supernaturals plot line has been done before, her take on it I felt was surprisingly original and a delight to read. It was interesting to see the sheer variety of supernatural creatures she included in this book. I enjoyed seeing the distrust between the different species of Prodigiums because it reminded me of racism you see in everyday life because for most part it seems born of a lack of understanding for that which is different.
One of the other intriguing things she employed which I like was the difference in the way the Prodigiums are raised. It’ almost as if what makes them magical prevents them from moving forward with the times as they employ old fashioned practices like betrothals. While the practice is on the barbaric side it goes to further display how much their world is based on tradition and just one more thing to illustrate how their culture is very different from ours.
This review is a little shorter than most that I write because the few things I’d rather not have happened are definite plot spoilers that I can’t share and otherwise all I can think of is gushing praise for the book. This is one of those young adult paranormals that transcends ages and shouldn’t be missed. A definite must read.