Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Hex Hall
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Hardcover 336 pages
Published: March 2, 2010
Reading Level: YA
My copy: Book it Forward Tours
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Blurb from Amazon.com:

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. 

My quick wicked thoughts...A fun and drama-filled read about witches, spells, school and of course...a forbidden cute warlock.

Why I was tempted to read this...Well I have been wanting to read it for a long time, I knew this kind of book was right down my alley, and I was not disappointed!

Cover thoughts...Well my ARC was just plain and white but I really love both the US and UK versions of the cover!

Romance Meter...Oh  yeah...definite chemistry between Sophie and Archer.  While they didn't get to explore that spark much because Archer was dating the queen bee of the witches (with a B), there were moments together where it was undeniable. So I would say a 3.5 out of 5...but I think the 2nd book will heat up the romance factor some!

Character and Plot...Our main character, Sophie, is a witch that unfortunately hasn't had formal training since she lives with her human mother and her warlock father has been absent her whole life...this leads to a lot of trouble which gets Sophie sent to Hex Hall for school.  There she makes friends with her outcast roommate (the only vampire student) and makes enemies of the clique of beautiful witches.  She also starts a love/hate relationship with Archer, a cute warlock.  When member of this clique start getting hurt in the same way that a witch died in last year, all fingers point to Sophie's vampire roommate.  Sophie refuses to believe this and goes on her own mission to find the truth.  In the meantime, a ghost from her family line shows up to help Sophie out in magic. The plot was fast moving and action packed, it kept me interested and flipping pages until the end.

The Ending...The ending was not so predictable, the author shook up some things and people that you thought were one way, were actually another...or so you think at this point. Is that vague enough? ha ha  There is plenty of room for changing stuff around for sequel.

Sequel...YES according to the author's blog.  It is titled Demonglass and scheduled for release in March 2011.  Can't wait to read it!  And as an added tidbit...Demonglass was actually the name for Hex Hall before it was published but they chose to go a less "dark" direction with the 1st book.