Book Review: Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Spell Bound
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Page: 327
Publisher: Disney Book Group
Genre: Adventure, action, romance
Rating: 4.5/5

In this amazing final book of Rachel Hawkins’s Hex Hall Series, Sophie Mercer is forced to make decisions that will decide not only her fate, but the world’s as well.

Sophie never thought that she would be the most important person in the magical war. But there she was. Being the only demon fighting for the protection of other magical creatures, was never her intentions. It’s too late to say no, though. And now, the fate of the world depends on what she does.

As the evil Casnoff sisters continue their plan to create an army that will forever change the world, Sophie realizes that everything she had been told about her enemies was false. Now, coming to terms with the cold brutal truth, it seems that all her facts were lies, and Sophie must repair the damage that has been done. Filled with romance, adventure, and a heart-breaking end, Spell Bound will leave readers astounded.

My favorite character in this book is Sophie Mercer, the protagonist of this story. With her stubborn refusal to give up, and her continuously trying to solve her problems, she’s a character that many will enjoy reading about. Together, Sophie, Archer, Jenna and Cal will have to fight their enemies, and give it all they have if there is to be any hope for them to win the war.

Rachel Hawkins writes an amazing ending to the Hex Hall Series in Spell Bound. With the stakes higher than they’ve ever been before, everything is on the line and nothing is certain. But, throughout all of this, Hawkins still manages to show the hope the characters hold close to their hearts, and the readers are still given a taste of the wit and sarcasm that have entertained them throughout this series.

Finding out that this was the last book to the Hex Hall series, I was happy and sad. Happy because the solution to this enjoyable adventure was sure to be a stunning one, and sad because it would be the end to a great series that I had thoroughly enjoyed reading. And I was right. This book has twists and turns that nobody can see coming, and an adventure that nobody can resist. But with the completion of Spell Bound, the Hex Hall Series is finished, and Rachel Hawkins’s series is over. Hawkins has done a truly outstanding job with the finale to this magical series, one that I am sure readers will treasure.

Read the other books in the Hex Hall Series, including the first book Hex Hall, and its sequel Demonglass. The first book of a new series, School Spirits, will be released in May, 2013. I recommend this book – and series – to anybody who loves a good adventure, along with a compelling romance. To get a sneak peak at what life is like after the battle, read A Very Hexy Valentine’s Day, a Hex Hall Extra.

Book Review: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Demonglass
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Pages: 359
Publisher: Disney Book Group
Genre: Adventure, Romance
Rating: 9/10

If you’ve read ‘Hex Hall’ by Rachel Hawkins, you might remember Sophie Mercer. Sophie has had a hectic first year at Hecate Hall, otherwise known as Hex Hall. Being the odd girl out is nothing, seeing as she has had experience being one her whole life. But having a murderer going around who’s sucking people’s blood is a bit strange even for Sophie, one of only 2 demons in the world. She’s not even human – she’s a monster. But the worst part is that she might just destroy everybody and everything with her powers. Maybe even the whole world.

Now, during the summer, Sophie is traveling with her father and friends, Jenna and Cal to a new home, where she will learn the importance of her powers, and the truth about being a demon. Things are strange at her new home. There are two other teenagers living in the same building as Sophie and her friends, and the strange part is that they’re both demons. But that’s surprising, seeing that Sophie and her father are supposed to be the only two in the world. The worst part is that a mysterious group of people are hunting Sophie down, and won’t stop until she’s dead.

My favorite character in this book is Sophie Mercer. Making the right decision isn’t as easy as people say it is. Faced with dilemmas at every stage of her adventure, Sophie knows that staying out of danger might not be a possibility anymore. And that’s why reading Rachel Hawkins’s stories about Sophie’s adventures is so enjoyable. With Sophie’s heroic and hilarious attitude, reading about her is one heck of a ride.

Hawkins has written a fast-paced book in which readers are thrust into adventure and mystery. As I continued the book, putting it down was no longer an option. With her character in a difficult situation, the author entertains readers with witty and serious dialogue, to the point where rereading this book is a choice I’m sure I won’t regret. Throwing in a surprising turn of events, and a difficult decision or two, makes this book a must-read for teens of all ages.

When I read the excerpt for this book, I just knew I had to read it. Being a sequel to a book like Hex Hall (which I absolutely loved), I knew that it could not be a disappointment, and suffice it to say, I was right. This book is full of action, conflict, confusion and romance. The feelings of love Sophie has for Archer shine through, and help her figure out the solution to her problems. Along with her friends and family, will Sophie be able to differentiate between right and wrong in the messed up, magic-drunk world she is living in?

Rachel Hawkins leads the readers and Sophie through a dangerous, magical world, in which the truth is not what it seems, and true love always prevails. Read Demonglass and join Sophie Mercer on an epic ride of twists and turns to find out the truth about her life and the mystery it holds. I recommend the book Demonglass to all people who love adventure, mystery and romance. The third book in this series, Spell Bound, is also out, and a new upcoming book called School Spirits is releasing in May, 2013.

Book Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Hex Hall
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Pages: 323
Publisher: Disney Book Group
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction
Rating: 9/10

‘Even over all the noise, Felicia’s words echoed in the cavernous gym. “She’s … she’s a witch!” I sighed. “Not again.”’

This excerpt is from the book Hex Hall, when Sophie Mercer is yet again exposed as a witch. Sophie is an ordinary girl, you know, minus the whole witch thing. And it’s not like this is the first time that she was exposed, but this time her father, the head of the council of Prodigium (witches, faeries, and shape shifters), sentences her to Hex Hall, a reform school for Prodigium that just attracts way too much attention. But that’s not it. There’s a mysterious murderer who is going around attacking students, and sucking out all their blood. The problem is, is that the number one suspect is Sophie’s friend Jenna, the only vampire in the school. Will Sophie be able to stop the mysterious attacks and clear her friend’s name? Or will Jenna be banished from the school and exiled from the Prodigium community?

Sophie’s the new girl again, but this time, she’s with her own kind of people: the Prodigium. Here at Hex Hall there are hundreds of Prodigium, and not all of them are on the good side. From the 3 witches trying to complete their coven and who are up to some suspicious behavior, to Archer, a warlock who has practically all the girls swooning when he walks past them, and then the mysterious Holly, the first person killed in the long line of injuries. Will Sophie get to the bottom of this, or will all the students become victims to the strange monster(s)?

My favorite character in this book is Sophie. Sophie is a girl who is full of adventure, and not afraid to get in trouble. As the days in Hex Hall go by, Sophie finds that she is being drawn into the mystery, and might actually be close to solving it. From having a showdown with the most popular and mean girl in the school, Elodie, to finding about the dangerous and foolish truths to the injuries, Sophie is in for one heck of an adventure.

This book is interesting because of how the author Ms. Rachel Hawkins shows a girl’s life, and all the drama that is in it. It is also interesting because Ms. Hawkins adds an adventurous side of the story, making it go from adventure to mystery to romance, and then back again to adventure, making it even more complicated and makes it even harder to set the book down.

Will Sophie get to the bottom of the mystery? Will she finally catch the victim, or will he or she get away? Will Jenna be charged guilty? And will Sophie learn to control her powers? Read the book ‘Hex Hall’ by Rachel Hawkins to find out. I recommend this book to people who like adventure, mystery, and romance.

Rachel Hawkins is the author of the Hex Hall series, which consists of Hex Hall, Demonglass and Spell Bound. Upcoming books include School Spirits and Rebel Belle.