Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

It always happens like this. There’s always someone at Sophie Mercer’s new school that she feels the need to help. Ever since she came into her powers three years ago, she’s been able to. Of course, that doesn’t mean she should, because Sophie’s spells have a habit of working—too well. When Sophie’s love spell causes a minor catastrophe at the school prom, her estranged warlock father is the one who decides her punishment. Now Sophie has to move again, this time to Hecate Hall, an isolated reform school for the wayward Prodigium, the witches, faeries, and shapeshifters who’ve broken the rules. Sophie is told she needs to be at Hex Hall for her own protection, but the longer she stays, the less she thinks that’s worth. After all, how safe could the school be from age old threats like societies determined to exterminate all Prodigium? And when students start being attacked by a mysterious predator, it becomes clear that Hex Hall is in need of a little extra protection. Sophie finds herself working feverishly to solve this mystery, to save potential victims and her only friend’s reputation, in spite of the threat it poses to her.

Hex Hall, though not especially original or amazing, is nonetheless a fun and enjoyable novel. There’s no doubt that this book has supernatural elements, but Hawkins keeps things interesting by intermingling different magical species and giving them personality. To me, it seems just a shame that Hex Hall wasn’t publishing earlier; I perhaps would’ve praised it more. However, because I’ve read so many similar storylines, the brilliance of this one is a little dimmed. One thing that I can praise for sure regardless of my literary background is Hawkins’ pacing of this novel. The reader is immediately brought into the story, which is evenly spread throughout the book instead of having the main action crammed into the last few pages. Of course, I don’t mind that Hawkins saved a few secrets and betrayals for the end, because she did it in a way that flows and it’s part of what makes this story so interesting. Overall, Hex Hall is an entertaining and solid debut novel sure to please readers.

Hex Hall will be enjoyed by fans of Firespell by Chloe Neill, Fallen by Lauren Kate, Revealers by Amanda Marrone, and the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz. I greatly look forward to the continuation of this story.

Rating: 4.25

Review copy from publisher Disney-Hyperion