Rachel Hawkins’s Hex Hall is the first book in the Hex Hall series. Sophie Mercer is a witch who lives with her human mother. She first discovered her powers when she was thirteen and they got her into plenty of trouble. After wielding her powers for years, a love spell gone wrong attracts too much unwanted attention. As punishment, she gets sent to Hecate Hall (aka. Hex Hall), a reform school for shapeshifters, witches, warlocks, and faeries. At this enchanted boarding school, Sophie soon meets a new best friend, makes three new enemies, and falls for the hottest boy on campus. But before she can settle into Hex Hall, witches start getting attacked and her new best friend is the prime suspect.
Sophie has a lot of average qualities. Like many protagonists, she is curious and brave when she needs to be. She is extremely sarcastic and her sense of humor makes the book light-hearted. Growing up in a human home, she is unaware of many things in the world of magic. When people offer her advice, she trusts them because she is in need of basic information. Sadly, her trusting nature gets her into trouble. Sophie is extremely accepting of new people and ideas. Her self-confidence in her powers is shattered upon entry to Hex Hall, but, as the book progresses, she regains her confidence in her powers.
Hex Hall was a fun read. Sophie’s new school is just like any cliché high school, but on a smaller scale. While this school lacks clubs and seemingly is female dominated, it does have people like, the hottest boy on campus, the trinity of bullies, evil teachers mixed with nice ones, and the best friend who is a social outcast. Instead of social clubs, most students are divided by race. Faeries stick with faeries while witches generally stick with witches. Thankfully, the book’s unique location, and Sophie’s sarcasm distracts you from the overused tropes. Very little world building is done in this book. Readers do get to learn about Hex Hall, but there isn’t much emphasis on the world these characters live in. Hopefully, there will be more on that in the next book in the series. The story’s plot remains moving throughout the entirety of the story. Every time you begin to get comfortable with the story’s progression, Rachel Hawkins throws a curveball that changes everything. Side plots unravel around Sophie making the story more interesting. Some of them create grim and sad scenes that add depth to the usually sarcastic story. Hex Hall remains a fun read while occasionally delving into sadder topics like bullying and the loss of friends. Sophie’s emotional side makes her easy to sympathize with and the cliché setting make the book even lighter. I give this 323 page book 4 stars.
Sophie has a lot of average qualities. Like many protagonists, she is curious and brave when she needs to be. She is extremely sarcastic and her sense of humor makes the book light-hearted. Growing up in a human home, she is unaware of many things in the world of magic. When people offer her advice, she trusts them because she is in need of basic information. Sadly, her trusting nature gets her into trouble. Sophie is extremely accepting of new people and ideas. Her self-confidence in her powers is shattered upon entry to Hex Hall, but, as the book progresses, she regains her confidence in her powers.
Hex Hall was a fun read. Sophie’s new school is just like any cliché high school, but on a smaller scale. While this school lacks clubs and seemingly is female dominated, it does have people like, the hottest boy on campus, the trinity of bullies, evil teachers mixed with nice ones, and the best friend who is a social outcast. Instead of social clubs, most students are divided by race. Faeries stick with faeries while witches generally stick with witches. Thankfully, the book’s unique location, and Sophie’s sarcasm distracts you from the overused tropes. Very little world building is done in this book. Readers do get to learn about Hex Hall, but there isn’t much emphasis on the world these characters live in. Hopefully, there will be more on that in the next book in the series. The story’s plot remains moving throughout the entirety of the story. Every time you begin to get comfortable with the story’s progression, Rachel Hawkins throws a curveball that changes everything. Side plots unravel around Sophie making the story more interesting. Some of them create grim and sad scenes that add depth to the usually sarcastic story. Hex Hall remains a fun read while occasionally delving into sadder topics like bullying and the loss of friends. Sophie’s emotional side makes her easy to sympathize with and the cliché setting make the book even lighter. I give this 323 page book 4 stars.