Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins Narrator: Cris Dukehart
Series: Hex Hall #1
Published by Disney Electronic Content on 2010-05-29
Length: 7 hrs and 11 mins
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Paranormal, Young Adult
Pages: 336
Format: Audiobook
Goodreads
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.
Julie’s Review:
Hex Hall is probably the first book I truly enjoyed in MONTHS! Finally I came across a book that might get me out of my rut? The first thing that I immediately liked was Sophie already knew something about her special abilities, so this book did not fall into the way overused trope of paranormal YA where the main character discovers he or she is something not quite human and spends half the book denying it to themselves. You know I’m right about that – almost all the books I read start out like that. I also enjoyed that Sophie has a parental presence in her life. Sure, her Dad is absent, but in communication, and her Mom raised her knowing about Prodigium (witches, faeries, shape-shifters).
I liked Sophie right away with her trying to help her friend even though her spell backfired. She ends up at Hecate Hall, and she has to deal with normal new school blues and being treated like an outcast by other students and seems to be hated by many of the teachers. Sophie learns about a murder that took place at the school earlier, and then two other girls are attacked and nearly die in the same way. She t s to figure it out, mostly because everyone seems to blame her vampire roommate, but no one believes her that the school could have been infiltrated.
That’s what is great about this book – it has a lot of secrets. This book reveals pieces to the puzzle a bit at a time and I didn’t see the ending coming at all. That’s why I’m so excited. This book was not predictable, but instead was mysterious and intriguing the entire time. I was never bored and always wanted to keep going even though my commute was over. The twists and reveals at the end were awesome and there were many of them that were both intertwined and completely independent. I was sad that a character I liked ended up being tied up with the bad guys, but that reveal wasn’t even the beginning. Sophie does some kick-ass stuff to protect herself and stop the big bad of the story, which is awesome because who doesn’t like a character who comes into her own just in time. She finds out some truths about herself that aren’t quite easy, and makes a decision that sets up the next book.
Maybe my favorite thing was the book resolved the main issue and did not end in a cliffhanger! I’ve been reading too many books that just stop or really don’t do much in the first book – I hate that! So overall I’m just super excited that I read something I enjoyed so much when my reads up until this point have been mediocre at best. So yea, I definitely recommend this to people who enjoy a good paranormal YA.
I also wanted to add that the narrator is excellent. I enjoyed all the personality she put into her characters, and the accents and voices she did were great.
Can I tell you I sighed in relief when I saw your rating? This book is on my shelf and I will definitely be putting it on my list to be read next year…reading what I own, you know! 😉 I love books with twists and turns and that keep me guessing throughout. And I’m so glad that you found a book to get you out of your reading rut!
Bookworm Brandee recently posted…**Release Day Blas & Giveaway ~ Havoc ~ Autumn Grey**
I was relieved too 🙂 I hate not liking or just being meh about a book. Glad I finally read this one too.
I’ll have to see if my library has this when I’m finished listening to Cress. Sound promising!
Terri M. recently posted…Scenic Sundays #13: Doctor Who and Marjane Satrapi
Ooh yay for libraries 🙂 Hope they have this.
Hex Hall has been sitting on my shelf for ages and now I really want to get around to reading it! I love the sound of the suspense and unpredictability, that’s always great to have in a book like this. Glad you liked this one!
Hope you enjoy it too when you get to reading it 🙂
I have heard of Hex Hall- but your review made me really want to read it. You pointed out so many good things about the book and the fact that it is the first book you have enjoyed in months. Wow! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Hope you like it too 🙂
I don’t think I’ve even heard of this book/series before and I guess I’ve been missing out! I love that it hasn’t a different story line and parental presence, that’s great! Definitely adding to my tbr! Great review!
Berls @ Fantasy is More Fun recently posted…A Month of Giving Thanks Day 26
Yea it is definitely an awesome first book in a series. And it would be great if I could spell definitely without having to use the spell checker.
For some reason, even though I’ve heard a lot about this series and it’s so popular, I just never felt the urge to read it. But wow, the first book you enjoyed in months, huh? Sounds pretty promising. 🙂 “overused trope of paranormal YA where the main character discovers he or she is something not quite human and spends half the book denying it to themselves” — Ugh, I totally know what you mean here. Can’t count the number of times that’s been used in books. Really glad that Hex Hall was different, though!
Ahh, secrets. They can be so annoying if the author decides to keep everything hidden as a cheap ploy to keep the readers reading, but when it’s done right, then the book becomes pretty much epic. And I know some people who hate twists and unexpected events with a passion, but I’m not one of them! I love being surprised, actually. xD
Finally a YA book with no cliffhanger, too. Honestly, the best books are the ones that can keep their reader interested without needing to end the book with a “bang” or something. Yay that you enjoyed this, Julie! Who knows, your review might have changed my mind about wanting to check out this series. It sounds really fun!
It is a little sad when a book wows me because of what it doesn’t include, huh? Take note authors, we don’t like those overdone tropes. Well, hope you enjoy it if you end up reading it someday 🙂
Team Cal all the way!
I did buy the final book’s audio. Just gotta listen to it. I hope Team Cal wins heh