Spell Bound (Hex Hall #3)

I'm going to do everything in my power to keep myself reigned in and keep this review short. That is hard for me to do with Ms. Hawkins's books. For me, I thought this was a great conclusion for the Hex Hall books. I have to limit what I say so I don't give things away.

The book picks up around where Demonglass left off. Sophie had left to go find her mother. Cal had told her that her mother was with the Brannick's *a group of monster hunters* so that's where the story picks up. She finds that she doesn't know where her father, Cal, Archer, or Jenna are. It was a bit of a pickle. Plus, she is a demon looking for her mother with a group that tends to hunt demons. It had all the makings for a horrible situation. Waiting for Sophie though is a very interesting discovery. It definitely threw me for a loop.

The characters, as always, are incredible. Sophie's sarcasm and snark are irresistible for me as a reader. I just want more and more. I thought this was one of the funniest of the books. It also was action-packed, full of twists and turns, and kept me on my toes. The love triangle between Cal and Archer was really hard for me because I really loved both of them. Sophie does make her choice though.

There was something really sad that happens in the end though. Really sad. The last few pages did help me get closure on the series. All in all, the book is an awesome conclusion to an awesome series.
Low Points: While the book was action-packed, at times it just felt too rushed. There was a particular scene at the end of the book that was this huge action scene and a huge part of the plot. It took up only about five pages. That's just crazy. I also did not like how the love triangle was solved in the ending. I felt incredibly bad for the one not picked.

High Points: The humor, of course. Sophie is such a kick-butt character, and she is loyal and willing to get herself into all kinds of problems. Jenna and her friendship with Sophie is one of the best bff-relationships ever.

Who Should Read It: Readers who still haven't finished the Hex Hall series should jump on that.

The Nutshell: Overall, Spell Bound is a good end to the Hex Hall series. The same humor and wit is there, same as always, and everything gets tied up rather nicely. If you enjoyed the other two books in the series, then you’ll almost surely enjoy this one as well!

Spellbound is the third and final installment in Rachel Hawkins' Hex Hall series, and it definitely establishes love/hate feelings in me. On the love side, the writing is solid, and the snarkiness of the characters creates a fun atmosphere, even in times of danger.

The story picks up where Demonglass left off. We finally learn the fate of Sophie and, eventually, the others after the explosion that rocked Thorn Abbey. One thing that Hawkins does with adept skill is create characters people are invested in. I feel Sophie's pain as she waits for news of her friends and family. In fact, I worried along with her. The characters are richly drawn and entertaining. The addition of the Brannicks and Torin added a new dimension to Sophie's story that deserves to be explored more.

The plot lines were interesting and always kept me guessing. The entire Hex Hall series has a feeling of motion. The pace moves from one situation to the next with little time to take a breath. The story has a few quiet moments that add depth and gravity to the final chapters of the book.

However, there is one negative. Without spoiling anything, one character did not get the ending he deserved, at least in my opinion. As a reader, it is difficult to invest in characters and then feel cheated by their ending. When something major happens to a character, there needs to be some importance for it or reasoning behind it. When that explanation is lacking, it is difficult to accept the character's fate. This was the one thing in the book that didn't work for me.

Overall, Hex Hall is an entertaining series with strong characters and fantastic humor. If you like snarky paranormals with a diverse cast of characters, this series is for you.

Oh, YAY! Finally! Archer or Cal? Cal or Archer? I'm pleased with the outcome. Sad about one part, but it worked for this story. Very well!

Rachel Hawkins has written another book that has lots of humor. The amount of nervousness that Sophie feels, she exudes that much wit in return. It's hilarious! Honestly, who doesn't make bad jokes when they're nervous? I do!

This book had more information for Sophie to find out more of who she is...from her mother's side of the family. We got her dad's history in Demonglass. With the cliffhanger in Demonglass, you kind of figured it out, but it's nice to see you're correct in your assumption!

I'm glad that Hawkins wrote such great friends for Sophie. Imagine taking on evil on your own! When Jenna and Archer joined Sophie and Cal when they were going to the Underworld...I just sobbed. I had to put the book down for a moment! Sheesh! Archer, Jenna, Cal, and even Elodie were great in this book!

Yay for Mrs. Casnoff! Without her, there is no telling what would have happened there at the end.

Overall, I enjoyed and really liked Spell Bound. However, there wasn't as much "SHAZAM!" in this one as the first 2 books. I love the series and will read all 3 again at some point. They all have a happy home on my lovely bookshelf...and my heart.