Hex Hall (Hex Hall #1)

Reader reviewed by Emily H.

Excellent book! Once I
picked it up, I didn't put it down until I was done. It's such an easy
and wonderful read. The story was just right. I didn't figure it out
until about 30 seconds before the main character!

Reader reviewed by Jess

I cannot believe I waited until 2011 to read this book! It was great! Sophie was a quirky, funny character who repeatedly made me laugh. Although this story has definitely been done before, Hawkins definitely managed to make the characters and classes extremely original. It was a fast-paced read and I finished it quickly. If anything, I would have liked for the story to slow down a bit to lengthen the book. Still, it was very creative and Im looking forward to Demonglass (3/1/11).

Reader reviewed by Nikki (sng2098)

This book was a lot better than I expected.  I've heard a few people compare it to Harry Potter, I didn't think it was anything like Harry Potter.  Rachel Hawkins did an amazing job with the suspense in the book, and I was VERY surprised by the turn the story takes! I do reccommend this book!

Reader reviewed by Manda Kay

Reader reviewed by Katelyn (The Bookshelf Sophisticate)

If I had to pick one word to describe Rachel Hawkins new book Hex Hall it would be AMAZING! The story was fast paced, the characters intriguing, and her new spin on the paranormal genre was refreshing, and not to mention addicting&I couldnt put the book down.

The protagonist Sophie Mercer was so relatable I didnt even realize how easily I connected to her character until I found myself shouting in outrage when she was picked on, or crossing my fingers that she gets the oh-so-dreamy heartthrob and holding out hope that she can make friends in a place where she finally doesnt have to feel like an outsider. Hawkins created characters that fit the stereotypical outline but yet go beyond the normal limitations. Sophie's fellow witches, for example are not just your normal beautiful, popular, catty mean girls; theyre taken a step further when Hawkins gives them dark powers. Sophie and the readers are not sure what exactly theyre capable of, or how dangerous they really are. I was constantly on the edge of my seat wondering how far they were really willing to go in order to meet their goal, not to mention that I was dying to know what exactly their goal really was. Were the rumors at Hecate really true or are these girls just bluffing?

The murder mystery taking place at the Hecate school, affectionately known by the students as Hex Hall will have readers staying up late into the night to see if Sophie can discover whos behind all these strange attacks, or will she be too late? Will it turn out to be the obvious suspect or someone she least expects? My lips are sealed, if you want to know what happens, youll just have to read the book to find out, you wont regret it. I wasnt disappointed in the least, but I was left craving for more. So now there is yet another sequels release that Ill be hoping comes out sooner rather than later&these authors will be the death of me with their cliffhangers, and far away release dates. Hex Hall was AMAZING, the series is sure to be a success, and Hawkins has only given us a preview of the amazing writing shes capable of and well definitely see more of in the future.

Reader reviewed by Emily Brown

I'm furious. Not because this book wasn't as ahh-mazing as everyone has said, because it surely was! But because the sequel does not come out until 2011. Yes, this is one of those books that makes you want the sequel even when you're only half-way into it! By page 50 I knew this was going to be on my list of "Top Ten Books of the Year". It was just so refreshing, Rachel Hawkins has an ahh-mazing, new, fresh, exciting, blunt writing style. I love it when I find a new author that I can start worshiping.. and I have definitely found one of those with Hex Hall. One of my favorite things about Hex Hall is Sophie, the main character. I don't know what was so appealing about her to me, I guess the fact that she told it how it is. She's hilarious. On the back cover of the book, there is a quote from Becca Fitzpatrick that says "I laughed every page". Now, when I first got the book I didn't believe Becca, I thought she was just saying that to give a good review.. But once I actually started reading Hex Hall, I understood what she meant. Hex Hall actually does make you laugh, every single page you read. Whether it's the dramatic irony, Sophie's sarcasm, or something else Sophia says or does, you laugh EVERY SINGLE PAGE. On top of that, I also found that Hex Hall is a great mystery. The entire time I was reading it I was postive I knew who the culprit of the book's mysterious events was, but of course my guess was wrong. When I stay up reading into the night, I usually tell myself "Okay, ten more pages then go to bed", but with Hex Hall, counting pages was unimportant. The writing style and Sophie's real personality is what kept me reading late into the night (I'm glad I read Hex Hall over spring break! I would've failed my science test if I read it any other week!) As with any great debut series, there is romance. Sophie finds herself attracted to Archer (as did I!) I also loved how this book used "inapropriate language". Yeah, Sophie cussed. But it wasn't like a sailor, and it surely wasn't glossed over for parental control. It was perfect. Also, the paranormal/supernatural aspects of Hex Hall were great. The entire Prodigium world is very original, but sticks to a lot of traditional european mythology concepts. I'm soooooooooooo very excited to read the sequel. (When it comes out, ughhhhhh. Like are you serious? 2011? Fml.) I reccomend this book to readers who love boarding school-typish books, also fans of the House of Night series would love Hex Hall!