Spellbound - Rachel Hawkins

Spellbound: A Hex Hall Novel – Rachel Hawkins

Pages: 327

Publisher: Simon Pulse (S&S UK)

Release Date: 29^th March 2012

Other Titles in the Series: Hex Hall, Raising Demons

Sometimes Sophie Mercer wishes she could go back to before she started at Hex Hall, the school for magical Prodigium. In one year she’s gone from average girl-next-door to discovering she’s a demon with extraordinary powers. And, just as she is starting to get her head around that, the Prodigium Council strip away her magic and kidnap her friends, leaving her defenceless and alone.

Now, stranded at the mercy of the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who want to destroy all Prodigium, Sophie could really use a little magical help. But the Brannicks have a few revelations of their own, and Sophie’s world is turned upside down...again.

Can Sophie find her friends, regain her powers and take on the bad guys and win? Or will this final battle be one too far?

I was simultaneously very excited and rather sad when I first picked up Spellbound – it’s the last book in the wonderfully funny Hex Hall trilogy.

I have to admit to being a little lost at the beginning of Spellbound. It had been quite a while since I’d read Raising Demons and I couldn’t remember what had happened at the end of the book. As I read on, a few elements were clarified, but not everything came back enough that I was unable to understand the subtleties. Though I hate that, I think this diminished by love of this book a little. I wish I had had time to re-read the first two books in the trilogy before beginning Spellbound.

One of the things that make this trilogy so much fun is the non-stop pace. I’d forgotten how full-on and heart-stopping the action is. I mean, there was a major bombshell at just thirty pages into the novel! I really love it – there’s never a good moment to put Spellbound down. Adding to the break-neck plot is the delicious sarcasm delivered by Sophie. I really love this girl. Her tendency to make a joke or a snarky comment at a moment of high drama or extreme danger had me snorting rather unattractively pretty frequently and wishing I was as quick-witted as her.

As well as a protagonist you can fully get behind and want to be best friends with, Spellbound’s cast of supporting characters are brilliantly formed. First, you have Archer Cross. If you’ve read either of the previous books, you’ll know exactly what I mean – sa-woon. Then you’ve got the kick-ass vampire best friend Jenna who would walk into Hell with Sophie and some rather brilliant characters who are introduced in Spellbound: Torin, Aislinn (I really love that name), Izzy and Finley. You just can’t help but fall in love with this cast.

Although I’m sad that this series is over, I’m glad that we got the end we did and I can’t wait to see what Rachel Hawkins will delight me with next.  

Thank you to S&S for providing me with a review copy.

Sophie