Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

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.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

Hex Hall was great. As soon as I read the synopsis, I knew that it was something I'd be interested in. Sophie was a believable main character, although sometimes I felt that she was a bit too clueless about everything (even though that was kind of the point). 

The plot was good, although there were things that I saw coming from a mile away. But saying that, there were also twists that completely came out of nowhere, so it evened out. 

This book was a little darker than the cover and title let on, but I liked that. 

There was also something I didn't like. A few times in the book, Sophie is talking with someone, or in the middle of doing something, and the chapter ends. When the next chapter begins, whatever was happening has ended, and Sophie fills you in on what you missed. It's nothing that ruins the book, but I didn't like it.

The plot was thought out well, and clues were cleverly dropped so the final revelation doesn't come out of nowhere, and most of the characters are believable and interesting.

In the end, I felt that Hex Hall was good, but a little too short. It feels like a set-up for book 2 more than a standalone read, but I'll be eagerly waiting to see what happens next. 

Hex Hall is recommended if you like Harry Potter, The Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz.