Hex Hall -- Rachel Hawkins

I thought it was odd that there was a cat on the cover, as Sophie specifically stated at the beginning of the book that she's allergic¹, and because, from what I remember, there wasn't a single scene that featured a cat.  Ahem.  Moving on.

After casting a disastrous-consequence-laden love spell at her high school prom, sophomore Sophie Mercer finds herself packed up and shipped out to High School #20.  Which is a bit different than the last nineteen, as Hex Hallis a reform school for Prodigium adolescents -- witches, warlocks, fae, weres, shifters, and yes, vampires -- who can't seem to fly under the radar in the mundane world.

Once there, she finds herself rooming with the school's sole vampire² -- who may have, incidentally, murdered her previous roommate -- as well as in lurrrve/hate with an extremely attractive yet extremely maddening (you know the type) warlock who happens to be dating one Mega Bitch of a Dark Witch who wants Sophie to join her coven.  She also discovers that her father -- who she's never met -- is a lot more important in the wizarding world than she imagined.  And that there are a whole lot of people who hold that against her.

OH MY GOD, FUN!  Yes, like Academy 7, Hex Hall plays out the Discovery of Friendship and Lurrrve Through Detention³ storyline, but Sophie is a hilarious narrator -- the love spell gone wrong at the beginning made me laugh out loud, mostly because of this line:  "It's okay, baby!  I don't need eyes to see you!  I see you with the eyes of my heart, Felicia!  My HEART!" -- and there are a few plot twists that make it clear that there will be Much Excitement and Drama in the coming books.  (That isn't to say that I didn't see them coming, but that's because um, HELLO, my brain is huge and also because the author provided decent foreshadowing -- not because she slapped her manuscript (or my head) around with the Obvious Stick.) 

It's the first in a series, it ends on a total cliffhanger -- which I know will drive some of my kids bananas -- and I'm very much looking forward to the next one.  A must, must read for those who like the chick-lit style boarding school stories and/or chick-lit-ish YA fantasies.

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¹Query:  If someone is allergic to cats/dogs, would they also be allergic to weres and shifters?  Also, hey look -- I finally got around to looking up the superscript code!

²Discounting Lord Byron, the English teacher.  Yes, THAT Lord Byron.

³I read two in a row completely by accident.  What are the odds?

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Book source:  My local library.

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Comments

[Anastasia]

I have been wanting to read this book ever since I saw the cover a few weeks ago, which, misplace cat or no, is pretty nifty. I'm glad that you liked it, because I had the feeling that this is one of those books that could go either way-- but since you DO like it, I'll probably like it, too! :D

[Kelly Fineman]

My 15-yo LOVED this one. Didn't mention the cat incongruity, but was thrilled with the cover, which stands out on the bookstore shelves - they continue to be awash in black, blue and purple (evidently, the colors that say "supernatural"?) This one looked so much happier than most that she grabbed for it right away. Not one to judge a book only by its cover, she read flap copy and the first two pages or so at the store before we bought it. (I'm proud that my "training" is paying off - it saves us buying boos that she won't actually read.)

She liked it so much, in fact, that she chattered happily about it for about 20 minutes once she was done (completely spoiling the book for me in the process, but I don't mind - I love it when M gets so excited that she wants to babble about a book).

[Angie]

*grin* Now this is the review that has made me want to read this one. I was just waiting for one to pop up and you went and provided it for me. Thanks, Leila. Sounds like a blast.

[Jen Hubert Swan]

I. Love. This. Review. That is all:)

[Leila]

Kelly: Yes! So nice to read a less tortured fantasy. And it's awesome that she loved it enough to babble -- always a good sign!

Everyone else: Thank you and YAY! Have fun with it!

[Apaperbackwriter.blogspot.com]

Generally I tend to agree with your reviews, but I couldn't get past a few chapters of this book, as I felt the protagonist acted in ways inconsistent with her objectives -- which is a fancy way of saying that she didn't ring true with me at all. Perhaps it's because I'd just finished Once a Witch, which is not perfect but has significantly more believable characters, in my opinion.
Still, keep up those reviews; they help me a lot. :)

[dotdotdot]

This seemed like a great one to foist off on younger readers who want to be part of the paranormal fiction readership but who aren't quite ready for the grittier stuff. It was a definitely fun read.

[Lisa]

I read this one after reading your review, and it IS a lot of fun! I read the first chapter while waiting for my annual eye exam, and the other patients thought it was pretty funny that I snorted through my nose with laughter at that line "It's okay, baby! I don't need eyes to see you! I see you with the eyes of my heart, Felicia! My HEART!" After a recent surfeit of Twilight and even more badly written Twilight wannabes that I am having trouble justifying to myself how the hell I got involved in that anyway, Hex Hall was a nice palate refresher.

[Gina @ My Precious]

The cat on the front cover and her being allergic to them is a symbolism of sorts, or more or less an oxymoron. If you've read the book you know what I'm speaking of, if not I don't want to spoil anything.

[Leila]

Huh. You think?