Hex Hall: Spellbound

I can't even describe how amazing this whole series is! It's full of romance and danger and humor and friendship and supernatural things so it was the perfect book for me! I highly recommend this book! If I could give it more than 5 stars I defiantly would!!!!<3

The Hex Hall series had me hooked during the first two books but I thought Spellbound was not as big of a finish as I hoped it would be.
SPOILERS:
I despised the ending to this love triangle. There was absolutely no reason for this ending. I understand what Rachel Hawkins was trying to do with Elodie and Cal but I thought it was completely unnecessary. Elodie and Cal didn't even talk before they were dead so why would they suddenly get together now? I thought that most of the book was pretty predictable. And Sophie and Cal resolved their issues before they went into hell. They both decide to become friends. So why did Rachel Hawkins kill Cal?!

Actual rating 3.5 stars.

Still loving this trilogy, the humour, the sass, the magical goings-on. We still get a few unexpected twists, but for me this conclusion wasn’t as quite as fantastic as I thought it would be. It was still Hawkins’ phenomenal writing, and the epic battle scene was amazeballs, but it felt like it was over in the blink of an eye after a massive build-up. It was all kinds of crazy and culminated in epicness.. but it still felt like it was missing something. Maybe I was expecting more of an emotional note? Am I getting spoiled for choice in my reading habits and continually raising the bar in what amazes me? Who knows exactly. While I loved ‘Spell bound’ and found it thoroughly entertaining and clanged the bells for all things YA that I lurve, there was that little something when I finished that whispered in my head that I was needing something bigger...

Our protagonist Sophie was her usual sarcastic self, and I LOL’d many times at her witty one liners, though you get a sense of her beginning to put the humour-masking-fear reaction aside by the end of the novel, showing some of the growth her character is moving through. I did feel that some aspects of her story were rushed, and it felt like we jumped around a bit – location wise and narrative wise. Yes, the story was broken into three parts, but ‘Spell bound’ didn’t have the cohesion its predecessors had.

Cal felt a bit more like a prop in this story... he slowly blended into the background, as did Jenna, Sophie’s vampire best friend. But I can’t fault Hawkins – there was so much going on and the plot blasts forward so quickly that having these two more prominent in the narrative would have been detrimental to the story. The four of them (five if you count Elodie the ghost) formed the best little Scooby gang. I enjoyed this series more than I did the Rebel Belle trilogy.

We get all the answers to the mysteries, and then some. Snippets of backstories are brought to light in a very organic way. But there is still some elements of the mythology that are left floating in the ether, but on the whole this novel wrapped up the trilogy nicely. There is a companion novel, ‘School Spirits,’ which I am definitely going to purchase next. I’m interested in Izzy’s story and hopefully get some more exploration on the Council and Prodigium’s history in the Hex Hall Universe.

I was really impressed with Hawkins writing style, the quips, the description, the pacing. It felt compact, relevant and full of pop culture. I’m kinda wishing this was a longer series because I fell in love with all the characters so much. Maybe Hawkins will revisit Hex Hall again with another great adventure for our misshapen band of teen heroes?

I wonder is Hawkins had every intent to continue with this Universe with the addition of ‘School Spirits’ and much left unsaid – but nothing new has been written since the latest book was published in 2013. But highly recommend this collection, its fun, quick-paced, and quippy YA at its best.

It’s Sophie’s lucky day. The Prodigium Council has put a spell on her that prevents her from using magic right when she needs them the most. Sad, worn out, and defenseless, Sophie makes her way to the Brannicks so that she can meet up with her mother only to discover a lot more than she bargained for at this unconventional safe haven. You see, they think that Sophie is going to be one powerful and badass demon that will prevent all hell from breaking loose in the budding magical war. The only problem? She’s completely powerless… or is she?

I absolutely love this series, so it’s sad for me to say that this installment was a bit disappointing, especially when compared to the others. I still enjoyed the story; it just wasn’t as good as the others. Sophie’s sarcastic remarks seemed out of place for a good portion of the book because it was laid on a little too thick. I know that it’s how she protects herself while also being her go-to defense when she’s nervous, but it was just a bit too much this time around. She could’ve been a little more serious and thrown around less sarcastic remarks. The term “awesome” kept taking me straight of the story as well for some reason, but it might just be me.

There were some aspects of the story that were a little drawn out when it could’ve been shorter so that the battle to come could’ve been fleshed out more than it was. There were sections that went on for too long while important sections were condensed. I wish that there was more of a focus on the shorter but more important aspects of the story, but I’ll live. I also wish that the love triangle was resolved earlier in the book since it had already run its course by the end of the second installment.

That said, I did enjoy the story. I loved finally meeting the Brannicks and learning about their background as well as seeing some of unlikely characters joining forces for the greater good. It was interesting to see these characters interact with one another and seeing them struggle with their beliefs and what they know is the right thing. This installment also touched on more mythical aspects of the world Sophie lives in, so that was nice to see. The story is resolved by the end, but I do see that there’s one more installment, so I am interested in seeing how that plays out.

(Review first published at Goodreads by myself)
Overall the series gets a lower 3.5, rounded to 3.
Fast read, with a lot of action, too much romance, no sex, no swear words and the heroine cries too much for my taste. It could have done with sex, preferably something kinky (demon-fairie ?).
This is, together with the first 2 books in the series, a read for a rainy weekend.
Have read other books in between, so it took me longer, and then I could not wait to finish it, to read something different (hopefully better). Still, have read worse.
Some actions or decisions feel forced, and predictable, as is the main ending (sorry, if you count that as a spoiler, I do not).

My favourite heroine is strong, not whiny, does not cry (at least not a lot), and makes strong decisions and is sure of herself. This not the case with Sophie, most decisions and actions are group decisions and sometimes even then changed by actions of someone of the other groups fighting for domination or to kill all supernatural beings.

Also with her powers ... well, in this third book there is a change, which does not sit too well with me, and, without spoiling it, is a bit sudden, after (spoiler cut) ah, well, I am not an author, so ok, I have to accept that. But it does not work for me.

Like most of the writing and for a fast, fluffy feel-good read I still recommend it, if you can stand the crying and the pesky love-triangle (which I could have done without). Will look for the other books by this author, and check them out, when I feel like it.

327 pages of pure awesomeness. Rachel Hawkins finished off the series with a bang. A bang that will leave a lasting indenture on my life. I felt a little part of my soul fade away as I closed the book for the last time. It has been one of my favorite series now for a while and I just didn't want it to fade away.

Cover:
The cover goes along with all the others and it's just as creepy as all the others! I love how they include Archer's sword, yet I don't know what exactly the cat is doing in the picture... :) Or maybe I just missed that part.

Plot/Writing:
The world Rachel Hawkins has created in a very intense one. She continues on with that world and the way she describes it makes me realize why I fell in love with the series in the first place. There was just one twist after another and I never wanted to put the book down. Of course, when I did finish it, I felt confused. As if I didn't know how to react. Which, I mean, the story wasn't ended on a cliff hanger and everything happened that was supposed to happen, but I just didn't want it to end. Which I know has nothing to do with the plot.. but I have nothing to say about the writing or the plot! :)

Characters:
Sophie is going through ANOTHER identity crisis. I swear, this girl has more issues with their identity than anyone else. Still, Sophie is strong and doesn't let it get her down. She keeps her head up and assesses every situation with a a clear head. She is still the same Sophie we have all come to know and love in the other two books, she is just stronger and way more awesome now! :)

Then there is Archer! Gah, I love this kid. I don't care if he is part of the Eye. He is still amazing in every way shape and form. No one can change my opinion of this kid. He is very dependable in this book and that is a new and very sexy side of Archer. Then there is his witty banter between him and Sophie, which I just love! I would reread a lot of those scenes just to laugh over and over again! :)

All in All:
I loved this series. I will deeply miss the characters and the world that Rachel Hawkins has created. Nothing could be exactly like this series and I am closing the doors on Hex Hall for now. Until I reopen the books later! Check out these books. You will not be sorry.

I love anything witchy and magical, and Spell Bound was just a fun read! This whole series was amazing! Snarky Sophie and swoon-worthy Archer... LOVE! There were a lot of surprising twists and turns in the story, which I loved. And it was just a fantastic ending to the series, but it makes me sad! *cries*

I only had one problem with this book though: you know, how in some sequels in series there are parts in the books where they recap what happened in previous books in said series? And you’re all, “Oh, right! I remember that now!” Well, this one didn’t have that, and it made me very confused because it had been a while since I last read Demonglass . Me, basically: “Oh... yeah! I think I remember that... maybe? Wait, what?”

Being confused is not fun. But overall, I really enjoyed this finale to a wonderful series! I cannot wait to read the companion novel!

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

1. Heroine/Hero: I liked Sophie more in this book than in the last one; however, I still believe that her character could have been stronger. I loved Cal in this book! He mad the ultimate sacrifice for Sophie. She should have at least gave him a fighting chance at winning her heart. I am team Cal all the way and I bet a lot of readers are, too. I feel a bit disappointed with the rest of the characters in the book. This does not entice me to read the spin off series at all. 3 out of 5 stars

2. Evil Antagonist: By the end of Demonglass, the reader knows who the evil people are. So, that is not a surprise there. There should have been an evil surprise, but there was not. It would have made the story more exciting. 3 out of 5 stars

3. Minor Characters: I did not really like the minor characters in this book or at least, the new ones. Her mom and dad, I totally loved. heir strained love shinned through in this one. I loved the way they were portrayed. Archer was still just as charming as ever and I liked him, but I was not attached to him much after the first book. There was more chemistry with Cal. Jenna with her pink streak was the best friend that anyone could ask for. I really liked her in this book. She was braver and embraced her vampirism. 3 out of 5 stars

4. Plot: There was too much waiting around for something to happen. I wish there was more action than waiting and anticipating the action. There was just too much of that going on to really enjoy the story and it did not seem like much of a story at all, but just resolving the second book. 2 out of 5 stars

5. Setting: The scenery is beautiful in this book and so descriptive. I know some people detest too many details, but I thrive on them. I really thought that Hell would have looked different or would have had creatures protecting it or something! What it really was, was unexpected and not exactly in a good way. 4 out of 5 stars

6. Dialogue: I really think that the author does a beautiful job in this department. The dialogue is so close to the dialogue on the year it was written that it makes the story believable and modern, to the point where modern teenagers can relate to it, even though it is a work of fiction. I loved the witty comebacks and the humor in the dialogue during the story. It provided much needed comedic relief to an otherwise uneventful or drama filled scene. This made the waiting parts more bearable. 5 out of 5 stars

7. Surprises: There weren't many surprises in this book, besides one surprise near the end that was heart wrenching for me. Everything else was very predictable and I saw it coming every time. I like stories with more mystery to them. I think I am growing out of the young YA section and need to steer towards older, more mature YA novels. I find that the younger ones are more predictable, but it also might just be this book in particular. 2 out of 5 stars

8. Climax: There was a very intense climax in this book, but gets resolved fairly easily, which is something that I did not particularly like. I expected an epic battle and what I got was a far cry from it. This book has let me down some what. I was expecting something special ad for this series to really go out with a bang, but instead, it really just fizzled out. 2 out of 5 stars

9. Response: I had very negative, angry responses t this book that got me really upset. I also saw sweet moments that I didn't want to end. The point is, yes, I did have a lot of emotional response to this book, which is what I loved most about it. That I was so involved with the characters that felt angry when things didn't turn out the way I wanted them to. Negative or not, this book gripped me in a very powerful way, not much books can do that to me. 5 out of 5 stars

10. Ending: I did not like the ending. It wasn't what I wanted and I think that many people are with me on this one. I was upset with who Sophia ended up with, because I was hoping for her to fall into a sweet love with someone else. This someone else never hurt her, but made her feel special. Gosh! I really hate love triangles, because most times, they never end up with the person you want them most with! 4 out of 5 stars

11. Writing: The writing is superb as always. The author really knows how to craft a book, but she let me down wit the climax of this one. She wrote such engaging fight scenes in books 1 and 2 that she should have came up with something better. I guess, she felt rushed and didn't want to miss her deadline. To me, this book felt like it was going to be longer and more drawn out, then halfway through all of these scenes get mushed together and everything goes off at a rapid fire pace. I just wished that the author would have took her time to make the editing of the series super special, not super rushed. 3 out of 5 stars

12. Artwork: The covers are as pretty as always and this one is no exception. I just have no clue what a cat has got to do with this series. There isn't a cat in it! 4 out of 5 stars

13. Genre: To me, this is a bit on the younger side of YA. It is for preteens or for young girls 16 and younger to really enjoy. If I was still in high school, this might have fared better than it has now. I think there should be more emphasis that this is for YOUNG readers. 4 out of 5 stars

14. Title: The title of this book, Spell Bound, totally makes sense and goes well with the whole trilogy. I find it very compelling. 5 out of 5 stars

Overall, I give this novel 3 out of 5 stars. It is a solid ending to the series, saying I thought it was okay, but I didn't love it, but I didn't dislike it or hated it either. As a series, I give this 4 stars, because the first and second books were definitely better and worth reading.

Spell Bound is an amazing climatic conclusion to Hawkins’s series and it did not disappoint in the slightest. It continued with the twists and turns around every corner, so you never knew where you stood or what would come next. The characters are also just as awesome as before, I loved seeing their dynamics and I simply loved their personalities which always shone beautifully through in both the drastic situations and the “relaxed” ones. There wasn’t much time however for relaxing in this novel for neither the characters nor me, because its fast pace and constant action made it impossible to put down and for the characters downright impossible.

The characterization was even better than the previous books where it reached the point that you could understand their thinking even though you couldn’t always predict their actions. This is why the ending was so great because it answers all of your questions about the characters you’ve grown to love and/or hate, tying all the loose ends together while making sure no one is forgotten. But you don’t just find your answers about the characters; all your misunderstandings and unanswered questions towards the plot are put right and you’ll look back thinking “oh I hadn’t even realised that was important” or “that was so subtle and incredibly clever”.

This review has ended up being quite general and focusing more on the book/series as a whole, but I do think it is worth mentioning perhaps one of my favourite characters: Sophie Mercer. She is the kind of heroine that you can not only look to but relate to, and with her snarky comments you can’t help but love. She’s heroic without realising it and since you read the story from her POV it really only hits when other people talk about her.

Anyway this series has captured my undying attention from the get go with its enigmatic characters and thrilling plot, and the ending even as bitter sweet as it was left me with a smile on my face. Sure the series wasn’t perfect but up until the last page I had no ground-breaking complaints, and my only complaint was that it was the last page! Even the death(s) I felt were done well and I almost feel bad because I know I shouldn’t have presumed otherwise but this was a huge surprise. It was pulled off by the way the surviving characters dealt with everything, and the death(s) turned out honourable so I had new respect for the character(s).

The Hex Hall series are light and quirky reads combined with a lot of action and mystery through the plot and its characters. I think any YA fan will find something to like in this series because it’s such a mixture of everything from a high school for misfits, to a forbidden romance, and a full on war.

Posted on: http://enchantedbyya.blogspot.co.uk

So this is the third and possibly last book about 15 year old Sophie although there is at least one book that is a spin off from the series. I am a bit disappointed in the direction the author took this. It started out fun and Harry Potterish with a girl main character in a school that is sort of a reform school for paranormal teens. There was fun and friendship and humor and a bit of romance in the first book. The second book brought in a love triangle - I so dislike those - so unoriginal and overdone. This third book brings in another plot twist - not only is Sophie's dad a demon, but now we find out that her mother comes from a family that is not exactly the normal human family. We learn who the evil ones are who are raising demons and trying to take over - something - and only Sophie can stop them. Together with her friends, she goes to hell and back in order to do so. There is more action, romance, plot twists and magic but there I just was not thrilled with some of the elements in this last book. To me, it lost some of the fun and lightheartedness that the first book began with.

This epic conclusion to the Hex Hall series does not disappoint. It is just 336 of pure awesome that will hold your attention until the very last page. Full of new characters, new plot twists, and new life-changing revelations, Spellbound is the perfect conclusion to this teen trilogy and I couldn't have written it better myself.

It seems that with each book, we learn something new about Sophie. First she turns out to be a demon, then she's a demon on the run, and now she's got a whole new hidden part of her life to deal with. And let me tell you, it's a part of her life that is beyond shocking. I never saw it coming, but when it came, all I wanted was to learn more.

The plot of this novel never let's up. It'll drag you in from the very beginning with more and more unpredictable events leading up to an epic battle that'll cost someone their life. But it's an honorable death that'll leave you with a new respect for said character.

The characterization in this novel was the best out of all the novels in the series. The characters that have been with us from the beginning evolved in ways that you wouldn't expect and the new characters exploded onto the scene with grace, easily making you feel for them and understand their thinking.

Hawkins leaves no loose ends with this conclusion, which is something that I literally loved. All questions you had were answered and the fates of all characters were explained. Nobody was left hanging in the dust or forgotten. In my opinion, this is the proper way to end a series. And when you leave a reviewer speechless, that's a good sign, too!

Honestly, I'm having trouble writing this review. I just can't express to you how great this series is. It's quirky, light, and hard to put down. Like the rest of the series, it is earning 4 stars. Again, while the writing is juvenile, it is something that you cease to notice while reading because the plot is so incredibly strong. I wish I could say more, but I am seriously at a loss for words as I write this review. This series was just that good. If you ever have the time and you are in the mood for a light, entertaining, yet totally unpredictable read, this is the series for you.

Rolling into the final book in this series, I had some fears. That's right - FEARS! Books 1 & 2 left me a little frustrated at the lack of answers Sophie was getting from the people who should have been supporting her the most (her family, her teachers, the Council) and I was worried that this would carry over into this final installment. While there was one fairly big thing dropped on her that really should have come up AGES ago (but which was hinted at pretty heavily in the previous books, so it wasn't so much a surprise), most all the answers that Sophie needed were laid out for her when she needed them. That's right, my friends, there were a whole lot less secrets and a whole lot more booty-kickings this time around.

Down with the secrets, I say!

*ahem* Right. When last we left Sophie and crew, things looked bad. BAD. Things like fiery death and magical removals and potentially dead friends (hint: that means that book 2 ended on a cliffhanger. Just so we're clear.). Book 3 picked up with Sophie firmly entrenched in her usual snarky comebacks, dangerous misconceptions being corrected, and a glimmer of hope that someone other than her sassy self survived the fiery inferno from whence she escaped. (Oh, man, I've always wanted to use that phrase somewhere. This is AWESOME! And entirely accurate.)

Simply put, this was a fantastic ending to the series. Sophie and her allies have to learn to work together to win against the big, bad witches who are trying to drop a demon army on an unsuspecting populace and things don't always go smoothly. The core crew reunite at the most appropriate times. Steamy kisses are exchanged in the library with the lead pipe. No, wait. That was Colonel Mustard and it was the conservatory with the gun. No, wait. That's not right either. Suffice to say there was kissing. On multiple occasions. It was good.

Oh, yeah, and there were a few tear-jerker moments. Just sayin'.

Overall, I had fun with this series. It entertained me. It had bad things happening to good people and good people fighting back against it. It had kissing. ALL GOOD THINGS!

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

So, this is it. The legendary Spell Bound. The cover. Is awesome. Once again it ties into the story, which you all should know by now, is something that I adore. I hate it when covers don't tie in.

Now onto the actual story. It picks up right where Demon Glass leaves off. Sophie has to find her mother and so she takes the Iteneris to try to find her. When she finally gets there things get iffy. I know Sophie has been through a lot, but she seemed a little off her game. She wasn't as funny as the other books, but I think that might be because of all the crap she's going through: *highlight to view spoiler* Her moms a Brannick, she's a Brannick, Archer is back, she likes Cal yatta yatta. *spoiler* Now come on! Cut the girl some slack right? Nope. Crap hits the fan and things get messy.

Now, I was sad because this is the end of the trilogy, and I LOVE this trilogy. I ADORE Rachel Hawkins and the way she writes. But the ending. COME. ON!!!! WHY?! JUST! ARGH! The ending had me sobbing. I read the dreaded page that I'm talking about and I just started bawling. My girlfriend thought that I had somehow broken my foot or something because I literally sobbed like there was no tomorrow.

Le sigh. There is nothing I can do to change what has happened, but in any instance I love this book. I give it 3 stars. I can't bring myself to love the story as much as I should because of what happens in the story, and because I'm being a little whiner because the series is over. I hear there's going to be a spin off, but it's going to be with different characters, which I'm not a huge fan of anyway. I recommend this to anyone who has read the Hex Hall series, for obvious reasons, and to anyone who likes original stories on witches and the supernatural.

*May contain spoilers for the previous books in the series*

Demonglass left off with quite the cliffhanger so I was anxious to pick up Spell Bound straight away and continue with this amazing story. Sophie has just travelled from England to The Brannicks, she has no idea where that is... Cal told her to go there as her mother would be there. She wakes up in a forest to a shapeshifter and a feisty young Brannick with a knife, and then blacks out again. When she awakens her mother is there, along with the Brannicks and Sophie learns some shocking information about her family history.

I love so many of these characters... Sophie, Cal, James and believe it or not I actually started to like Archer quite a bit as well! During the first part of the book I was terrified that something may have happened to one of my beloved favorites, especially Jenna but alas all is well and there are tons of surprising situations that they are thrust into during Spell Bound. I also loved being introduced to the Brannicks, we heard so much about them in previous books so I was nice to have a real perspective of what they are like; Especially since the spin-off series, School Spirits, features the Brannick family.

It's very hard to review Spell Bound because there is so much that happens as soon as you open the book, and I do not want to ruin any of these surprises. The Hex Hall series has captivated me since minute one and needless to say that held true for Spell Bound as well. The third book in the series is action packed, filled with surprises and introduces us to some great new characters. At several different parts I was practically clinging to my chair, nervous about what would happen.

The ending was perfect. I could not ask for anything better... nothing was left open(in my opinion) and I was completely satisfied. That is one of my biggest fears with a series that I love, that there may be unanswered questions or loose ends. I will certainly miss Sophie and her crew of Prodigium but I'm hoping to see glimpses of them in School Spirits!

I highly recommend this series! It's a wonderful paranormal series with great characters, lots of action and it's so incredibly hard to put down!

My Review

Favorite Quote(s):

"'Um...Mercer? Haven't seen you in nearly a month. I was expecting something like, 'Oh Cross, love of my heart, fire of my loins, how I've longed--''"

"Archer shrugged. 'We've tried to kill each other, fought ghouls, and kissed a lot. I'm pretty sure we're married in some cultures.'"

Favorite Character: Archer. His sarcasm and wit kept me laughing throughout the entire book.

First Line:

"There are times when magic really sucks."

My musings: Wow! Where to start? It took me about 5 hours to read this book—it was impossible to put down! It starts off with Sophie coming to in the middle of the forest. After a confrontation with a were and getting beat to the ground by a 12 (excuse me, 14) year old, Sophie finds herself at the Brannicks compound. From then on, it’s an action packed course as Sophie tries to save the world from Lara and her demon army.

I have been anticipating reading this book ever since I finished the first novel, Hex Hall. Hawkins’ writing is captivating and variegated—there is almost never a dull moment! The characters were well rounded, and you were able to see the transitions in personality and leadership in not only Sophie, but Archer, cal, and Jenna as well. I absolutely loved Sophie and Jenna’s relationship. I adored their constant banter and teasing, as well as them being there for each other no matter what. I don’t know about you all, but I’d DEFINITELY want a best friend like that!

And don’t even get me STARTED on the boys! Honestly, I’ve been team Archer for pretty much all the series—I hadn’t seen much of Cal as a person. However, over the course of the series, I warmed up to Cal’s shyness and steadiness. Though I was thrilled that Sophie ended up with Archer, I shed a few tears when Cal died. Cal’s character had really grown on me, and his sacrifice for Sophie was absolutely astounding in my eyes. Elodie had better take care of him…if not, I’d be happy to take her place! Now Archer. Archer, Archer, Archer... After the first book I was pretty iffy about him and where his loyalties lied, but there was no doubting the chemistry between him and Sophie. And who couldn’t resist the sarcastic bad boy (or enemy type!) who is absolutely gorgeous? Not me!

"Archer pressed his mouth to mine, effectively shutting me up and kissing the hell out of me. When he pulled back, he was grinning. 'And you have an arrogant, screwed-up former demon slayer who is stupidly in love with you.'"

Le-swoon!

Sophie, if you ever get tired of Archer, just send him over to me! (A girl can dream, can she not?)

But overall, Spellbound was a book that will definitely be making another appearance in my life. It was funny and engaging, and I would definitely recommend it to fans of paranormal romance.

Rating: 3.5

The Low Down: Sophie Mercer hasn't been stripped of her powers; well, they're still there, but they are pretty much boxed off somewhere inside, unusable. Somehow, she gets through the portal, and is...well, somewhere. Which she guesses is better than nowhere. Except that she's lost everyone she loves when the demon girl, Daisy, burned down Thorne Hall. Before Cal (still her fiance, but still not her boyfriend) ran back inside to try and save her father, he told her to get to the Brannicks' compound, because her mother was there.

Of course Elodie is still tied to her, so at least she has (silent yet snarky) company. Once the Brannicks find her, they are surprised to learn who she is. But that doesn't mean they're nice to her. But the biggest surprise awaits: her mother tells her that she is a Brannick herself. One of those demon-killing, rid-the-world-of-evil Brannicks. Great.

So now Sophie has met the rest of the family, been introduced to a warlock in a mirror named Torin and told them all what has happened at Thorne Hall. As they start to form a plan to stop the Cassnoffs from turning all prodigium into demons, Sophie is sucked back to Graymalkin Island and Hex Hall where she's trapped along with all of her former classmates, including some she wasn't expecting. Are they all doomed to be turned or do they have to release Sophie's powers to save themselves? And if her demon powers are released, which side will Sophie be on?

Best Thang `Bout It: This whole series has been great. Super entertaining, different enough to be something new, and well-worth reading. The characters are all well-developed and the storyline stayed interesting to the end. Sometimes trilogies can peter out toward the conclusion, but that didn't happen here. I would definitely recommend this series and read it again myself.

I'm Cranky Because: The ending left some things untied, but maybe the author wanted some room to do another volume or, perhaps, a spin-off series.

The Bottom Line: If you enjoy characters that are a little snarky, a bit of romance and some great action, then this series is for you.

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins was published March 13, 2012 by Hyperion, an Imprint of Disney Book Group. Ink and Page picked this book up from the library, so no one had a choice about whether it was reviewed.

Genre: Young Adult Fiction Fantasy Paranormal Romance Series
Ages: 12 and up
You Might Want to Know: Nothing of note

Actual Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

My Review:

Spell Bound is the last book in the Hex Hall trilogy and while it was certainly entertaining, neither it nor Demonglass quite captured me as much as the first novel, Hex Hall. Part of my problem with the last two books is that so much action and plot is pushed in that the emotional impact of the story is sometimes pushed to the side. Even the humor, which is the highlight of the Hex Hall series, occasionally feels misplaced in this novel. Also, for so much action the mythology of the series seems a little lacking.

Part of the problem with Spell Bound for me was the world building and mythology. Hex Hall and Demonglass both did fairly well at building the laws and practices of Sophie Mercer’s world. I was hoping that Spell Bound would continue with that tradition and help fill in some missing information about the Prodigium (magical) world. While there was world building in Spell Bound it didn’t really give me a clearer understanding of Sophie’s world. Major events happen in the Hex Hall series that would have lasting effects on the entire Prodigium world, but the only people involved and shown to be really affected by those events are those in Sophie’s immediate circle. Concerned parents of other Hex Hall students and other leaders of the community don’t really play a part in the events of this novel. I have a hard time believing that a world supposedly as old and diverse as Hawkins describes would be so uninvolved with its protection. The lack of complexity left Sophie’s world feeling a little underdeveloped to me.

The tone and emotional impact of Spell Bound also felt mismatched some of the time. Scenes of urgency were sometimes followed up with the mundane and it made the pace feel off to me. Major developments and emotional issues were often dealt with in a few paragraphs, which was sad because the characters and their relationships are a major part of the appeal of the Hex Hall series. Even Hawkins’s wonderful humor sometimes got in the way of the plot as well, which is a shame because it is my favorite part of the trilogy. Sophie’s usually spot on humor at times felt lackadaisical when compared to the significance of the situation. It’s great to give your characters humor in dark situations, but not if the humor and emotions of the plot don’t match up.

I don’t want you to think that I hated this novel, because I don’t. Moments of Spell Bound were definitely entertaining and suspenseful, but I can’t help but think that the series as a whole could have been fleshed out more. However, the Hex Hall series was still an interesting read and I would recommend it to people, especially to paranormal romance fans.

I liked the conclusion of this series.

The third book picks up almost where the last one left off, with Sophie stepping into the Itineris trying to get to her mom. When Sophie emerges from the Itineris she discovers she lost 17 days. She is still unsure if anyone survived the fire at Thorne Abbey. She manages to locate the Brannicks or rather one locates her and she learns a thing or two. One of the things she learns is that she is the only one powerful enough to stop the Casnoffs, but at the current moment Sophie is unable to access her powers. There is a way for Sophie to regain her powers through the grimoire, but that is at Hex Hall with the Casnoffs.

I liked the adventure they go on in this book, but at the same time there are some things I didn't like.

SPOILER ALERT
One of the things I did not like is when one of the main characters sacrifices themselves for Sophie at the end. I definitely understand how is is the ultimate sacrifice and let me and Sophie know exactly how much this person loved her, but I am sad they didn't get the happy ending I wanted for them. I guess based on the person's ghost we see at the end, we can tell they get some measure of happiness?
END SPOILER ALERT

I will say that out of the three books, this one is my least favorite, but I still liked it. I look forward to reading more books my Rachel Hawkins.

I have been waiting with a great deal of anticipation for the final book in Rachel Hawkins' Hex Hall series. I found the first book rather predicable, but Demonglass kept me on the edge of my seat. I hated the cliffhanger ending! How could you do that to me? I was finally onboard with Sophie and her acidic personality, and then - WHAM! We ran into a brick wall of "See you later!" Ugh!

Anyway, a copy finally came in at the library, so I hustled over to pick it up. On my lunch break. Even though I couldn't read it until after work. I dove into the book as soon as I arrived home, and after that uncomfortable few moments of trying like heck to remember what happened in the previous book, and who all of the characters were, I was in! There is such a loss of momentum when you have to wait for over a year to read the next book in a series, and most of the time, they don't work as well for me. When I am in the reading zone provided by a book, I am also in a particular frame of mind at that place in time. Sometimes I don't get it back. Sometimes I no longer click with the protagonist. Sometimes I discover, with dismay, that I don't even like the protagonist anymore. While she hasn't changed in the year and a half since we last met, I have. I am a different person, and there have been times when I have outgrown a series or cast of characters, and I am always bummed when that happens.

Don't worry, though! That didn't happen with Spell Bound. While some of the plot points didn't work for me, I still enjoyed Sophie's occasionally grating personality. Her coping mechanism is to get sarcastic, and I actually liked when she was blasting out snarky comments, or better yet, making unfiltered inner commentary about whatever person happened to be pissing her off. I didn't like the back and forth between Archer and her fiancée, Cal, but heck, I usually never like all of the romantic triangles cluttering up YA PNR these days. It is the one trope that drives me batty, and the one that I find the least interesting. The resolution to this one was a cop-out, with Sophie not making a decision so much as having it made for her. I don't want to reveal any spoilers, so I'll just say UGH! Sophie gets off guilt free, and I didn't like that. I felt that it belittled her emotional conflict and her feelings for both guys was also trivialized.

Moving on, I love the action in the these books. Sophie has to always be on her toes, ready to fight for her life. She also has to be ready to fight for the lives of her friends, and now, her family. In this supernatural war, there are many casualties. Sophie is under so much stress to ensure the safety of her loved ones that I'm surprised she didn't lose all of her hair from the stress. Worse yet, she didn't have her powers, because they had been locked away by the villains at the end of the last book! Her father's powers had been completely and forcibly ripped from his body. Sophie was running on empty, and ouch! it wasn't easy for her to escape from all of the danger she repeatedly found herself in. That is one of her traits that I admire most about her character; Sophie has an innate ability to think well under pressure. While she may lack the common sense to keep her out of danger in the first place, once she's in it, she is able to stay relatively calm, examine the situation from every angle, and find a way to get her out of trouble without getting killed. That she is ready to sacrifice her life when the stakes get so high that I would have crumbled into a ball of black despair, is another reason why I enjoyed Sophie, and these books, so much.

All in all, Hex Hall was a fun series, and now that they are all out, I recommend that you give them a try. Each book was better than the last, and all of the characters, especially Sophie and Elodie, are likeable.

Grade: B+

This was fantastic conclusion in the Hex Hall trilogy. I absolutely loved this book :) I loved every single book in this trilogy! Rachel Hawkins does a fantastic job in capturing the audience from the first page to the last page of a book. I highly recommend this series because it's a fave of mine :)

I was super excited to finally get to this book. I've had it for SO long and was so happy to dive right into it. I didn't think I would remember much since it has been so long since I've read Demonglass, but once I started reading Spell Bound I was sucked right back into the world I loved with no problems. I absolutely loved being reunited with the characters I've come to adore. Sophie is amazing! I just love her attitude :) She is pure entertainment. Oh, and Archer :) I absolutely love that guy!

And this book did NOT disappoint in the action department. Each book always has so many action packed adventures and shocking news, and Spell Bound was no exception. The suspense was there, the romance was there, the action was there, and sadness was also there. A definite page turner in my eyes!

That ending in the final battle was really sad. I wasn't suspecting that. I don't know why since that tends to happen in quite a few YA books, but it was sad. But the ending, ending, as in the final pages made me smile :) I was so happy with the way the book ended. It was a nice conclusion to an amazing series and I can't wait to read the spin off series. Hopefully some of our favorite characters from this series will be in the spin off :)

This third installation of Rachel Hawkins popular book series Hex Hall was just as fun and exciting as the previous books. Sophie Mercer escaped from Thorne Abbey but has had her powers sealed inside her by the Prodigium Council. She does not know whether any of her friends or her father survived the fire that destroyed Throne Abbey and nearly killed her. Sophie is trying to find her mother, but this is complicated by the fact that her mother is with the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt Prodigium. The warrior women have reasons for wanting to meet Sophie as well, however. They believe Sophie is powerful enough to prevent the evil Casnoffs from succeeding. The Casnoffs are attempting to create an army of demons who they would control and command. They are blinded by what they believe is right and do not realize that demons are too powerful to control. What they hope to achieve would end the world.

Hawkins gave Sophie a strong personality. Her thoughts and words are hilarious. Sophie is determined and cares about her friends and family. She is conflicted about her feelings toward two boys, and feels guilty. Sophie always tries to make good decisions. The supporting characters have distinctive personalities Rachel Hawkins made interlock. The characters play off each other, creating funny dialogue. This is a book to restore a good mood.

Teen girls would most enjoy Hawkins' writing, but any woman would like reading this novel. Sophie could be related to by any female. Rachel Hawkins' book will put a smile on your face.

*Complimentary copy received for this review, does not affect my opinion in any way*

Totally cute final to the series, if not a little predictable. I like how Sophie got to know her dad, and all the things that got worked out during the series. It was definitely worth reading. I am interested to read the spin off that Rachel Hawkins is doing called "School Spirit". It is isn't out for a bit but the whole story line of Hex Hall is cute and can be made into several different books. I like that Sophia is so witty and snarky. She has a great sense of humor, as well as many of her friends, especially Archer. OK so he sounds HOT! I like the playful banter between Sophia and Archer the entire series. You can tell from the first couple of chapters of Hex Hall (Book 1) that something is going to happen between those two. Not just because you assume that is the plot line, but because you really want it to. Archer and Cal remind me of two characters from another series. They are the kind of characters where you have a hard time determining who you want the main character to end up with. I won't say who won, but it would have worked either way. I am glad I continued on in this series. It was cute, fun, and very funny at times. I call books like these my "laugh out loud books". You know what I mean right? The type of book that is so funny, you actually start laughing out loud even though you are reading in a room full of other people. They look at you like you are nuts because you are laughing so hard at your book. Yeah this series is full of those moments.

Some spoilers and references to the previous books-read at your own risk!

I was both excited and nervous to pick up this conclusion to the Hex Hall trilogy. On the one hand, I really enjoyed first book Hex Hell and sequel Demonglass, which ended with a killer cliffhanger. But I was unable to prevent myself from skimming some reviews and it looked like I would be unhappy with the resolution of the romance (if you look at my reviews for the first books, you will see that I am firmly anti-Archer).

Happily this book picks up shortly after the end of Demonglass with Sophie learning some pretty important (and surprising) things about her family. I am not going to spoil you-you will just have to pick up this delightful series and find everything out for yourself! What I can share is that Sophie gains some additional allies in her fight against the villains of the book, which is good as she could use the support. I really liked the new people we meet and they have some great snarkiness in the beginning although as the book progresses, we focus more on Sophie herself and her powers.

At the beginning of the book, she is unable to access them, since she was stripped in the previous novel. This leaves her feeling incomplete and increases her fear. This also leads to some interesting scenes where Sophie is possessed by a ghost who can perform magic. Those were some of my favorite scenes with many interesting consequences.

SPOILER:
However Sophie is incredibly powerful and I never felt much suspense around whether or not she would be able to defeat the threat once she reclaimed her abilities. Not just because this is a book and that is the ending a book should have. But just because she seems so much more powerful than everyone else around her. As long as she maintains control and focus (a bit of a problem in the first book), she can easily kick butt.
END SPOILER

Surprisingly I came around on the Sophie/Archer connection. I'm still NOT an Archer fangirl; I will not swoon over him and I don't think he's good enough for Sophie but I found myself enjoying some of their scenes together. They just seem to "get" each other. The resolution for Cal is not what I would have preferred but it makes sense and provided me with closure.

Overall: A good ending to a really enjoyable series-definitely recommended for the reader who likes some snark with her paranormal as well as some magic, adventure, and romance!

Cover: That cat is still present; am I missing something? I still don't remember reading about a cat in any of the books even though he has been present on the cover of all three. Though I like imagining that Sophie is lucky enough to have a nice, soft kitty cat in her life.

First Sentence: There are times when magic really sucks.

How I Acquired the Book: I got this from my local library.

The Review *WITH SPOILERS*: When I picked up this last installment of the Hex Hall trilogy, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had read Hex Hall a year ago, and remembered nothing, only recalling vaguely that I loved it. Demonglass I wasn't so sure about. But since I'd loved Hex Hall so much, and since I also remembered that it was funny, I decided to go into Spell Bound with lofty expectations.

I was disappointed and pleased at the same time.

You see, what I mean by this, is that there were so many things I loved and hated, that they all kind of canceled out. Let's break this down.

LOVED:
-The bleeping suspense. Seriously? EVERY CHAPTER ended on a cliffhanger. This kept me reading long through the night.
-Characters. Sophie is as witty and snarky as ever. She is cool. Archer changes a bit, but we don't get too see him do this. Cal is great. I loved Cal most of all.
-Some original parts. Like the part with Elodie's ghost. That was cool, and unexpected.
-New characters. Specifically, the Brannicks. Izzy most of all.

HATED:
-CAL'S FREAKING DEATH. Seriously, this is at the top of my list, because YOU DO NOT KILL THE THIRD PERSON IN A LOVE TRIANGLE. Okay, I'm going to calm down. What exactly was the point of his death? And then he ended up as a ghost with Elodie and they lived happily ever after? BLEH. I would subtract a star from the rating just for his death.
-Not enough epic climax. There is a heck a lot of buildup. But it all fizzles out at the climax, especially when Cal dies. The climax is short. It is both short for the climax of a book and the climax of a trilogy.
-Too many plot twists. Everyone knows that too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Plot twists are no different. Since there were so many of them throughout this series, I began /expecting/ them, almost, to the point where it got tiresome.

In essence, this last installment of the series was so far from what it /could/ have been, what it /should/ have been. Spell Bound, which gets a 2 1/2 star rating from me, demotes this series from excellent to a merely average paranormal YA series.

-reviewed by a teenager. (I apologize for any teenagery and/or snarky comments in this review, if they have offended you. I understand they can be very annoying, just like teenagers themselves. In any case, thanks for dealing with them and thanks for reading this review.)

I devoured the first two books in this series and couldn't wait to have a chance to read this one. And I wasn't disappointed.

Once again, it took me a while to remember what happened in the first two books (I feel like I'm ALWAYS saying this!) but I quickly caught up and remembered how much I loved Sophie. She seriously cracks me up. I love her sense of humor. I also loved the little love triangle between her and Cal and Archer.

There were some definite surprises in the book that I didn't see coming (although a major one was early in the book so maybe I did when I was reading the last one but I don't remember). This was the last book in the series (I think--although I know there is a spinoff series of one of the characters in this book), and it wrapped up quite nicely. A little sad, but it felt right! I can't wait to read the next series!

Also reviewed on my blog, The Vintage Bookworm. ([...])

Spell Bound was freaking AMAZING. Even though I'm EXTREMELY upset that this is the last book in the series, it did have a great ending. Hawkins did an amazing job tying up all the lose ends. Though, then again, I am STILL extremely sad. I loved this trilogy so much. But I do hear that there most likely will be a spin-off. Not sure if that is 100% true, but I'm very intrigued!

I don't want to go into too much detail on what happened in this book--though my mind is going miles a minute right now with everything because it totally blew my mind--because I don't want to give anything away or spoil anything.

There is a point in this book, which I'm not going to say, that I really wanted to throw the book across the room and I even tweeted Rachel to tell her I was upset about it. Though I tweeted her again after I read the next chapter and understood what happened, ha! I was SO upset. (If anyone is curious, it's the last line in chapter 10.)

I do like the new characters that come up in here, though I'm not going to say who. They weren't my absolute favorite, but they were surprising and grew on me by the end of the book.

The writing was amazing as ever and had be so absorbed in the book I didn't really notice much around me. I just flew through the pages and devoured this book. This was another book that I really needed to read to get me back into reading and out of this rut.

Overall, AMAZING. Perfect ending. If you haven't read this series yet, please do us all a favor and do it.Including yourself. It's unique and the perfect trilogy to take your mind to another place. HIGHLY recommend!

Sophie barely escaped with her life after the events at Thorn Abbey. Alone and powerless she now has to face the Brannicks, a group of fierce warrior women who hunt Prodigium. Secrets will be revealed, and Sophie will find herself the center of everyone's plans for stopping the Castnoffs, but without her magic her chances are next to impossible. After deciding on a plan B to unlock her powers an unexpected turn will literally put Sophie in the center of it all! Spell Bound completed the spell that started back when I read book one. With more action, more romance, and more Sophie humor than ever, this last installment to the Hex Hall trilogy left me enchanted, teary eyed, and a little breathless.

It's really sad to see a favorite series come to an end, but at the same time I'm so happy at this conclusion to Hex Hall. It had twist, turns, drops, lifts, and a whole lot of awesomesauce. Sophie still babbles the most hilarious things when she's nervous, Archer still makes me laugh and swoon with his charm, Cal is still quiet and adorable, Jenna is still my BFBF (best fictional best friend), and Hex Hall is the second magical school I love most, after Hogwarts. I'll always remember the slobbering werewolves, Sophie's dress to the ball, demonglass, summer in England, and cellar duty with Archer Cross!

Like I've mentioned before, one of the things I loved most about this series (aside from Archer Cross) was the humor. The pop culture references just crack me up every time, and Sophie and Archer's wit together is unbelievable. Sophie's story is one that I'll be going back to read time and time again. Seriously, if you haven't read Hex Hall yet, then I urge you--nay--order you to go to your nearest bookstore or library and get a copy of it. If you've been following this series as fervently as I have, then you won't be disappointed with Spell Bound!

Spell Bound has several things I love in a witchy novel - strong plot, clever dialogue, and an interesting use of magic. This series, not just this one novel, fits the bill, and it is the reason that I love getting my "hex on" while reading them.

The strong plot has it all - magic, demons, kissing, oh my! Oh, and there's a battle as well. But really, the author ends the novel in the only logical way that she could, and since we are discussing a battle, there is a high price to be paid, so be ready for it. I wasn't, but I am okay with the decision. But the one thing that Hawkins shows her strength as a writer is how she concludes her chapters. The final page/ paragraph/sentence moves the plot along quickly, leaving readers hungry for more.

Oh Sophie Mercer, how I love your dialogue, let me count the ways...No really, I do. I found so many amazing quotes in this novel that I finally started making a list - one that you will find at the end of this review. The clever dialogue award definitely goes to Rachel Hawkins. She is a master of it, and of course she gives Sophie the best lines consistently throughout the series. There were tense elements in the novel, moments that were not allowed to become too intense with that dialogue.

Finally, I really love the way this series incorporates the use of magic. I have stated over and over that I love a good witchy read, but I also love when authors develop interesting ideas for characters to use magic. This is true in this series, consistently. That is about all I can say for this particular installment without ruining the plot. But trust me...it's good.

Reminiscent of Harry Potter - "I open at the close" - Hawkins has made a fitting conclusion to Sophie's journey at Hex Hall. There are moments that will make you laugh, cry, and surprise. Hawkins made a clever move with taking readers back to Hex Hall, where it all began. It brought closure to the story in a way that I don't feel would have happened in any other setting.