Demonglass (A Hex Hall Novel)

I apologize in advance since this is mostly going to be gushing about how awesome the book was. I had Hex Hall sitting on my shelves for I don't know how long but once I picked it up I finished it within a day and quickly gobbled Demonglass up. The series is that good and Demonglass was even better than Hex Hall! The only problem is that I'm dying to read the third book now.

Sophie's dad finally shows up at Hex Hall but convinces Sophie to spend some time with him in England before deciding if she really wants to go through with the Removal. He also asks Cal to come along because as I guessed in Hex Hall he is Sophie's betrothed. So now Sophie not only has the sexy, secret agent Archer in love with her but she has this smokin' white witch as a potential future husband. Oh to have these sorts of dilemmas. I still lean towards Archer but after seeing more of Cal it is a tough call.

This book was the perfect blend of action, romance and mystery as Sophie and her dad are trying to figure out who transformed these two other teens into demons and why. I was happy to see Jenna back and even Elodie puts in some appearances here and there. There are also a few surprises which I didn't see coming that kept the story interesting. And of course it has to end on a total cliffhanger along with a few jaw dropping revelations that will have you groaning that book 3 is not out yet. Seriously, if you haven't read this series yet go pick it up!

When I started reading the first book, Hex Hall, I didn't like it. But I can never read a book half way then stop so I kept going. Sure enough I was hooked and bought the rest of the series. Very good!

Okay, so I only just started this book after waiting about a month for it to come out on Kindle after reading the second one, and im only about to start Chapter 3, but it is AMAZING! If you've read the first one so you fully understand what is happening. I really recommend this EVERYONE!
I really hate long reviews but seriously, read this book!
PS, This review was not written by the the store user with this name but by her daughter.

This was an extremely well written sequel. I was very impressed. It basically left off were Hex Hall ended. Sophie is still the same funny girl we left with! Some humorous parts in this novel but for the most part it was very serious. Definetly worth reading if you liked the first novel! This novel leaves you wanting the next book to come soon! SPOILER ALERT!!!!..... This book does end with a cliffhanger..... BE PREPARED!!!

What a great follow up! Even better than the first! I highly recommend it! It's witty, fun, twisty, nerve wracking, heart pounding, and just filled with awesome! It leaves you wide eyed and mouth hanging. You'll be begging for the 3rd book the moment you read the last word. Even if it came out next week it would still be too long. I can't wait for more!

Sophie Mercer’s magic always goes haywire, but at least she means well and often uses it to help other people. Imagine her surprise when a magic spell gone wrong at prom leads to her being sent to the magical version of juvie if it was a boarding school. It’s even more surprising when she found out that she’s not a witch like she always thought, but instead a third generation demon. Afraid of hurting others, she decides to go through a ritual that will strip all magic from her very core, which takes her to England with her dad for the summer. Her dad is hell-bent on changing her mind, so he convinces her to agree to think about it so she can learn about what it really means to be a demon. It’s there that she learns the truth about her family, including things not even her father knew, and her world is turned upside down yet again.

I love these books. Is it full of clichés and stereotypes? Yes. Is there a love triangle? Yes. However, that doesn’t stop me from loving them. Hex Hall was such a fun read that I knew I had to continue with the series. If you can look past the clichés, high school stereotypes, and the love triangle, you’ll discover that it’s an entertaining series. The clichés and the love triangle can get old real quick, but I love the characters and the story itself.

Sophie is a teenager who has spent her life constantly moving around with her mom and knowing that people finding out what she was could be bad news. She’s also lonely and uses sarcasm as a shield. Once someone burrows their way into Sophie’s heart, they discover that she’s a secret softy and extremely loyal. Sophie may be naive and make some questionable choices, but she has a heart of gold and is fun to follow. I also enjoy reading about her close friend, Jenna. She’s well written, fun, and can be a voice of reason when Sophie is running amok. I also enjoyed learning more about Cal, Sophie’s father, and the magical world as a whole.

The story itself is extremely entertaining. I found myself having a hard time putting this book down. I loved reading about the magical world as Sophie learned more about it. There are all kinds of different magical beings who pop in and out, which helps flesh out the world that Sophie lives in. This time around, we learn a lot more about demons and why there are so few of them. Plus, Sophie and her friends are hilarious. The banter between them never fails to crack me up. It makes for a perfect light read, and I can’t wait to read the next installment.

Actual rating 3.5 stars.

After a surprisingly enjoyable debut with ‘Hex Hall’ we get another well-paced, unexpected adventure with ‘Demonglass.’

Our protagonist Sophie felt a stronger character for me compared to her depiction in ‘Hex Hall.’ Growth in trusting herself and her instincts, in her growing relationship with her estranged Father, I was really invested in her story. And the sarcasm was a delight. I LOL'ed many times. ‘Demonglass’ was a joy to read.

The murky feelings that I had for love interest Archer faded and were transferred to the other challenger for Sophie’s affections, Cal - although I liked the fact that they respected her enough not to impose their feelings on her, there was still a bit of passive aggressive behaviour that annoyed me. Plus a love triangle trope... I was hoping it would get a little bit more interesting and original.

Cal started to turn into the brooding love interest trope, but I liked how he managed to brush his bruised ego aside when it counted.

Archer was dreamy. I was always invested in his story, and his pairing with Sophie.... keen to see where this goes, he's starting to prove his true intentions.

I was never bored, and compelled to continue reading. The pacing is great. Hawkins writing style felt a little more on trend, there was plenty of snarky banter and teen slang that added that something extra to the narrative.

The plot twist was masterful. I had no idea what was coming and was totally engrossed. Though it does end on a cliff hanger, and many plot points aren't resolved - you kind of need to jump right into the third instalment ‘Spell Bound.’ I'm really excited to see what comes next. Especially given Hawkins talent for plot twists that show up out of the blue.

Definitely recommend this one!

Demonglass is the second book in the Hex Hall series, and surprisingly not a sophomoric attempt to hold tension until the finale (like many other YA trilogies). It doesn't suffer from pacing flops, or lack of motivating conflict. If anything, it takes all the angst issues of book 1 and heaps more kindling on that fire.

It's a fun read, like the first was. Sophie is snarky but not cruel, which is a fine line to walk, and her greatest strength is definitely her loyalty and commitment to the truth (she's a Gryffindor if ever there was one!). She's smart, and while there's less of the side characters in this story, the tension still holds. I wish Nick and Daisy had been a bit more developed (maybe in the next book?) and that Cal got more time in the sun (Team Nice Guy!), and that the villains weren't so recklessly stupid (but then, fear of the enemy makes you do stupid things, so it's realistic). But overall, I enjoyed this, and read it in a week, and immediately went to the library for the third book.

I recommend it for fans of book 1. And I recommend the trilogy for fans of YA (especially contemporary supernatural), magic (including shapeshifters, witches, faeries, demons, etc.), female protagonists who are snarky and smart, sizzling PG romance and action. Oh, and manor houses.

Sophie has been waiting at Hex Hall for six months to go to London for the Removal, a permanent extraction of her demon-based powers. When her father, who is the head of the Prodigium Council, finally comes to fetch her, he gets her to agree to a summer respite with him at Thorne Abbey and to rethink her decision. He also informs her that Cal will be coming with them, as he is her contractual betrothed. Surprise! Surprise! Yet another lie of omission to shatter Sophie’s world.

When Sophie, Jenna and Cal arrive at Thorne, they are overwhelmed by its size and magnificence and considerably underwhelmed to find that Thorne is inhabited by the Council and two teenage demons of unknown origin. They learn that, in an attack supposedly orchestrated by the Eye, seven of the 12 council members have recently been murdered. After that, it takes only two days for the two demons to trick Sophie into traveling to a Prodigium club. The Eye attacks the club and Sophie finds herself face to face with Archer Cross. Protecting her from his teammates, Archer slips her a coin, a type of magical GPS, and tells her to keep it on her person so that he can contact her later.

And thus begins Sophie’s journey into the mysteries that are Thorne Abbey, two demons with no memory of their earlier lives, two sisters who ceded their right to inherit the Council leadership from their father in favor of Sophie’s father, and Archer Cross. And we cannot forget Elodie’s ghost, either. While our main protagonists are teenagers, to say that this is simply a YA read would be to shortchange the work. While the dialog between Sophie, Archer, Jenna, Cal and Elodie is full of sarcasm and the colloquialisms of today’s youth, it is a focused dialog. These kids aren’t discussing the latest rock star or current fashion; they are discussing situations that could mean life or death for any of them on a daily basis.

This work is a paranormal romantic suspense that just happens to involve teenagers as well as adults, with good guys and villains in both age categories. And, as the second book in a planned trilogy, it ends as most second books do – with a cliffhanger. Fortunately, it is a mild one compared to how it could have been written. In fact, the twenty-five pages prior to the short last chapter were far more terrifying than the end. Had Hawkins chose to stop during that section, there would have been more than ample reason for weeping, wailing, gnashing of teeth and considerable throwing of books across rooms.

Rachel Hawkins has set the hook for the third and final novel in the series. We may not know who is now dead or who will yet die, but we have a really good idea who the villain is.

An excellent continuation in the series. I enjoyed reading it so much I even risked reading it in the car. Usually Reading + Car doesn't work out so well for me. And when all was said and done I was kicking myself for not reserving the third book ahead of time before going on vacation.

At the end of Hex Hall, Sophie decided she did not want to turn out like her crazy ancestor. She decided she wanted to go through the process of having her powers removed.

In Demonglass we pick up about six months later. Sophie and her Mom are both living on the grounds of Hex Hall waiting for her father to show up to take her back to London for Removal. However, once her father shows up he has a new deal for her, come live with him at Thorne Abbey for the summer where he can teach her how to control her powers. If at the end of the summer, she decides to still go through Removal, he will allow it. Accompanying her is Jenna, her vampire best friend and Cal, the hot groundskeeper from Hex Hall.

Only when she arrives she discovers that she and her father are not the only demons in existence. She meets Nick and Daisy, two Demons. Apparently someone has been raising demons in secret. This brings the Council and The Eye ever closer to warring with each other. As Sophie and her father search to discover who is raising demons, the Eye is out hunting Sophie. The Eye, who also includes Archer who tries to tell Sophie all is not what is seems. But can she believe him? Does she want to believe him? Does she even still have feelings for him? And can they figure out who is raising demons and stop them before all out war breaks out?

Such an exciting, fast-paced read. I am once again glad I picked up this series, because I thoroughly enjoy it. If you liked the first book in this series, I think you will probably like this one too, just make sure you have the third book on hand. I'm 100% sure once you finish this one, you will want to start into the third book.

There are definitely some interesting developments that happen and I can't wait to read the third book to find out where everything is headed.

Demonglass is a great continuation for the Hex Hall series. It picks up exactly where the previous book leaves off and is definitely full of some amazing plot twists. And let me tell you, Sophie Mercer's snark is in no short supply.

Despite thinking that she was a dark witch, Sophie finally learns that she is a demon--an incredibly rare and feared creature in the world. The only demon besides herself? Her absentee father who suddenly wants to spend a lot more time with her by whisking her off to Thorn Abbey for a Summer alongside the powerful white warlock groundskeeper, Cal. Determined to go through with The Removal that could potentially kill her, Sophie quickly changes her mind once she realizes what is truly at stake...the fate of the world is resting on her shoulders.

The characters in this novel seem to develop fully. Sophie's still Sophie, Archer is still Archer, but you find out more about why he is in the Eye. The most development is among Cal, Sophie's father, and all of the other characters we're introduced to. Keep an eye out for Nick and Daisy. ;) We meet Lara, Mrs. Casnoff's sister, who has a huge presence in this novel. So many plot twists evolve around the aforementioned characters. I can't even begin to explain how many times Hawkins managed to surprise me and keep me turning the pages. By the time you realize Cal's purpose in the grand scheme of things, you may just have to giggle and do a double take, too.

For the romance lovers out there, Archer and Sophie's communication is effectively forbidden. But come on, we know Archer and we know that they can't stay away from each other. So this novel definitely does have a forbidden love aspect to it that Sophie does everything in her power to fight, but just can't. As strong as she wants to believe she is, she is still just a teenager and she wants what she wants no matter what anybody else says. We will also see the beginnings of a love triangle in this novel. Rest assured, it's more of a forced love triangle than anything else. But still, my heart broke for Sophie when I realized she would have to make such a decision. Both boys were keepers and I know that I wouldn't be capable of such a thing.

For the most part, I thoroughly enjoyed this book besides the killer cliff-hanger at the end. Yeah, it's one of those cliffies that can end all cliffies because it just wants to make you rip your hair out and scream. It literally just cut off. There it went...right over the edge of a cliff...completely unexpectedly. I wanted to scream until I started the third and final installment in the series because of this. It cut off in the middle of a bombshell! Ah, Hawkins, how could you do this to us?

With everything being said, this book is definitely still a beloved 4 star series! The writing will remain a bit juvenile throughout the series, but I can't help but to love it due to all the dynamics between the awesome characters. Expect even more surprises in the final installment of this novel.

Well, what a cliffhanger, right? I am not usually a fan of cliffhangers, but I so enjoyed this story that it really didn't matter. And since the next book was already out when I read this one, it didn't make much of a difference since I could move right on to the final installment.

I have to say that I just love the covers of these books. Something about the reflection of the girl on the front just draws me right in. It certainly made me want to read it for sure.

Sophie is such a great character. She has that typical teen angst thing going on, but it's not annoying. She's spunky and fun. She has those doubts that teenagers will have, which is nice as she really seems her age. And she once again shows great growth in this book. Best of all, she's got such great wit infused with sarcasm. It's right up my alley, so I could totally relate to her. She is presented in a real way, which is also nice considering she has paranormal aspects to her. It was nice to watch her form a relationship with the father she never knew. And she's not angry at him, but more curious if anything.
Cal, well, he certainly shows his colors in this book. You can see he is definitely interested in Sophie and once she learns they are betrothed, that is certainly heightened on both their parts. He plays a nice part to the love triangle, although you can certainly see that Sophie loves him but doesn't seem to be in love with him. He's still a bit mysterious, and I didn't totally trust him. I almost felt like he had an ulterior motive which was not ever revealed. There's just something off about his character.
And I'm so glad that we got to see Archer once again. I was worried he would perhaps be missing a bit in this book, after his huge exit in the last book. But he did show up and he did show Sophie that he truly cares. I love their banter, it really makes their relationship. And the way they call each other by their last names really makes me giggle every time I see it.
We meet some new characters in this book and they make for a good addition. They really helped to move the story along and keep up the intrigue that surrounds Sophie.

The plot is well thought out and easy to follow. It certainly had many twists and turns I was not expecting which kept me totally and completely interested. Hawkins has great ease with her charcater development and their relationships to each other. There are no characters introduced that aren't somehow integral to the plot. And of course the fact that we are presented with some more of Sophie's history as accounted by her father is a great addition to the story line.

The one thing that I felt could have used more development was the relationship between Sophie and Cal. After they find out they are betrothed, I feel very little changes. IF they are supposed to be in a love triangle, I wasn't feeling it all that much. If a love triangle is to be introduced I need to feel it's believable and to me this one is just not. Sophie is too focused on Archer to worry that Cal is even in the picture.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to reading the next one and finding out the ending to the story!

4/5 stars.

*May contain spoilers for Hex Hall*

Demonglass begins at Hex Hall several months after the craziness that happened with Elodie, Alice and Sophie. Sophie is just starting to feel better with Elodie's and Alice's death, Archer's disappearance and she has also decided to undergo the removal. Her father, James(the head of Council) shows up and strikes a deal with Sophie: He will grant her the removal but first she has to spend the summer with him in England. Sophie agrees under her own condition, that Jenna goes with her. Her father also advises that Cal will be joining them as well. When Sophie, Jenna and Cal arrive in England they realize they are staying at Thorne Abbey; the house that Alice was turned into a demon many years before. Also... there are two more demons staying there with her. Strange things start to happen around her and Sophie and her friends are in a ton of danger.

Wow. Just wow. I hardly ever like the second book better than the first book in the series but that SO happened with Demonglass. It was far more action packed than Hex Hall and I liked the amount of new characters that were introduced.

I fell in love with Sophie, Jenna, and Cal all over again as soon as I started reading Demonglass. Jenna is by far my favorite character. I love how she is the total opposite of a stereotypical vampire. Sophie's snark had me again as well, I just love the snappy remarks she has for everyone. And Cal... well I love Cal! I am one hundred percent Team Cal in this series. We are also introduced to Nick, Daisy, Lara and a ton of other new characters. Nick and Daisy are demons as well, and despite them trying to be dark and scary I adored them! I thought they were really interesting and I knew they were going to play a huge part in the upcoming story. And Lara. From the get go I was sooo suspicious of her. I am naturally suspicious of incredibly sweet, kind characters. It happens too often that they are hiding something.

There were two things that bothered me during Demonglass. It didn't affect my rating or feelings of the book because it was just SO awesome that these two minor "nuisances" are minimal but nevertheless I noticed them soo... Why is the word angst used so much?! Ah.. I hated that. I actually enjoy the word angst and it can sum up those feelings pretty well but it is used over and over in this series and honestly it just lost its meaning for me. The second thing was the "love triangle". I actually enjoy a nice love triangle but I found this fell flat. The only romance that ever took place for Sophie, really, was with Archer. Cal wasn't really focused on in a romantic way and that made me sad. I adored Cal and I want him, NOT Archer

I loved that Demonglass took place in England, away from Hex Hall. I loved the setting of Hex Hall but it was a really nice change of pace for it to take place in a scary ancient castle. The descriptions were so vivid, you can really paint a picture in your head what Thorne Abbey looked like. There was also sooo much action. I was on the edge of my seat so many times, and there was a twist every couple of chapters.

The ending was .. intense. As soon as I finished it, I had to immediately pick up Spell Bound! There is such a cliffhanger it will leave you dying for the next book!

If you haven't read Demonglass yet, what are you waiting for? It's amazing; my only recommendation would be to have Spell Bound on hand as well.

What a cliffhanger!!! I would be very annoyed if I didn't already have Spell Bound on my Kindle waiting for me!

I enjoyed Demonglass, but not as much as I enjoyed Hex Hall. Demonglass still had the same kind of humor throughout it, but I definitely enjoyed the first half more than the second. I still got through it relatively quickly and I am glad that I read it right after Hex Hall.

I still enjoyed Sophie's character. Two characters that I never could relate to or understand at all were Nick and Daisy. I think those 2 characters may be what made me like Demonglass a little less. I enjoyed the little twist with Cal's character's "destiny." Jenna was a little bit bordering unlikeable for me, but I think I may be being a bit unreasonable with that.

There was a lot going on in the plot of Demonglass and the end just seemed a bit too...I don't know...I know it will make no sense, but it was too complex and too simple at the same time. The person they suspected wasn't really a shocking revelation like I thought it would be, but one secret that is revealed did surprise me a little. There is a lot revealed in Demonglass but there are also a lot of questions left unanswered.

Overall, I would still recommend this series, and I plan to immediately start reading Spell Bound. I'm excited to read the conclusion to this story! I will probably read the first book from her spinoff series, School Spirits (Hex Hall Novel, A), after reading Spell Bound (A Hex Hall Novel).

Demonglass is the second book in the Hex Hall series. As the first one, I picked this one on audio format. Here, Sophie has to decide between being a prodigium or removing her powers. Her father appears-finally!-in this book, taking her to England to show her how to control her powers and embrace her demon condition. This opportunity is well received by Sophie and with Cal and Jenna she goes to Thorn Abbey.

While in England she encounters Archer Cross. If you have read Hex Hall- and probably you have-the last time Sophie saw him they were separated by a knife between them. In Demonglass they are enemies, or at least they should be. Archer and Sophie work together and they uncover a dark secret in the prodigium world. That summer, Sophie had began to have a relationship with her father. Even she had decided to retain her powers, but at the end of that summer everything was in peril. Her father's position was at risk, their lives were pending on a thread and Sophie can't do anything about it.

Demonglass ended on a sour note. I kept listening to my audio non stop and for the last two chapters I kept waiting for some kind of miracle. Disappointed is the best word to describe myself. Sometimes, we readers expect whom we sympathize with, to overcome everything and anything. Don't know what will happen to the characters but certainly will keep with this series. This book has a really good pacing and the story kept me rewinding to listen again parts that kept me on the edge.

Narration was well done. I can relate the narrator's voice to Sophie as a character. Dukeheart kept me interested in this audio.

Well, well...Rachel Hawkins seriously outdid herself in this novel. This is the sequel to Hex Hall, and I can honestly say that it was just as riveting, if not more, than the first installment of the series. The characters became more developed and the plot thickened to a point where I was thinking...I think Sophie's head is going to explode with the complexity of the crap she has to deal with. In the first book, you seriously resent her father for being an absentee parent, however, in this book you learn why he was gone & were relieved to find out that he's actually a dreamy Brit where Sophie gets most of her mannerisms... "Curiouser and curiouser".

In my review of Hex Hall, I totally forgot to mention the whole "Sophie figures out that she's not a witch" part. So I'll go back to that now. Well we all finally figure out what Sophie really is, and at first I was immediately weirded out...because that's just something we've all come to think of and stereotype in our own way...my thoughts... "Those things are nothing but evil & they don't have personalities or consciences...they're just...scary, icky, ugly, & evil". I'm happy to say that this preconceived notion about this particular type of paranormal was immediately banished from my thoughts after I learned that they could control themselves & it was not a possession. I feel like this made Jenna and Sophie relate to each other more, therefore, forging a closer bond as BFF's.

In this sequel, the readers also got more of a feel for Cal's personality & that he really does care for Sophie in a way that I was hoping. (Obviously, I picked "Team Cal" --hopefully, the third book will solidify my choice.) But...gosh, Archer is still really steamy...and also forbidden...but I guess that's the appeal. *sigh* I wish she could have both.

The plot really thickens when Sophie finds out who her real enemies are...and boy...are they nefarious & incredibly unexpected. Like I said in the review of Hex Hall, this book/series is absolutely worth a read. You'll blow through it faster than you expect to, then you'll be begging for more! Trust me, I know I am! I can't wait for the third one to come out!!! The ending was...Boom...The End--if you love it as much as I did, you'll be saying "No, no...wait...that can't be how it ends!! Ahh!!! *insert whimpering*"...but I know that waiting for the third book is absolutely worth it.

I really enjoyed Rachel Hawkins' first book, Hex Hall, so when Raising Demons arrived for me to review I was thrilled! And I had every right to be. Hawkins has raised her game with the second book in her Hex Hall series and looks set to be a strong voice in Young Adult fiction.

Let me start with a nod to the design team over at Simon & Schuster. The cover for Raising Demons is gorgeous and eye-catching. I love the purple tones and the ivy border that links in to Sophie's trip to the English countryside. The glint in the model's eye hints at the magic and power that Sophie is having to come to terms with and there is a sense of her character in the defiant look.

Rachel Hawkins set-up an interesting world in Hex Hall where the Prodigium (the magical races including fairies, witches and shifters) must constantly guard against forces who would like to see them eradicated. It's a situation ripe with drama and intrigue and Hawkins makes excellent use of it. In Raising Demons Hawkins adds extra dimensions to her world, taking the reader out of the relative seclusion of Hex Hall and into the world of the Council of Prodigium. I loved the extra depth this added to the story.

Yet through this added drama the thread of humour that was woven so well into Hex Hall remains. And as with the previous book, it lifts the mood, but doesn't detract from what Hawkins is trying to accomplish with her story at large. It means that Raising Demons is a fun, intelligent read that has a different feel to a lot of similar YA fiction.

Sophie Mercer remains a gorgeous character. She is tough, resourceful and sarcastic. A winning combination as far as I am concerned. Sophie plays an active part in the story, shaping the world and the plot with her decisions and actions and I love seeing that in a book! The romance between Archer and Sophie is electric and intense and a pleasure to read. There is a love triangle developing with Cal as well and I really liked the contrast of the softer, calmer feel of their relationship. Rachel Hawkins has created a great cast of characters that come to life in the pages of Raising Demons.

Raising Demons is a step-up from an already great start to a series and I can't wait to see what Rachel Hawkins has to offer us next!

Actual Rating: 3 and a half stars

***Contains Spoilers from Hex Hall, Hex Hall 1 & Demonglass, Hex Hall 2***

Review:

Demonglass takes place six months after the events of the first book, Hex Hall. Demonglass continues the exploration of Sophie Mercer’s sometimes humorous, often complicated life in the Prodigium (i.e. supernatural) world. I really enjoyed Hex Hall so I was really looking forward to reading Demonglass and while it still contained the humor that makes Hawkins’s writing so enjoyable, I felt that the story could have been more fleshed out. Before I get to my criticisms, let me tell you what Demonglass got right for me as a reader.

I liked that more of the mythology and structure of the Prodigium world was explored. It was nice that Sophie’s powers were on display more in this novel. It was also nice to see the Prodigium world outside the hallways of Hex Hall. From the council to the origin of Sophie’s family, the mythology added in Demonglass added some nice layers to the Hex Hall series.

Also, the characters of Demonglass are as unique as ever in this sequel. I was glad Hawkins included Sophie’s father, James Atherton, in this book because it gave readers a chance to see Sophie in a different life. I’m also happy that Cal got fleshed out more in this novel because he is clearly being set up as the third side of the trilogy’s love triangle. It was also nice to see Sophie and Jenna’s friendship develop outside school walls. Lastly, Sophie’s character growth in Demonglass was nice. Sophie goes from almost self-hating due to her demon lineage to embracing her powers to help those she loves. Sophie has clearly come a long way from the girl who treated magic as a simple thing to throw at any problem that might arise.

However, not every character’s development fared as well in my opinion. A lot of Sophie’s story deals with her relationship with Archer Cross, who in my opinion is still under-developed this far into the series. Archer is still the occasionally charismatic, but often mocking character of the first novel. I was hoping for a little more complexity and conflict for Archer considering he betrayed Sophie in Hex Hall. Archer’s explanation for his past actions, which came only two-thirds way into the novel, was basically I was raised that way. I want to like Archer; I mean he has many things going for him as a character. An orphan, who knows little about his past, being raised by those who are sworn to destroy people like him; there are many things that should compel me as a reader, but his cavalier attitude to everything including his own past doesn’t quite sit right with me. Hopefully, Archer will get more development in the third novel.

The other thing about Demonglass that disappointed me was the continued secrets that Sophie is not told. From the origins of her powers to her relationship with Cal, Sophie is told very little about important things that could have major impacts on her life. Secrets are a part of life and therefore stories, but the secrets kept from Sophie make little sense in context and seem to be added to create drama.

I still liked Demonglass and will continue to read the third book, but I was definitely left wanting more.

Be forewarned: This book ends with a cliffhanger. I almost took away a star from my rating for this. (I hate cliffhangers. Argh!) But despite the inelegant ending, this book definitely deserves a higher rating than Hex Hall, to which I gave three stars. So four stars, it is. I wish I had known about the cliffhanger before reading this book. Then I wouldn't have been in shock upon clicking the next-page button on my Kindle and realizing there was no more story. Sad face.

Anyway, Demonglass was definitely better than Hex Hall. It started off slowly. About a quarter of the way through, I was still trying to figure out when the fun would start. There was a good bit of groundwork laid: Sophie goes to England; Sophie meets her Dad; Sophie's relationship with Cal is awkward; Sophie meets the council. It was all necessary stuff, but it got a tad dull. But when the fun starts, it's pretty big fun, at least as compared to Hex Hall. We get to see the Eye up close and personal. Both the Eye and the Council are attempting to strengthen their ranks in preparation for a war. And someone's raising demons! Nobody wants those nasty demons around. (Oh right, Sophie is one!) So there's a war, a mystery, and a love triangle (more on this below).

I enjoyed Sophie's use of magic. She is incredibly powerful but not in much control. It was interesting to be in her head while she attempted to focus her powers. The out-of-control bit is very believable to me. Sophie is a confused teenager who has been lied to about a lot of important things. It makes sense that she would be out of control and more than a little rebellious.

The characterization in Demonglass is an improvement over Hex Hall. I now have a much better idea of what motivates Sophie, Archer, Jenna, and Sophie's Dad. Cal is still a little bit of mystery, but that's fine, because his stoic nature makes him a bit of a mystery to Sophie too. If he were a real person, I think he'd still be a mystery, so I'm okay with his motivations not being laid out on the table.

Now let's talk about the love triangle and, more specifically, Sophie's relationship with Archer. As a reader, I am torn between Archer and Cal. Archer is sexy (according to Sophie) and snarky and seems to relate well to Sophie. Cal, who is Sophie's betrothed, is a caring, hot (according to me), hunk of man, but Sophie does not feel nearly as much chemistry with him as she does with Archer. But as a person living in the real world, I think Sophie is pretty stupid for even considering a relationship with Archer. He was raised in the Eye, and the Eye are his family. It's really not his fault that he feels loyalty to them. This is all true. Blah blah blah. Are you stupid, Child? He is your enemy! He is your family's enemy! I know he's adorably sarcastic, and fun, and super-hot, but sometimes, you have to make the tough decisions. Get over him. I kind of want to slap her. But if anything, Sophie's misguided infatuation with Archer makes the book better because it emphasizes that Sophie is really just a teenager, with normal teenager impulses, who just happens to have a tremendous amount of demon magic at her whim. Hormonal teenager with demon magic . . . We should all tremble in fear.

Very enjoyable. I look forward to the next book.

Holy. Cow.
You guys, Rachel Hawkins knows how to write a book.

I honestly don't know how everyone was able to wait for Spell Bound after that one. I'm extremely glad I only have to wait until it comes in at the library for me!

I don't want to get into the story itself too much so I don't spoil you for Hex Hall, but I can still talk about the characters. Sophie is back and just as sarcastic as I ever which I loved. I love that her sarcasm doesn't make her seem cynical. Not that I can't appreciate a cynical character, it's just a nice change.
Cal was so sweet and caring it was impossible not to feel sorry for him (more on that later).
Archer. Yeah. This guy is awesome. He's sarcastic and snarky and yet still so sweet. He's just so...*sigh* <3

So, there's a love triangle. Now, I'm not a love triangle hater. Not at all. I'm not all "Woooh! Bring on the love triangles!" but they don't make me want to poke eyeballs out either. I just roll with it when they come along. This love triangle felt pretty real to me, though. I mean Cal and Sophie have a big thing between them (no spoils) that can't be denied but her and Archer actually shared a kiss. Plus, Sophie wasn't all "Oh, Cal! Oh, Archer! How will I ever choose?!" which I can really respect.

I loved being able to see Sophie come into her powers more and learn about her history.

This story has some serious flow going for it. I never felt like things were being pushed and prodded to fit the needs of the story which was really nice. And even though I kind of figured the ending out (a small part of it), it didn't feel like I was robbed of my enjoyment of the story. It still worked.

The Nutshell: Demonglass is one solid sequel. If you've read and liked Hex Hall then you definitely need to get your hands on Demonglass and if you haven't read HH then what are you waiting for? This is a paranormal that stands above the rest. Or, at least with very select few above the rest. If you like snarky characters (both boys and girls), magic, and a dash of mystery, this is definitely a series you need to read.

So, this book was exceptionally better than the first. There was more action, and I felt infinitely closer to the characters.

The story starts right where the first book stopped. Sophie is still at Hex Hall and very for getting the removal process (where she is stripped of her powers and possibly killed at the same time) -but soon is convinced to spend the weekend with her father for the summer to reconsider her decision.

She, Jenna (her vampire BFF) and Cal (the cute groundskeeper/betrothed/super healer warlock) all go to spend the summer at the Council Headquarters. I gotta say, I really love Jenna and everything about her. She is always bringing in the right emotions to the story- the added humr, or the heartfelt bestfriend that stands by your side no matter what. If she isnt in the last book, ill be bummed!

Archer comes back, and you learn that he was raised by the Eye the whole time, since he was 2-3 years old, so that's all he knows.

There seems to grow the dreaded Triangle between Archer, Cal and Sophie. I like Archer... and I'm hoping to learn more about it. I like their relationship, I like their constant banter back and forth (reminds me of Daemon and Katy from Onyx... which Im STILL reeling from. Lol)

Anyways, there was constant action, and of course, a ton of twists, just like the first.
The writing was great.

Overall, I'm very pleasantly surprised by this book.
Rating: 4.5 Stars.

Still heaps of fun! I love a good paranormal book as much as the next person, but sometimes they take themselves too seriously. I'm happy to report that Demonglass retains the same sarcastic humor and a snappy, action-packed plot that is just as entertaining as the one in Hex Hall.

Sophie is spending some time on her father's estate to figure out whether she's going to keep her awesome but pesky powers, and she's still secretly pining for her missing demon-hunter crush, Archer Cross. Complicating matters is the revelation that cute-as-heck Cal has been betrothed to her for years (hey, they do things differently in the otherworld) and the afore-mentioned crush is part of The Eye, a group hell-bent on wiping out all of Sophie's kind. Kinda puts a damper on the relationship.

The politics and power struggles within the Prodigium (witches, shapeshifters, and fairies) and with the demon hunters is growing steadily more complicated, and Sophie and her father must develop her gifts before time runs out. It would be interesting to see more of the plotting ladies within the Prodigium and to have the tension ratcheted up with The Eye, but hopefully these will be further explored in future books.

The author does a fabulous job of moving the story along with cheeky attitude, however, while taking time out for real connections between Sophie and her BFF Jenna and between her and her dad. There are also some brief but swoon-worthy moments with her guy, and you really breeze through this thing rooting for everyone to be happy. I'm really enjoying Sophie and her smart and snappy banter, and this series has fast turned into one of my fluffy and fun favorites.

The author continues to delight me with Sophie's wry and snarky narrating style. I love the way she interjects her sarcastic thoughts throughout the events in the story. Sophie made an important decision in the end of the first book, that sets the events of this story into motion. There is more explanation behind the Eye, and the threat to the Prodigium, as well as Sophie's feelings for Archer and vice versa. This story raises the stakes and develops the romance more, with deeper detail about the main characters from the first book. There is a sort of love triangle but I'm not sure if it counts when the other guy is not even in the running? I mean... I don't really think he has a chance but who knows? I wasn't really bothered by the addition of it, but I thought Cal served a good contrast to Archer.

The story also moves to England, where Sophie gets to know more about her father and her history, and I enjoyed the growing and touching relationship between Sophie and her dad. With the new trouble and mysteries surrounding the Council and the Prodigium, where I felt that the first book was a little predictable, I found the second book to be a refreshing surprise because I wasn't sure about anything. And unfortunately the cliffhanger in the end, didn't really help me out. I'm definitely going to finish this series though! It's so funny and engaging, and full of tense battle scenes, strong characters and a great magic history.

A surprising titilating follow-up to HEX HALL, DEMONGLASS was very entertaining, with original world-building and strong enough character development to make me intrigued to read further. The mortal enemies fall in love aspect has been overdone a bit and then paired with a love triangle it did make things a little hoaky. Hawkins, though, did redeem herself with a fast-paced story, competently portrayed characters and a fresh writing style which made me forget my pre-conceived prejudices against YA trappings. Honestly, I liked book two better than book one, which has me pleasantly hopeful for book three. Hawkins writing was actually so visual that I could almost see the Disney made-for-tv movie that I hope might come from these pages.

The Demon is out of the bag. Sophie, who once thought she was a witch is now officially out as a demon. Both revered and feared in the Prodigium, her and her demon father's powers are beyond anything that other Prodigium can conjure. But, that power comes with a price, and Sophie's power could corrupt her, turn her literally insane and she could hurt the people around her. She, can't do this and with the recent blow of her super crush, Archer Cross turning against her and revealing he is an agent of The Eye - the group obsessed with wiping out all Prodigium, Sophie has decided to have her powers removed. This isn't an easy choice, the removal could kill her. She is hell-bent on her decision though and she goes with her father to London to prepare for the ceremony and she promised her father that she would give him some time to talk her out of it.

While in London Sophie makes two new sort of friends. But there is something strange about them and Sophie is shocked when her demon senses their demons. Someone is making new demons! On top of that The Eye is picking up the pace, hunting Prodigium left and right and rumors are getting back to Sophie that Archer has been spotted around London. Sophie doesn't know how to feel about anything. Especially about Archer and now Cal and even if she will go through with the removal.

This is a very cute series, with a dark edge. There are some hard-hitting emotional decisions that Sophie needs to make and they translate well from Hawkins writing. Sophie is a wonderful character, her dialogue is excellent, full of funny, snide little comments. She just translated as `real'. This is also a quick read, very fast-paced and then ended with a cliffhanger. I really actually like cliffhangers, get's the blood pumping and I'm salivating for the next book. Hawkins did a nice job with this. I'm still a little iffy with the introduction of Cal. My thoughts while reading him kept drifting back to the EVERNIGHT series. Cal of course taking the role of Balthazar. While on this topic, I do have to say there are a few parallels with Claudia Gray's series. Black Cross - The Eye, fated enemies, hopelessly attracted to each other...etc. The similarities are shallow but it did remind me of the other series. At lease if you liked the EVERNIGHT series you should like Hex Hall.

I would recommend this for a more mature teen audience, not for anything specific, but I think it would be more enjoyable for 14+ teens. Fans of the EVERNIGHT series, IMMORTAL series should enjoy the Hex Hall series.

Rachel Hawkins has done it again! Demon Glass is full of the snarky, sassy Sophie-goodness that made me fall in love with Hex Hall. It's not as chock full of funny as its predecessor, but the new location (a sprawling English mansion) and the new characters (including two unpredictable, kind of unstable demon teens) make for a more than interesting foray into the supernatural.

This time around, readers get to see Sophie far out of her comfort zone. Sure, she still has Jenna - who I still love - and Cal is around - love him too! - but all the scenes with her Dad show just how uncomfortable she is with both him and what they are. Despite Sophie and her Dad not having that familial connection, they have this lovely chemistry that bubbles with their growing affection for one another. Readers get to see them develop that father daughter love (insert sappy aww).

Now, I know everyone is probably wondering where Archer is....fear not, he's in Demon Glass as well. The steamy that radiated from Hex Hall's pages is a bit dulled this time, but it's most definitely there. But keep in mind that Archer is technically the bad guy, so any steamy is made 1000x more steamy because it's so illicit. Discovering who Archer really is and how he fits into the huge political mess of the supernatural world is complicated, but so worth it.

Demon Glass has different feel than Hex Hall, but the new atmosphere and complications amp up the tension and force Sophie to come to terms with who, and what, she is. The fighting is intense, the politics come into play, the building badness lingers, and the characters become so much stronger. Oh, and the cliffhanger is a killer. All of these things make Demon Glass a sure winner for Hex Hall fans!

I'm thinking I should have had Spellbound ready to go immediately. The end of this book was total "WTFery," in the words of Liz.

Sophie can't seem to stay away from trouble. It finds her everywhere, even on another continent. It's great seeing her dad. They are a lot alike. Some secrets are let out regarding Cal. He's such a sweet guy, but it seems like he's too sweet sometimes. I think Sophie needs to pay attentions to his actions because there may be something between them......

Then we have Archer. I still haven't decided how I feel about him. He's charming and witty, except he works for the friggin' Eye. I guess 1st crushes are hard to get over. Still, you have to wonder what was real and what wasn't. It's hard to trust someone that betrayed you.

Nick and Daisy are freaky little demons, literally. I don't get good vibes off them, and didn't the entire times. I spent half the time wanting to punch Nick for being a total jerk to Sophie.

Jenna and Sophie's friendship is tested a few times. But what good is a BFF without fights every once in a while. They do learn a few things about the other. Things they lie to themselves about.

I will be reading Spellbound soon because I have to know what the crap is going on. Secrets from the Council are spilled, but there are some things I'm still not certain of, and I want to know the answers.

Rachel Hawkins, you've done it again! I loved this book! It's easily just as good as the first, which is often a difficult task to accomplish. Hawkins does a great job at delving deeper into Sophie's family history and tons of new characters show up that really cause a stir in just the right way. Sophie meets some more demons, who turn out to be quite a problem, but nothing she can't handle, with the help of her father and Cal. Cal plays a more prominent role in this book and you start to see his significance and the relationship between him and Sophie will blossom, although I don't know if it will last. It kind of sucks because I really like him, but I like Archer, too. I can't choose!

I liked that Sophie learns more about controlling her powers and just how important they are to her and the paranormal world. Some unexpected villains arise in this book and you even get to see Archer for a bit, and oh, do those little bits make you want more! Rachel is such a tease!

Demonglass was a great sequel to a fun and interesting series. I love that it wasn't just fluff, like some tend to be, and really had a story behind it and a purpose in the overall scheme. If you loved the Hex Hall, you'll devour this one. I can't wait to read Spell Bound!

Can you say cliffhanger? Demonglass ends on one of the biggest cliffhangers I've read in quite awhile. Now every time I think of the book, "cliffhanger" is the first thing that comes to mind.

Of course, Demonglass is so much more than its ending. It is a great sequel to an excellent first book. The setting changes from Hecate Academy to a big house in London where Sophie spends the summer with her father, the Council, two demons, and her friends Cal and Jenna. It's an opportunity for Sophie to learn a little more about demons, who up to now she only sees as evil, unthinking killing fiends. She wants to go through the Removal procedure to rid herself of her own powers in fear that she will one day turn into the demon she hates. The summer gives her the opportunity to get some context before making a decision.

Demonglass avoided the second-book syndrome by changing settings and opening up so many new plot opportunities. It was a brilliant choice by the author. At the same time, we still get to revisit characters and themes that we loved from the first book, including cute Jenna and swoon-worthy, maybe evil Archer Cross.

The book moves smoothly and is easy to read. It definitely becomes a page turner at the end, but there is plenty of action and danger interspersed throughout the book. I always like books that don't make me wait until the last 50 pages for things to start happening.

The highlight of Demonglass for me is the same as it was in Hex Hall. The humor and sarcasm. Sophie always has a snarky comment at the tip of her tongue, whether or not the time is really appropriate for sarcasm. It lightens an otherwise serious subject. A good sense of humor is so rare in paranormal romance that any book that employs it frequently is a welcome change. Demonglass definitely does that.

I continue to love Sophie. She starts out bound and determined not to become the thing she hates, but then is willing to consider other options as she learns more about what she is. She continues to be a good friend to Jenna, but also is not immune to jealousy and a quick temper. The book does a great job of showing how conflicted she is about Archer. Her inherent trust mixed with distrust of Archer and the things it leads her to do drives much of the book. And of course, as I said, Sophie always has a witty comment to lighten an otherwise serious moment.

My only qualms with this book was a few of the secondary characters. Particularly Daisy and Nick, the other demons. I thought their characters could have been explored more fully, especially Nick's oddities that were introduced but not developed as well as I would have liked. I also would have like a little more Jenna time. She does play an important role in the book, but I thought there were a few loose ends. Perhaps that was on purpose.

Demonglass is another demonstration of Rachel Hawkins' talent as a writer. I highly recommend this series to anyone who has not yet read it.

Rating: 4 / 5

MAJOR SPOILERS for Hex Hall. You have been sufficiently warned.

As if killing her demonic grandmother, watching a friend die & losing the boy she loved to a society bent on destroying her kind wasn't enough, now Sophie Mercer is spending her summer vacation in England at the council headquarters...with her dad. Fortunately James is feeling generous, allowing Sophie's pink-loving, vampire best friend Jenna tag along. Oh and he's also bringing along the dashing healer Cal.

Sophie is stunned on her arrival because, despite being assured that she and her father are the only demons now in existence, there are two teen demons at Council Headquarters. Daisy & Nick have no clue how they came to exist as demons because they have to recollection pre-demon existence. What they do have plenty of is attitude & scorn. Along with her new friends, Sophie begins learning how to control her powers & harness their energy. Things are bumping along, and Sophie's starting to accept her abilities & stop obsessing about going through the removal, when the last thing she expected happens. Archer Cross, the leading weapon of The Eye, drops back in to her life. Luckily he doesn't want to hurt her, he wants to educate her... on more than one thing.

Will Sophie be able to figure out where the demons are coming from without creating too much mischief with Archer or will the nemeses collide before they can uncover the truth?

You know how there is this stigma on the second book in a series that it always seems to just be filler with no real meat to it? Well this book defies that stigma... with vengeance! Rachel Hawkins has continued her incredible work in Sophie Mercer's world & has woven an imaginative tale that continues the pre-existing storyline arch. Getting deeper into the meat of the magical world, Demonglass follows Sophie to England where she makes all sorts of trouble that we love about her! Such an indomitable spirit, Sophie truly is a heroine in the making. I enjoy watching her struggle and grow as a character throughout her novels.

We learn more about the other starring characters as well. This time Jenna takes a bit more of a back-seat role to Cal, Sophie's family, & magical history in general. Fitting the puzzle pieces together surrounding each character's actions really shed light onto previous situations in the series. It was like a light bulb moment of "OH!!!" that was very fun to experience.

Rachel's writing style continues to be phenomenal & so approachable that it's hard to put the book down! I will leave you with my favorite sarcastic quip from Sophie & remind you that this terrific book is set to be released March 1st!

Why had my life suddenly become a Nancy Drew mystery from hell? pg. 268

***NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS***

After what happened six months ago when Sophie Mercer arrived at Hex Hall, she wants nothing less than to be part demon. Because of this against the wishes of her friends and family she petitions the council for the removal, a process which will remove all of her formidable powers. Her father, the head of the council said he will deny her request unless she spends the summer with him in England and learns what it means to be a demon before she makes her final decision. With no other choice Sophie agree and she, Jenna, her vampire best friend and Cal her betrothed are off to England. Unfortunately the trip draws Sophie into a whole new realm of problems. One of the Prodigium is making demons and someone is trying to kill her. As she's pulled further into the lies and violence of the Council and The Eye Sophie wonders just who the enemy is. Will she discover the answer before it's too late?

Okay while this was still an awesome book, it just didn't quite measure up to Hex Hall. Yes the pacing is faster and the danger more intense, however I had a harder time getting into this than the first books. Hex Hall drew me in on page one and it was impossible to put down. Demon Glass I read fairly quickly as well but I was probably a quarter of the way into the book before I was really hooked to the point that I couldn't put the book down. That isn't to say that the beginning was bad or anything, it just didn't hook me from page one.

The new developments with Cal kind of shocked me; there was no foreshadowing of this in Hex Hall. I mean in Hex Hall the little interactions Sophie has with Cal he seems to be more interested in getting away from her than getting to know her. Then we learn right from the get go of this book that Sophie is his betrothed and not only did he know it but he was the one to agree to the betrothal from the get go, it wasn't something his parents set up. It was something he and her father set up and he gave up an opportunity to work as security on the council just to be closer to her. Learning this was interesting but it was also sort of a huh moment for me because I didn't see any vibes anything like that in Hex Hall. Maybe it wouldn't have bothered me if I hadn't read Hex Hall only the day before, but having read them so close together it just didn't jive for me. Also if we're introducing Cal as a fiancé I'd like to have seen a little more play of his character than we saw in the series so far.

Also I'm not really a fan of the open ending and I certainly hope the series doesn't intend to end there even though there are no future titles listed in the back of the book. If she ends it there I'm going to one seriously upset reader. The actions scenes were intense and highly well written, the characters as ever were multifaceted and people that really drew you in. I liked that Archer didn't disappear in this book but remains a main character in the series. Overall it really was an awesome book, it has a fast paced a great story and intriguing characters. My real issue with the book is that upon finishing it I had more questions than I did upon starting it. Definitely recommended and I look forward to reading more from Rachel Hawkins.

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
Hyperion, 2011
359 pages
YA; Paranormal
3/5 stars

Source: Library

SPOILERS for Hex Hall and light spoilers for Demonglass.

I really enjoyed Hex Hall for its mix of snark, mystery, and paranormal starring Sophie, the delightful dark witch who discovers that she is actually a demon, and thus was psyched to dive into the sequel. I was hoping that since Archer was revealed as a villain, Sophie would FINALLY get over him and find a new (better) crush in addition to hanging with her dad and developing her powers more.

That sort of happens. Within the first twenty pages, we discover that Sophie was betrothed to the hot healer gardener Cal, who we briefly met in the first book (see, only a light spoiler). That sounds weird but the betrothal is not binding and it's standard practice in the magical world. Because of this revelation, Cal will be accompanying Sophie, her father, and her best friend vampire Jenna to England for the summer. While there Sophie gets to know her father a little bit more and works on controlling her powers. This was cool; I especially enjoyed the mirror scene. She also meets two demons, which surprised her as she and her dad were supposed to be the only two demons in the world. And she uncovers some plots. BUT...

Sophie is not over Archer. Not at all. Not even when he is openly part of an organization that wants to kill her, her father, and her friends. Not even that he's a traitor to his people. No, none of that stops Sophie from being a total moron and bringing down the rating of this book for me. She endangers her own life (REPEATEDLY) and the lives of those she claims to love and want to protect for Archer, an undeserving swine.

Fun Fact: In this world, vampires can still eat human food, such as bacon!

Warning: BIG cliffhanger for those who hate cliffhangers; you might want to wait for the third book to come out before reading this series.

Overall: I still enjoyed the paranormal part but man, I hated the romance and it really ruined my enjoyment of this book. Because I was left with many questions, I will probably be reading the third book when it is eventually released.

Cover: Not really sure what the cover is supposed to represent; I have an idea about the umbrella (since the story is mostly set in England) and the stone walls (dungeons) but why the reflection? Why the cat (there is still no mention of one in the book)?

MY THOUGHTS
Demonglass is a brilliantly executed sequel that beautifully builds on the world we experienced in Hex Hall, reuniting us with characters we remember so fondly while also introducing us to new and interesting individuals. Ms. Hawkins's sense of humor is finely honed and a vital component to the success of this story, the sarcasm and playful self-deprecation welcome interjections into a tale becoming darker and more serious as new information on Sophie, the Council, and The Eye is brought to light. The writing flows smoothly and easily, moving the plot forward at a pace that has us dreading how quickly the back of the book is approaching, wishing and willing our fingers to flip the pages a little slower even though Ms. Hawkins makes it virtually impossible to do so.

Sophie is an unforgettable heroine, her snark drawing snorts and giggles from us loud enough to disrupt those around us should we be reading in public, and her pithy comebacks often used as a coping mechanism for tense situations make her seem so very real, allowing her to transform from a mere fictional character into a trusted friend. Though many of her problems are paranormal in nature, her emotional reactions to them are universal-hurt over her lingering feelings for Archer, confusion over her status as a demon and how its changed the way she views herself, and pressure as to the future role she is to play as her father's successor. She is a character we can feel, see, and hear as though the words on the pages have morphed into moving pictures, her voice in our head as clear as if she were speaking audibly, and we read in in eager anticipation of her next display of wit or the next piece of trouble sure to find its way to her.

As with the creation of her characters, Ms. Hawkins also writes a flawless story-one that expands what we learned in book one as little tidbits of new information are deftly placed to keep our curiosity continually piqued without overwhelming us with a plethora of mysterious clues. It's very clear she is skillfully dangling a carrot in front of our noses, leading us where she wants us to go in so entertaining a way we are more than happy to blindly follow her trail just to see where such a storyteller will have us end up. We have no choice but to be involved, greedily wanting to know more while simultaneously wading through what we've already been told, trying to anticipate what will come next but being fairly certain Ms. Hawkins is already several steps ahead of us with a smile of satisfaction on her face derived from the knowledge that she is privy to so much we aren't.

Both Hex Hall and Demonglass are extremely quick reads, ones that keep us glancing at the clock to see how many chapters we can squeeze in our allotted reading time before returning to our reality. If you haven't had the chance to experience the expert use of snark in conjunction with a little romance and mystery, add this series to your list immediately, you won't be disappointed.

Rating: 5/5

My Thoughts: Wow, Wow, Wow, what can I possibly say? I reviewed Hex Hall a few months ago and like I said before, I was hesitate about this series but than I read Hex Hall and I loved it. So of course I was looking forward to Demonglass but I wasn't sure if it would be as good. Demonglass outshined my expectations, it was even better than Hex Hall!!!! We are back with Sophie who has spent the last few months trying to get over that fateful night she lost a lot. Her dad's back in the picture, her friend is dead, her beloved Archer is missing (or hiding). Whats a girl to do?

Her dad shows up and suggests taking Sophie back to his house (or maybe not his house exactly) and she wants to bring Jenna with her. Her dad agrees and he also suggests a mystery guest as well. Who is the mystery guest? Cal! Remember Cal, he was the guy that was a few years older that stayed on campus when he graduated and more or less became the janitor. He heals people. Yep, that Cal. Why on earth is Cal coming I asked myself? Well, on page 18, I got my answer and I laughed so hard I thought I was going to cry. I loved that!!!!

Of course leaving the school, Sophie gets a strange feeling that all 3 of them will not be returning. Sophie and her friends go back to the mansion aka Thorne Abbey. There they spend the next few months discovering secrets about Sophie's heritage, and just how powerful she really is. The Eye is still out to get her as well, and Archer shows up a lot throughout the book.

Of course Sophie doesn't know who she should really trust. When it comes down to it, everyone seems hunky dory on the outside but Sophie starts wondering about her dad's "friends," who Archer "really" is, and just how many people she can really trust.

With a new set of characters, more intensity in Sophie's life, the fact that the school may not be what it seems, and the Eye out to kill her, Demonglass was a hit!

Let me finish by saying this, I really liked Archer in the first book but after getting to know Cal, my feelings started leaning towards him and I desperately wanted something to really happen between Sophie and him. And everything he sacrificed made me feel so giddy I wanted to jump up and down with excitement. But of course she's still got it bad for Archer! How do you choose between a super powerful warlock and a hot older healer? Decisions, decisions.

Demonglass was AWESOME! And of course it ends with such a cliffhanger that Demonglass will make people want to cry because as of right now, they can't run to the bookstore and get the next book! Write faster Hawkins!

Overall: Loved Demonglass!!! Love Sophie, Cal, Jenna, Archer, her dad, just everyone!!!

Cover: It's awesome. Love it. Its even nicer than Hex Hall! Beautiful cover!

What I'd Give It: 5/5 Cupcakes

Hardcover Edition

Taken from Princess Bookie (blog)