Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins - Review

I was lucky enough to be involved in an ARC tour (VIA Dark Fairy Tales Arc Tours) of Hex Hall, and wow! This is one book that I am so happy I have preordered so the minute it's out my very own copy will be making a new home on my current favorites shelf! I actually received Hex Hall on Saturday, finished the book I was reading and picked up Sunday night – within 12 hours, I was finished – it was honestly that good.

Hex Hall is an engaging, fun ride full of humor, combined with urban fantasy and dark twists, that you as a reader never see coming. I feel in love with Sophie from the very beginning, she's such a down to earth protagonist, I don't see how you could not fall in love with her.

Honestly, I am not sure that any kind of review on my part could do this awesome book justice...all I can tell you is that when I was done I was left with one question, Where's the next book?

Synopsis via goodreads:

When Sophie Mercer turned thirteen, she discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-Gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hecate Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward prodigium, a.k.a. witches, fae, and shapeshifters. By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard. Three powerful enemies who look like supermodels; a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock; a creepy, tag-along ghost; and a new roommate, who happens to be the most-hated person and only vampire on campus. Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her friend Jenna is the number one suspect. Meanwhile, Sophie has a more personal shock to grapple with. Not only is her father the head of the prodigium council, he's the most powerful warlock in the world, and Sophie is his heir. As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all prodigium, especially her.

The idea's with in Hex Hall are one's we have surely all read and reread before, but the way that Rachel developed Hex Hall it's nothing like anything I have read before – now if that's not a total contradiction, I don't know what is! But it's true!

Yes, the whole, going to a mysterious "paranormal" school, married with a mother who is "normal" and a father whom, is anything but and has all but abandoned her...Yep, if that's what you choose to think Hex Hall is about – then it's been done, repeatedly.

However, Hex Hall is so much more than that...what is rich with in the pages of Hex Hall is the haunting details, the amazing characters, as well as the twists that you never see coming. That last one sure threw me for a spin, and I feel like I am still spinning!

There are other things too that make Hex Hall a unique read – one other thing that really caught my attention was the romantic edge, granted this book is not at what I would consider Chick Lit – however it kind of is. Sophie has a healthy teen crush to a boy named Archer, whom carries with him an air of mystery. There witty banter though out Hex Hall had me laughing so hard I nearly spit out my soda, all over my daughter!

Once this book comes out, my copy, is going to be making it's home on my shelf of current favorites!

Bottom Line – Exceptionally written, beautiful details (which I feel like get lost in some books), with characters that you almost feel like you could reach out and touch. Hex Hall created a world I wish I could slide into, and never return from! Rachel Hawkins has herself an amazing debut novel, I can't WAIT for the sequel! I give Hex Hall a 5 mushrooms!

Hex Hall (Hex Hall, Book 1)
Author: Rachel Hawkins
336 Pages
Published: March 2, 2010
Publisher: Hyperion Book

PS Rachel is also holding a HUGE contest over on her blog...go enter you might win yourself your very own copy of Hex Hall!