Hex Hall

Hawkins, Rachel. Hex Hall. 2010. 323p. ISBN 9781423121305. Available both at FIC HAW on the library shelves and as an audiobook on Overdrive

At thirteen, Sophie discovered she was a witch. This explained a lot of things. Her mother and her moving all the time. The tingling she felt whenever odd things happened. Coming into her magical powers untrained was hard, though, and Sophie performed one too many spells when she tried to create a love spell matching two people during prom.

Now the Council, which governs witches of the world, has decided to send her to Hex Hall, a reformatory boarding school for witches, shapeshifters, faeries, and the odd unlucky vampire. There, students are expected to learn how to control their power before their 18th birthday and release into society. They are also prepared to fight the Eye, a secretive organization dedicated to eliminating the Prodigium, also known as all paranormal creatures.

Once at Hex Hall, Sophie discovers that unlike everyone else here, she is not versed in the history or conflicts of the Prodigium. For instance, her father, whom she’s never met, is the head of the Council, and therefore most students hate her. By the end of her first day, she’s made powerful enemies of a dark witch coven who want her to join. She’s also annoyed some of the shapeshifters. She’s smitten with a sexy warlock who happens to be dating the head of the coven. And she’s rooming with the school’s only vampire, who is both hated and suspected of killing her previous roommate. What could possibly go wrong?

Hex Hall is a very entertaining book about paranormal beings experiencing very human emotions. Fans of Hawkins other books, such as Rebel Belle, will thoroughly enjoy the secrets and twists that Hex Hall harbors.