Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins - Book Review

Title: Hex Hall
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: Hyperion
Release Date: 2010
Format: paperback
Pages: 323
Source: bought it
My Rating: 3 stars

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer 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 Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, 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 tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

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.
(Taken from Goodreads.com)

REVIEW
I was looking forward to reading this book and I was excited after some of the reviews praising it so much.... but it felt short for me.

Halfway through the book the story felt like it hadn't really started yet, which I didn't like since the book isn't that long.

The romance for me was almost non-existence. It felt forced throughout the whole book. I mean, there were a few scenes between Sophie and Archer, but not enough of them spending time together to make you believe that they like each other. Sophie on the other hand declares she has a crush on him since he is extremely hot. And I don't doubt that, but I do doubt how that crush turned into love after a couple of months of barely any interaction. They do spend a lot of time together but we, as readers don't get to see much of that time together, so I didn't really feel the love there.

Another thing I really wish I could see was the school. I was so excited about this school full of supernatural kids, going to this school that was on an island to learn their magic that I was jumping up and down. It's no secret that I LOVE Harry Potter and thought that this might be a tiny bit similar to it but not really. Just the aspect of having a school full of paranormal creatures had me in high hopes.

I wish I could have seen more of those defence classes, which Sophie spends all her time with Archer. We would get to know the cool stuff they're learning and see the two of them interact more. Or even see Sophie learning new magic tricks and learn more about her abilities.

On a side note, Sophie's only main interaction with a male student is Archer. She does have a little incident with a male shape-shifter and with the healer of the school but other than that we don't get to see her interacting with other guys which just seemed off to me. I never pay attention to stuff like that but it just seemed weird for some reason. She also doesn't have many friends so it could be that, and that I'm reading too much into it.

Overall I enjoyed it. I love anything that has to do with magic in general. I just expected a bit more I think in the love department at least, but I'm keeping my hopes high for the sequel Demonglass.