[REVIEW] Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Published: March 2011
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Age Group: Young Adult
Series: Hex Hall #2

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she? [From Goodreads]

In Demonglass, Sophie shares some quality time with her father but what turns out to be a nice family reunion soon turns in to more trouble then she asks for. There's tons of surprises and excitement in this sequel, more then the first book i would definitely say.

Demonglass definitely redeemed this series in my eyes. The first book was horrible but this one was amazing. 

I LOVE the surprises Hawkins put in to this book. There are surprises from the first chapter all the way to the last. It was absolutely amazing. 

In this book, Sophie is told who her fiancee is since each witch/warlock is bethrothed at thirteen when their powers come. I was completely shocked and am definitely on this guy's side. Archer is the general "bad boy" in the series and I really don't like him but of course the main character Sophie has to be soooo in love with him. Some things never change. 

What they also find as a surprise in this book is that there are people creating demons for some reason. You figure out who but it's a complete shocker. 

The only thing that my opinion hasn't changed on is the cover. Often people say to not judge a book by its cover but seriously, who hasn't picked up a book and their first opinion of it was how good the cover is? I'm definitely one of those people so yeah, back to what I was saying. This cover sucks. The cover follows the whole witch-reflection design with the normal Sophie at the top and the reflection being her all mighty, powerful form. Okay well first of all, the picture of Sophie has nothing to do with what happens in the book. On the cover, she looks like she's prepared for a rain storm or something. Dressed for it in an all black attire plus umbrella and rain boots with puddles in the background. Sophie never once dressed like that in the book. Secondly, the reflection of the girl makes it look like either a really young bride, which could be a hint to the fiancee part, or an extravagant prom dress. Once again, doesn't make sense. Lastly the model on the cover. THERE'S NO EXCITEMENT FROM HER. Not once would i pick up this book and think "hmm, i'm going to read this" if i hadn't read previous reviews or seen the vass amount of advertising. Either way, they really need to reconceptialize these cover designs but the story is getting better so that's good. 

Still on the fence about this series but at least more of me is on the "I like this" side as opposed to the "I don't."

3.5/5
(originally posted in the TPL Word Out program)
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[REVIEW] Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Published: March 2010
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Age Group: Young Adult
Series: Hex Hall #1

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. (From Goodreads)

Hex Hall is about a, shall we say, "reform" school for Prodigiums. Prodigiums are paranormal beings and once they do something really bad that they threaten the safety of all paranormal beings by letting people know that there are witches, werewolves, fey etc., then they are sent to Hecate, short form Hex Hall. Sophie Mercer is a new witch who does a love spell that went terribly wrong and is sent to live here. In her first week, she already made best friends with the school outcast, is hated by the three most popular girls in school, has a crush with the hottest warlock at school and has celler duty...for the entire term. What more can go wrong? Well, Sophie's going to be in for more trouble because when a mysterious predator comes and kills people the way vampires bite them, all suspicions are on Sophie's best friend, Jenna, the only vampire in the school. What is Sophie going to do when she herself is already so complicated with her own life?

First of all, i will admit that i was very disappointed with this book.

I've read many good reviews and finally decided to give this story a try. Well it wasn't exactly what i expected. 

The plot line was pretty good but most of the character development was predictable. Of course, Sophie, the main character, would fall in love with the pretty boy. I also think they introduced him WAY too soon. It's always best, in my opinion, to leave the readers guessing at who the love interest is going to be, in this case, nope. We meet him in the first chapter in which they share a not so nice conversation and Sophie starts to chant prayers of not having a crush on him. See where I'm going? 

I also found that although the main focus is on the evil group, "The Eye", that is trying to kill every Prodigium, the story sort of took another route instead. The Eye becomes secondary, instead we find the true villian of this book to be not The Eye but someone much closer. 

Some parts of the plot was also very predictable. I feel Hawkins foreshadows too much and gives away means details that would be best be hidden until the surprise at the end.  There were many constant surprises in the book and I do appreciate them. 

Lastly, the cover of this series is horrible. I thought that this book was about the fact that Sophie was some super reincarnated witch that lay dorment in her, which is why there is a reflection in the water. Well I was somewhat right...not really. The cover has no revelance and it's not really pretty. 

Overall, would I read this book again, probably not. Will I read the sequel? Yes, because it's sitting in my pile of books to read and I really hate starting a series and not trying to finish it.
Give it a try and see for yourself. Perhaps you will like it! 

Enjoy!

3/5
(originally posted in the TPL Word Out program)
BORROW