Review: Miss Mayhem

Miss Mayhem
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Published: April 7th, 2015
Hardcover, 273 pages
4 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Life is almost back to normal for Harper Price. The Ephors have been silent after their deadly attack at Cotillion months ago, and her best friend, Bee, has returned after a mysterious disappearance. Now Harper can focus on the important things in life: school, canoodling with David (her nemesis-turned-ward-slash-boyfie), and even competing in the Miss Pine Grove pageant.

Unfortunately, supernatural chores are never done. The Ephors have decided they'd rather train David than kill him. The catch: Harper has to come along for the ride, but she can't stay David's Paladin unless she undergoes an ancient trial that will either kill her or make her more powerful than ever.

I was so excited to jump back into Harper Price's crazy world. The first book in this series, Rebel Belle, blew me away with its mix of girly Cotillion and bad-ass demon hunting. It was a mix between Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The O.C. with drama, fighting and some super cute romance mixed in. This one had all the same elements as the first book, but something about it fell flat for me. It was short read but not very much happened to make it seem like it only needed to be 273 pages. The book starts off with Harper and her friends trying to find Bee after she's been missing since Cotillion. It bings them to this magical house where they find out she is being trained to be a replacement Paladin if Harper does not pass her tests, tests she knew nothing about. Turns out she's not a real Paladin until she passes and the Ephors want David for reasons other than just killing him. Add to that the fact that Harper and Ryan have been actively forcing down David's oracle powers to protect him, and this whole book just calls for drama.

I went into this book thinking this was a duology but was incredibly surprised at the end with the cliffhanger-ish ending to find out that there will be a third book. Knowing this, made me enjoy what I had read a bit more because as an ending it would have been awful. So now that I know it's the middle book, I see total second-book syndrome all over it. There is very little plot progression and character development that left me disappointed. Harper and David are adorable at the beginning of the book, something I love once two characters get together. I know we need drama to make things interested, but I would rather that drama have been between Harper and the Ephors or Harper trying to save David's life. Instead, my OTP fought for most of the book and David was very upset when he found out what Harper's been doing to his powers. I did love Harper and Bee's relationship, something I find very important in books. Even though things are tough and Bee is potentially dating Harper's ex-boyfriend, that doesn't get between their friendship and Bee is always there to help Harper when she's in trouble.

The humor in this is equal to the first book, a lighthearted way of looking disaster in the eye. Harper is a fun character that holds her own throughout the book and keeps her spirits high in the hardest of times. Like the first book, Harper joins into a group event to save the day. This time she's part of the Miss Pine Grove pageant, surrounded by young girls who are way more into than her. The last 50 pages of this book, including the pageant, were the highlight of this book. As much as I hated the ending, the event leading up to her made for some action-packed fun. Of course, I must get my hands on the third and final book because what Hawkins did at the end of this book still haunts me a month after reading it and I just need everything to wrap up perfectly. Is that too much to ask?

"Honestly, not enough people know how to use good manners as a weapon."

Review: Rebel Belle

Rebel Belle
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Published: April 8, 2014
Hardcover, 345 pages
4 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him—and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.


Hawkins blew me away with Hex Hall and School Spirits, bringing forth her wit and skill into paranormal contemporaries that made me laugh, swoon and a bit scared. So when I found out she had a new book coming out, about a cotillion girl who ends up in a crazy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer like situation, I thought, hell ya, bring it on! Everything about this book is gorgeous. The cover is perfect an captures the essence of the novel, and Harper is the perfect leading lady. The night of homecoming, where she knows she'll walk away with the crown, Harper ends up in weird situation and a feeling in her gut she's afraid will never disappear. Everything from that night leads her to David, her arch nemesis who seems to have everything she's striving for. When she's told she needs to protect David to death, she's not sure this is how she wants her life to be, especially with cotillion right around the corner. 

Harper is just like Hawkins's other main characters. She has the wit and sarcasm of Sophie, but the hard core skills of Izzy. But Harper still stands on her own as a leading character and I love that she has weaknesses and goes through some rough experiences. She loves her lipstick, but when it comes down to it, she knows what needs to be done in order to keep David safe. Her and David are adorable, the banter between them is so real and it made their story so much more swoon-worthy. I love stories where the two lovers start by hating each other and soon realize that there was nothing to hate about the other. David is not your typical love interest with his unique sense of style and uppity attitude. But he soon became the kind of guy everyone dreams of.

The story was unique and played out perfectly. I was hoping for a bit more when it came to the prophecies and how everything ended, but it was minor and I'm sure the sequel will answer any questions I still have. Hawkins creates fantastic characters that stick with you long after you're finished the book, and her plots flow nicely to go with them. I liked the characters more than the plot in this, but it was a lot of fun to read and I can't wait for more.

“Bruce Wayne's parents get killed and he goes to Tibet or whatever, and Superman is an alien, and Spiderman had that radioactive spider. Me? I kissed a janitor in the school bathroom.” 

Waiting on Wednesday: School Spirits

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. It highlights the books that we are most anxiously awaiting!


My Waiting on Wednesday this week is School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins. In this spin off to the fantastic Hex Hall series, we get to see what's going on in Izzy Brannick's mind as she ventures through her new haunted school. Here's the description from Goodreads:

Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy's mom decides they need to take a break.

Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who's always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.

Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt?

Rachel Hawkins' delightful spin-off brings the same wit and charm as the New York Times best-selling Hex Hall series. Get ready for more magic, mystery and romance!

I'm sure all us fans of Hex Hall are eager to read the next chapter in the wonderful world of magic, witches and demons. School Spirits is set to hit shelves May 14, 2013. I know I'll be there buying it right away!

What books are you eager to get your hands on?

49. Spell Bound

Book #49: Spell Bound (Hex Hall #3)
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Published: March 13, 2012
327 Pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

Sophie Mercer is just the best. She's more real than most of the heroines you follow in supernatural novels. She's still scared. She's as scared as can be but she still does it in order to help those she loves. You don't normally get to see the scared part of the girl because putting on a brave face is what we do. The brave part is what we love to read when we're reading YA because we like a strong girl. But me, I like them weak too. I mean it's real that way. We are not always on deck. We all have our moments of weakness, it's part of life. Sophie is the epitome of a teenage girl. She's just trying to fit in and in her case, it's not the easiest thing to accomplish.

After taking the Itineris to find the Brannicks, a group of women descended from witches who are sworn enemies of all Prodigium now, Sophie finds that her life is even more messed up that she thought it was. The Brannicks have been waiting for her because they think she could be the one to stop the war rising between Prodigium and those that want them dead. If that's not weird enough, a spell takes all the former Hex Hall students back to the school, where the demon raising Casnoff sisters plan on fuelling the war their own way. I don't want to give away much of the plot because this novel takes so many twists and turns that you need to read it for the real effect.

The cliffhanger at the end of Demon Glass would have left me crying for more if I didn't already have this one on the shelf to start right after. Sophie is lost and alone at the end of that book and we see how her actions and the thought of losing the ones she loves affects her. For the first few chapters, I was praying along with her that they would all be okay. And when Cal and her dad show up at the Brannick's doorstep, i couldn't help but burst into a smile. Even more so when at Hex Hall, we finally get to see Archer again (!!!!!) And of course Jenna, who completes Sophie in the perfect best friend way. Sophie and Archer are adorable in this instalment and I was so happy that the love triangle nonsense was cleared up quickly (I told you there was no way) (And wow that was a hardcore spoiler)

I won't spoil anything else, since it seems at bad at that, so I'll leave you with this. If you enjoyed Hex Hall then you will love the ending to this series. It's enough of a story that it could stand on its own and Sophie's triumph is proof that scared girls can be brave when they need to be. We don't know what we're capable of until it's our only choice and Sophie certainly makes the right choices at all the right times. Hawkins has created a series that will stick me for a long time and characters that I can only wish were real (in particular Mr. Archer Cross) (I blame you for this Mag!)

“Okay, fine. But just so you know, following me into hell means you’re all definitely the sidekicks.” “Darn, I was hoping to be the rakishly charming love interest,” Archer said, taking my hand.” 

48. Demonglass

Book# 48: Demonglass (Hex Hall #2)
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Published: March 22, 2011
359 Pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Note: I don't suggest reading this unless you've read Hex Hall. Too many spoilers to count!

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?

The ending of Hex Hall shocked me out of my skull. I was not expecting Sophie to be a demon, nor was I expecting Archer to be anything but the charming, snarky boy he is. But Archer works for The Eye, a longtime enemy of the Prodigium, and Sophie is more than she bargained for. Upon realizing her true power, she realizes that it's not for her. She's too afraid she'll hurt those she loves, so she decides she wants to have the Removal, to take away her powers and become a normal girl (that's if she can survive the ritual) So when her long lost father shows up to take her to London, she assumes it means they'll let her go through with it. But things are not exactly what they seem in dreary old London. Half the council members are dead and someone is raising demons in a plan to do what exactly? Add in the fact that she can't see Archer anymore, she's engaged to her friend Cal, and her father wants her to perfect her demon powers, Sophie's not having the best summer. 

The story telling in this series puts a smile on my face. Sophie is sarcastic and blunt and she makes more mistakes than a normal teenager. She is still learning about who she is while trying to solve the mysteries that come along with it. Hawkins has a way with chracters. Each one is unique and different from the rest, even if they only have a small part. Jenna is forever the sweetest vampire out there (ironic right?) and Archer is swoon worthy even more so now that he's the enemy (you know I'm right) Sophie's father is strict and seems stuck up, but one Sophie gets to know him, she realizes he's a lot like her. 

The mystery in this one takes the series to a whole other level. When we thought the demonness was over when Alice was killed, we didn't realize it had just begun. Sophie goes through a lot in this book and yet she doesn't give up. She is brave without realizing it and uses her powers to try and help others. Her romance with Archer heats up in this addition, sizzling over every page. I wish Hawkins hadn't added in the illicit love triangle because to me it's just unbelievable in this series. Mind you, love triangles are never good, but there's no doubt in my mind that Sophie and Archer are going to end up together so why bother throwing Cal into the mix? I would like it better if they just grew close as friends without any sort of kissing and what not. Everything else about this book screams uniqueness so it's sad to see her diving into the cliches of YA. Hopefully I'm right about Sophie and Archer or else I'll be super embarrassed. 

I can't wait to find out the ending to Sophie's story in the final book, Spell Bound, because I have a feeling things are going to get much worse for Sophie and Company.

“It sucks that we miss people like that. You think you've accepted that someone is out of your life, that you've grieved and it's over, and then bam. One little thing, and you feel like you've lost that person all over again.” 

“None of this makes any sense."
"I'm beginning to think I should make that the title of my autobiography.”

43. Hex Hall

Book #43: Hex Hall
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Published: March 2, 2012
336 Pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

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.

First I want to thank Mag at Geek Chic Books for giving me the opportunity to enjoy this book. I won it through a contest she had and I'm so thankful! I had wanted to get my hands on this book for quite sometime but couldn't find it in my book store, but Mag made my wish come true!

Hex Hall is the perfect mix between Sabina, The Teenage Witch and Harry Potter. There is magic, sorcery, and danger lurking in the shadows, with a dash of sarcastic humour and cute romances. Sophie Mercer is a sad excuse for a witch and she discovers this her first day at Hex Hall, when she can't even cast a small spell to protect herself from a werewolf. But she didn't want to be there in the first place and the longer she's there, the more she hates it. Hecate Hall, or Hex Hall as the students call it, is a reform school for wayward Prodigium (witches, werewolves, vampires and fairies) and Sophie doesn't really fit in. She's roommates with the only vampire student in the school and a clan of witches can't stand her after she denied their invitation to join their coven. Add to that the fact that she has a crush on one of those witches' boyfriend. And when students start showing up with their blood drained and bite marks on their necks, Sophie's roommate is the first subject, but Sophia knows he can't be her and she'll do anything to prove it. 

The idea of a reform school for bad mythical beings is too awesome. As soon as Sophie stepped foot through the door I knew I would like the place. Fairies wandering the halls, shape shifters roaming through the woods on campus and witches building their dresses through spells. The catty coven of witches following Sophie around are your average mean girls, which just go to show you that bullies are eveywhere. Sophie is awkward and hilarious as the narrator. Her voice is unique and makes the perfect first person narrator. Her snarkiness and sleuthing remind me of Veronica Mars as she tries to figure out who is responsible for the incidents occurring at school. Nothing is what she thinks it is when she gets there and she learns more about herself than she probably wants to find out. Not every goes her way, she gets into trouble a lot and those witches are more like witches with a 'b' and won't leave her alone. She is the perfect protagonist for a young adult book: unsure of herself, not aware of how powerful she can be until she has to use the power to protect someone she loves, and of course a little boy crazy. 

Each character has their own voice and all the supportive characters are just as entertaining as Sophie. Archer Cross, the boy she can't get enough of, is mysterious and snarky but nice enough that we all love him. Even the evil witches are well rounded and you start to feel sorry for a few of them. Jenna, Sophie's vampire roommate, is not what you'd expect from a vampire. She loves pink, but hates pretty much everyone in the school. Sophie and her have a lot in common and she is a good counterpart for Sophie's troubles at school. 

Nothing is what it seems and everything goes wrong when you're living in a school filled with rebellious witches and other such beings. Hawkins makes you desperate to know what's happening to the students of Hex Hall and curious to know whose behind the accidents. She'll keep you guessing until the last page and then force you to pick up the next book. I can't wait to read more about Sophie's adventures.

"Man, Sophie, it's only your first day and you've already befriended the school outcast, pissed off the most popular girls at Hecate, and developed a full-blown thing for the hottest guy. If you can manage to get detention tomorrow, you'll be like, legendary."

Vote Archer Cross!

My dear friend Mag from Geek Chic Books is the wonderful advocate for Archer Cross from the Hex Hall series in the YA Crush Tourney (and you all know what that is by now!) Now I haven't been able to read Hex Hall yet, but after reading all the fabulous things she's written about it, I'm going to as soon as I can get my hands on it. Here's the Goodreads summary:

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.

Sounds pretty awesome right? And I know Archer Cross is a killer character and I know he deserves to win this one. I'll let Mag take this away:

The amazing, awesome, FANTASTIC ARCHER CROSS (from Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins) is in the YA Sisterhood’s second annual YA Crush Tournament. That means he’s competing against bunches of other hot YA guys to be crowned the most Crush-Worthy. 

Archer’s match just went up, and I’m asking you—yes, YOU!—to vote for him!! All it takes is a few clicks. A click here, and then a click to select Archer as your vote! I will totally love you forever, and so will Archer!

If you’re not sure WHY you should vote for Archer, check out the post about him at the link above. Trust me, once you get to know him, you will understand exactly why he is so awesome and why you should VOTE FOR HIM!

As an added bonus, if you vote for Archer and/or do anything to spread the word about him and the Tourney, you can enter to win a Kindle copy of Hex Hall on my blog! Because it’s a Kindle copy, I can send it to anyone with an email address, so it’s open internationally. Plus, you don’t have to have a Kindle to read it, so no worries on that front! 

So please, vote Archer and help to spread the word! Get your friends, family, and random strangers to vote for Archer!!

So please go vote because Archer needs us right now (and who wouldn't want him to need them?)