Miss Mayhem (Rebel Belle #2) by Rachel Hawkins

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): Life is almost back to normal for Harper Price. The Ephors have been silent after their deadly attack at Cotillion months ago, and best friend Bee has returned after a mysterious disappearance. Now Harper can return her focus to 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 connect her to David for life. 

Book Review:
Ah, this book was like chatting with an old friend. After being somewhat disappointed with Hawkins' Hex Hall series (particularly, the ending), I had decided to give her another try by picking up the original book in this series, Rebel Belle. Rebel Belle felt like the beginning of the Hex Hall series to me...exciting, engrossing, and entertaining. I was hooked. When I realized the sequel, Miss Mayhem was soon to be released, I had to get a copy STAT!

I'm so glad I did. As I mentioned before, this book was a pure comfort...like chatting with an old friend, or slipping into your pj's at the end of a long day. The story starts right off where the last book ended. Haper, David, and Ryan (and Bee), continue their journey into a world of mystery and magic. If you know me at all, you know I'm a sucker for a story based in the South. Miss Mayhem, doesn't disappoint. There's sweet tea, crazy aunts, and pageants galore! If you're looking for a YA paranormal romance, look no further! I can't recommend this series enough!

Cover Art Commentary:
Gorgeous. I love the colors, they are rather original. I can't remember when I saw a book with these colors. Also, I love the simplicity of the cover. It keeps in-theme with the first book, Rebel Belle.

Rating:

Spell Bound (Hex Hall #3) by Rachel Hawkins

Book Summery (Via 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?

Book Review:
Ok, I admit it. I have completely fallen in love with this series. Hex Hall had me at hello. Demonglass was even better! So I had high hopes for Spell Bound. Sadly, while I enjoyed it, this book did not live up to my expectations. I certainly had a difficult time setting down the book once I started reading. I still love all the characters, but the flare that I enjoyed so much in the first 2 books just wasn't there for me this time. The character development wasn't as rich. I also would have enjoyed a different ending. Oh. well. Sophie's one-liners had me cracking up. I love her sense of humor. I also enjoyed learning more about her "family." ;) I'd love to have another 3 books added to the series. This book left me wanting to learn more about Sophie's story. She has quite the journey ahead of her. Please don't let my review deter you. This really is a great series. I even enjoyed this book. However, my favorite book in the series will always be Demonglass. I know that Hawkins plans to write a few spin-off series, which I am quite geeked about! :)

Favorite Quote:

"Look, we are dealing with the possibility of an army of demons. I don't know about you guys, but those words are right up there with 'root canal' and 'school on Sundays' in terms of things that terrify me." p. 111

Cover Art Commentary:
I am a sucker for beautiful covers, and this is no exception. The colors are gorgeous...of course, I'm sucker for purple. :P I love how the reflection show's Sophie's duality, which is prominent in the story.

Rating:

Demonglass (Hex Hall #2) by Rachel Hawkins

Book Summery:

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? -goodreads.com
Book Review:
Rachel Hawkins has done it again! I feel in love with Hex Hall almost instantly. Honestly, I was a bit hesitant to pick up Demonglass, because I was slightly worried that it might not match up to the awesomeness of Hex Hall. Well, I was worried for nothing because Demonglass far surpassed my expectations! Hawkins takes the storyline to a whole new level. It's darker, richer, and delves even deeper into the Prodigium world. Sophie is back, and as lovable, er snarkier as ever. More characters come into the limelight this time around, such as Sophie's dad and Cal. There are also a new set of characters and a whole new location; Thorne Abby, which I totally wish actually existed because it sounds awesome. *le sigh* It was incredible difficult for me to set this book down, which says a lot because it's been a busy and stressful time for me. Every time I stopped reading, I would start to long for Sophie's magical world and adventures. I also tracked down Hawkin's website, and let me tell you, she is HILARIOUS! :P You must check it out here! It was there I found out that Hex Hall is a trilogy. *sniffs* However, Hawkins goes on to say that she is writing a brand new series Rebel Belle, and is also going to be writing a spin off series to Hex Hall!!!! Seriously? AWE.SOME. So, needless to say, I very much enjoyed this series so far, and am eagerly anticipating more of Hawkins work! :)

Favorite Quote:

"At a normal high school. having class outside on a gorgeous May day is usually pretty awesome. It means sitting in the sunshine, maybe reading some poetry, letting the breeze blow through your hair...At Hectate Hall a.k.a. Juvie for Monsters, it meant I was getting thrown in the pond." (p.1)

Cover Art Commentary:
Well hello gorgeous! I thought Hex Hall was beautiful, but the cover design for Demonglass is just amazing! I just love the play of colors and the idea of duality. Well done!

Overall Rating:

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Book Summery:
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 shape-shifters.
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. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect. -goodreads.com
My Review:
Words cannot express how much I enjoyed reading Hex Hall. It had the perfect combination of humor, romance, horror, and adventure, as well as a healthy dose of all things paranormal woven throughout. Hex Hall had components that I was expecting, such as snobby, vengeful teenage girls, a hunky boy for our heroin to crush on, the occasional teen I-don't-know-how-to-cope-with-life moments, and the ever-loyal sidekick friend. However, what I enjoyed about this book, were the components that did surprise me, such as Sophie's lineage, Cal (the Hall's caretaker), the history of Prodigium and counter-Prodigium. I also enjoyed that Hex Hall had a darker, deeper plot than I had originally envisioned. Overall, Hex Hall was a highly enjoyable, surprising, and satisfying read. I simply cannot wait for the next book in the series! Check out more on Hex Hall at the authors blog.

Favorite Quote:

"I don't know what I was expecting a vampire's room to look like. Maybe lots of black, a bunch of books by Camus...oh, and a sensitive portrait of the only human the vamp had ever loved, who had no doubt died of something beautiful and tragic, thus dooming the vamp to an eternity of moping and sighing romantically.

What can I say? I read a lot of books.

But this room looked like it had been decorated by the unholy lovechild of Barbie and Strawberry Shortcake." (p. 33)

Cover Art Commentary:
I love, LOVE this cover. I love the picture of Sophie on the front, with the southern woods in the background. I also love the reflection in the water, which as greater meaning once you read the book. :)

Overall Rating: