Book Review: Spell Bound

Spell Bound (Hex Hall #3)

By: Rachel Hawkins

Published By: Hyperion

Publication Date: March 13, 2012

Page Count: 327

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound

Source: Purchased by Reviewer

Audience: Young Adult - Fantasy, Paranormal

This was a great end to a great series, and it is just as fast a read as the other books in the Hex Hall series... I got through this in a matter of hours. I love the mixture of emotion and wit that Rachel Hawkins has given Sophie, the main character. She can always be counted on to inject a little bite into the dialogue, and she makes me smile more than any other YA character with her 'stating the obvious' verbal stings. I also particularly enjoyed the teamwork between characters, both old and new, & banter about side-kicks in this book. It really kept the book bouncing along even as events turned very dark. 

Life looks pretty bleak for Sophie at the start of the novel - her powers are bound, she has no real idea where she is, and for all she knows, her father, fiancee, boyfriend and best friend are all dead. She has some stuff to work out - particularly the fiancee & boyfriend problems - and somehow she has to save the day. She isn't convinced but she gives it her best go. That's what I like about this character; whether she is a super powerful demon girl or a normal girl, she gives it her all while understanding she could be about to fall flat on her face. She's truthful, and resourceful, and all in all makes an excellent heroine to cheer for. 

I'm not about to give away the plot, but there is quite a bit of 'big drama' in this book.  Characters are not safe, people get hurt in horrible ways repeatedly, and you may shed a tear. I actually found myself feeling much more emotional during the 'calm after the storm' than during the 'storm' itself. There were a couple of really nice touches to finish the series off. Definitely a good read. 

Summary:

Hailed as “impossible to put down,” the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted. 

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?