Review: Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins
♦publisher: Disney Hyperion
♦released: March 13th, 2012
♦hardcover, 327 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦series: Hex Hall, book 3
             review of Hex Hall
             review of Demonglass
♦source: purchased

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?

Review: The Hex Hall series has to be one of the most consistently fabulous series I've ever read.  I loved this installment, just like I loved Hex Hall and Demonglass. There was no lull...not a one. Spellbound kept the heart-stopping pace going with great new characters, new challenges, new dangers, while bringing back all of our favorite parts of the past books.

Sophie is still sharp and both her inner and outer dialogue is utterly hilarious, and she has to dig a bit deeper into herself to find her strengths both with and without magic.  Archer is still there to match her at every smart remark and charming glance.  Cal is still wonderful Cal.  Elodie finds a new way to be of use and also comes to a new low.  And the five of them, Sophie, Jenna, Archer, and Cal, never fail to have eachother's back.  In Spellbound, we also get a whole new look at Sophie's family, especially her mom, and she discovers a family history she never knew she had and makes some new bonds along the way.  The evil Casnoff sisters are back in full force, and they all mysteriously land themselves back at Hex Hall.

The ending was explosive and exciting and heart-breaking all at once---I'm very happy with the way this wrapped up (except for one part that I am bawling my eyes out over!). The whole book is a super fast read, I think I blew through this in a few hours---maybe too fast, because once it was all over,  I immediately started to despair that there would be no more. But YAY! Then I found out Hawkins is taking us back into this world with a spin-off featuring one of the new characters, Izzy Brannick! Ah, I can't wait!

An incredibly entertaining and fun series all the way through.  If you haven't started the Hex Hall series yet...you must!!

Find Rachel Hawkins online: Website •  Facebook  •  Twitter

Purchase Spellbound at: Amazon  •  BN.com  •  Bookdepository  •  Indiebound