Spell Bound (Hex Hall Book 3)

***NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS***Sophie Mercer barely escaped Thorne Abbey with her life and now she's finds herself at the Brannick's compound searching for her mother. Only what feels like just moment turns out to be seventeen days that she's been missing in the Itineris, stuck in void space. Her mother thought she was dead and has no idea if anyone Sophie cares about survived the fire. When she learns her mother is a Brannick and they were depending on her magic to stop the Cassanoffs, magic she no longer has Sophie doesn't know what to do. Stuck at the compound with no magic and no word of those she loves Sophie must learn what happened to her father and friends and along the way she needs to figure out just how to stop the Cassanoffs from raising an army of demons to kill them all. She can't help but thinks getting her magic back will solve all their problems, that is until she learns that when she regains her magic she might not even up using it how she planned. In more danger than she's ever been before and without the power that has always been a part of her Sophie must discover who she is without her magic and if that person is strong enough to save everything and everyone she's ever cared about. Magic or not will she be enough to save them all?It's always a little sad when a series comes to its inevitable conclusion as appears to be the case with the Hex Hall Series. So after just having read Spell Bound even though it was a phenomenal book, I'm feeling a little melancholy at the thought that there's doesn't appear to be anymore adventures coming for Sophie Mercer. I'm hoping that I'm wrong, but considering how nicely things wrapped up at the end of this novel that's doubtful. Like the rest of the Hex Hall Novels, the story is a well written, fast paced first person novel. The action begins at the very first scene and every page after is a mix of intense and danger filled action and extreme emotional turmoil. There are parts of the novel that are definitely heartbreaking as not every character we've grown to love makes it to the end of the series and even though we know before opening this novel that in the end our heroine has to prevail the fact that she doesn't make it through her ordeal unscathed is both realistic and heartbreaking. For much of the novel Hawkins does play a little bit with the love triangle she created in Demon Glass and as I'm not really a fan of the ever popular love triangle it did both me a bit, but she does manage to sort out the tangle emotions by end of the novel even if I wasn't exactly left feeling fulfilled by how it was resolved. This is less in my opinion a story of war, evil and magic and more a story of a girl finding who she is again when everything she knows is ripped from her. At the end of Demon Glass Sophie's powers were bound. She can feel them inside of her, but can't access them and even though all she wanted in Demon Glass was to have those powers gone she realizes they were a part of her identity. So she struggles a lot with who she is without the magic that have become like breathing to her. Learning her mother is a Brannick definitely turns her world upside down as she is drawn into the heart of what she's always known as the enemy only to learn she's a part of that. She's got the curtain pulled from her eyes as she learns how much of what she's been taught and told was nothing but lies. Add to that at the beginning of the novel she doesn't know if anyone she loves that was at Thorne Abbey even survived and you'd got one pretty messed up seventeen year old girl. If she weren't messed up enough, learning from a warlock stuck inside a mirror that she will be what decides the coming war pretty much tears her up inside. Torin, our mirror man, tells her he's seen two futures for her in one she'll be what stops the Casnoff witches in the other she'll be leading their army. Though Sophie doesn't believe this could possibly be true, she soon learns the circumstances that could cause it to be and also learns that as much as she wants her magic back it might not necessarily be a good thing. There's a sort of undercurrent going on between Izzy, her youngest Brannick cousin and Torrin as well that isn't really fully explained, which makes me hope we'll see future Hex Hall novels maybe from points of view other than Sophie's. Hawkins has created so many intriguing characters here that I can't help but notice the story potential in each of them and hope to see those stories played out in future works. Though she does reunite with her friends there's also a sort of shaky trust between all of them because of everything that comes before which needs to be ironed out and adds another interesting layer to the story. This is definitely a story that doesn't disappoint filled with adventure and enough emotion to put readers through the ringer as they experience with Sophie.Hawkin's character development is as always stupendous. She obviously gives us a fully developed Sophie because it would be hard not to develop the character giving us the first person narrative. What's impressive about her work is how well she develops the outside characters. Elodie for one takes a major role in this novel even though she's a ghost. We watch as her character moves from angry dead teen to that of an emotionally involved friend and protector even though the character herself doesn't really want to admit it. Her character takes on new aspects in this book and grows tremendously. Though we're always on the outside of these character because of the first person narrative I also feel that Archer, Cal, Jenna, Sophie's parents and the Cassanoffs were really well developed. The new introductions of the Brannicks - Aislinn, Izzie and Finley as well as Torrin of the mirror came into the story as extremely well developed and distinctive additions. Like I mentioned above there's an untold story between Torrin and Izzy that I'm dying to learn. With the exception of the enemy whose motives might be explained but are still not likeable characters, Hawkins didn't really have a single character in this novel that it wasn't easy to get attached to. And as much as I enjoyed experiencing this adventure through Sophie I am dying for a book a that offers us one of their points of view. I mean there's Archer torn between what he is and what he's known -he's got story potential written all over him. The Brannicks, well that's just obvious about how juicy a story from them could be. Elodie could offer an extremely enticing narrative as well. The thing about Hawkins characters is that they're not all one thing or another and there isn't a single character introduced that doesn't have some sort of internal war going on. Plus let's face it I'm not ready to let the characters go.Overall the third novel in the Hex Hall Series was amazing. It was a page turner from beginning to end and offered a smashing conclusion to the story arcs that have been brewing since Hex Hall. This is the type of novel that I feel spans generations and will offer appeal to readers from 12 to older than we want to admit. Yes it does include the young adult teen angst in full swing, but it also includes magic, danger love and sacrifice. It's a story of adventure and a story of a girl coming into her own. What it is most of all is a story that's not to be missed. Highly recommended.

Loved the second book as much as the first! Couldn’t put it down! Engaging plot and characters that I fell in love with. Can’t wait to read the next in line!

***Spoiler-free review, there will however be spoiler for Hex Hall and Demonglass***Ah Sophie, how I have missed you...In the end of Demonglass, Sophie and her father have been stripped of their magic powers, Archer and Jenna have been captured and Thorne Abbey is under attack. Cal, her fiancé even though she is technically with Archer, (no, Sophie is not that kind of girl. Witches and warlocks have arranged marriages) convinces Sophie to go look for her mother to seek for help, even though her mother is with the Brannicks, who are enemies of the prodigium.Sophie travels through the Itineris (a magic travel portal) to find her mother, however, since her powers are bound and she isn't technically a witch or demon anymore, the Itineris has a hard time determining what she ends up losing almost two weeks by the time it spits her out. Sophie finds her mother among the Brannicks and she finds out that they are not who she thought they were. Soon after, her father and Cal show up. Of course, you can always count in the awkward but awesome tension between these two, as well as a kissing scene!Just when Sophie is adjusting and her and her crew is preparing to attack the Casnoff sisters, she is suddenly sucked back (literally) to Hex Hall. (Totally not expecting that, but awesome nonetheless!) Turns out that all the students, including Archer and Jenna have also been summoned back to Hex Hall, but this time they are stuck there while the Casnoff sisters try to pull off their evil plan.I've always loved Jenna (a vampire with pink hair!) and her friendship with Sophie. And Archer? I've always been a fan of his although Cal is still probably one of my favorite characters. And of course, Sophie and Archer's witty comments are just as funny as the last two books, maybe even more. I forgot to mention that the ghost of Elodie is till somehow tied to Sophie, but this time she has found a way to posess Sophie's body. Which comes in handy when they need Elodie's magic powers, but what about when she comes face to face with Archer (her ex)? It's pretty sad that I liked Elodie so much better as a ghost than when she was alive. But she does end up getting her (sort of) happy ending. One of my favorite things about this book was a warlock who is stuck in a mirror. He can predict the future although he rarely does, and the conversations he has with Sophie are just to die for! And I don't know if this is just me, but it seems like the hotness level between Sophie and Archer simmers down a bit, compared to the last two books.Along with the rest of you, I have grown to LOVE Sophie, her wit and sarcasm and the wonderful world of Hex Hall. I am very sad to read the end of her story. Spell Bound was a great but sad and bittersweet ending and still left unanswered questions. Might Rachel Hawkins answer these in a Hex Hall spin-off series or another Hex Hall book? Who knows, but I sure hope so! When I finished Spell Bound, I had no idea that this was the final book in the Hex Hall series. The story just feels...unfinished. If this was just another Hex Hall book I would give this 5 stars, but considering this is the last one I have to give in 4 stars since I feel like it should have been...more. More romance, more fighting, more of the Brannicks and more of Sophie's parents. There was however more than enough drama, suspense and Sophie's awesome snarky comments. Overall, Spell Bound was a fantastic addition to the Hex Hall world although I am sad it's over. I immediately got sucked back into Sophie's world that I devoured this book in one day.4 out of 5 sparkly stars!Some of my favorite non-spoiler quotes from Spell Bound: (there are SO many, it was hard to choose!)- "You can call yourself whatever you want.""Okay. Sophie Awesome Sparkle-Princess it is."- "You know, I can see more than just the future or the past.""Really?" I asked, paging through the papers in the file."Can you also see the present? Because I can do that, too. Like, right now, I sense that I'm in a messy room with a total toolbox."- "We could go to Lough Bealach," Aislinn answered."Is that a place, or are you choking?" I asked, earning me a glare in return.- "And the sooner, the better. We're in stasis now, but something is coming. I sense a--""Great disturbance in the Force?" I interrupted before I could stop myself. Torin frowned."I suspect you're mocking me, but I don't understand the reference. In any case, dark powers are stirring. The more prepared you are, the better."- "Right. So no plans at all, then?" Jenna frowned."Other than rocking in the fetal position for a while?""Yeah, I was thinking about taking one of those showers where you huddle in the corner fully clothed and cry," Archer offered.- "See you later, then?" he asked. His voice was casual, but my skin was hot where he touched me. "Definitely," I answered, figuring that even a girl who has to stop evil witches from taking over the world could make time for kissage in there somewhere.*** of my reviews at:Nereyda @ Mostly YA Book Obsessed Read more

Loved this series of books. It had the perfect mix of what makes for a cracking series. A great plotline that you didn't see coming, a likeable heroine who is fierce and strong but also very human with her sarcasm and her moments of self-doubt. A brooding and gorgeous male love interest and then some great of characters that are added to the mix. I cried towards the end of this book, the scene at the end with Elodie and Cal was particularly moving and sweet and it ended on a perfect happy ever after. Loved it. A talented author who delivered great dialogue and characters with great world building skills. Download this series now, you'll love it!

SpellBound is the third book in Rachel Hawkins's fantastic Hex Hall series. We see Sophie continue her journey - did this start just two books ago - with lots of twists and turns along the way.SpellBound is one heck of a ride. It is easily the best book in the Hex Hall series. There are a lot of twists and turns and revelations in the plot, and we get to be reunited with some old friends as well as meeting some new characters. In this book we finally get to meet the Brannicks, and they are some awesome kick-ass females. Although a bit late to the party, it was rather cool to finally meet this group of warrior women. They were in some ways the total opposite of Sophie and her friends - they were very dedicated to learning the warrior arts - but at the same time the younger ones were still just girls like Sophie. In contrast to the Brannicks, The Eye remained an anonymous group. Sophie was definitely kick-ass in this book and it was nice to see her deep ties with her friends.The plot of this book was a twisty-turny thing, which made it a brilliant read as there were a LOT of surprises along the way - none of which I saw coming. The book jumps between the Brannicks and Hex Hall, with a side excursion on the way. You definitely know who is friend, and who is foe in this book - that was laid out very neatly in Raising Demons, and there isn't any change in the line-up really. The basic plot is pretty easy to guess, but it is executed brilliantly. I just wish the guys had, had a bit more of screen time and that Elodie and Jenna had got to show their kick-ass ability more. The ending of the book was very interesting. There is a definite sense of a conclusion at the end of this book, but there are also possible hints of more books in this series in the future.This book is definitely one to read if you like the Hex Hall series, and if you're a fan of young adult paranormal romance then the Hex Hall series is definitely one you should consider reading, especially if you're looking for something a little different as it focuses more on `witches' than it does on vampires or shapeshifters - though they too feature in the series.Originally posted on [...]

I am so, so pleased with this fantastic finale to one of my favourite trilogies! Usually I'm a little disappointed by the final book in a series, but Spell Bound left me feeling content about the whole thing.As always, Sophie is such a great female lead. I love her courage and determination, and I love her awkward jokes when she's in uncomfortable situations. Absolutely hilarious. We learn more about her mum's side of the family in this book, and I really enjoyed that. We see that strong will and determination runs in the family!I did feel that a little too much time was spent on romance rather than saving the world from demons. If the world is about to come to an end, you don't fool around! I also didn't think that the story had that urgent feel that it should have had; it just cruised along. That said, it was still a fast paced book and it had almost non-stop action. I just didn't feel as though the world was going to blow up, if that makes sense.Like I said above, I was extremely pleased with the ending. This isn't another Harry Potter, where characters die left and right, so I was a little disappointed by that (I like suffereing, okay?) but overall I think Rachel Hawkins did a brilliant job wrapping up her trilogy and also leaving room for more.As for my favourite book in the trilogy, I can't say that this is it. My favourite is definitely Demonglass, because that was one explosive book. Spell Bound was still excellent though, and I'll definitely be treasuring this trilogy and recommending it to everyone!

Well unlike the first two books I struggled to get into this, though I can't explain why. Where they took me probably two days each, this has taken me six.I'd say that I got really into it with about 100 pages left to go when the events of the last book and this culminated in a battle of good versus evil.The ending has made me a little sad in regards to one thing that happened but also kinda happy about something else.It was a good ending but for me the start let it down a bit.

The book was in excellent conditions, arrived super fast with no hassle. This is a re-read for me so I already know I love this book.