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Showing posts with label spell bound. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spell bound. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Book Review: Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

Series: Hex Hall #3
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publication Date: March 13, 2012
Publisher: Hyperion
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 327
Source: Borrowed from friend
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?
Who knows how to write a great ending to a great series? Rachel Hawkins does! I regret that it took me so long to read it after its release. It's hard for me to review a book that is the last in a series, because I want to be like, "Everything was just as good as the last books but it's better because it's the end and things are concluded."

As usual, Hawkins exposes us to a cast of charming characters. Sophie is still sarcastic and entertaining--definitely not a character to be forgotten--and making her toughest decisions yet(it's crazy to think about how much she has grown since this journey began)! Should she take back her powers and risk being controlled by the enemy? Should she quietly plan an attack or face the enemy outright? What kind of attack could she possibly plan? And how in the world is she handle the two guys pining after her? Speaking of which--Cal and Archer? Yes. I love that it's not so much a love triangle. I mean, Sophie is kinda confused about her feelings, but she knows who she wants to be with. It doesn't seemed tried or tiresome like a lot of YA love triangles. Not to mention both guys are really great in their own ways (Archer's...well...hotness and Cal's kindness--both willing to do anything for Sophie). I want to say more, but I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't read it yet. Jenna is still Sophie's loyal companion, and a great example of friendship in YA. And Sophie's parents are always looking out for her, which is something I admire in  a book.

I loved that we meet the Brannicks in this book and find out that they're not at all who we thought they were. The whole plot really is just enthralling and the pacing is speedy. I was dying to figure out what happened after Demonglass and I was not disappointed. However, Hawkins did not give me the answers easily. In the beginning, she granted us very little reprieve and left us wondering what happened to certain characters. Once the characters are reunited, it is not exactly an ideal situation. Throw in some plot twists (one of which was MAJOR) and ba-ba-BAM. If there is one thing Hawkins is good at, it's throwing in wonderfully awful obstacles. In the end, I'm really happy with the way things were wrapped up, though there were a few things (one in particular) that really devastated me.

This whole series is an adventure that, even if you're paranormal-wary, you don't want to miss. It's exciting and interesting and engaging. Definitely something to read when you're looking for a distraction. It's been a few weeks since I've read this book and I've forgotten a lot, but I have not forgotten how enjoyable the experience of reading this book was. 

Monday, April 8, 2013

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Finished: 
Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins - Gabbi
School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins - Gabbi
The Collector by Victoria Scott - Gabbi

Currently Reading: 
That Time I Joined the Circus by J.J. Howard - Gabbi
Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton - Gabbi
Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza - Charlotte

Next In Line: 
The Blood Keeper by Tessa Gratton - Gabbi


Saturday, April 14, 2012

Practically Peeing - The Ending Edition

I know, what a weird post title! But there's a lot of times when I'm excited for a book I say I'm peeing my pants for it. So "Practically Peeing" is a feature sort of like Waiting on Wednesday or On My Wishlist or Books  To Pine For where I showcase books that I realllllllly want to read. They might already be released, they might be a year away, they might be coming out next month! Either way, I can guarantee, I really want to read them.


There are so many trilogies and sagas and series in the world these days, I feel like I'm always waiting for the next frickin' book! But among all these beginnings, there are a few fabulous series coming to an end, and while it's sad to see the stories I love coming to an end, I cannot wait to see how the amazing authors conclude their characters' drama.



Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
October 23, 2012
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Is death the end . . . or only the beginning?

Ethan Wate has spent most of his life longing to escape the stiflingly small Southern town of Gatlin. He never thought he would meet the girl of his dreams, Lena Duchannes, who unveiled a secretive, powerful, and cursed side of Gatlin, hidden in plain sight. And he never could have expected that he would be forced to leave behind everyone and everything he cares about. So when Ethan awakes after the chilling events of the Eighteenth Moon, he has only one goal: to find a way to return to Lena and the ones he loves.

Back in Gatlin, Lena is making her own bargains for Ethan's return, vowing to do whatever it takes -- even if that means trusting old enemies or risking the lives of the family and friends Ethan left to protect.

Worlds apart, Ethan and Lena must once again work together to rewrite their fate, in this stunning finale to the Beautiful Creatures series.


Black Heart by Holly Black
April 3, 2012
Margaret K. McElderry
Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy.

But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love. 



Endlessly by Kiersten White
July 24, 2012
HarperTeen
Try as she might, Evie can’t seem to escape her not-so-normal past. And what was supposed to be a blissfully normal school break is ruined when a massive group of paranormals shows up at her house, claiming that Evie is the only one who can protect them from a mysterious, perilous fate.

The deadly war between the faerie courts looms ever closer. The clock is ticking on the entire paranormal world. And its future rests solely in Evie’s hands.

So much for normal.

With a perfect blend of humor and suspense, Endlessly is everything readers could dream of in a conclusion—and the unexpected twists will keep them guessing until the very last page. 



Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins
March 13, 2012
Hyperion Books
 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?



Taken by Storm by Jannifer Lynn Barnes
May 22, 2012
Egmont USA
Bryn knows first-hand that being the alpha of a werewolf pack means making hard decisions, and that being human makes things a thousand times worse. She's prepared to give up her humanity, but the wolf who promised to Change her is waiting - though for what, Bryn doesn't know. Still human, she must take her place in the werewolf Senate, the precarious democracy that rules the North American packs. Standing side by side with werewolves who were ancient long before she was ever born is enough of a challenge, but Bryn soon learns that the Senate has been called to deal with a problem: the kind of problem that involves human bodies, a Rabid werewolf, and memories that Bryn, Chase, and the rest of their pack would rather forget. With bodies stacking up and political pressure closing in from all sides, Bryn and her pack are going to have to turn to old enemies and even older friends for help - especially when it starts to look like this time, the monster might be one of their own. 

Have you read any of these series? Are you superdy siked for any of these books!?