"Being a witch had definitely not been as awesome as I'd hoped it would be."
What a throwback to a more nostalgic and happier time. A lot of books that I loved pre-2014 have some glaring issues that 2020-me struggles to ignore. However, I had such a fun time while rereading Hex Hall and aspects that I don't usually like, didn't seem that bad.
Hex Hall is a reform school for delinquent supernatural creatures such as witches, faeries, shapeshifters and vampires. After the main character, Sophie, uses her magic in the most hilarious way and almost exposes herself as a witch, she is sent to Hex Hall, a typical magical YA high school complete with all the cliches and stereotypes that you could imagine. There's magic, mayhem and spells along with a chick-lit tone that fits in with the characters and the atmosphere.
Sophie is the type of YA character that I'm really fond of. She's snarky, sarcastic, witty, relatable and I love her sassy one-liners, her lack of filter and her hilarious sense of humour. She's only 15 and can be immature and gullible, but she's quite self-aware and doesn't pretend to be someone she's not. I can understand why she would get on some readers' nerves, but she grew on me and she experiences a lot of growth.
The characters, although stereotypical, are still a little interesting. I have to give a shout-out to Sophie's mother for being a supportive and present parent i.e. an underrated gem in YA Fantasy. I also like the friendship Sophie has with her roommate, Jenna, the only vampire at Hex Hall, who loves pink in a way that I could never and is so soft and precious, but still stands up for herself like a boss. Then there's Elodie, the cookie-cutter mean girl who gains a little bit of depth in the end. I'm not a fan of girl hate because I think it's an unnecessary plot device. Not everyone is going to get along, but that doesn't mean that being mean to someone else and putting them down for no reason is okay. However, the girl hate in Hex Hall, although unnecessary, seems necessary because it is integral to the plot... or maybe entertaining stories and witty characters make it easier for me to accept things that I don't usually agree with.
Archer is the typical popular and hot love interest, but I totally get Sophie's crush on him. He's quite snarky as well, but it seems like a front and makes for great banter because Sophie handles snark like a pro. The romance aspect is insta-lovey to some extent, but seems believable as a one-sided crush becomes friendship and has potential to become something more. However, I didn't really feel the chemistry between them. What makes their relationship a little icky is the potential cheating aspect. When Sophie and Archer make out in the cellar, it's not clear whether Elodie and Archer are still dating or broken-up. If they weren't broken up, then there's definitely cheating. There is also emotional cheating on Archer's part because he flirts with Sophie while dating Elodie. But after the reveal at the end, it could be possible that he was just using Sophie and Elodie to get more information.
Hex Hall has many interesting factors: a magical school for delinquents, unique lore and Sophie's family history. Hex Hall starts off lighthearted and while it keeps its lightheartedness throughout, there are some darker aspects towards the end. There is also a mystery aspect and while some reveals are expected, there are plenty of twists. The plot is engaging and the reveals in relation to the overall story and plot are well-executed. Hex Hall doesn't do anything 'wow', but it's interesting, engaging and enjoyable.
I wouldn't recommend Hex Hall to everyone, but if you're looking for a quick and fun read and you like snarky, witty and relatable main characters who have a lot of growing up to do, a magical school with stereotypical characters and a plot involving magic, murder and secrets that doesn't take itself too seriously, then you might like Hex Hall. I certainly did!
""I'm experiencing some teenage angst, Mrs Casnoff," I answered. "I need to like, write in my journal or something.""