Book Review: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins:
Warning contains spoilers if you have not read book 1, Hex Hall.

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.


That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.


Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.


But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

HUGE Cliffhanger! - Seriously how can a book end on such a cliffhanger!!  The next book doesn't come out for a year... Even with the cliffhanger I really enjoyed this book. I flew threw 360 pages in no time at all and can't wait for book 3.

Loved Sophie's snarkiness and all the twists and turns in the story.  This was a sequel that did not disappoint.  There is a little love triangle going on - although I'm fairly certain how it will end, (because it's a very lopsided triangle) however I honestly would be happy with either choice.  Which is an interesting change because usually I'm really rooting for one or the other.

For those who enjoy YA paranormal stories I recommend you give the Hex Hall series a try.



Content: A little language and innuendo

Rating: 5 Stars

Source: From Publisher for Review

Book Giveaway & Author Interview: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Welcome to Author Rachel Hawkins!

Bio:

Rachel Hawkins was born in Virginia and raised in Alabama. This means she uses words like "y'all" and "fixin'" a lot, and considers anything under 60 degrees to be borderline Arctic. Before deciding to write books about kissing and fire (and sometimes kissing while on fire), Rachel taught high school English for 3 years, and is still capable of teaching you The Canterbury Tales if you're into that kind of thing.

She is married to a geologist, which means that they have incredibly strange dinner conversations ("So today at work, I wrote a chapter where killer fog, like, ATE PEOPLE." "Huh. Well, I was chased by an angry reindeer while trying to map parts of Norway." "Um...okay.")

Rachel also has a little boy whose main hobbies are playing video games, running around in circles, and plotting his Future Intergalactic Take-Over.

When not writing books, Rachel enjoys reading, travelling, and knitting (very terribly.)

http://readingwritingrachel.blogspot.com/

Interview:

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Mint chocolate chip. Or if I can find it, Mint Chocolate with Oreos. NOM.

If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose?
James Dean. I have something of a James Dean "thing." (*cough* I own 10 books about him.)

Skittles or M&Ms?
M&Ms FOR SURE! Especially those new pretzel ones...

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
Many books! I have one more HEX HALL book, plus a spin-off of that series, plus the first book in a new trilogy about a debutante-turned-superhero called REBEL BELLE.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
The amazing kids I've heard from who've enjoyed my books!

What is your dream cast for your book?
All the people I'd cast are ENTIRELY too old, but I'd love Emma Stone for Sophie, Ben Barnes for Archer, Jensen Ackles for Cal, and Meaghan Martin for Jenna.

If you could be one of the Greek Gods, which would it be and why?
Artemis. Cool name, awesome weapons.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
London. It's my favorite city in the world!

What is your favorite Quote?
"To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one's self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived - this is to have succeeded" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

What's the best advice anyone has ever given you?
Sit back until you know who the a-holes are. Thanks, Dad. ;-)

Write a Haiku about your book
Sophie meets her dad
Holy crap, we're in England!
Gah, there are demons

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins:
Warning contains spoilers if you have not read book 1, Hex Hall.

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

Giveaway Details:
My once read ARC of Demonglass
Open to US only
Ends 4/9/11

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

I've read a lot of paranormal young adult books lately. Hex Hall was a great addition to the genre. Most books in this genre are completely predictable but this one was not. I thought I had figured out the "mystery" element in this book but twists and turns near the end caught me off guard. Kudos to Rachel Hawkins because it's not very often I'm taken by surprise.

Hex Hall has a cliff-hanger ending. Book 2 in the series comes out in March and has been added to my to-read list. I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes.

Content: There are some content issues making this a book I'd only recommend to older teens/adults - there is language and innuendo throughout as well as a gay female vampire.

Rating: 4 Stars.