YA Book Tour- Georgia

The next stop on the United States of YA book tour is the great state of Georgia, and representing Georgia is Rachel Hawkins' Hex Hall.  I feel like I had to hold this book to a higher standard because it is representing my home state.

When Sophie Mercer was 12, she came into her powers as a witch. The powers are passed down from her dad, who she has never met because her parents split before she was born.  At the age of sixteen, she tries to help out an outcast classmate with a love spell that goes horribly wrong. For that she is sentenced to attend Hecate Hall, a reform school for witches, fairies, and shapeshifters, which the students call Hex Hall.  The school is on an isolated island in Georgia, and housed in a slightly sinister looking old house.

In Sophie's first hour there she is almost attacked by a werewolf, and is saved by the school hottie, Archer.  While Archer is hot, he seems to have some personality issues.  Sophie's new roommate is the schools only vampire, Jenna, whose last roommate died under mysterious circumstances.  While she explores the school, she runs into the paranormal version of mean girls, Elodie, Anna, and Chaston, who are dark witches demanding for her to join their coven.  She also manages to tick off the school's Defense teacher, Vandy, in the first week.  Who turns out was predisposed to hate her because Sophie's father is the head of The Council who sentences Vandy to have her powers stripped.

For her trouble, Sophie is sentenced to organizing the basement with Archer twice a week.  Here she sees another side of Archer, and maybe he is not quite the jerk she thought.  She might even be crushing on him, too bad he is dating Elodie.  While some things seem to be looking up, all is not what is seems at Hex Hall.  Sophie keeps catching  glimpses of a ghost in a green dress, who always seems to be staring right at her. Another attack happens, and everyone is blaming Jenna.  Things just seem to be getting worse, when the green ghost makes contact with Sophie, and turns out to be her dead great grandmother who wants to train her in magic. At this point, I am really questioning Sophie's judgement, because really girl you don't find this woman in green the slight bit suspicious?    

Of course the night of the school ball things get a little crazy. Elodie and Archer are having issues. Archer dances with Sophie and confesses he might have feelings for her. Oh, and then there is another attack, which causes Jenna to be shipped off to The Council for questioning.  At the end of it, though it seems like Sophie and Elodie might become friends.  Too bad Sophie kisses Archer in the basement, and finds out he is more than what he seems, and he is not even the least of her problems.  She finally figures out that maybe great grandmother is not quite right.

Overall I enjoyed this book, but I felt it left a few things unanswered at the end of the book.  I am hoping that when I read the rest of the series that it will flesh out things more and answer my questions.

Currently Reading:
Twice Tempted
by Jeaniene Frost