May 26, 2023
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
The basics
Title: Hex Hall
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Series: Hex Hall #1
- Hex Hall (2010) - Demonglass (2011) - Spell Bound (2012) - School Spirits (2013)
Add it: Goodreads
Goodreads Summary:
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 tag-along ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student 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.
Read a full summary of Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins below. If you can’t remember what happened in Hex Hall and you need a refresher, then you’re in the right place.
What happened in Hex Hall?
- Sophie Mercer is a witch who has been raised by her human mother. She doesn’t really know how to control her powers, which is why when she tries to cast a love spell for an upset fellow student, it is too intense and out of control.
- Sophie is sent to a boarding school for magical youth. Witches, faeries, and shifters all attend this school to gain control of their various powers.
- Upon entering the school grounds, Sophie is nearly attacked by a werewolf. A handsome guy called Archer saves her, and then takes the mick out of her for not knowing what she’s doing with magic.
- Sophie meets her roommate, Jenna, who is a vampire who loves pink. She also meets a mountain lion shifter called Taylor.
- Sophie is accosted by three dark witches who tell her she is a dark witch too. They want Sophie to join their coven as they need four members. They tell Sophie that Jenna killed her last roommate, Holly, who was also a witch.
- Jenna assures Sophie she didn’t kill Holly. They were best friends.
- Jenna and Sophie sit together for the welcome meal. Jenna points out Lord Byron, who’s a vampire, and a teacher called Ms Vanderlyden who has had her powers taken away. She was apparently a very powerful dark witch.
- Jenna says Archer and Holly were dating. After she died, Archer left school halfway through the year.
- Mrs Casnoff gives a speech for the newbies, plus Archer because he needs to listen to more lectures. She talks about how people have historically hunted witches and paranormal creatures, and the need to be careful. She says The Eye of God, L’Occhio di Dio, is their biggest threat. It’s a group that hunts paranormal people.
- Elodie and Archer are together. Like, together together. Jenna thinks this is weird as it was so sudden.
- The three witches, Elodie, Anna, and Chaston come to collect Sophie in order to perform the ritual. Sophie really doesn’t want to join them but Jenna encourages her to go to get it over with.
- Sophie doesn’t join though and the girls get annoyed with her. Sophie befriends a werewolf called Beth instead.
- The following week, Sophie has to take part in Vandy’s defence class. Elodie tells her to compliment Vandy’s tattoos. Archer and Sophie have to spar, and Sophie does quite badly. Sophie compliments the Vandy, and she and Archer are given detention in the cellar for a semester.
- Archer tells Sophie that the Vandy’s tattoos are from the Removal procedure that Sophie’s dad performed. Sophie’s dad is head of the Council and they took away Vandy’s powers.
- The ghost of Sophie’s grandmother Alice puts a sleeping spell on the whole school. Alice invites Sophie to magic lessons in the graveyard, which is creepy but quite nice of her, I guess.
- Chaston is attacked in the bathroom. She has two puncture wounds, so people start theorising Jenna did it. Chaston doesn’t die, but she leaves the school. She can’t remember what happened to her.
- Sophie and Archer spend a lot of time in the cellar together and form a nice bond.
- Sophie continues her magic lessons and learns to summon things out of thin air. She can only summon a pencil, but still.
- Sophie starts working on dresses for the upcoming ball. Someone ruins Jenna’s dress. Sophie curses Elodie’s dress in return.
- At the ball, Elodie’s dress starts to shrink and she has to leave early.
- Sophie and Archer dance at the ball.
- That evening, Anna is found hurt in the hallway in the same way Chaston was.
- Elodie sees Sophie sneaking out to see Alice. Sophie takes Elodie with her and Elodie joins in with the lessons.
- The headmistress sends Jenna and Lord Byron away. Sophie insists Jenna isn’t behind the attacks but no one else agrees and they want to be cautious.
- Sophie and Archer make out in the cellar, and she sees the tattoo of the Eye on his chest. He escapes out of the window and Sophie goes to tell the teachers.
- Jenna is allowed to return. She sees Sophie’s bloodstone, and says it’s made from demon blood. Sophie realises that the witchy coven actually succeeded in summoning a demon, and it’s Alice.
- Elodie is currently in a magic training lesson with Alice. Sophie goes to the clearing to find her. Elodie admits that they had to kill Holly in order to summon Alice. Alice kills Elodie and gains full power.
- Sophie summons demonglass to kill Alice. Cal and the others arrive in the clearing, but not soon enough to save Elodie who is already dead.
- Sophie decides that since she’s part demon, she’s going to go through the Removal so everyone is safe.
This is a full plot summary of what happened in Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins. Check out our recap list for more recaps. If you can’t find what you need, you can request a recap from us!
