Book Review: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher: Disney/Hyperion Books
Pages: 359
Source: Personal Copy
Rating:  
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository

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 Acher to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she? – Goodreads

Review:
I didn’t enjoy Demonglass in the same way that I did Hex Hall, but it was a good read in its own right.

Part of the reason I loved Hex Hall so much was because of Sophie’s wit and humor; this version of Sophie is much more subdued. It’s understandable: she’s been through quite a lot, and she’s still considering the Removal, but I did miss her spunk. There are moments when the old Sophie does shine through, though, and she’s still, altogether, a very charming protagonist.

I looked forward to seeing more of Jenna and Sophie’s friendship and the book did not fail me in that regard. I do always love a good romance, but I find friendships to be much more powerful and these two are absolutely genuine. They don’t hold grudges and are able to maturely discuss their issues.

Sophie’s dad was a big surprise for me. For whatever reason, I didn’t expect to see much development with his character yet he played a significant part — especially towards the end (one word: WOW). His bond with Sophie gradually grew stronger which was lovely to see.

As for the romance, there is a love triangle and I must say that I love both boys. Cal is a great friend and, if it wasn’t for Archer, he would be a good match for Sophie. I enjoyed seeing him come out of his shell and I loved that Sophie plays a big part in that. Though I do love Cal, Archer is still around and my loyalties remain with him. I really loved how his relationship with Sophie was handled.

Much like Sophie, the book itself is fairly subdued as well. There’s an ominous undercurrent throughout – especially with Daisy and Nick – but it takes a while for things to pick up. However, it never felt like the book dragged and there were quite a few surprises and plot twists along the way. Unfortunately, the book does end on a big cliffhanger that made me want to punch things. I hate waiting! I’ll be anxiously looking forward to seeing what book three holds for us.

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