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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Quick little review for a quick little read. I thought Rachel Hawkins' "School Spirits" was a very quick read that flew by fast (and that's one of the reasons why I love her writing, flows quickly and is usually a nice way to spend time), but I'll admit I wasn't as invested in the journey or cast of this novel as much as I was "Hex Hall". Going through this, it felt like the humor was dry and not as open-ended as "Hex Hall" was, and the cast didn't quite pull me into the narrative as much as I would've liked.
Izzy is the main character of this novel, and for those of you familiar with the Hex Hall series, she's Sophie's cousin. This is pretty much a novel that can stand by its lonesome in the narrative (you don't have to read Hex Hall or its respective series to get into this one, but it helps). Izzy is a paranormal hunter who travels with her mother on various missions. Yet, when a difficult ghost pops up at a local high school, Izzy finds that she becomes a student there and has to try to blend in order to find out more about the situation. She meets an interesting group and has to contend with the paranormal as much as the challenges of being a regular teenager. This felt less action oriented and more slice of life, and while I can appreciate the latter narrative (it's often one of my favorites to follow), the story didn't always carry me along as smoothly as I would've liked. I struggled a little to keep focused and found most of the turns of humor didn't come quite as naturally as my former read of Hawkins work. The humor wasn't entirely absent, though. Torin, the warlock in Izzy's mirror, made me laugh a few times, and Dex was an interesting companion to Izzy, with his own stakes in the overarching mystery that surrounds this novel. But it's slower going and with much less bite (pun intended) than my former read of Hawkins. Too much focus on kissing and daily drama, not as much on the ovearching paranormal mystery (though there were a few decent action sequences to be had here, like Izzy saving a classmate's life from a raging ghost).
I liked the subject of the mystery well enough, and thought the premise was a decent one, just not the manner in which it was carried through. It took a much longer time to get to the intrigue than it should've. The ending is a bit difficult to suspend disbelief for, because of the way it ends, but I am interested in seeing where it goes for some of the threads that were left dangling here. I just wish it'd been able to pick up the pace and charm a little more than what it offered. I'm hoping at some point this gets a follow-up with a little more punch, and I have confidence that Hawkins can do it from the quality of her work before this, but I wish this read had been more rewarding than what it was.
Overall: 2/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Disney Hyperion/Disney Book Group.
Izzy is the main character of this novel, and for those of you familiar with the Hex Hall series, she's Sophie's cousin. This is pretty much a novel that can stand by its lonesome in the narrative (you don't have to read Hex Hall or its respective series to get into this one, but it helps). Izzy is a paranormal hunter who travels with her mother on various missions. Yet, when a difficult ghost pops up at a local high school, Izzy finds that she becomes a student there and has to try to blend in order to find out more about the situation. She meets an interesting group and has to contend with the paranormal as much as the challenges of being a regular teenager. This felt less action oriented and more slice of life, and while I can appreciate the latter narrative (it's often one of my favorites to follow), the story didn't always carry me along as smoothly as I would've liked. I struggled a little to keep focused and found most of the turns of humor didn't come quite as naturally as my former read of Hawkins work. The humor wasn't entirely absent, though. Torin, the warlock in Izzy's mirror, made me laugh a few times, and Dex was an interesting companion to Izzy, with his own stakes in the overarching mystery that surrounds this novel. But it's slower going and with much less bite (pun intended) than my former read of Hawkins. Too much focus on kissing and daily drama, not as much on the ovearching paranormal mystery (though there were a few decent action sequences to be had here, like Izzy saving a classmate's life from a raging ghost).
I liked the subject of the mystery well enough, and thought the premise was a decent one, just not the manner in which it was carried through. It took a much longer time to get to the intrigue than it should've. The ending is a bit difficult to suspend disbelief for, because of the way it ends, but I am interested in seeing where it goes for some of the threads that were left dangling here. I just wish it'd been able to pick up the pace and charm a little more than what it offered. I'm hoping at some point this gets a follow-up with a little more punch, and I have confidence that Hawkins can do it from the quality of her work before this, but I wish this read had been more rewarding than what it was.
Overall: 2/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Disney Hyperion/Disney Book Group.
It confused me at first, because I thought it was a sequel and then I couldn't tell if it was the same main character or not. My fault for going into it knowing nothing about it? Editor's fault for not suggesting some sort of up-front material to make that a bit clearer? Cover designer's fault for using a cover waaaay too similar to the other series?
I found a logical consistency/internal chronology error. There were also more typos than I'd like, especially as it got towards the end.
Quick read though.
I found a logical consistency/internal chronology error. There were also more typos than I'd like, especially as it got towards the end.
Quick read though.
We left off as Sophie and Archer were walking into the sunset, as the battle at Hex Halls were finally over. Yet there was someone whose story did not end. After Sophie got her happy ending, theirs were just beginning. I’m talking about the Brannick, a race of red-headed Irish women who are on a mission to kill all prodigium. The youngest Izzy Brannick finally gets to tell her story.
It starts with the disappearance of her older sister Finley, left Izzy and her mom filling in a hole. To fix that, and get Izzy some good practice, her mom moves them to a small town enrolling Izzy in the local school. The local school is experiencing a ghost problem that it is up to Izzy to fix. Never going to school Izzy got a real experience what being a teenage girl is like. She loved it. Making friends easily with the local crazy girl Romy, the colorful jeans, bright shirt, and ghost believing girl, who started up her own ghost hunting club at the school. With her are Anderson, and the lovely, wonderful and amazing Dex. Dex who, when they touch feels like a prodigium, but is he? Izzy has to keep reminding herself that this is a job, not a chance to live a normal life. The ghost is going anything than easy. It’s strong, growing stronger by the fear its cause. Normal ghost cannot do this, yet this one can. Izzy has to find a way to stop the ghost, but what if… just what if it was one of her friends that raised it from the dead. Can she make the choice between killing the friend that raised it, or use another, riskier way to get rid of the ghost.
Rachel Hawkins is one of my favorite author. Hex Halls was an amazing trilogy and majorly under-appreciated. Yet this book did not ruin the series, but made me sad. Nothing happy came from this book. Yes I was happy that Izzy got to appreciate being a normal teenage girl, but that’s it. I’m sad about how Dex life turned out (even though he did get a “new family”), and the whole part of Finely been missing was a big why? It almost looked like you set this spin-off series to become a series of them all. For all you Hex Halls readers, I would say stay away. Do not read this. Leave Izzy and the rest of the Brannick alone. For this book will only leave you a hole in your heart.
It starts with the disappearance of her older sister Finley, left Izzy and her mom filling in a hole. To fix that, and get Izzy some good practice, her mom moves them to a small town enrolling Izzy in the local school. The local school is experiencing a ghost problem that it is up to Izzy to fix. Never going to school Izzy got a real experience what being a teenage girl is like. She loved it. Making friends easily with the local crazy girl Romy, the colorful jeans, bright shirt, and ghost believing girl, who started up her own ghost hunting club at the school. With her are Anderson, and the lovely, wonderful and amazing Dex. Dex who, when they touch feels like a prodigium, but is he? Izzy has to keep reminding herself that this is a job, not a chance to live a normal life. The ghost is going anything than easy. It’s strong, growing stronger by the fear its cause. Normal ghost cannot do this, yet this one can. Izzy has to find a way to stop the ghost, but what if… just what if it was one of her friends that raised it from the dead. Can she make the choice between killing the friend that raised it, or use another, riskier way to get rid of the ghost.
Rachel Hawkins is one of my favorite author. Hex Halls was an amazing trilogy and majorly under-appreciated. Yet this book did not ruin the series, but made me sad. Nothing happy came from this book. Yes I was happy that Izzy got to appreciate being a normal teenage girl, but that’s it. I’m sad about how Dex life turned out (even though he did get a “new family”), and the whole part of Finely been missing was a big why? It almost looked like you set this spin-off series to become a series of them all. For all you Hex Halls readers, I would say stay away. Do not read this. Leave Izzy and the rest of the Brannick alone. For this book will only leave you a hole in your heart.
I do not fathom how come there is not a sequel, the ending of the book does not feel complete as a stand-alone story for Izzy.
I ship Izzy and Torin. Hope, we'll see their kiss in reality (not in Izzy's dreams)
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Started off well, my interest dwindled a bit near the middle, then it got kinda awesome again. THAT TWIST, THOUGH... wowzers, I didn't see that coming at all.
-Rated a 4.3-
I really enjoyed the Hex Hall series, so I was super excited to see that the author decided to do a spin off. I remember really loving Izzy in the books so it was really cool to read something in her POV.
This book was trademark Hawkins- funny, a good amount of action and a really kick ass character.
Izzy's sister has been missing for a year, her mom gives her a job in a high school and for the first time, Izzy finds herself among teenagers who are normal, and has to pass off as one. Which of course means dislocating the popular guy's arm on the first day, having horrible first dates, making friends and finding out what it means to really have feelings for someone, all while maintaing her cover and trying to figure out this dangerous ghost mystery.
Again, really funny book, several laugh out loud moments. There were really great characters. The entire scooby gang was pretty awesome- although we didn't get a lot of Anderson.
I really enjoyed Izzy making relationships with other people for the first time, and figuring out her feelings for Dex. It was cute and also a little sad at the same time when you realize just how lonely Izzy is.
We get a few mentions of Sophie and Archer, although they aren't a part of the book. I hope they get called into action one again in the future because I'd love to read them again.
All in all, a really fun book and I love diving into this world again. I noticed there isn't a release date for (supposedly?) the next book (at least it seems like there will be a next one) but I do hope it comes out soon. I really want to see what happens next!
I really enjoyed the Hex Hall series, so I was super excited to see that the author decided to do a spin off. I remember really loving Izzy in the books so it was really cool to read something in her POV.
This book was trademark Hawkins- funny, a good amount of action and a really kick ass character.
Izzy's sister has been missing for a year, her mom gives her a job in a high school and for the first time, Izzy finds herself among teenagers who are normal, and has to pass off as one. Which of course means dislocating the popular guy's arm on the first day, having horrible first dates, making friends and finding out what it means to really have feelings for someone, all while maintaing her cover and trying to figure out this dangerous ghost mystery.
Again, really funny book, several laugh out loud moments. There were really great characters. The entire scooby gang was pretty awesome- although we didn't get a lot of Anderson.
I really enjoyed Izzy making relationships with other people for the first time, and figuring out her feelings for Dex. It was cute and also a little sad at the same time when you realize just how lonely Izzy is.
We get a few mentions of Sophie and Archer, although they aren't a part of the book. I hope they get called into action one again in the future because I'd love to read them again.
All in all, a really fun book and I love diving into this world again. I noticed there isn't a release date for (supposedly?) the next book (at least it seems like there will be a next one) but I do hope it comes out soon. I really want to see what happens next!
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes