Firespell and Hexbound

The Dark Elite #1-2

by Chloe Neill

The first two novels of the Dark Elite series--Firespell and Hexbound.

As the new girl at St. Sophia's boarding school, Lily Parker thinks her classmates are the most monstrous things she'll have to face. In Firespell and Hexbound, she'll find out just how wrong she is, as she falls in with a group of rebel teens defending Chicago from vampires, demons, and the corrupted magic users known as reapers.

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Vampires, Supernatural, Magic

464 pages, Paperback

First published August 2, 2011

About the author

Chloe Neill is the New York Times bestselling author of the Heirs of Chicagoland, Chicagoland Vampires Novels, Devil's Isle Novels, and Dark Elite novels. Chloe was born and raised in the South, but now makes her home in the Midwest. When she's not writing, she bakes, works, and scours the Internet for good recipes and great graphic design. Chloe also maintains her sanity by spending time with her boys--her husband and their dogs, Baxter and Scout.

Connect with Chloe at www.chloeneill.com.

Reviews

[Malissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know this is your typical YA but I love the typical YA :) There were definitely plenty of eye rolling and unbelievable moments as well but I absolutely fell in love with it for those reasons. This is no work of perfection but it's definitely entertaining!

[Sooz Malinoski · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good YA story. Both stories were pretty short and could have been developed a bit more. The third book looks to be a full-length novel. I have ordered it, so hopefully, it fulfills the promise of the series.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thrilling adventures of 'Firespell' and 'Hexbound' are not all they are cracked up to be. In the blurb it promises suspense, romance, and dangerous creatures; but in reality the suspense is so-so, the romance is very cut and dry, and the dangerous creatures? Well, ok, they are pretty cool.

Firespell:
Lily gets sent to a boarding school in Chicago called St. Sophia's. She quickly befriends the vivacious crazy girl Scout. When Scout starts disappearing into the night Lily decides to follow her and soon enough is thrown into a world full of teens with magic and comes face to face with the things that go bump in the night. She is dropped into the battle between the Reapers (Evil people who take the energy of humans to stay sane) and Adepts (Teenagers who embrace the fact that they have to give up their magic). When Lily is hit by Sebastian Born's firespell she finds the mark of magic on her and soon learns that she has power as well. When Scout is kidnapped by the Reapers Lily leads the Adepts of Enclave Three on a rescue mission and finds out how much magic she really has.

Hexbound:
Lily and Scout are still battling creatures of the dark while handling life at a boarding school filled with snobby girls. Enclave three gets a new leader, and nights are far from relaxing as they patrol tunnels under the city for creepy crawlies. On their patrol with two boys from their sister school, they come across some new creatures that none of them have ever seen. In this book, they try to find out what the creatures are with the help of two girls from Enclave Two, run across a turf war between two vampire covens, and Lily tries to figure out why her parents have been lying to her about what kind of work they do. Her life is complicated further when the reaper who ‘gave’ her the powers she possesses, Sebastian Born, tries to get Lily to talk to him so he can teach her how to harness her power as he sends her mixed signals trying to recruit her to the dark side and help her at the same time.

This book was a little disappointing because I had expected more, but overall it was a very creative mystery. I fell in love with each of the characters and can’t wait to read ‘Spellbinder’!

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading another comment about the books being smaller. I'm glad I grabbed it while it was both books in one, rather than 2 small ones. I liked it, it was an easy beach read. Nothing too hardcore and it fit with the books I'm enjoying right now, about being in schools and teens fighting evil and a little cheesy romance in it. Though, each book is all like "oooh puberty! powers! magic! new school!" It does get a bit boring but that's why I only read one of these books at a time when I go the library. I enjoyed it, it was cute. I would love to see what happens next! Lily's and Scouts friendship is very sarcastic, I don't know anyone who can come up with quips that easily IRL so it was a bit eenh for me. Other than the small things, the book overall is a good read if you're not looking for anything heavy or you want something to read quickly. It does take some getting into, but once you're 30 pages in it gets better I found.

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually liked these books a lot. I know the base idea is used a lot(girl gets shipped off to boarding school against her will, mean girls, quirky roommates, yada, yada) but the whole thing works for me in these books. Lily is just a fun character and her attitude is really good, and Scout is just so much fun you cant help but love her. The mean girl group is annoying and I really wanted to have Scout or somebody throw a spell at them and take them down a notch. The romance is genuine and has so many typical teenager moments that you find yourself giggling and blushing all the things Lily goes through/
In both books the pace seems good and I never really felt like I was trying to hurry the scenes along. I thought that Lily's sudden magic skills were a little bit of a stretch, but I am looking past that because I really enjoyed both books. It was a welcome change from what I have been reading of late. Now I have to find the third book and see what happens next.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't read anything by Chloe Neill until I picked up this book. I found it entertaining. With the two stories combined the second one took up right where the first left off. Lily Parker was the new girl, turned Adept (person with magic). She was quickly befriended by Scout on her first day. A wacky girl who marched to the beat of her own drum and does it with style. Along the way she meets Michael who has a crush on Scout and Jason who is interested in her. Lily finds that her parents have been hiding things from her and that there are more secrets and magic around than she would of ever guest. Including vampires, ratlike creatures, bratty spoiled rich girls and strangely dark good-looking strange boys that seem to be following her and helping in a round about way. Can't wait to read the next installment.

[Hikaru · Rating 1 out of 5]

October seems to not be very kind to me in terms of reading anything decent. I've read four books so far (this is the fourth) and out of all those I only enjoyed one. This is not that one. Maybe I'm tired of the "private school with dark secrets" plot. Maybe it's just that the characters are boring and predictable stereotypical high school tropes you find in every TV show and book taking place in one--you have your preppy sort of girls who act all snooty because they're rich, you have the loner outcast, you have the new girl--and there's nothing new or exciting that sets them apart from books that have come before and done this same thing.

I'm bored.

[Cindy]

I wanted to know MORE! These two books, put together as 1 book called the Dark Elite is the building blocks for the start of a very intriguing storyline. The beginning left me with more questions than answers, and that's OK. Because it's fun unraveling the answers. The battle of wit between Scout and Claire is absolutely hysterical. The growth of new powers and relationships are wonderful to see. And I love that our "good girl" is not so noble to "take" a bunch of crap from the schools drama queens. Looking forward to the next in this series.

[Patricia Wilcoxen · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a very detailed young adult good read this book is wrote from a girls point of view
and the details are extrordinary if you love young adult books then this one is for you
getting put into a boarding school for girls while parents are working, finding out she has
magical powers, and then meeting a great looking guy that just happens to be a werewolf
and living in an old abandoned convent turned into a school. not to mention that there are tunnels she travels through underground and finds monsters and vampires to boot!!

[Squiggle · Rating 2 out of 5]

These two books read like a single book, they were both very short, hurried and shallow.

The main character is a hypocritical Mary Sue and, frankly, is only entertaining about 10% of the time.

The most interesting character of the book is her best friend, Scout. And I honestly think that if the book were written from Scout's perspective it would be more entertaining.

There are worse ways to spend a couple of hours than reading this book. But there are a great many better ways to spend those hours as well.

[Belyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy but very entertaining and amuzing read. I really love Lily, she's fun and, of course, Scout is a great character. I really really liked the gilmore girls reference in firespell (i am a gilmore girls addict ;) ). Scout and Lily can certainly be compared to Rory and Lorelai, they have wit (I hope that's the correct word :$) and are fun to read.

So all by all, I certainly recommend reading it.


Read my entire review on my blog; http://belsbookaddiction.blogspot.nl/

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed having 2 books in 1. The story kept getting better with each turn of the page. Lots of excitement, adventure, humor, & romance through the the whole book! What will become of Lily & Jason's budding romance? And what about the dark, handsome, & mysterious Sebastian? Is there a connection between them that is drawing them together like magnets? On top of it all what are the Dark Elite really up to? Guess I'll have to read the next book.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really needed a book to read, (because I get bored if I don't) and this just happen to be one of the only books I haven't read yet at Walmart. I'm glad. I love how the characters remind me of how my best friend and I are. It has variety of mystical creatures, which is what I like. I can't stop talking about it. Can't wait for Charmfall in January!

[Ashley Ribbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily Parker's parents send her in Chagico on this school of St. Sophia's. This is very wonderful stories of Firespell and Hexbound. I read a good things are excellent teenagers as teamwork as The Dark Elite. Her parents lies to Lily Parker's magic and protect her from old evil. In this end, I am feeling gut about Lily's parents keep secrets from old evil.

[Wren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I call this paranormal YA lite. It's good. Interesting concept, though not too original. There are questions as to why teens would be running the show essentially, but with a little willful suspension of disbelief, it's a nice read for the tween/teen that is into paranormal, but not scary paranormal. Neill's adult books are better written, but these don't suck.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good read and kept me entertained but that was about it. I did enjoy the concept of it and how it was slightly different than other paranormal books but the characters were predictable in their own ways. Not sure if I would continue reading the series, only if I had the book with me I suppose.

[Ridge Short · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an AMAZING book!!!! I was at wal-mart and I picked it randomly not knowing what it was, so I read it and fell in love with it, I really recommend this book! The author is also very amazing! :)

[Michelle Hough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved these books!!! the witty dialogue between Scout and Lily is amazing makes them seem a lil more real life best friends :D cant wait to read more about these characters and see what Sebastian has up he sleeve!!

[B.C. Morin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, so at first I wasn't sure about the book but once I started reading, Ms. Neille surrounded me with her world and I was hooked. The writing is outstanding as it is always moving you forward and makes you want more. Well done Chloe ! Can't wait to read the next installment !

[Lesley · Rating 2 out of 5]

The cutesy/quirky dialogue between the narrator and her best friend drove me IN. SANE. It might've worked as spoken dialogue, maybe, but in print they were both insufferable. I just couldn't bring myself to care about any of the characters. Sorry.

[Chisom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting series so far. It's pretty chill tho, like nothing much really happens every chapter and it is a bit childish. Yet I enjoyed a lot of it. Her parents and Sebastian are still a big mystery that I want solved so I'll probably read more later.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

i fell in love with the book near the beginning and i couldnt put the book down till i was finished it was the best book i have read... abnd i dont read many books

[Nicole Boertien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I loved it I can't wait for the next one. I so want to read it.

[Jacquelyn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firespell and Hexbound was two good together, if youa fan of fantasy and magic

[Annick]

Amazing and very funny! :)

[Lenna Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a really good book, not bad for a YA stories. It was a good book to read,it had lots of laugh out load moments

[Sarah Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was not too bad. I didn't enjoy it as much as some of the other YA books I have read lately. It seemed as though the action really only happened in the last few pages of each book.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book and all the characters especially Scout!! :)

[SensBaby21 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this 2 book novel!

[Kelsey Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a good book, awesome ideas, but where is the ending?