Like most girls at Rosemound High School, seventeen-year-old Lily Crane is acutely aware of Ryder Kingscott. Hands down the cutest guy in school, Ryder is cool, mysterious, and utterly untouchable…especially for Lily. For when she touches someone, Lily instantly learns all about their lives. And while such a skill might seem nifty, in truth it is wrecking Lily’s life.
So she is shocked when Ryder asks her out — and even more shocked to discover he has a rival. Lucian Bell is the gorgeous new kid who can’t take his eyes off of Lily. Being pursued by two hotties should make a girl happy, but Lily is skeptical. The boys act as if they’ve met before, hating each other with a passion that could only be rooted in a dark, dangerous past. A past full of terrible secrets. The kind of secrets that could get a girl killed.
Romanian-born (no association with known vampires). Compulsive reader. Barely decent, but extremely lucky wife. Doting mother (of the worst kind). Hooked on good literature. Music lover. Indie soul. Warrior-tempered. Industrious writer. Smart mouth. Perpetual optimist.
I read the first chapter of Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale on Ramona's website and knew straight away I was going to love this book!
Lily is branded the freak girl in her town. People avoid her touch like the plague. Why? Because Lily is a witch. She won't make you sprout boils (although if you piss her off I'm sure she'll find a way!) or turn you into a toad with her touch, but she'll know every last one of your dirty little secrets. With the lightest of touches, Lily learns an entire persons life and sometimes can see part of their future. Right before she passes out. So she shies away from touching anyone (meaning no boyfriends) and it's not like many people want to get close enough to touch her anyway. Besides her best friend, J, the general school population don't have much to do with her.
Along comes Ryder. Sexy, mysterious, everyone-wants-to-take-that-hottie-for-a-RYDE (yes, I know I'm lame!). He's been lurking in the shadows for a year now, but suddenly he wants to know her. Wants to take her to Prom. And the weirdest (best) part for Lily? His touch has no effect on her. Well... not entirely true. Increases her pulse rate? Yes. Induces visions and knocks her out? Nope. She feels this strong attraction toward him and it doesn't take long before she's head over heels. But suddenly there's another mystery boy on the scene. Lucian Bell. Who J is totally crushing on but he's clearly not interested. He only has eyes for Lily.
You might be thinking - "Right. I've seen this love triangle a million times before". Oh really? WRONG. You have not seen this love triangle before. Because Ramona weaves a together a unique mythology with a cast of characters who share a deep connection and a terrible burden that has spanned the centuries. It soon becomes clear to Lily that both Ryder and Lucian are connected in some way, a potentially supernatural-way, and it involves her. I thought I had it all figured out where the plot was leading in the beginning, but boy was I wrong. Ramona throws in a twist halfway through and I'm like "What?!" Did not see that coming! And from there on in doubts begin to grow. Confusion. Lily's instincts are telling her one thing, but the cold-hard truth is screaming another. She doesn't know what to believe and her feelings may lead to her own death. I wasn't sure what to believe either and I had to use all my will not to quickly flip to the back of the book to peek at who the good guy was! (I've done that in plenty of books, bad me). I'm so glad I didn't spoil it though!
I loved Lily's voice. She's a great, snarky, funny character who isn't afraid to stand up for herself or demand for answers. You could probably flip to any page in the book and find a witty one-liner from this fiery redhead. All the characters were great. Ryder and Lucian, the two gorgeous boys. Despite what may or may not have happened in the past, I was still rooting for Ryder. He's so devoted and honest in his feelings for Lily and even though he physically cannot tell her everything she needs to know, he still tries. With his smexy looks coupled with his patience, protectiveness and general sweetness, you can see why I preferred him over Lucian. Ah, Lucian. I'm not quite sure how I felt about him! I think I like him, then I don't. Then I definitely don't and then holy crap, that can't be happening! I was so sad for him :(
The ending was bittersweet. I got a little emotional with how it all panned out, but having said that, I think it was a perfect ending. Besides, don't the best endings evoke the most emotion? I definitely recommend you give this a read. Not only is it a great book, but a self-published one! I strongly admire authors that can get out here and make their dream happen even without a big time publisher behind them. And I've already seen buzz spreading for Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale throughout book blogs. I wish Ramona all the success! :)
Hex: A Witch and Angel Tale by Ramona Wray was like eating cotton candy at an amusement park on a sunny Saturday with your best friends: light, fun, and consistently entertaining.
Seventeen-year-old Lily Crane goes to Rosemound High in Michigan with her best friend Jane Archer (J for short), and like so many girls her age, she is smitten with the elusive Ryder Kingscott (the rough-around-the-edges primary love interest). But, unlike other girls her age, Lily is a witch with the ability to see into people’s lives the moment she touches them – and everyone at Rosemound High is aware of this little tidbit about her. But, even in spite of this gift (I think), Ryder eventually asks Lily out. And just as the cute couple’s relationship starts to blossom, Lucien Bell, an attractive new kid in town suddenly enters their life, thus forming the love triangle of this novel.
Right off the bat, I adore the cartoony, Bewitched-inspired cover. And as I began flipping through the fast-paced chapters, I quickly realized that the cover played on the whimsical, fun, magical theme of the book. This book is seriously an adult fairy tale.
Unfortunately, there were two aspects of the book that fell short for me.
The first was character development, especially Lily’s. As the protagonist of the novel, Lily was intelligent, thoughtful, and had conviction, but even after observing these characteristics, I still felt like she was a caricature of a real person; still two-dimensional. This issue could have been remedied by slowing down the pace of the emotional parts of the book and by adding even more descriptions. Typically, when I read about an emotion – any emotion – I prefer the emotion to dwell and simmer for a while so the impact is stronger, more pronounced. When it came time to delve into the character’s emotional scenes, Wray was bypassing them so fast to keep pace with the book that it ended up lacking impact.
I also wished that Wray had focused more on Lily’s background in magic and witchery; perhaps dedicated an entire chapter or two and provided us with a history lesson on Lily’s mystical ancestry and how she learned what she knew. That would have been quite entertaining to have read.
Now, here’s what I really liked about the book:
I liked Wray’s incorporation of the past and the present into the plot; and also Wray’s use of popular people (Sherlock Holmes, Miley Cyrus, etc.), places, and events as both frames of references and building blocks for humor. Also, I was astounded by Wray’s level of creativity throughout the entire book. The creativity was practically oozing from each page.
But by far and away, my favorite part of the book was the surprise ending. I have always prefer endings that are unpredictable, different, unconventional; an ending that’s gut-wrenching, bittersweet, or perhaps even deeply tragic, because there’s a daring quality to the author’s intent that’s not so safe, so middle-of-the-road – and I respect that. And the ending to Hex: A Witch and Angel Tale falls perfectly into this unpredictable category.
Obviously, the first thing you're going to notice about this book is the cover. You're either going to think, "Oh my God, that's the cutest cover EVER!" (like I thought), or you're going to think, "Wow... what a frilly pink cover." Either way, you can't deny that it's not an eye catcher. But if you're really expecting a frilly story to match the cover, you're going to be sorely disappointed. Why? Because Hex: A Witch and Angel Tale reaches deeper than just a fun, young adult book. But if you're looking for a story rich in action, well-written characters, plot, romance and suspense; well then, you've come across the right book!
I don't know what I was truly expecting from this book. I think when author Ramona Wray asked me to review her book, I was thinking it'd be a fun and fluffy read. What I didn't expect was to be so completely swept up in Lily's story. Lily is one of the strongest females that I have come across in some time, but she's not without fault. While she's smart, strong-willed and witty as ever (her one-liners had me crying, I was laughing so hard!), she's still confused and vulnerable. She knows that there are connections with Ryder and Lucian, but she doesn't know what those connections are and has to figure it out for herself throughout the story.
Ryder and Lucian are also both strong characters. While both are mysteries at the beginning, you get to know them better as the story is told. Both of their fates are twisted together with Lily's and it was nice to see that they both took steps into determining their own fate, not completely depending on Lily to do everything herself. While the idea of a love-triangle was flirted with between the three of them, I'm impressed at how well it was tackled. For once, we don't have a weak girl indecisively flitting back and forth between the two guys. No, we have a girl who makes a decision and, while some things that come to her attention may confuse her and make her think she made the wrong choice, she never strays. She sticks by her decisions and her feelings, and doesn't sway just because she's being led to think that it's the right thing to do. Because of this, I wanted to jump up and scream a hallelujah! Finally, an author gets it. Yes, you can have a girl that's chased after by more than one guy without making her seem completely careless with the guys' feelings, leading both of them on while she "finds herself" or whatever excuse they use these days.
The past and present in this story is intricately weaved together seamlessly, giving you just the right taste of what's going on to help you understand what needs to happen in the story. Twists and turns are around every corner in this book. Between the action, the backstory and hilarious commentary, this story will have you flipping anxiously until the very end. And just when you think you know what's going to happen, BAM! You get hit with a curve ball that you don't see coming. The conclusion of the story is bittersweet, yet perfect. I couldn't see it ending any other way. This book far exceeded anything that I could have anticipated when picking it up. I am absolutely enthralled by it.
My sincerest praises go out to the author who is not only a great person to talk to, but an incredible storyteller with a very promising future in writing. She is definitely one that I will continue to follow.
They always say to never judge a book by the cover… and, well, I’ll admit, I tend to ALWAYS check the cover first thing. So when I saw the cover of this books I though “Oh My Gosh! Ain’t that a cutie or what? Ain’t it make you want to poke at her cheeks ^^. So when I got a chance to get my hands on it, I said Bring it on! Expecting a cute bubbly fluffy, pink story…. I’m not gonna say “how wrong I was” ‘cause, yeah, it does have its bubbly but, Oh Boy I would have NEVER though that a Book with such cover could go as deep as it actually went. But I’m skipping ahead.
From the moment I started the first chapter I was hooked. You get thrown into Lily’s head; I immediately felt a connection with her and could relate to her in a million ways. I think she’s the kind of character that owns a Strong voice. And I mean this seriously; it reminded me of being inside my own head, natural. The way her mind works combined with her sarcastic sense of humor just made it an extra delight to accompany her through the book. And I could tell all this just form the first chapter…
Also, from chapter One, you get Ryder, one of the boys who’s determined to fight for Lily’s heart. He was sexy-cocky and just pure charm…. But like any well written and deep character, there’s always more than meets the eye, isn’t it? Dark, mysterious and more tortured that you can imagine, are part of the descriptions that can also fit Ryder. I’m usually not a big fan of way to tortured characters but Ryder was just…. God! How can I describe? There were times where all I wanted to do was rip his shirt off, to others where all I wanted to do was held him in my arms and comfort him… Finally found the words: Pure celestial Delight.
And I haven’t introduced our piece of heaven… Lucian, also in the run for Lily’s love… And I think I’ll stop here…. I mean, I don’t want to give it all away in just one review, now do I?... ok, maybe just a little
Lily’s and Ryder’s relationship advances quickly, you may think that its total unrealistic but you can immediately tell theres more to it. Also, somewhere in between the story all I was doing was gripping my head and saying No No NO!!! HE CAN’T BE!... Zomygod. He is. And in a desperate need to figure out what was going on, I would go back to past pages in search of clues, bits and pieces I could’ve missed, to a point where I told my brother it was driving me mad to not know! And he gave the most incredible suggestion ever “Why don’t you like, CONTINUE READING THE BOOK!!!” Such wise words coming out of my brothers lips…. I’m still shocked.
From unexpected twists and turns, breathtaking romance, full of passion, mysteries and magic, comments so hilarious I was crying!, and an adorable little black cat, Hex, A Witch And Angel Tale is the perfect fit for A Great Novel. With and ending, and ACTUAL ENDING!! One of those cliché ones that say:
THE END.
I can’t remember the last YA novel of this genre that had this words actually pressed in the end – or maybe there are but, like, in the 9th book of the series – It was sad to see Lily’s story come to an end but, I ended with such a good taste in my mouth, that I’m just plain happy for Lily. I’m still smiling at just remembering everything.
Thank You so much to Ramona Wray for giving me the opportunity to review her novel, I have now become and unconditional fan and look forward to more of her work. Hex, A With And Angel Tale is the kind of book that takes a hold of you from the first line, holds on tight, and refuses to let go until you’ve ripped through the last page, and once those six letters close the book, it lingers inside your head for A long time. Highly Recommended. Highly Addicting. Highly Seductive… Pure Celestial Delight… :)
I started reading this book from another city. I read it in the car...in the restaurant..in the hotel...in the airplane (with the noisiest airplane mates I’ve ever experienced, I swear it was like a market up there! anyway)..and finished it at home. It was quite a journey. Judging from the book’s cute cover with a pink background and girlie cartoon, you wouldn’t assume it was a serious story.. BUT it was. I thought it was a light, romantic, chick lit read but get this, I was stunned to learn it was PNR, and a very serious one at that. The story. Let me tell you, it brought me all kinds of emotions and feelings: giddiness ( I say this and not “happy” because I was literally giggling ALL the time), embarrassment (the beginning part of the story) , love (well, obviously), hate (for some characters), confusion, hope, failure, sadness, heartaches (too much of it), and happiness. I was literally up and down on the roller coaster ride of feelings and such. I liked the prose of the book. The author used lots of metaphors and similes and explanations of phenomenons and happenings in almost every scene each chapter. Sometimes I thought there were more explanations and metaphors than the story telling itself, so it got boring. Also, most of the time the events tended to skip from one to another which confused me a lot and made me reread what I just read. Sometimes, it was the sentences were hard to understand..that’s just me. Anyway! At the beginning, it was very much exciting, started with a clean slate, a new story to read...the main lead Lily was cute and charming and shy, the partner, Ryder, was HOT and nice., too much to handle! I liked how they knew each other one year before anything happened to them (in short, i loved how Ryder waited). But then the start of all my frustrations began: there’s VERY complicated and hidden past between Lily and Ryder, which obviously we shouldn’t know yet because it’s still the beginning, and it must remain a MYSTERY. I hated the fact that Lily didn’t pester Ryder about it everyday, they just had one argument, I mean conversation on it, then “CASED CLOSED”. that’s it! that’s it? gosh!.. Everything went repetitive after a while (boring!) Then come a new guy, Lucian who added spice to the boiling stew! He was someone you can’t just ignore and put on the sidelines, NO, he just had to be part of the story. But once he was settled in, all the angry vibrations hanging in the air remain loose and basically nothing exciting happened. Then come in a new chapter where thankfully the climax of the story comes in...answers are slowly answered, more girl power showed, a bit of a guy fight (I admit I liked), then the history of everything, the sadness and unsolvable problem revealed..too much remorse and depression. BUT I have to say this, there’s a BIG BIG TWIST in the story. One that’s in the back of your head all the time but you chose to ignore, then when the revelation came, you say “ I KNEW that all along, you know”. So okay, that’s what I said. It was one BIG IRONY, and I love it! I miss these kinds of twists. The one you expected and know will happen but just kept your mouth shut, afraid you’re mistaken because it’s just too obvious..but you were right all along. anyway, bitterness aside I will continue. The ending was very satisfying, there was no other way but that ending. It was sad but happy. A bit of lability there, but it’s true. Epic Success! :) Overall, the metaphors did a lot of depth to the book. The story was kinda unique but a lot of fun. :)
Don’t judge a book by its cover. More importantly, don’t judge this book by its cover. The first thing that anyone says when they first look at Hex’s cover, including me, is, “OMGOBLINS THAT’S SO CUUUTE!” Admit it, you just had a little gush session over the pinkness. But this book is so much more than just a pink cover. It’s deep and superbly written, with a twisting and winding plot line that spans several centuries. Hex is a romance and a mystery all in one, with illicit love affairs, vengeful sisters, half-angel hit men, and a love that is doomed to die just as it's starting.
From the very first pages, I was hooked. Ramona has a way of writing that takes a short while to get into, but eventually, I fell into the rhythm of the book and I couldn’t stop reading. There is a constancy to the plot that kept it going steadily, without a dull moment or a lag.
Lily, our main character, has this tiny problem… every time she touches someone for longer than a few seconds, she passes out. This of course makes her the freak at her school. Growing up with this problem (she can’t even touch her own parents) she’s learned to be very independent. She was logical for the most part, although there were some parts in the end where I wanted to jump into the book and smack a little sense into her. She has a best friend J, who is eccentric and totally loveable, and their relationship added depth to Lily. Every girl needs that one best friend that she can confide everything with. Lily’s parents were also great characters, even if we didn’t see too much of her dad. What surprised me was that Lily already knew she was a witch, or at least understood that she had magical capabilities, and was very level-headed with them.
And now we come to my favorite part: Ryder and Lucian. Okay, I’ll admit for the millionth time that I’m a sucker for the bad boy… but how do you choose when both of them fit the bill? Ryder wasn’t necessarily a ‘bad boy’ per se, but he rode a motorcycle, and he was pretty damn sexy, so in my head it counts. Lucian… well, he was my favorite character. I was never able to figure him out completely, and that’s what I liked best. He acted a little… forward in ways that made me want to slap him senseless, but he was still my favorite. But Lily, Ryder, and Lucian are all entwined somehow, Lily just has to figure out how.
The only thing I have as ‘critique’ is that I wished Lily and Ryder’s relationship had built up more. I understand that they were soul mates, and they were meant to be together, but the earlier tension of Lily’s hesitation and inner-conflict over what she should do, as well as the tense chemistry between them, were some of the best parts.
Overall, I loved Hex. I loved it all the more because it was nothing how I thought it would be, yet it still blew me away, greatly surpassing any preconceived notions I had of it. A DEFINITE must read!
What do you get when you combine enthralling mythology, sweeping romance, witty snark, and one very pink cover? A compulsively readable story that will have you swooning, biting your nails, and laughing all in one sitting: Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale. This book is like a Meg Cabot/Lauren Kate lovechild. Need I say more?
And look at that cover. Isn't it just the cutest thing? I thought so, too! It's unique enough to catch your eye and still remain professional and aesthetically wonderful. I did find the cover to be a bit misleading, though, truth be told. Upon first glance it seems to exude a certain air of fluff and frill that couldn't be farther from the truth. That pretty much describes this story, too: surprising in the best possible way.
Lily Crane is an great protagonist, full of sarcastic charm and always ready with a scathing one-liner. Her inability to be physically close to people echoes the fears she has of emotional connections, as well, which only makes her more endearing. I very much enjoyed the progression of her character as she learns to trust herself and others. Ryder, the resident mysterious heartthrob of Rosemound High School, is a tall drink of water on a hot afternoon! He is just so vulnerable and romantic that you just can't help but swoon. The chemistry between these two characters leaps off the page. One of the very best parts of this book, however, is that it keeps you guessing. Once you think you've got it all figured out, Ramona shakes things up again with a few plot twists here and there that you won't see coming (at least, I didn't)!
This book is truly a breath of fresh air through the YA shelves, and I whole-heartedly recommend that you rush off to Amazon and snatch up a copy for yourselves. Be sure to drop by Ramona's website and leave her a message, too. She is such a dear and a pleasure to talk to!
You can find more reviews and other fun stuff at my book blog, BookLungs!
I wasn’t sure what I was going to find when it came to Hex. I knew that the book was going to be about witches—which I love—and angels, which are always fun to read about. Those two types of supernaturals together sounds like something awesome, right? Well it was definitely a fun read, that’s for sure.
The thing I was looking forward to most was the magic in this book. Since Lily, the main character, is a witch, I expected there to be a lot of it. There wasn’t. In fact, the real magic didn’t come until the climax of the book, unfortunately. The angels were touched on more, but still not as thoroughly as I would have hoped.
The writing in Hex was simple and fun. It kept me reading, and I was definitely entertained throughout the book. There was humor where it was appropriate, along with some very intense scenes where those fit. All in all, Ramona Wray has a great start in the writing world and I’d like to see what she comes up with next.
Lily was a superb main character. She was witty, charming, and sarcastic. There needs to be more sarcasm in YA literature! The only thing that bugged me about her is how she feel so deeply in love with Ryder so quickly, and how she also felt that insane attraction to Lucian. Speaking of those two, they were both the ultimate love interest when you first meet them. As the story goes on, however, you learn things that change your opinions on both of them. I’m still not sure who I would have liked Lily to end up with in the end, but I know who does!
Hex is a fun supernatural romance that blends humor and severity very well. The writing is simple and entertaining, and it kept me reading eagerly. The characters were great, even though they fell so deeply in love so very fast. Try it out, it might be for you.
I never would have guessed that angels and witches could be combined without inserting a nauseating level of cheese into the writing, but Ramona Wray pulls it off, merging the two in such a way to produce an epic romance that that--literally--transcends time.
Enter Lily, your typical seventeen-year-old girl, except for one thing--she's a witch. Lily has the unusual ability to see into somebody's past with a single touch, but her visions come at a painful price. Which is why when she touches Ryder without the painful aftershock, you know that they're destined to be together. Even though I thought that Ryder was your typical paranormal romance ‘heartthrob’ (good looks, dark secrets, and a patient nature), Lily was a fabulous and unique protagonist. She's sarcastic, intelligent, loyal, pragmatic, brave...all of the qualities I hope to see in a heroine, and the way she narrated her story had me laughing, swooning, and cheering on almost every page. But most important, by the end of the book she was just as strong of a character as she was in the beginning. I can't tell you how many times I've read a paranormal romance only to find that the Strong Heroine in the beginning melts into a puddle with little more backbone than a blob of pudding at the first sight of her White Horse Hero. Thank you Ramona, for reminding us that it IS possible to write a teen romance novel without sacrificing the main character's strength and personality!
Actually, to be honest, the romance of this book surprised me. I figured it was going to be the typical two-boys-fighting-over-one-girl-who-can't-make-up-her-mind sort of deal, but it was far from it. Lily doesn't waste time figuring out which man in her life will be good for her, but there are curve balls along the way that make her question her intuition. Lucian played his part well. Half the time I couldn't tell if I wanted to strangle or hug him. Yes, even though he initially comes off as the third corner of the oh-so-familiar YA love triangle, he turns out to be so much more, with a deeper connection to Lily AND Ryder than I saw coming. The three of them share a terrible burden, victims to a past and a curse that can't be revoked. The magical elements of the story were very down to earth, with less wand waving and more Wiccan-based rituals. It's been such a long time since I read a book where the magic involved in a story was pseudo-realistic and based off actual religious practices. It was a wonderful change of pace, and made Lily's interaction with the angelic elements of the book interesting and almost plausible since they're backed by religious and historical fact.
Though the book did lag in some parts, overall, I found Hex, a Witch and Angel Tale to be a surprisingly fun read. It was cute, it was deep, and above all else, compared to the other paranormal romances out there, it was different. It offered a unique blend of magical and religious lore that created a very intelligent romance. So don’t be fooled; the book is not as fluffy as the cute cover makes it seem! Pick it up if you’re looking for a read that combines two very different kinds of fantasy--and combines them well.
*This review was posted as part of the Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale blog tour. For more information, or links to the other blogs participating in the tour, check out the review on my blog: http://oktopusink.blogspot.com/2011/0... :)
Isn't the cover just adorable? But do not be fooled Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale is nowhere near the adorable, light, bubbly read that the cover may portray. This book was so much more than just a light read. Ramona Wray has created a plot that is full of intense and suspenseful moments. Not to mention a love story that spans centuries filled with twists and turns that will keep you glued to the book.
Lily is labeled the town freak. Everyone makes sure to stay clear of her touch because with one touch she can glimpse into a persons past and future and learn about their deepest secrets. So you can imagine how shocked she is when Ryder Kingscott the hottest guy in school, who also has never paid attention to her or any other of the hundreds of girls crushing over him out of the blue asks her to the prom. Then to add to Lily's state of confusion Lucian Bell the new guy who is also equally hot has eyes only for her. Now add on the fact that Lucian and Ryder seem to already know each other and butt heads from the moment they see each other you can understand why Lily may be wary of both guys.
This is one of those rare books where I loved all three of the main characters.
Lily was a very strong female character. She did show moments of vulnerability in situations that required it but always did what must be done regardless of how hard the choices and decisions she had to make were.
Ryder's character was a mystery in a good way. The hottest guy in school, but he always kept to himself. The rumor mill was filled with wild stories about him. My curiosity about Ryder was one of the reasons I was glued to Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale. Wray took me on an adventure with his character and right when I thought I knew everything there was about him, I was pulled into another "twist and turn" that just left me in utter shock. In the end I was very satisfied with how the mystery around him was wrapped up.
As far Lucian Bell is concerned on the surface their wasn't much depth to him. Not until I really got to know him and found out how intriguing he really is. We are introduced to him as the latest eye candy at Rosemound High, but unlike Ryder he was Mr. Popular. He got along with everyone, threw house parties and seemed to be your regular high schooler. But as I read on, and his character unraveled, I learned there was so much depth to him, some of his actions just made me go wow! Especially the ending.
There were traces of a love triangle but I loved how Wray nipped that in the bud. Lily was not the confused damsel in distress that couldn't make up her mind on who she loved and wanted to be with. Even when things were at it's worse she loved only one.
I can't say enough good things about this book, it really grabbed me. I read it in a day and stayed up well into the middle of the night just to finish it up. I can't wait to see what other books Ramona Wray has coming in the near future. With her writing style and story telling she has definitely made a fan out of me.
If ever you should take the phrase “never judge a book by its cover” seriously, this is the most important rule with this book. I will admit to finding myself a little weary at reading this story with the bright pink cover and animated drawings, but was I ever glad I took the chance. This book is refreshing with its story, it seemed to be so different from the many other supernatural fantasy books I often read. I found myself completely unable to put this book down and feel almost sad that it is over.
It is an amazing story about a 17-year old girl who feels like the outcast, just as most of us do at some point in our lives. However, Lily Crane has something special about her that really does make her an outcast. She possesses a rare “gift” where she is able to learn everything about someone’s life, past present, and future by a simple touch. Though the “gift” seems to be more of a curse as she experiences extreme pain and most often passes out from a mere touch. Her gift is also not a secret to her peers, which of course makes everyone steer clear of her. Thankfully she has an amazing best friend, J, who is unique in her own way has always accepted Lily for who she is.
Life suddenly becomes a lot more complicated for Lily when a dark mysterious and extremely gorgeous boy at her school suddenly becomes very interested in her. Lily can’t help her sudden, almost unavoidable attraction and connection with Ryder Kingscott. There is something so different about him, other than the amazing fact that she is able to touch him without pain, it’s the way she feels around him…safe, almost like she is home. Though it isn’t long before complications start- in the form of a new student, yet another gorgeous boy seeking Lily’s attention. But the strange part is not that these two delicious boys want Lily at the same time, it’s that the anger towards each other is almost bizarre, and it’s as if they've met before. Lily’s new relationship with Ryder is made difficult as both boys try to convince her that the other is dangerous. And although she is told by Ryder to just accept their new love for what it is, Lily can’t help but try to discover the truth behind both Ryder and the new stranger and why she feels the way she does around them. Her investigation turns up an even more complicated and confusing story than imagined and she is forced to make difficult decisions… but any path she chooses seems to be deadly.
The writing is spectacular and I never felt lost or bored throughout the entire story. It kept my interest peaked consistently as I tried to figure out the path the story was taking. It has so many fun factors that make it unique and sets it apart from many other young adult books. There is, of course, young love, betrayal and mystery... But it also involved mythology and history making the book intriguing to say the least. It’s a definite must-read and I look forward to more books from this author in the future.
I have been waiting for a long time to read this book. Then finally finally!! I got my hands on it. And let me tell you it was worth the wait.
Lily was the resident freak girl at Rosemound high. She kept a low profile avoiding touching anyone, for a single touch would mean seeing their lives unfold right in front of her. However, her low profile life started to change when two of the hottest boys in their school; Ryder and Lucian started fighting for her affection. Only it seemed like the two of them had a history of their own that put Lily right in the middle of it.
At the beginning of the book things were a little bit cryptic. Two boys fighting for Lily but as a reader you could tell that there is something more to this rivalry than what meets the eye. Every word that Ryder utters to Lily about his love for her while at the same time throwing clues about their past made me think that I am in for a tough love story ride that I am hoping will not end badly. He was yes as I imagined gorgeous (black messy hair, gray eyes, golden skin and tall lean body), funny, corky (with similarities to REN of Nightshade in my opinion) and in so much pain that it made me want to comfort him. I love that he is not all serious and all; he is able to tease Lily and of course makes her knees (and mine too) weak with how honest he is with his feelings for Lily. I can't help but see a little bit of Ren in him which made me love him more. Lucian was not far off the hook as well. He competes with Ryder's good looks (blonde sandy hair, blue eyes and model-like body) and wits just fine. It was a real fun to read. I found myself laughing and squealing. The characters have their own way of putting humor into things. And Lily! I just can't get enough of her funny sarcasm. She never seems to run out of of them.
The only word to describe the story was BITTERSWEET. It fits just right. It was as good as chocolate with accompanying bitterness. Ramona Wray did a pretty good job describing the many emotions that the characters felt that you also get sucked up to it. Towards the end I had mix emotions regarding Lucian. In my mind I was saying "awwww, that sucks". Lucian had his moments too. And I wish things ended differently. However, I understand why it has to end that way. Clearly there was no other way around the hex. It was SAD and HAPPY, it was ROMANTIC and PAINFUL. The irony of the story just keeps going. It coats the entirety of it. One thing is out of the question though it was a BEAUTIFUL love story.
When Ramona contacted me to review this book, I was skeptical. I saw the cover and thought it was adorable. So I said sure, I'll review it. We went back and forth about when I was going to review and do my q&a with her. I decided on a March 22 date. So I'm a day late. I'd fallen behind in reviews. So Sunday, March 20, I finally picked up Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale.
This is a case of don't base a book on it's cover. I love the cover it's cute and quirky and whimsical, but the story in between the covers is darker and absolutely fantastic! I inhaled this book. Lily Crane is a freak. She can't touch anyone without seeing what their life holds for them and then she gets this mind melding headache and seizes. So ever since Lily was little everyone called her the freak.
Enter one Ryder Kingscott. He's caught Lily's eye, but she knows thats all she can get. Is just staring at him, but imagine Lily's surprise when she inadvertently shows up to school early and Ryder is waiting for her. To ask her out. To prom!
Lily doesn't give him an answer right away. She's hesitant. But Ryder is patient.
I loved Lily. She's a great heroine and she spoke rapid fast and was your typical American teen. Which is kinda amazing as Ramona is not even American! The tete a tete between Ryder and Lily is spot on. This book is sexy and well plotted. The mythology Wray writes is interesting in a world that has bursting with paranormal romances.
When Ryder finally gets Lily to go out with him after school, all of Lily's walls that she's kept up are brought down. When Ryder offers her his hand, she refuses. But he knows that she can touch him. That first date scene is so flipping hot and amazing that I had to re-read it a few times. There is something about Ryder that Lily just feels comfortable and as she says "unbroken" around him.
But happiness is not to last long. Ryder knows things about Lily. And then Lucien Bell shows up whereas, Ryder cannot tell Lily the truth, but Lucien can and will. I don't want to give anything away, but the title of book is important.
I could gush and gush about this book, how much I loved it. How it all worked. There are a few problems, minor quibbles. Ramona loves her exclamation points. And the pop culture references could date this book in a few years, but those are minor issues. She ties the story up nicely. Although the ending could make you want more.
First off I would like to say that the cover to this book is awesome. It is cute and fun and very retro looking.
Ramona Wray’s writing will draw you in. I felt like I was really sitting next to the characters in the book and joining in on their conversations along with them. She has a way to describe the scenes that really bring the book to life for the reader. I must say that this was one of those books that you can’t wait to find out the ending, but at the same time, you do not want to lose touch with the characters.
Lily is a little bit of a freak. The towns people ignore her and do not want their kids to have any contact with her. The kids at school tease her. She is a witch. When Lily touches someone, she sees flashes of their past and can see what their future holds. Her Dad is gone on business all week and only comes home on weekends, her Mom owns a small store that she sells incense, oils and healing candles that Lily had made.
Lily just wants to be normal. She dreams of having a normal boyfriend. One that she can kiss and touch without having a seizure and going into a panicked frenzy. There is one boy, Ryder, that she has watched for a whole year. All the girls at school have watched him too. He is godly hot, a little weird, but Lily is just in awe of his presence. Until the day he starts to talk to her, then she starts wondering why her and why now after a whole year? Shortly after the new kid, Lucian, shows up at her school and that is when all the fireworks begin. Lily is stuck trying to tie all the pieces together between them. She can feel that she has a past with them, but cannot remember and trying to piece through all of it is agonizing.
I really loved this book and was brought to tears many times. The relationship between Lily and Ryder was tormenting and you could really feel her heart breaking. I loved the character of Lily’s BFF, J, she was quite a handful. Her fashion choices alone made me enjoy her and the fact that she was a little spitfire. Throughout the whole book Lilly did not lose her sense of humor which left me laughing and crying at the same time. With many twists and turns, this book left you guessing the whole time and for that, I highly recommend it!
Okay, I liked the plot very much, but the writing was kind of slow for me in the beginning. The characters though, i simply adored especially Ryder. This book will take you in a spin, believe me you will be in a long ride. Okay so this is about a young girl that has an ability to read anybody's future just by touching their hands. She has her eye on a gorgeous-bike-riding-hottie Ryder. :) And when he walks up to Lily and asks her for a date, guess how she reacted! ooops. no! i don't want to give out spoilers. There is also another boy named Lucian that likes Lily a lot and when these two boys faced, Lily gets confused because they act like they knew each other and are competing for Lily's love which is totally weird. Oh, by the way Ryder is the only one that can touch Lily without harming her.
The ending of this book was shocking! i did not expect it to go that way, i didn't even know what to expect because the scenes are just so consuming. Either way, i loved the ending, i'm just a sucker for those type. But I still feel like I need to know more about these characters so that I can totally tell you guys what I think of them but as what I've read, Lily is a sweet, over-thinking girl--which by the way, is totally ME, so i can relate! She just wants to figure things out before she acts because she's afraid to make a mistake and that right there is a proof that she's a keen character.
Ryder is kind,selfless,endearing and HAWT. i loved how the author made him what he was :) Although, I would've loved him more if he has more of a "bad side". well, its just my preference.
Lucian is so competitive and selfless. I think he's amazing and considering what he did, i still think he's hot. Anyways so i enjoyed reading this book. Thank You again to Ramona Wray for sending a copy to me, I appreciate it sooo much.
Would I recommend this book? DEFINITELY. you guys should also say hi to the author, she's awesome.
Okay, so thats just about it for this book's review, Thanks Very Much for reading!
Hex is not at all what I expected. Ramona Wray has crafted a wonderful story full of romance, mystery, and best of all, witchcraft.
Lily Crane has never been normal. Sure she has wanted to be normal but not until she meets Ryder Kingscott does she really want it. For once in her life Lily wants to be able to touch someone without pain. She wants a relationship with Ryder. It seems like things might actually work when Lucian Bell shows up. Lucian and Ryder seem to know each other from way back and they seem to want the same thing: Lily. The only question is: why do they want her? And what will they do to get her?
I'm going to start with what I didn't like about Hex because there wasn't a whole lot. My main problem was with the characters. They sometimes acted unrealistically and they confused me. Don't get me wrong, I liked them but Ryder was a little too lovey dovey sometimes and Lily was morbid at times. Other than that they were actually pretty well-developed.
The writing is what hooked me though. Ramona Wray is a beautiful writer and she completely captivated me with her story. I had a hard time putting this one down and I was reading it every chance I got. Her story is very unique and fun to read but the writing made it even better.
Overall, Hex: A Witch And Angel Tale is a great book that I would definitely recommend. It was cute, funny, and wonderfully written. Plus, isn't that the cutest cover ever? I love it!
Don't let this book's cover fool you- while the cute pink background and witch hint at a lighthearted piece of chick lit, underneath lies a dark story of a love that spans the centuries. Honestly, I was expecting a story stuffed with fluff and comedy. I was surprised by the rich writing and depth of Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale.
Lily was a amusing and lovable protagonist. Her witty comebacks and hilarious internal dialogue had me laughing out loud. Despite her supernatural abilities as a witch, Lily is down-to-earth and normal. Her love interest, Ryder, is completely swoon-worthy. He's also a little infuriating, with his dark secrets and reluctance to explain his history with Lily.
Most of the story is consumed by the fierce love triangle. Both Lucian and Ryder are well-developed characters, making the romance all the more interesting. Personally, I preferred Ryder and was annoyed whenever Lily gravitated toward Lucian.
The plot wove the strands of Lily's mysterious past together with the impending doom of her future. I loved how everything clicked at the end, like fitting two puzzle pieces together. I couldn't help but do a little victory dance when my predictions were proved correct.
Overall, Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale, is a passionate story of a girl caught between her past and her future. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a steamy love triangle. The supernatural elements made the story even more intriguing.
A good book not in my normal reading pile and a very enjoyable read. I wont touch on the plot for me far too many spoilers in previous reviews for this book anyway. Instead I want to comment on style and content. A well structured well written story with indeed a very promising plot. Ramona writes a wonderful story of paranormal romance with plenty of twists and turns. I often think love is at the heart of every great book and of course it is central to this teen tale about a girl who is the focus of two suitors with a dark and old secret at its heart. I really enjoyed this one but I have 2 tiny criticisms. One is that the cover for me does not relate to the story, in that I think it might throw some potential target readers off because it seems to be aimed at a younger audience than the story itself. That I hope falls under constructive criticism because it is a lovely book. The only other minor thing is for me the ending was a little bit too neat and tidy. However, that's probably just me and as I mentioned I am not normally a fan of this genre so perhaps it is par for the course. Well done Ramona Wray, very impressive and I heartily recommend this to fans of the genre in particular.
This is a case of “don’t judge a book by its cover”. The cover is cute, but doesn’t go with the story at all. The story is so much more than I was expecting. The storyline has some serious darkness to it and it is wonderful. Wray wrote the main character of Lily perfectly. She is someone that other girls can look up to because she embraces herself and thinks about her actions and consequences before making a move. She isn’t flighty, ditzy, or clumsy like some other lead females as of late.
There are enough twists to keep the plot line interesting and a few historical touches added in that are breathtaking as well. The characters are all complete and well rounded, you get to see the good, the bad, and the questionable. Ryder is written to where girls will swoon when reading about him, but also realize why Lily is being so cautious. I can’t wait to see what Wray writes next!
I find myself smiling while thinking of how will I start this review. (good sign right?!). First of, I love Lily.. she's seventeen and she sounds seventeen.. This book makes me feel young..
About the writing, well I doubt this will be with those "critically acclaimed" but it doesn't mean it's full of crap. It's delightful, witty and very fun to read. It's like listening to a friend's story. That's what it hit me. It felt real.
The plot is very interesting. I agree with some of the reviews that it's not your typical love triangle. Though, I'm kinda used to drop-dead gorgeous guys (fan of twilight, duh!?), but Wray pulled it off.
I'm looking forward to Ramona Wray's succeeding books. I can safely say I'm a fan. Kudos Ramona Wray!
When I first saw the title Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale, I wondered how you could do a story combining witches and angels without making it ridiculous. Fortunately, Ramona Wray pulls it off. Hex is a delightful tale of romance, adventure, friends, family, and betrayal.
Hex is like no angel or witch story you've ever read. The witchcraft element has a more Wicca, naturalistic bent to it than Harry Potter. Lily concocts potions and candles with healing powers. Lily has the ability to read people from a single touch. It's more of a curse, really, since it keeps her separated from everyone around her. Otherwise, she's a normal girl. The angels come in later. They're not as angelic as you might expect. Wray marvelously combines witchcraft and angel mythology. The origins of both are intricately connected. The story takes you through time as you see how angels and witches originated, coincided, and eventually collided to create the tragic story of love and betrayal that is Hex. The mythology unravels throughout the story at the perfect speed. I didn't have to sit through half the book wondering what the paranormal element was and I also didn't get bombarded with world-building information in a single chapter.
At first I worried that Hex would be just a stereotypical YA romance where the characters fall in love at first sight and the poor girl has to choose between two fabulous guys who adore her. There are elements of that in Hex, but with just enough of a twist to keep things interesting. Ryder and Lucian both fall hard for Lily (or appear to do so). Lily is instantly, supernaturally attracted to Ryder, while being intrigued and disturbed by Lucian. Ryder was a great character. It's true that their romance has an otherworldly element, but we also see Ryder's kindness, humor, and intelligence - you understand why Lily falls for him. Lucian was also fascinating. Cunning, protective, and preppy handsome. The relationship between Lily, Ryder, and Lucian wasn't just a triangle. It wasn't necessarily about Lily choosing between two good options. No...one is right and one is wrong. But Lily doesn't know that. I didn't know who was best either. Just when I thought I was sure, Ramona twisted the story around so far that my mind was in a tailspin, and I was turning the pages to find out what would happen.
The book is told from Lily's perspective. This is important, because her voice and thoughts are as much a character in this novel as the Lily, Ryder, and Lucian that we see through her eyes. She never lacks for words. Perhaps because she's always been an outsider, she keenly observes the world around her and always has some witty commentary running through her head. This is both the highlight and the main downfall of Hex. I loved Lily's voice. She had a wry sense of humor. Even in very serious moments, her insights made me smile. She wasn't inappropriately funny - just had an interesting way of thinking. At the same time, her voice really slowed down the book. If a scene could be described in one sentence, Lily inevitably used at least five. Also, a few (and it really was just a few) of her witticisms didn't sound right coming from a teenage girl. For example, she once referred to Hillary Clinton's claim in the 2008 presidential campaign that she landed in Bosnia under sniper fire. It made sense in the context of the novel and it was kind of funny, but I doubt most teens would get the reference or care. Overall, I enjoyed living in Lily's world. As long as you have patience with a sometimes slower than necessary narration and take the time to let Lily's quips sink in, Hex is an amusing and insightful novel.
On a side note, don't be scared away by the fact that Hex was self-published. Apart from the wordiness, which as I mentioned both helps and hinders the book, the writing is perfect. I didn't catch any spelling or grammatical errors. The plot was clean and complete. The writing is even more impressive, because Ramona is not a native English speaker. She did a great job capturing colloquialisms and the teenager voice.
I recommend Hex for an interesting twist on the paranormal genre. The mythology is well-developed, well-conveyed, and truly fascinating. The characters and romance may not break new ground, but Lily, Ryder, and Lucian were fun people to spend a few days with and the romance was sweet, tragic, and passionate. Perfect for the reader who's tired of reading simple angel, fairy, vampire, werewolf, or witch novels.
I read Hex: A Witch and Angel Tale by Ramona Wray a little while ago now as part of a blog tour that I never took part in. The truth is, I felt uneasy about my reaction to the book and didn’t feel that I could be part of the tour. First and foremost, I should warn you that this is a very mixed review and initially the premise sounded interesting. Here’s the synopsis:
“Like most girls at Rosemound High School, seventeen-year-old Lily Crane is acutely aware of Ryder Kingscott. Hands down the cutest guy in school, Ryder is cool, mysterious, and utterly untouchable...especially for Lily. For when she touches someone, Lily instantly learns all about their lives. And while such a skill might seem nifty, in truth it is wrecking Lily's life. So she is shocked when Ryder asks her out - and even more shocked to discover he has a rival. Lucian Bell is the gorgeous new kid who can't take his eyes off of Lily. Being pursued by two hotties should make a girl happy, but Lily is skeptical. The boys act as if they've met before, hating each other with a passion that could only be rooted in a dark, dangerous past. A past full of terrible secrets. The kind of secrets that could get a girl killed.”
Let’s start by talking about the book cover. It is incredibly cute and very “Bewitched” like but in my honest opinion, I don’t think it fits the story. The cover is very girly and fluffy but the story is much darker than that.
Now I’m going to tell you why this book was incredibly frustrating for me. This book was frustrating only because I could see the potential behind it. It read like an unfinished draft that needed a little bit more work on it before releasing it into the wild. There were flashes of brilliance, paragraphs that were perfect but they weren’t consistent. Sure, there were a few spelling and grammar errors but nothing that a good editor couldn’t pick up. They may be little annoyances but I never let things like that detract from the story. Chapters one and two ended with the same line and I’m not sure if this was a mistake or not but for me, it didn’t work. Also, I thought that some of the dialogue in the first half didn’t seem realistic and there were a couple of times in the latter half where I thought “huh?” at some of it. Not because I didn’t understand the situation but I couldn’t understand WHY a particular character would say what they did.
The best part of the book for me was the last 13 chapters. This was the build towards the climax but also the first time we really saw action or indeed a display of the power that Lily allegedly had. You may find this hard to believe but as a character, I really did like her. I thought she had an authentic teenage voice and I enjoyed her humour and perspective on things. I also enjoyed the twists and turns in the tale that I hadn’t seen coming. The added element of a “Halfling” was a very interesting concept which I enjoyed.
Despite my mixed reaction, there was definitely something about the book though as I kept on reading and despite aforementioned nuances, the further I read, the more I wanted to carry on. At the end of the day, there were definitely elements I enjoyed but it frustrated me so because I know it could have been so much better.
Considering this is what 90% of you thought about when you loaded this page, lets start with the cover. Some of you (the girly-girls) see this cover and love it. Some of you see this cover and hate it. Some of you (like me) see this cover and can only think about Bewitched. Whatever your initial thoughts were (unless you loved it), forget them. I do like this cover, I think it is adorable, but not for this novel. Why? Because it gives people false interpretations of the novel. This book really wasn't light, frilly and fluffy like one would like. It is darker, and has a character struggling from social isolation due to physical abilities. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if the description sounds interesting to you (and/or you like me review), don't let you cover prejudices stop you from reading it. Now that I've stopped ranting...
This novel follows Lily, a girl who has been outcasted for much of her life because of her extreme pshysic abilities. With just one touch she is flooded with a tsunami of memories and thoughts of that person- so overwhelming that she will sometimes scream in pain and pass out. It's no wonder she's isolated herself from the general population.
But then extremely good looking Ryder comes along. He's been looming in the background for over a year now, but suddenly he seems extremely interested in Lily. Lily slowly becomes interested in him as well (I mean, she is a girl). Then boy number two comes along, and things get crazy.
Soon Lily finds herself in the mist of a curse, one that has decided her morbid fate centuries before.
As in any novel, there were things that got me a bit irritated. For one, Lily is very sarcastic. Don't get me wrong, I like sarcasm, but it's a fine line to walk. I totally understand how sarcasm is a sort of defense mechanism for Lily, but it was a bit excessive. The only other thing was that Lily always compares events to other historical events that no one really thinks about. It just seemed odd, a bit out of place. But that is really the end of my criticism.
Ms. Wray took me for a ride with this novel! Once I started getting used to the novel and the plot, it would change in a super great twist. Then I'd start to see how this makes so much more sense... and then everything would change again. It was a mind fuck. I enjoyed the plot quite a bit. It was interesting and not at all predictable. Yes, as the title so nicely describes, it is a witch and angel tale. But let me tell you, it is not the normal witch or the normal angel tale (I would say it isn't the normal witch and angel tale either, but I've never read one before...). It was completely original and I have a lot of respect for that.
First of all I must say, when I got this book I had no idea what to expect. The cover doesn't do the story justice. Don't be afraid to pick it up because of the cover. You're going to love it if you want a lot of swoon worthy romance and enough action to make you want to pull you hair. Believe me when I say that. I almost did. *scratches head*
Lily was really enjoyable as a character and loved her way of thinking. She was witty and confident even though she was treated as the freak of her school. She wasn't afraid of what she was and embraced it no matter what anyone else said. I loved J her best friend and her little fashion statements. I wish I had a friend like that! It would be so much fun. It was a relief actually to have such a nice friend for once. Most YA books have their main characters befriended with some really horrible people and I have no idea why. So don't be afraid you're going to love her!
And now to the love interests! Oh Ryder....... what can I say about him? Whatever I say isn't enough. Ryder totally makes my top 10 fictional crushes/love interests. You can't not love him! He has the look of a bad boy, I mean he has a motorcycle and wears leather jacket! That screams bad boy! But behind that look he is so sweet and caring that you can't not just fall for him. Lucian on the other hand is just yummy! I know I shouldn't lust for two boys at the same time but damn was it hard to choose! Now that I think of it I still can't choose.
In this book you don't have your typical love triangle where the girl can't choose between two boys. Instead you have Ryder and Lucian falling for the same girl. Isn't that every girl's dream come true?
**Side Note: Have you read a book with a love triangle between two girls and a boy, where the boy can't make up his mind? Now THAT would be interesting!**
Overall I loved this book and it's now one of my favourite books. I would recommend it to anyone who loves a swoon worthy romance. This book left me breathless and wanting for more.
Hex is more than a unique story with a fascinating mythology mixed with angels and witches. There's magic, sarcasm, romance, action and a back story with a rich history between the main characters. I was pleasantly surprised with the way in which Ramona introduces her creative spin on witchcraft and angel mythology. It was engaging and I found myself unable to put the book down, despite a few things that bothered me with the story.
I really like Lily. Her sarcasm and her voice are quite entertaining. She has a power that makes her feel like a freak, she's a witch. It's not until Ryder and Lucian become a part of her life does she learn about her history and just how powerful she really is. Don't get me wrong, I love a good romance and Ramona left me torn through much of the story whom I liked more, Lucian or Ryder. I was really bugged by how quickly Lily falls for Ryder. I mean, it's not hard to fall for the dark, mysterious boy who all the sudden makes you feel safe and you could have sworn you know him for somewhere, but having not spoken more than a word to each other and until one day he asks to prom and everything changes. I needed more of a buildup between the two of them. Once I got more of the story I understood why they both acted the way they did, even if at times I felt it was a little unrealistic.
Ramona has a great writing style that kept me hooked. I liked that she took the time to throw in the history between the characters and I of course loved the character twists. I spent a lot of the story trying to decide who was telling the truth, Ryder or Lucian. I liked that she kept me guessing until close to the end. Both boys will have readers swooning over them, ones a protector and the other the hunter and Lily is his pray. Having a Hex placed on all three of them means every so many years Lily is reincarnated and the love triangle, struggle and Lily's eventual death happens, but this time something changes and the Hex is broken. I'm looking forward to reading more books by Ramona. Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale is a fun, quick, unique read with a great romance, and a sarcastic voice that I think YA readers will enjoy.
First off, I really have to take this time to thank Ramona Wray not only for this great book but how amazing she is to bloggers. I don't know her personally but she gives her all into this book and to the bloggers who review and Interview her. Now Onto the Review. The cover alone caught my attention-so cute. I didn't know what to expect in the story because of the cover. I thought for sure it would be more YA than I'm use to, of course I was way off. The story line is perfect and the characters really drive the plot line. There were a lot of parts that go back in the past which usually I don't like but it gave me just a hint here and there which was perfect. I loved learning more about Lily Crane the main character and the unique way Ramona Wray brought you into her world. One of my four sisters name is Lily so I was immediately drawn to this character. Her vulnerability from the pain she feels from a single touch (which by the way awesome paranormal affect) and the power she holds within herself made everything more in tense. Ryder came into the story rather quickly and right away I perceived him to be a jerk. Not sure why I got that stuck in my head but I never did shake my irritation with Ryder. I was also seriously pissed at how easily Lily let him in but I'm sure that was because of my vision of him. Then there was Lucian, I was so drawn to him. I like how confident he acted. Much more calm and collective than Ryder. I was guessing all the way to the end who really was the bad guy?? The Ending blew me away and I loved it!! This book is perfect for teenagers or young adults looking for a story with a little bit of magic! You will not be disappointed.
oh man, do i have thoughts on this book. i first read hex when i was maybe twelve, ever since its kind of just lingered at the back of my mind and for the past six years i slowly but surely became convinced i had just made it up. after all, no one would really write a book about reincarnation, witches, angels and then set it in modern day america as a really cliche ya story, right? wrong. so wrong. maybe its the nostalgia of it all but honestly, this book is actually pretty decent. though it has a bad case of insta love due to the whole 'we belong together / we are bound by a spell / witchy woo wah shit' and the description is some what... lacking, in earlier chapters unless youre looking for white boys with five hundred colours in their eyes. its an enjoyable story, a quick read if you're feeling particularly in need of some lighthearted urban fantasy to pass the time. the 'plot twist' of ryder and lucian was just headache inducing due to lilys blatant idiocy. on a whole the best sections of the book were probably lily with her family, some aspects of her past self and lucian being a complete a-hole at the end. all in all, it would have been nice if wray had went a little more in depth about lilys past selves but i suppose that would have opened up the realm of having a more serious novel and thats just not what this book was about. in general, it was alright. nothing to rave over, but for how amusing it was and how it has the ability to stick in your mind im fond of it and would recommend it to a younger audience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The concept of the story was intriguing and kept me on my toes, but I got a bit frustrated at times, when I first dived into this book. I found that the author put too many words around what she was actually trying to say and get across to the reader. Sometimes I found myself digging to find out what she was getting at...but then I came to a certain page and things started looking up!
After hitting page 29, it turned from being an O.K read to me not wanting to put it down. The intensity, heat, interest turned right up and left me wanting more; more story and Lily + Ryder moments!
Sometimes I got a bit confused, due to everything that was going. But to tell you the truth, it was that good, I just kept powering through!
Don’t know about you guys, but throughout the whole story, I was always rooting for Team Ryder! The main character, Lily was likeable and interesting to read about, I’m sure everyone only wanted a good outcome for her.
The past and present in this story was entwined together seamlessly, giving you just the right amount of what's going on to help you understand what needs to happen in the story. Twists and turns are weaved throughout the whole story and will leave you wondering with curiosity, trying to figure out what’s around the corner.
Don’t be fooled by this girly, pink cover. The pages of this book are filled with suspense, action and mystery!
When I first read this book synopsis I thought it sound very interesting, but after reading the first few chapters I tell you, the synopsis falls short 'cause it was great!
I like how this book was very romantic, 'cause nowadays it's difficult to find real, eternal romance (oh please don't tell me you think Twilight is that!) so yep, that's a huge part of why I liked this book, that the main girl, Lily, knew who she loved and why she did, and why she didn't want someone else, because lately it seems live YA is all about love triangles, and although there was a little bit of one in this book too, you knew it was impossible, thanks to Lilly always reminding you.
I also loved the little music/pop culture that popped once in a while, like how Lucian was way better at preppy looks than the jonas brothers (no ones buys the good boys act anymore). And how Lilly was very mature and handle all the situations perfectly and without whining (I love non-whiners).
So I recommend this book to everyone who wants romance and adventure and a bit of magic thrown into a great story.