Book Review: Firespell

by Chloe Neill

Rating: 8/10

As the new girl at the elite St. Sophia’s boarding school, Lily Parker thinks her classmates are the most monstrous things she’ll have to face… When Lily’s guardians decided to send her away to a fancy boarding school in Chicago, she was shocked. So was St. Sophia’s. Lily’s ultra-rich brat pack classmates think Lily should be the punchline to every joke, and on top of that, she’s hearing strange noises and seeing bizarre things in the shadows of the creepy building. The only thing keeping her sane is her roommate, Scout, but even Scout’s a little weird—she keeps disappearing late at night and won’t tell Lily where she’s been. But when a prank leaves Lily trapped in the catacombs beneath the school, Lily finds Scout running from a real monster. Scout’s a member of a splinter group of rebel teens with unique magical talents, who’ve sworn to protect the city against demons, vampires, and Reapers, magic users who’ve been corrupted by their power. And when Lily finds herself in the line of firespell, Scout tells her the truth about her secret life, even though Lily has no powers of her own—at least none that she’s discovered yet…

Firespell is the first novel of the Dark Elite by Chloe Neill. I really liked it, there was magic, friendship and a creepy boarding school. There was also hot guys. What’s not to like? Well when I read it there was still six months until the second book (Hexbound) came out.
This is well written and rings true, the novel is well paced and smart. Firespell is funny and it can be read as a stand alone or you can read Hexbound (my plans) and discover what happens next.
Ok so we have Lily, whose parents have dumped her in Chicago to go on a poetry sabbatical in Germany. So far so sucky.
Lily get’s to be roommates with Scout (not her real name) who is awesome and friendly which is all win for Lily. Scout pretty much disappears the second that school finishes to go “exercise” which is code for fighting the forces of evil AKA Reapers. Lily, patient soul that she is takes about two weeks before she realises Scout isn’t coming clean and follows her. Unfortunately for her she finds her, in the middle of a battle with the forces of evil. Lily gets hit and Scout is finally allowed to spill on her exercise regime.
Scout’s a magic user. Magic users are pretty awesome until they turn 25 or so, then they no longer have the energy and have to harvest it from others, magic user or regular human being, doesn’t matter which.
Things escalate from there, culminating in a battle with the Reapers or as they call themselves, the Dark Elite.
Currently listening: This Is Our Town – We The Kings