In book one of the series (Firespell), Lily Parker is sent to St. Sophias, a swanky Chicago boarding school, while her parents transfer to Europe to continue their scientific studies. She soon discovers there are secrets within secrets there and becomes involved with a paranormal task force whose duties include keeping people with magical talents safe from the Reapers, those who take others' energy for their own.

In book two, HEXBOUND, Lily is getting to know Michael, the cute sophomore with a furry secret and feeling her way as she realizes how much he likes her, too. But she has also caught the interest of Sebastian Born, the Reaper who triggered her talent. He wants to talk to her, wants her trust, and yeah, he didn't kill her when he had the chance (and even helped her escape) but he stands for everything she and the other adepts are fighting against. Still, he is the only one she knows who can teach her more about her firespell power.

She doesn't have a lot of leisure time to worry about it between the demands of her class work and the patrols she and the other Adepts are making. There is a new nasty in the tunnels below Chicago and until they can track down who is creating them, no one, Adept or mundane will be safe. Add in a turf war between rival Vamp gangs, Michael hinting about a truth that will keep them apart and hints that her parents may be part of the evil they are fighting and her second year at St. Sophia's is shaping up to be even worse than the first.

Neill has a deft hand with teen dialogue and characterization while still making the series enjoyable for adult reading. She doesn't avoid the hard questions but places them in context in ways sometimes avoided by other Young Adult authors. I am greatly anticipating the next in the series.

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