I loved this! This was such a sweet read. Thorn is such a great character--brave, independent, and understandably frustrated with her life post-The Witch's Ghost. Her reactions to the mysterious events of the book and all of the usual teenage shenanigans (mean girls, crushes, being the new girl at school) felt very real to life. I appreciated the fun Scooby gang references too (let's split up, gang!) and how well-developed both the Hex Girls and the gang were, especially for a shorter MG/YA book.

Recommend for any fans of Scooby Doo (regardless of age!) and teens looking for sweet queer stories or cozy mysteries.

This was such a fun read, especially for a big scooby doo fan like me! I loved the references to scooby lore and the new take on the hex girls and sapphic romance! The inclusion of the pumpkin patch, apple orchard, corn fields made this a perfect spooky season read. I hope there’s a sequel!

Thanks to Random House Children’s Books | Random House Books for Young Readers, NetGalley, and Lily Meade for the arc!

As a long time fan of Scooby-Doo I was super excited to read this book, and let me tell you I really enjoyed going on this journey. It does a great job of continuing the Hex Girls adventure after the Witch's Ghost. I enjoyed figuring out what was going on and whether or not the mystery was paranormal or not. I enjoyed the twists of the book and enjoyed the darker elements in this. It worked well in the Scooby world and thought the gang and the Hex Girls meshed well. It had that drama element that I was wanting and thought Lily Meade wrote a strong novel that I enjoyed reading. All of the characters felt like their cartoon counterparts and enjoyed Lily's take on them. I hope Lily Meade continues to write in the Scooby world and other books as this was fantastic.

Lily Meade puts a spellbinding spin on the Scooby-Doo universe in The Hex Girls: A Rogue Thorn, a moody, atmospheric mystery that brings heart, horror, and goth glam to Coolsville. With a focus on Thorn, the fiercely independent frontwoman of the eco-goth band The Hex Girls, this YA novel dives deeper into the character’s backstory while delivering all the supernatural sleuthing fans expect from the Scooby-Doo world.

After a traumatic incident leaves their hometown in ruins, Thorn, Luna, and Dusk move to Coolsville for a fresh start. But when a poisonous mist starts spreading sickness and decay—seemingly following Thorn wherever she goes—she quickly becomes the town’s scapegoat. Outcast and uncertain of her place in the world, Thorn reluctantly turns to Mystery Inc. for help. Her growing bond with Velma, in particular, adds an emotional depth to the story that’s both tender and empowering.

The novel expertly balances Scooby-Doo’s classic humor and charm with darker, more introspective themes. Thorn’s internal struggle with her magical identity adds a layer of complexity, touching on ideas of shame, belonging, and the cost of self-acceptance. The romantic subplot is subtle but sweet, and the band dynamics—both strained and supportive—feel authentic throughout.

While longtime Scooby-Doo fans will enjoy the cameos and nods to classic tropes, A Rogue Thorn stands on its own as a story of reclaiming power and rewriting your narrative—even when the odds (and fog) are against you.

Gothic, heartfelt, and a little haunting, The Hex Girls: A Rogue Thorn is a welcome, witchy addition to the Scooby-Doo universe that hits just the right note for teen readers.

Thank you Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for this e-arc✨

This was everything I wanted it to be. I was a huge Scooby doo fan when I was a kid and like many, loved when the hex girls were introduced. I love that this picked up where Scooby doo and the witches ghost left off.

This really fleshed out Thorn as a character. Her justifiable issues with her dad, problems with the band, her crush, and of course a mystery that only mystery inc can help her solve!

The Hex Girls is exactly what I wanted it to be. I love The Witch's Ghost. This had the Mystery Gang being the Mystery Gang, but it was centered on Thorn from The Hex Girls band, so the vibe is a little different than a straight Scooby Doo book, but that makes total sense because of how Thorn is different from Mystery Inc.

I loved Thorn and Velma's relationship so much. They are explicitly queer. Thorn is a lesbian. They are very sweet, figuring out how they both feel and figuring out what the stages in their relationship look like. I also loved Thorn's friendships with Dusk and Luna. They had their tough times, but you cant tell they are platonic soulmates.

The mystery was interesting and it was well plotted. I was worried it would be super obvious, but I don't think it was.

I will say there were some times where I had to suspend my disbelief. Like, Thorn moves to California to get away from the events of what happened in The Witch's Ghost, which her father had been a part of. Her two friends entire families come with her because obviously they need to be a part of the plot and be a band. Its a little weird, but I got past it after acknowledging that because obviously I do want Luna and Dusk to be in the book.

Overall, I think this was fun and interesting. I would recommend it.

The Hex Girls and the Scooby gang team up for another mystery, taking place right after the events of The Witch's Ghost (film), Sally "Thorn" is still reeling from the discovery of her connection to a real witch and the fact that she has to move to Coolsville and possibly with facing her new crush, Velma. Thorn and her band need a fresh start after everything that happened and with the move to Coolsville on the recommendation of her new friend/crush Velma, Thorn and her band find themselves trying to fit in... only a mysterious msit is killing crops and making people sick wherever Thorn goes and she becomes the main suspect. Thorn and her band now have to turn to the Mystery inc crew to help solve the case and prove Thorn's innocence. Mixing in the classic Scooby Doo vibes with a fun teen detective story and a dash of sapphic romance and you get a fun new story! I am a hardcore Scooby Doo fan and I absolutely had a blast reading this. It was such a fun and fresh new continuation of the story and adding in a fun mystery and romance too. It's a really fun time and I'd absolutely recommend it ( especially after rewatching The Witch's Ghost).

Release Date: August 26, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's Books | Random House Books for Young Readers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*