The Ex Hex Quiz: 20 Questions on Plot, Characters, Themes & More

Test your knowledge of Erin Sterling's The Ex Hex with this comprehensive quiz. From the drunken curse that started it all to the final magical showdown, these questions cover the entire story. Whether you're a first-time reader or a returning fan, see how well you remember the twists, the romance, and the witchy chaos.

Note: Answers are provided at the end with brief explanations.

Plot & Sequence Questions

1. What event directly triggers the curse on Rhys Penhallow?

A) Vivi accidentally sets fire to her office while grading papers.

B) Gwyn performs a tarot reading that predicts doom.

C) Vivi and Gwyn perform a drunken bath ritual and utter a curse.

D) Rhys breaks a statue during the Founder's Day ceremony.

2. When Rhys attempts to charge the ley lines in the cave, what happens?

A) The lines glow brighter and the cave warms.

B) The lines turn to ice and shatter.

C) The lines darken, a black crust spreads, and the ground shakes.

D) The lines vanish, leaving only rock.

3. What mishap occurs during the Founder's Day ceremony?

A) Rhys's speech is interrupted by a ghost.

B) The stone head of Gryffud Penhallow's statue breaks off and nearly hits Rhys.

C) Vivi's magic sets the stage on fire.

D) Gwyn's tarot cards fly out of her hands.

4. What is the first major magical mishap after the curse takes hold?

A) Sir Purrcival begins to talk.

B) Plastic skulls with snapping jaws attack customers in Something Wicked.

C) A ghost appears in the college library.

D) A potion misfires at the coffee shop.

5. What does the ghost Piper McBride reveal about the curse?

A) It was cast by Gwyn, not Vivi.

B) It is a blood curse originating from Aelwyd Jones, not just Vivi's drunken words.

C) It was a Penhallow family curse that predates Vivi.

D) It was a mistake that can be easily undone.

6. How do Vivi, Gwyn, and Elaine finally break the curse?

A) They use a spell from an ancient book.

B) They sacrifice a magical artifact.

C) They channel their combined magic into the ley lines, pushing back the corruption.

D) They ask Aelwyd's spirit to lift it.

7. What does Rhys do at the end of the book?

A) He returns to Wales permanently.

B) He stays in Graves Glen for one more year.

C) He moves to Graves Glen, secures a teaching position, and declares his love for Vivi.

D) He leaves without saying goodbye, but sends a letter.

8. What is the primary function of the Eurydice Candle?

A) It breaks curses.

B) It summons spirits.

C) It traps ghosts.

D) It reveals hidden truths.

Character Motivation Questions

9. Why does Vivi initially refuse to give Rhys a ride after their roadside encounter?

(Short answer)

10. Why does Rhys agree to go to Graves Glen in the first place?

A) He wants to see Vivi again.

B) His father orders him to charge the ley lines as a family duty.

C) He wants to escape his responsibilities in Wales.

D) He hopes to break a curse that has been affecting his business.

11. Why does Gwyn treat Rhys with hostility when he visits Something Wicked?

A) She dislikes all Penhallows.

B) She is protective of Vivi and remembers how he broke her heart.

C) She thinks he cursed the town.

D) She is jealous of his relationship with Vivi.

12. Why does Vivi feel guilty about the curse?

(Short answer)

13. Why does Rhys decide to stay in Graves Glen after the curse is broken?

A) He wants to continue researching his family's history.

B) He wants to restore his family's reputation.

C) He loves Vivi and wants to be near her.

D) He is forced by his father to remain.

Theme & Symbol Questions

14. In the tarot reading, what does The Fool card symbolize in the context of the story?

A) Vivi's caution and hesitation.

B) The curse's destructive power.

C) Rhys's recklessness and willingness to take chances.

D) The town's uncertain future.

15. What do the ley lines represent thematically?

A) The power of the Penhallow family.

B) The bond between Vivi and Rhys.

C) The magical foundation of Graves Glen and its vulnerability to corruption.

D) The barrier between the human and spirit worlds.

16. What does the talking cat, Sir Purrcival, symbolize?

A) The curse's unpredictable side effects.

B) The Penhallow family's influence.

C) The Jones family's magic, warmth, and humor.

D) The danger of unchecked witchcraft.

17. What does the polka-dot dress represent for Rhys?

A) His dislike of patterned clothing.

B) His attraction to Vivi and his memories of her.

C) His fear of commitment.

D) His Welsh heritage.

Synthesis Questions

18. How does the curse affect the relationship between Vivi and Rhys?

(Short answer)

19. What is the role of family legacy in the novel?

(Short answer)

20. How does the novel use the theme of “taking back” power?

A) By defeating the Penhallow family.

B) By using a powerful magical artifact.

C) By Vivi and her family reclaiming their ancestral magic and working together.

D) By seeking help from the college witches.

Answer Key

1. C – Vivi and Gwyn perform a drunken bath ritual and utter a curse on Rhys, which they later realize was real magic. (Outline: Prologue)

2. C – The lines darken, a black crust spreads, and the ground shakes, forcing them to flee. (Outline: Chapter 9)

3. B – The stone head of Gryffud Penhallow's statue breaks off and nearly hits Rhys. (Outline: Chapter 7)

4. B – Plastic skulls with snapping jaws attack customers in Something Wicked. (Outline: Chapter 10)

5. B – Piper reveals the curse is a blood curse from Aelwyd Jones, not just Vivi's doing. (Outline: Chapter 29)

6. C – They channel their combined magic into the ley lines, pushing back the corruption. (Outline: Chapter 33)

7. C – He moves to Graves Glen, secures a teaching position, and declares his love for Vivi. (Outline: Chapter 35)

8. C – The Eurydice Candle traps ghosts, as used to capture Piper. (Outline: Chapter 22)

9. Vivi is still angry and hurt about their past breakup, so she refuses to help him. (Evidence: Chapter 5 – she says “I shouldn't have tried to slow down” and leaves him.)

10. B – His father orders him to charge the ley lines as a family duty. (Outline: Chapter 2)

11. B – Gwyn is protective of Vivi and remembers how Rhys broke her heart. (Outline: Chapter 7 – she says “We're closed to any and all exes of Vivi's.”)

12. Vivi feels guilty because her magic, even unintentionally, caused the curse and the resulting chaos. (Evidence: Chapter 11 – she says “But it was my magic that did it.”)

13. C – He loves Vivi and wants to be near her, so he moves to Graves Glen. (Outline: Chapter 35)

14. C – The Fool represents Rhys's recklessness and chance-taking, as noted in the tarot reading. (Outline: Chapter 9 – “The Fool. The card of chances and risks.”)

15. C – The ley lines are the magical foundation of Graves Glen, and their corruption reflects the curse's impact. (Outline: Chapters 9, 33)

16. C – Sir Purrcival's ability to talk is a whimsical side effect, but he symbolizes the Jones family's warmth and humor. (Outline: Chapter 12)

17. B – The polka-dot dress reminds Rhys of Vivi and his attraction to her. (Evidence: Chapter 5 – “Her whole dress was polka dot... Had he always found polka dots so instantly, intensely erotic?”)

18. The curse forces Vivi and Rhys to work together, rekindling their romance and leading to a deeper connection. (Outline: Throughout, especially Chapters 9–35)

19. Family legacy drives the conflict: Gryffud Penhallow's theft of Aelwyd Jones's magic creates the curse, and the resolution involves Vivi's family reclaiming their power. (Outline: Chapters 29, 33)

20. C – Vivi and her family reclaim their ancestral magic and work together to break the curse. (Outline: Chapter 33 – “The Jones Witches are taking this back.”)

Want to dive deeper? Check out the book overview, questions and answers, or the ending explained.