The Complete Hophie Love Story
• analysis by the greatest fan •
Once upon a time, an ordinary boy fell in love with a beautiful girl from the first sight. But their fate didn't become evident immediately. It took them some time to find each other but eventually, they got their happy ever after. Together.
That's Hophie Love Story from 'The School for Good and Evil'.
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Although I'm broken-hearted for too long being still in love with a boy that has let me down so many times, I couldn't have withstood the temptation to write a post about the best bookish love story I've ever read about... The one that has stolen my heart when I was eleven and after seven years, it still gives me shivers.
The love story about a nonobviousness of love, an unusual bond that creates between lovers and how hard it is to find an one true soul mate.
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I've always loved reading about love stories, but when I was younger, love used to be my favourite element of a book. Now, it isn't that important for me but at some time, I would have even call it obsession about finding a soul mate - for my favourite fictional character (and me... Let me know in the comment section if I should write a post sharing my love trauma about the heart-breaking boy mentioned).
And as you propably know, my absolutely top bookish character is Sophie of Woods Beyond, one of the two main heroines in 'The School of Good and Evil' and a total diva. I've loved her since her first appearance in the first volume of the saga and from that moment I knew that I will never find any character that could be closer to my heart than her. (I will give her special attention in a future post dedicated strightly to Sophie).
On the other hand, my favourite male character of 'The School for Good and Evil' is Hort of Bloodbrook, a boy so charming, cute and innocent it's unimaginable. Until now he is one of my top bookish boyfriends (whose collecting is my hobby, by the way, and I have a long list with them). I can't even remind myself the first time I've started ship Sophie with Hort - if it was ever since the first novel or maybe a little later, in "A World without Princes" - but I know one thing: it is one of the most touching relationship ever and my personal favourite one due to the reasons I want to share with you below.
The School for Good and Evil
"Dad told me that villains can't love, no matter what. (...) But if I could love, I'd love you"
Hort to Sophie in 'The School for Good and Evil'
A true love or a superficial crush?
I used to think at first that Hort falls in love with Sophie only because of her appearance like many boys before. But after some time, I relised that Hort is the last person that could get a crush on somebody just because of their look.
He is too genuine for that and treats love too seriously. After being insecure of himself all of his life, he doesn't care about physicality and just focuses on the inner beauty. However, Sophie's preetiness draws Hort's attention at the first scene they meet each other - Sophia is the prettiest Nevergirl Hort's ever seen and that intrigues him. But his intriguing quickly escalate to a crush and then - true love.
Hort treats Sophie seriously as a love interest and is completely devoted to her. Sophia, on the other hand, only uses him and isn't interested in Hort at all. It's also the novel through which Sophia has the worst temper but not as a Never, just as a person - she is the most selfish and shallow at the beginning of 'The School for Good and Evil' 'cause she hasn't discovered her Evil side yet. And although Hort is aware of Sophie's unbearable and fake character, he still has crush on her. He sees something in Sophie's soul that no one can, even Agatha.
The Circus of Talents - a moment of change
The revolutionary moment for Hophie is, in my opinion, the first Circus of Talents and its dark consequences. That's When (I gotta stop with Taylor Swift references...) Hort sees the true colours of Sophie. But he doesn't mind her being in the evil witch form and still is attracted to Sophie. (For more witchy content read my full post about witchy books!).
I think that's the moment of Hort changing his feelings for Sophie from an innocent crush to love, seeing in her more than a façade she used to push - he sees Sophie in her worst version and still doesn't stop have feelings for her. Interestingly, Hort is the first person who talks to Sophie when she first appear in The School for Evil area.
A World without Princes
The second volume focuses more on the dynamic between Sophie between Agatha and giving the first hints about the mistery of the Saders family (Evelyn Sader is another diva), not on deepening Sophie's dynamic with Hort. It's propably the least enriching volume of all considering Hophie's love story.
The only thing which is worth mentioning about Hophie in 'A World without Princes' is Hort entering his era of convincing himself he hates Sophie. She hurts him not only have been using him throught the plot of 'The School for Good and Evil' but then letting Hort down when he discovers that his new best friend, Filip, is in fact Sophie in a male form. Hort starts trying to stop love Sophie from this volume and it continues until the end of the third part of the saga.
The Last Ever After
"I've already killed and kissed you more times in my head than you deserves"
Hort to Sophie in 'The School for Good and Evil'
It's the volume when the love story becomes interesting. After Sophie have chosen Rafal at the end of 'A World without Princes', Hort adopts a pose of a macho man and pretends not to love Sophie anymore until the second half of the book. He acts like Sophie's romance with Rafal doesn't affect him, too. Hort feels even more betrayed than he was in the second part of the saga. I also think that Hort wants to bother Sophie after all she did to him and to prove Sophie how hard it is for her to live without Sophie.
Ironically, after Hort's makeover to a muscular good-looker, Sophie is the one to feel a sudden attraction to the another one. She acts like hypnotised what is especially seen in the steam bath scene, when the sexual tension between them overwhelmes Sophie. It's one of my favourite early-Hophie scenes. Sophie acts so confused after Hort's transition near him that it's hilarious. But it's still not the moment of Sophie realising Hort is her true love - she's somewhere in-between, not treating him like a friend but still not being consciously in love with Hort.
The steam bath scene
The steam bath scene is also a moment of Sophie asking uneasily Hort if he still love her. He lies to Sophie saying he's gotten over her. But he isn't able to hide his feelings for a long time and he runs away from The School for New Evil with Sophie, Agatha and Tedros and risks his life only to make sure Sophie will be safe and to stay with her. When Sophie joins the rebels, Hort decides that Sophie needs more his support than the artificial hate, so he comes back to his attitude from the first volume and devotes himself to Sophie entirely. And then happens another sweet scene. Hort heroically saves Sophie from the attack of the undead pirats and than confesses that he's never stopped loving Sophie. Another thing I find so attractive in Hort - he was born pirat! I have definetly too strong wickness for hot pirats searching for my bookish boyfriends (since they no longer exist in real life) which is a consequence of my romanticism. And if I were to chose what kind of character I would like to be in a fantasy world, it would be a pirat - a wind in my hair, an ocean breeze and the sence of freedom and adventures being just around the corner...
The first hint
In "The Last Ever After" takes place also the first real hint suggesting that Hophie may become an endgame. To be honest, I used to have no idea who will Sophie end up with and I used to bet that she will be single at the end but after rereading 'The School for Good and Evil' after the release of every volume I started to notice the hints indicating Hophie as a canon couple. It's of course the Wish Fish scene in which Hort draws his wedding with Sophie and because there're also Tedros and Agatha as a married couple it is a suggestion that Hophie wedding will happen.
Quest for Glory
Reading 'Quest for Glory' at the first glance you may have a feeling that after 'The Last Ever After' Hophie's dynamic has came back to the one from the first novel, that there's been some kind of reset. Sophie comes back to her diva energy, Hort again is obsessive towards conquering Sophie's heart (I would say he's got even more enthusiasm than he used to have). But the truth is their relationship's changed a lot due to the events of 'The Last Ever After', they both started their process of a mental growth. It's also a volume with another hint of Hophie as the endgame. Sophie slowly starts to realise that she's loved unconsciously Hort all along - she's the one to react with scream when Hort is to be hung by the Snake.
A new variant of happy ever after?
But 'Quest for Glory' is at the same time also this part of the saga that creates an impression of Hophie not likely being a future couple. Hort meets Nicola in this volume, a girl completely in love with him. Sophie fells in love with Rhian and the fact that he tourns out to be an enemy of our characters may seem like another hint that Sophie will end up single since every her love interest is at some point a villan (or her best friend's true love).
Sophie is a character so unlucky with love it's impossible for her to be happy with a boy, right? Even she is sure about it. 'Quest for Glory' is like Soman proving Hophie shippers that this two will never be together. Indeed, 'Quest for Glory' is an era of Hophie creating a distance between each other as a ship but, ironically, at the same time getting close with each other as friends.
A Crystal of Time
"Time seemed to slow, her heart pounding hot blood, as if it was the first time she'd ever seen this boy, even though she'd seen him a thousand times before. Only she'd seen him differently all those times... not like she was now... as a prince who'd patiently saved her again and again, until she finally had sense to notice."
Hort to Sophie in 'The School for Good and Evil'
'A Crystal of Time' is my favourite part of 'The School for Good and Evil' saga and my favourite book generally. I love it wholeheartedly and I almost know it by heart (the amount of word 'heart' should speak to my love to this novel). It's also the most interesting volume of 'The School for Good and Evil' when it comes to Hophie - it's this part of their love story when Sophie definitively fells for Hort and Hort is the one to have mixed feelings - he's in love with Sophie but at the same time - in a denial. Thankfully, Hort's dening era is slowly ending since he's having more and more thoughts confirming him as still having feelings for Sophie.
Does Hort treat Nicola in a fair way?
Through 'A Crystal of Time' Hort and Sophie create a special bond between themself and they build an unique trust when Hort and Sophie are all alone in Rhian's court. When Sophie is a hostage of the evil twins, Hort is the one gotten out of jail by Rhain manipulated by Sophie.
And Hort is so excited for finally being all alone with Sophie no one can make me believe he's really in love with Nicola. He wants to impress Sophie at all costs and feel obligated to protect her life even at a price of his own life. Hort acts like he has to remind himself he's now Nicola's boyfriend, not Sophie's, still having to ensure that he thinks about Sophie only in a platonic way. And Hophie holds hands for the first time!
I am curious what do you think about Hort being Nicola's boyfriend while still being devoted to Sophie. Personally, I agree with Agatha's words from 'One True King':
"Yes, Sophie is beautiful. Yes, Hort has always been fond of her. But Hort also believes in true love, even though he's a Never. And he wouldn't have kissed you and been your boyfriend if he didn't think there was a chance you were the one. Period. Hort is too kind and honest and real to settle for anything less".
Nicola and Agatha's dialogue in 'One True King'
He is too honest for being with Nicola and at the same time consciously being in love with Sophie. I really believe that he's too confused about his feelings and still being hurt by Sophie to understand what really happens in his heart. Hort is so desperate to find his true love he's ever dreamed about that he confuse true love with platonic love. But I get that it may be hard for people not caring about Hort's character that much to deeply understand his psychology. And I am not saing it only because I love Hort so much and I'd give anything to just have a boy like him in real life.
"<<Someday my prince will come>>, she'd wished.
She'd kissed a lot of frogs.
Some had tried to marry her. Some had tried to kill her.
But no one loved her.
Not in the right way.
Except him.
And Sophie knew it."
Hort about Sophie in 'One True King'
Does anyone really think that Hort really loves Nicola as a girlfriend, not girl being friend?
Why doesn't Sophie just let herself love and to be loved?
But Hort isn't the only one to have mixed feelings in 'A Crystal of Time'. Sophie starts to realise that Hort has always been her true love. I love the scene when she firstly is aware of it, the scene of Hort reaching out Sophie's hand from stymph's back - it's truely magical and I blush every time I read it. And this scene reveals the ultimate obstacle in Hophie love story which makes clear why Sophie didn't let herself realise she's been in love with Hort for a long time. Sophie is unable to allow herself to really love someone. And even though she know that Hort is just perfect for her and that he is her true love... That Hort loved her, loves her and always will not only despite her weaknesses but also because of them.
She just can't let herself find happy ending. At least not now. But guess who is so patient to wait for her...?
One True King
"I tried to let you go. But love doesn't give you that choice. Not real love. At least you'll know that. That your story had a happy ending all along. That you had true love. Always."
Hort to Sophie in 'ONE TRUE KING'
Ever since the beginning of this volume, Soman indicates that something will finally canonically happen between Sophie and Hort. The coolest Soman's easter egg takes place when Sophie runs away from Camelot with Bettina, William and Bogden and is tempted by a flower whose afterglow is blue, just like Hort's fingerglow.
The ultimate end of Hort and Nicola's romance
The romantic tension between Sophie and Hort increase through 'One True King' and almost every in the gang can sense upcoming Hophie relationship, from Nicola herself to Tagatha. Hort starts to not even pretend he doesn't care about Sophie anymore and his girlfriend not even pretends she doesn't know about his feelings. Eventually, Nicola breaks up with Hort. Their relationship was, against all appearances, so relevant for Hophie love story. As Hort discovered himself talking with Tedros, he had to be with Nicola to understand that any girl will ever replace Sophie's place in his heart and Nicola just isn't the one right for him.
Sometimes I wonder why Nicola was with Hort all along since she's sure she isn't Hort's true love. But maybe it's just because she - just like Hort - is too desperate about finding a true love and say to herself purpously that Hort is the one for her. Well, they have to be similar at some point to even consider being together, right?
Hophie and their obstacles - what's the goal of this?
"<<Why can't a boy show his emotions?
Why can't a boy just be himself?>>
<<Because girls like you won't go for us>> said Hort grimly.
<<Have you considered that it's because you are a real boy, in all your softness and sadness, that I am having this conversation with you to begin with?>> Sophie asked."
Hort and Sophie's dialogue in 'One True King'
Through the whole series, Hort was the one to feel that isn't good enough for Sophie but now, Sophie is sure she can't deserve Hort's love and devotion. Even though she now know she loves Hort, too. She has to let herself love and be loved before something will ever happen between Sophie and Hort - that's why it took so long for Hophie to be together.
That's also the function of every obstacle they come across when something is about to happen: they share a lot of moment of vulnerability in 'One True King' but any of them leads to a kiss of true love. When Sophie want to confess he likes Hort just for who he is in a chapter 'Love. Purpose. Food', Hort doesn't understand what she is to say and feels offended. When Sophie tells Hort that he is special for her, Agatha interrupt their conversation. When they finally flirt in a cutest way while Hort is saving Sophie from a carriage, Hort is pierced by an arrow.
"I had to spend time with you again and again to learn that you weren't creepy, useless Hort at all, but Hort who is open and true - and yes, sad and soft - but altogether, sweet, steadfast, and the strongest boy I know."
Sophie to Hort in 'One True King'
This last event is so valid for the whole Hophie love story. It's a moment of truth for their relationship. Their love must have been put on a test of Hort's life being in a danger to prove for both Hort and Sophie that they can't live without each other. Sophie is terrified when Hort is shot and she believe he's dead because of the injury - she had to understand how Hort is important for her.
"I love you, Sophie, (...) I love everything about you. Even the terrible parts of you. They're as beautiful as the good parts. I knew from the moment I met you that I couldn't love anyone else. Not like I love you."
Hort to Sophie in 'One True King'
The best romantic scene ever
The moment of Hort and Sophie's reunion is one of the most touching scenes I've ever read. I'm not joking, it's so sweet and moving have tears in my eyes every time I read it. As a Hophie shipper from their earliest moments, I couldn't have asked for better written scene of their confession and kiss. I have been reading 'The School for Good and Evil' since 2019 (oh my God, it's been seven years...) and it's been a year when the series consisted only of the four first volumes. I remember how excited I was during Christmas of 2019 'cause I were to receive from my parents the 5th volume.
Then, I had to wait two more years to finally read the final part of the saga. All this time, three years I've been reading the series for the first time, I was picturing how my favourite ship's kiss scene would look like but what we got from Soman is more than I could ever wanted.
So, thank you, Soman, for making me affected every time I read the final of Hophie love story and creating them who again and again make me want the same love story they have.
"You've always been enough, Hort of Bloodbrook. (...) You, who are strong enough to die for the girl you love and still find a way back to her. You. Bold, big-hearted, beautiful you."
Sophie to Hort in 'One True King'
Why is it the best love story?
'The School for Good and Evil' laid the foundations for my system of values when I was reading these books as a little, eleven-years-old girl. They made me believe in love, and friendship, and happy endings, and that it's only up to you who you are or how do you live. It's a series that will always have a special place in my heart. And the characters whose story taught me the most are Hort and Sophie, including their shared love story.
Hophie's relationships went through every stadium of emotions and dynamics. From Sophie despising Hort in the first two novels, Hort being hurt and making Sophie believe he hated her, to Hophie being friends, in a situationship and eventually - together. They went through a lot as a two but still, they love seems so natural as if from the very beginning Hophie were made for each other.
What Soman does great about love stories in 'The School for Good and Evil' is not creating relationships in the 'I can fix you' way. Hort and Sophie both have a lot of weaknesses but they still grew up independently. Their love weren't use as an excuse to their character development. But what I think is totally superior in Hophie is a fact they love each other despite and also because their weaknesses, as I said talking about Hort's love to Sophie in 'A Crystal of Time' part of the post. And that's the definition of true love.
And although I am still broken-hearted, Hort and Sophie make me believe in true love again and again.
"She kissed him, (...) his lips so soft and perfect they felt like home. Where they would go from here, who they would become, she didn't know, the two of them bound by nothing except their feelings for each other and thankfulness for this moment.
For the first time, Sophie didn't need to know the future to be happy. She didn't need promises or princes or a storybook life.
All she wanted was the most ordinary of ends: to love with all of her heart and to be loved the same way in return."
Hophie's first kiss in 'One True King'
Cover images © HarperCollins Publishers. Used with permission.
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