Hell Bent

That, was a joy ride. This book is bloody and violent and filled with absurd and unsupported assumptions about real (long dead) people and their words, and I loved every moment. In the last book (which I generally liked a lot), I complained a bit about the ridiculous detail about Yale's architecture, but in this book it all became relevant. As a general rule I do not read fantasy. One of primary issues I have with fantasy is the endless tedious world building. But the extensive world building of book 1 (which was not endless and only slightly tedious) totally paid off, and I was thrilled I had paid attention. In this book there is less world budling and more character building. Many characters who were previously very shadowy are now show more rendered in vivid color, defined in part by their hidden past crimes which haunt them, and which also give them a certain type of energy that empowers Alex even further.

For those who have not read book 1, the series follows Alex Stern, a recovered addict and sometimes prostitute who has spent her life trying to keep herself safe despite having a terrible neglectful mother and no father, and also trying to push away visions and feelings which turn out to be terrifying powers - I won't speak of specifics except to say that she sees dead people, among other things - which end up getting her to Yale to serve Lethe, one of Yale's many secret societies (though the others are real, bastions of white power that still flourish, Lethe is invented) this one the society that deals with supernatural forces. Alex and a group of other smart and strange misfits gather together in the name of good (maybe?) Everyone does not stay alive, and also everyone does not stay dead. This book opens with Alex needing to save her mentor from (non-metaphorical) hell. Can she? And if she does, what does a former human who has been existing in the underworld do? Is he a demon? Is he dangerous? And if they get him back, is the problem solved? But wait, there's more.

If you are looking for a complicated and exciting puzzle, bloody - smelly - sticky horror, legitimately funny jokes, challenging philosophical meanderings, people bonding for life and afterlife, all different kinds of love and hate and selfishness and selflessness, you will like this. But start with Book 1, this is not a standalone. Also, be warned, just like in Ninth House, there is a hell of a cliffhanger. I cannot believe I have to wait for years to find out what happens next! show less

Does the ending mean there's going to be another?!? I don't know why I went into this book thinking it was some sort of duology, but oh my gosh it's not and I'm so excited at the possibility of more books!

In my mind, this series is what happens at Yale, so don't even try and change my mind about it.

The progression of this story is perfection. I loved the start of this book. Getting us intrigued with a scene, then jumping back to about where the last book left off. Such a good teaser. Alex and the rest of the characters experience so much personal growth in this installment and I love it. With Darlington out of the picture, it gives everyone else the chance to step up and be the expert in their own way.

Alex being able to really work show more through the trauma she left behind when she came to Yale does so much for her character. It plays into every aspect of this story without really beating the reader over the head about it. While her past caught up to her, it also brings new meaning to what's happening in the present. The foreshadowing, wow.

I have to admit, I was a little sad, someone and someone never moved forward romantically but there's always next book right? Or is this sexual tension happening between them in my mind?

If you enjoyed the first book, you're going to be obsessed with this one. Everything that made the last book great is double down on, and we get so much more information about the world without it feeling forced. So many questions are answered, while opening up many more rabbit holes to be explored.

The audiobook is A , switching narrators for POVs and all. Loved it. show less

Obviously, Hell Bent is about magic and death and hell and ghosts and demons. I love reading about all of those things. I waited anxiously for this book after reading Ninth House a year ago and couldn't wait to get the fantasy fix I've been searching for ever since. Though this book and Ninth House, are about the chaos listed above, and I love them for that, this is a series about imposter syndrome. This is a series about distancing yourself from opportunities and loved ones because you feel as though you are not deserving. The internal conflict is so natural and just as important as the external. I love love love all of Bardugo's characters (I've even been considering venturing into YA because I don't know how long I'll make it without show more a visit from Stern) because I relate to them, and that's such a wonderful validating thing. Maybe it's me, but I have trouble finding characters in fantasy that feel like real people. Despite all of the craziness, the characters at the center of this novel feel like human beings.
I'm already ready for Alex Stern 3 and Leigh; if you're reading this, there better eventually be a third book because I will not rest until I get my hands on it. show less

Worth the three-year wait, Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo picks up with a vengeance exactly where Ninth House left off. Galaxy “Alex” Stern still yearns for normal, but her paranormal gifts keep her enmeshed in the magical house of Yale as she and Dawes seek to bring Darlington back from hell. Bardugo knows how to bring the action while still developing three-dimensional characters and realistic situations. If you liked Ninth House don’t miss this fantastic sequel and then join me in the painful wait for the final(?) book of the trilogy.

I have savored this book, enjoying every minute of it. Ninth House was a good read, introducing the cast of characters, but in the second book of the series, Ms. Bardugo has fleshed them out. Alex is growing into her powers more than she ever realized she could. Dawes is braver and still brilliant, while Turner has revealed nuances to his upright character. And Darlington, well, I can't wait to see where the prince of Lethe is going in the next book because his character has grown and changed so much.
For me, the setting is almost another character. I grew up in Connecticut and worked in New Haven for years. I have family among the original settlers. Ms. Bardugo's research into the city and its history is brilliant, and I love how she show more has incorporated it into the story so well.
This book is just amazing. I read slowly so I could enjoy every word. It's written with excellent pacing that kept me on the edge of my chair. A lot is going on, yet every beat was incorporated seamlessly. There's a lot of darkness here, not just because the story is about retrieving someone from Hell, sort of like Orpheus and Eurydice, but with a hopefully better outcome. There are loose ends to tie up though, so I'll have to wait impatiently for the next book in the series. show less

Hell Bent picks up where Ninth House left off, with Alex Stern trying to figure out how to get the presumed-dead Darlington back from Hell. This was an entertaining popcorn read, with some beautifully imaginative world-building flourishes, and a series of twists and turns that kept me reading on to the end. However, on the whole I enjoyed this less than the first book. The pacing and structure are off, and I lost count of the number of times when characters didn't act (or failed to react) in ways that were believable. Darlington's enormous glowing demonic erection was also deeply silly. I don't object to monsterfucking, but light-emitting joystick cocks are silly. The book might have adult topics, but in terms of characterisation and show more thematic depth, it all felt more YA. I may read more in the series if any future books come out, but I don't think it'll be one that I will prioritise. show less

Alex Stern is ready to go to hell and back for Darlington, her missing friend and mentor -- but it's not an easy trip. Not only could it cost her her position at Lethe (and therefore Yale), but she can't do it alone. Is she willing to involve her friends in the effort, when there's no assurance that any of them will make it out alive? Also, there are some murders to solve.

I thought this was a strong second entry in the series -- it avoided that middle-book lag by having a high-stakes quest that is undertaken in the book, rather than saved for the sequel. There's definitely setup for another book, and I look forward to seeing where it goes, but readers can be reassured to know that this one is not a cliffhanger. I thought the writing was show more strong, and enjoyed getting to know more about Dawes, Turner, and Mercy. I still don't know what all the rabbit symbolism and stuff was about, but all in all, I enjoyed this very much, and would recommend the series to readers who enjoy dark magic with manageable amounts of gore. show less