Hell Bent

Huh. Ok.

I’m conflicted on this one. I LOVED book one. It was a five star that I devoured largely bc of the character Alex, the protagonist. The lore and world building were rlly interesting and I was sucked in, so I was rlly excited for this continuation. It’s the first book I bought with my Book of the Month subscription, and I also devoured this one… however, at the end of it I felt myself thinking, well… what was all that for?

The thing is, we don’t know these characters very well. This was nearly five hundred pages of plot after plot that sort of just repeated itself over and over again and we didn’t rlly get to just, sit with the characters and breathe hardly ever. This was five hundred pages of, “let’s get show more Darlington out of hell, whoops we failed, rinse and repeat”. It easily could have had two hundred less pages instead of repeating that thread over and over with slightly different flavors. And here’s the controversial bit maybe, but I just didn’t care abt Darlington enough to be invested in this. I kept wondering WHY these ppl cared enough to try over and over again abt this pompous rich guy? Like, I felt bad, and I’d have given it a try or two myself, but sometimes a guy just turns into a demon and you call it a wash, frankly. I just… we don’t care abt the dynamics much bc the author doesn’t rlly spend any amount of time building the relationships. I have no idea why Alex gives this much of a shit abt Darlington (and I haaaaate that’s it’s verging into romance, I liked it when it was more seeming platonic/mentor vibes) and similarly, I don’t get why Dawes cares, we don’t get to SEE why they care, we’re just told that they do. Despite all the bonding we’ve (sort of) seem Alex and Dawes do, we also don’t rlly get to see much of their relationship, it just all feels very surface level, which is weird, bc (admittedly it’s been a long time since I read the Six of Crows duology) but I remember the crew dynamics feeling complex and interesting, so I know she’s capable of it. (Unless I’m misremembering). This just felt like a lot of red herrings and plot stuff repeated over and over with hardly much substance in it, AND YET, I was invested the whole time. I WANT to care abt these ppl, but I sort of only care strongly abt Alex (and Dawes and Mercy, but that’s bc I care, not rlly bc the narrative shows me enough to make it work). I DONT care abt Darlington much, bc broody, pompous, gentleman, rich boy snob is not my type, but it very much see,s to be this authors. But i found myself rlly resenting that we got some of his pov at the expense of more Alex or Dawes or even Turner. There were just so many other interesting threads in the background that were glossed over for yet another, let’s go to hell and pull Darlington out plot that it made me resentful of him as a character by the end of it. I want to see Alex develop her powers, I don’t want her powers connected to him! I want to see scrappy survivor Alex claw her way through all these rich entitled assholes, there are just so many more interesting things happening to focus on.

Idk, it was a bummer and a disappointment after how much I enjoyed book one. I don’t know if this is going to continue, the end feels like it might, but it also could be left where it is if wanted, I probably will pick up another one if it continues, but I’m not buying it until after I’ve read it, that’s for sure. I’m more wary now. I want to actually just sit with the characters more, slightly less plot, more interaction. show less

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

4.5 Would love to re-read this on audio.
Great characters, twisted plot, magical beasties, a good questioning of good/evil, never a dull moment, equals WINNER.
Urban fantasy with an intelligent thought provoking story. Ended with a cliffhanger, a good decent one you will not be pulling your hair out,
I really enjoy this author's writing. She writes intelligent characters, they actually think about consequences before doing something possibly stupid. Yes, it's true ! Wait it gets more shocking, they talk to each other about their ideas, and concerns. I didn't have to internally scream "Say Something Damn IT !" Some of her characters lines were fabulous, I saved many for future use.

Picking up a few months after the events of Ninth House, we follow Alex, Dawes and Turner as they prepare to free Darlington from hell.

There is no denying the tension and high stakes that readers can expect from the outset, but whereas Ninth House was a paranormal murder mystery set in dark academia and more or less a two-person – and after Darlington's disappearance often only a one-woman – show, the feel of the sequel is quite different, even though it is once again set at Yale and features a couple of murders that appear to have paranormal elements. For starters, it was good to see the members of Lethe House coming together in joint purpose and develop into a (sort of) cohesive whole, with more line space devoted to each of them show more to flesh out their respective characters. There is also a lot more focus on the issue of morality and personal trauma and conflict (the white rabbit?), slightly overdone, in my opinion, to the detriment of the ending, which felt kind of rushed, with two fairly major revelations in quick succession but without much explanation.

On the whole I think I prefer Ninth House, however, and it will be interesting to see how the third novel, expected next year, will deal with the changed dynamics. I hope I won't have to wait too long. 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.