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A review by oliviaclaire
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Hell Bent has been one of my most anticipated reads of the past couple of years. Having devoured Ninth House I kept hoping that every announcement from Leigh Bardugo would be a release date for her second Alex Stern novel. Well, the day has come and it doesn't dissapoint.
Hell Bent follows Alex's journey to retrieve Darlington from the depths of hell, a daunting task at the best of times. Throw in a threatening blast from the past and things become even more complicated. I have always admired book heroines who don't fit the sterotypical trope. Alex is dark and scarred and unapologetically a survivor and she fits beautifully into the equally dark academic world that Bardugo continues to craft around a very convincing portrayal of Yale. The lore in this series really draws me in and I loved learning more about the origins of the houses and the ritual of the Gauntlet. Everything from locations to magical items to new characters were fully and descriptively fleshed out and every individual felt immediately recogniseable from the others.
The only gripe I have with Hell Bent is that for a book of 480 pages it really does move a break neck pace for most of the narrative. There isn't much room for the characters, and therefore the reader, to stop and collect their thoughts. We're always hurtling into the next piece of the action.
All in all, Hell Bent was well worth the wait and I'll now return to being patient and pained as I wait for news on the third and final book in the trilogy.
Hell Bent follows Alex's journey to retrieve Darlington from the depths of hell, a daunting task at the best of times. Throw in a threatening blast from the past and things become even more complicated. I have always admired book heroines who don't fit the sterotypical trope. Alex is dark and scarred and unapologetically a survivor and she fits beautifully into the equally dark academic world that Bardugo continues to craft around a very convincing portrayal of Yale. The lore in this series really draws me in and I loved learning more about the origins of the houses and the ritual of the Gauntlet. Everything from locations to magical items to new characters were fully and descriptively fleshed out and every individual felt immediately recogniseable from the others.
The only gripe I have with Hell Bent is that for a book of 480 pages it really does move a break neck pace for most of the narrative. There isn't much room for the characters, and therefore the reader, to stop and collect their thoughts. We're always hurtling into the next piece of the action.
All in all, Hell Bent was well worth the wait and I'll now return to being patient and pained as I wait for news on the third and final book in the trilogy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts