Scan barcode
A review by silverthistle
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
3.75 stars.
I guessing that my lower than "average" rating is mostly a product of reading Ninth House and Hell Bent back-to-back. I am just now realizing there was roughly 5 years in between publication dates! That being said, Hell Bent did some things better than Ninth House and somethings didn't change at all and felt like recycled material.
Two things I really enjoyed about Hell Bent--1. I was very happy that there's more fantasy/magical elements and dark academia themes. Not only is it enjoyable to read, it also helped ground and enrich the narrative. 2. I enjoyed having way less of Alex's backstory. I don't care for her as a protagonist. I find the female characters in this series rather one-dimensional. Alex's character is primarily defined by her trauma, and I find that utterly uninspired. (I'm sorry for this opinion, fellow readers and Leigh Bardugo.) Two primary things I didn't care for--1. The entire middle section of the book. I had the same complaint with Ninth House. The story just drags in the middle and doesn't feel purposeful. It's worth pushing through for the last third of the book, however, because everyone's favorite gentleman demon returns! 2. On that note--there wasn't enough Darlington! The entire sequel is focused on his return, and it came far too late in the story. From a structure standpoint, Ninth House was superior because we had more multi-perspective narration. I felt like CHEERING when Darlington returned and we had his first-person narration again.
Overall, I enjoyed Hell Bent. The concept of a dark academia fueled "harrowing of hell" is simply fabulous.
I guessing that my lower than "average" rating is mostly a product of reading Ninth House and Hell Bent back-to-back. I am just now realizing there was roughly 5 years in between publication dates! That being said, Hell Bent did some things better than Ninth House and somethings didn't change at all and felt like recycled material.
Two things I really enjoyed about Hell Bent--1. I was very happy that there's more fantasy/magical elements and dark academia themes. Not only is it enjoyable to read, it also helped ground and enrich the narrative. 2. I enjoyed having way less of Alex's backstory. I don't care for her as a protagonist. I find the female characters in this series rather one-dimensional. Alex's character is primarily defined by her trauma, and I find that utterly uninspired. (I'm sorry for this opinion, fellow readers and Leigh Bardugo.) Two primary things I didn't care for--1. The entire middle section of the book. I had the same complaint with Ninth House. The story just drags in the middle and doesn't feel purposeful. It's worth pushing through for the last third of the book, however, because everyone's favorite gentleman demon returns! 2. On that note--there wasn't enough Darlington! The entire sequel is focused on his return, and it came far too late in the story. From a structure standpoint, Ninth House was superior because we had more multi-perspective narration. I felt like CHEERING when Darlington returned and we had his first-person narration again.
Overall, I enjoyed Hell Bent. The concept of a dark academia fueled "harrowing of hell" is simply fabulous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death