Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

164 reviews

coffeeaddictedgremlin's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Drug abuse and Blood

natlren's review against another edition

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

5.0

 “They watched each other in the quiet of the kitchen. They knew everything about each other. They knew nothing at all. He had a sense that they had entered into an uneasy truce, but he couldn’t quite name the war.” 

It's been a long time since a series has made me feel this way. Alex, Darlington, Dawes, and Turner live rent free in my brain and I need book three like I need air. 

I'm so endlessly grateful that I didn't let my opinions on Leigh Bardugo's YA series turn me off from the Alex Stern books because they are undoubtedly a masterpiece. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Animal death

Moderate: Violence and Blood

Minor: Suicide attempt and Drug abuse

alexijai98's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexual violence, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug abuse, Addiction, Drug use, and Forced institutionalization

sgrunwald96's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-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

4.5

I really enjoyed this book. I think it was better than 9th house and focused more on the core set of characters than on all of the societies. It suffered some of the same issues as the first one in there’s too much going on and it can be hard to track all the different names and old plot points but most of the confusion just comes from assuming you remember the first book. Super fun. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Violence, Body horror, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual assault, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Racism, Drug abuse, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Animal death, and Injury/Injury detail

green_amaryllis's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, Death, Animal death, and Violence

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Death of parent, Grief, Drug abuse, and Vomit

catpolhamus's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Blood, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Drug abuse

natashaleighton_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Leigh Bardugo’s dark and deliciously creepy follow up to Ninth House was an emotional rollercoaster of a read I didn’t want to end! 

Continuing on from the events of Ninth House, Alex is stronger and far more comfortable in her position at Lethe —the secret organisation (and governing body) who oversee and control the rituals that allows Yale’s notoriously secretive societies to practice magic. And ready to start making some demands. Like saving her mentor Darlington. 

But Lethe’s decision to sweep last years’ events under the rug—and their refusal to consider Darlington’s possible survival in Purgatory—has Alex plotting the riskiest of schemes. To break into hell. And steal back Darlington’s soul. 

Still, even the best laid plans can go awry, and unfortunately for Alex she may just be out of second chances…

I loved this just as much as the first! The dark, gritty undertones are still as deliciously compelling as they were previously, but the ominous sense of foreboding that pervaded the narrative has been amped up exponentially. However, when paired with the rather lively pace and almost unending plot twists (with ever increasing stakes for Alex and her rag tag group) it begin to get a little overwhelming. 

Especially with soo much going on: the secret plot to save Darlington, a spate of (possibly paranormal) faculty deaths , as well as Alex’s not so distant past finally catching up to her. There was a lot to take in.

But the way in which each element was  cleverly and intricately woven in was pure magic— and the emotion and suspense in THAT ending definitely made up for my initial apprehension. 

If you’re a sucker for exquisitely in depth character development, then you’re in for a treat. As, besides Alex and her emotional journey (from pessimistic and overly distrustful girl into a determined and self-confident individual) we get to explore supporting characters such Detective Turner and Pamela Dawes in soo much more depth. I also really enjoyed the compelling and fascinating way their backstories were presented, which made for a rather immersive if slightly unusual experience. 

And I can’t forget Darlington! I loved getting to see him again , though I do think his appearance was still far too brief for my liking (even if he was naked for most of it.) I did enjoy exploring his interactions and newly shifted dynamics with Alex—who is far more comfortable in her role (and ghost seeing powers) than the last time they were together. 

It’s still pretty dark in tone (there is alot of death and violence including a pretty graphic animal death, so be warned), but I loved the found family-esque vibes we get this time around. It definitely added a touch of much needed coziness and made Alex’s decision to open up feel far more emotionally significant. 

Overall, a splendid second instalment that perfectly sets up the next book—which I’m already eager to get my hands on! 

Also, a huge thank you to Gollancz for the giveaway 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Blood, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Animal death

Minor: Slavery, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

circe813's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Police brutality, Cursing, Drug use, Drug abuse, Gore, and Gun violence

oliviaclaire's review against another edition

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. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Death, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Addiction, and Sexual assault

thalia16's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Animal death

Moderate: Blood, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Murder, and Death of parent

Minor: Suicide attempt and Slavery