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artemis_growl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
- Paranormal/Urban Fantasy
- Thriller/Mystery
- Dark Academia
- Magic
- -Contemporary
Trigger Warnings:
Death/violence, glowing c*cks/nudity, drugs, police brutality
Overall spoiler free impression/review:
Alex has found herself in a second book and lost her way and Hell has found it's way in. Is Alex a pretty solider of good or skinny gangly ex-drug user who sees dead people and just trying to survive? I don't know and I don't think anyone does anymore. Her past catches up to her but not really sure it flows. She's a certified ghost seer and demon hunter now but also has a side debt collector hustle. She has good friends ....better than she probably deserves... rounding up ...3/5 stars. Probably closer to 2.75 but I did like the premise of the book still and the idea of Yale, the societies, and the magic...and I did enjoy seeing more of Mercy, Dawes, and Turner...I even liked Tripp, they're what brings the book up to a 3. That being said.... this book felt all over the place and confusing. I switched from audiobook to ebook half way because I was getting confused and I can pay better attention to detail when I'm reading...and it helped.... a very little. The perspective changes sometimes didn't flow well, the pacing was off and very slow, Darlington is only interesting when he is lost and has a weird glowstick, and at the end the book felt a bit anti-climatic,
Setting:
Yale, second year for Alex, and who knows for Darlington since he's been lost in one of the circles of Hell. Yale socialites suck, they're power hungry capitalists, and Alex/Galaxy has discovered she's a Wheelwalker...wahtever that is. She is now playing soldier for good (Sorta) and Knight in Shining armor who is trying to rescue Prince GlowC*ckDarlington.
****PAST THIS POINT SPOILERS***
<<Spoiler riddled review>>
What I did like:
Hear me out....regardless of everything that comes in the...what I didn't like section below...I still rounded up to 3 stars because I really liked Dawes, Mercy, Turner, and Tripps character development. I also just really like the premise of the societies and magic as well as how Alex and Darlington have been impacted by the capitalistic power hungry societies of Yale. I did like how Mercy was brought in, how the excitement of magic and the world brought her in, she's a good friend, but also how she struggled with it at the end. I loved Turner's story, one of the more interesting characters to me and I just like homey Dawes.
What I didn't like:
General WTF Vibes throughout:
This book left me with one thought at the end "WTF." Not the good WTF ...the WTF did I just read. WTF is Alex's character development wanting to be? WTF does this book want to be? Supernatural? Charmed? True Crime? True Blood? Ghost Busters? Or maybe Narcos?
Alex Character Development:
Alex's character development was all over the place. Leigh spends so much time in Ninth House convincing us that Alex doesn't care, is a skinny emaciated ex-addict, morally gray IDGAF about anyone but my own survival throughout all of Ninth House and most of Hells Bent and fails. This results in me not really believing that Alex suddenly will be an agent for good, demon slayer, vampire hunter, protagonist she is implied she will be at the end of the book but also not the guiltless killer she's supposed to be. Alex spends half of her time suddenly not being cleaver enough or strong enough to get rid of her ex-narco LA king pin but can inhale powers from the dead and alive, escape a vampire, defeat demons, get into hell, and rescue Prince GlowC*ckDarlington. We're supposed to think she's a killer but technically...really when we saw the murder scene in LA it was through Hellie's POV. Alex didn't know why she could see dead people or that she could use them to become an avenger... so technically...who has she really killed of her own volition? Belbalm who was trying to suck her dry/kill her? Then she has all these friends she is constantly looking after and caring for? I just don't know what Leigh wants us to think of Alex.
Plot/Magic World:
The different story lines. The time jump didn't make sense in this book. The plot which was save the world from demons and rescue Prince GlowC*ckDarlington was lost at times to the the true crime, vampire hunting, demon slaying, narcos telenoval side plots. Sure, did they all sorta tie together at the end...yeah? Was it too much and felt forced together at the end...also yeah. The random different perspectives didn't flow. The Narcos part felt like it didn't really fit. The magic/world doesn't totally make sense and why don't I really understand what a Wheelwaker is at this point? She can go to hell....she can see ghosts...she can take their powers/energies....and....????
Darlington:
WTF? I'll just leave it at....if we're gonna focus on his very erect glow stick so much...why not just at least give him and Alex a moment. GEEEEEZ.
Graphic: Police brutality
Moderate: Drug use, Murder, Death, and Violence
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Blood, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Animal death
Minor: Slavery, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
oxfordcommas91's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Hell Bent, like “Ninth House” once again warns us of the dangers of too much power concentrated in too few hands, but this time, it may be her protagonists who need the reminding.
Gripping and fun, this one gets my first 5 star review of the year!
Graphic: Body horror, Toxic relationship, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Grief, Animal death, Drug use, Murder, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Police brutality, and Classism
Minor: Vomit
circe813's review against another edition
- 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
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
keen's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Misogyny, Animal death, and Drug use
Minor: Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Sexual assault
jla's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The world is interesting, but the books really don't need to be this long. The middle 1/3 of this book was unnecessary. There were 2 times I wanted to throw this book across the room. The 1st was vampires, and the second was the first failed trip to Hell. The paranormal aspect went from gothic to campy.
The Darlington situation is super frustrating. Is he a main character? Is he a supporting character? Is he just a way to move the plot along? Is there supposed to be chemistry and tension between them. What's with the weird references to erections, carnal urges, and sexual penetration?
Graphic: Torture, Drug abuse, and Drug use
ravenfaerie's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, Violence, Murder, Drug abuse, and Addiction
hyuniecrisp's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Moderate: Mental illness, Gore, Misogyny, Gun violence, Death, Grief, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Vomit, and Sexual content
grisha's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Drug use and Murder
em_chata's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
In addition, I’m really excited to see more of Darlington and Alex’s relationship. It kinda feels like how it does when you’re reading the book—a mystery, on the tip of your tongue…IDK how to explain it. I just love that their relationship goes so much deeper and that there’s still so much to unravel. I love how Bardugo set this book up perfectly for the next book, leaving dealings with Reiter and Hell’s open door for Galaxy and Darlington to handle in the next one. 10/10. Cannot express how much I adored this book and how excited I am for the third one. 😭
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Misogyny, Animal death, and Drug use
Minor: Suicide attempt