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itsheyfay's review
- 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
Graphic: Gore, Body horror, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Stalking, Vomit, and Gun violence
Minor: Child death, Slavery, Drug use, Racism, and Suicide attempt
saucy_bookdragon's review
- 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
In this sequel, the crew is trying to figure out how to get into hell. Its an overall improvement on the first book! Its got a more intriguing and unhinged plot, Alex and the side characters have a lot more personality and development, and this is more solidly dark academia (especially with a focus on mythology and theology, we also finally find out what Alex is majoring in it's English). And where I found Ninth House to have inconsistent pacing and a disappointing answer to the mystery, I was m0re engaged with Hell Bent and the ending had me gagged!
Though I do wish this had addressed some of the other problems from book one. In particular, Alex still has some stereotypes tied to her Latina identity and Hellie is still not a character outside of Alex's own trauma. Though this book doesn't make these problems worse, it could have improved them.
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Death, and Animal death
Moderate: Racism, Misogyny, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Minor: Sexual assault
ashwiebe's review
- 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
Graphic: Gore, Death, Grief, Addiction, Body horror, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Blood
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Terminal illness, and Police brutality
evarose5's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Sexual content, Gore, and Murder
serena_hien's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Gore
notsohopelessromantic'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
5.0
The kindling romance between Darlington and Alex is just that. Kindling. If you wanted romance, boy howdy let me tell you it's a slow burn. A very confused, hesitant flame, with a very eager wick, on a willing candle. That might not make sense to you but it does to me.
Anyway, the book was very good. Much like the first where it just seems to be one thing after another, after another. Nonstop misfortune, bad luck, catastrophe. It really makes you wanna tear your hair out. But, to be fair, they did manage to get Darlington back from the Underworld, something I truly did not believe would happen until the 3rd book with the way things were looking. I am grateful to at least have that issue resolved, if only temporarily.
There is most definitely something off about the current Praetor. He knows more than he's letting on, I'm just not sure why. I probably won't know until it's literally spelled out to us in the next book.
I loved the character development on all fronts. Learning that Turner wasn't as straight-laced as we all thought, that Tripp isn't all that harmless or innocent, that Mercy is stronger than she seems. And speaking of Tripp, I do love what was done with his character at the end of the book. That will be interesting to see play out in the next one. Dawes has grown even more as well, becoming less timid, more sure of herself, confident in her abilities; very much the witch Alex saw her to be. I know that there is even more to unpack with Alex and why she's been described as sitting on a throne with a crown on her head, Darlington her faithful servant (and lover 👀). I can't wait for it all to unfold.
The book truly twisted and turned at all of the unexpected, and expected, moments, making this one helluva ride (read). I cannot wait to receive news on the final book in the trilogy and can only hope that I won't have to suffer for very long. Though if Darlington can survive over a year in hell, then I can certainly wait that long to be saved too.
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Gore, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Drug use, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Mental illness, and Violence
Minor: Torture, Cancer, Cursing, and Grief
caoimhemia'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
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, Death, Gore, and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
lancemama's review
- 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
Graphic: Classism, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Drug abuse, Death, Gore, Murder, Colonisation, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Minor: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, and Forced institutionalization
joensign's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Murder, and Stalking
Moderate: Gun violence, Animal death, Misogyny, Animal cruelty, Rape, Sexual violence, and Racism
Minor: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Confinement
raintje'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
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Misogyny, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Blood, Murder, Death, Grief, Gun violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Police brutality