Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

43 reviews

carolynkwolff's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Animal death, Drug use, Gore, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Death, Death of parent, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Rape, Animal cruelty, and Slavery

Minor: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Vomit

helenferg's review

adventurous dark emotional 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: Emotional abuse, Blood, Body horror, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Death of parent, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Gore, Kidnapping, Racism, and Drug use

locajohanna's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Body horror, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Addiction, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Racism

loupend's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-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

4.0

If Darlington and Alex don’t fuck in the next book I’m going to lose my mind

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Drug use and Drug abuse

Minor: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse

laurenvoice's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad slow-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 was a rollercoaster ride, and that ending has me wanting more!

Similar to Ninth House, the first half of Hell Bent started slow, whilst the second half was fast. At times it was frustrating how slow the start was

and the many failed attempts to retrieve our "gentleman demon", Darlington, from hell

, but that frustration was worth it in the end! 

Alex and Dawes teaming up with Turner and Tripp was something special; these two new additions to the Darlington rescue mission were perfect. After Ninth House, I didn't think much of Tripp; however, Hell Bent added depth to his character and his development was good to see. Also, Hell Bent saw much character development for Turner, Alex and Dawes.

Although Hell Bent had some marvellous character development and storylines, some didn't hit the right spot. Michelle's storyline seemed a tad too random; it needed more explanation. Plus, I am having some trust issues with Mercy; at first, I was glad she became in the loop, but I don't know why something just isn't sitting right with her character. Finally, the bad guy in this story was too predictable. 

Unfortunately, I had forgotten some of the events that had happened in Ninth House by the time I read Hell Bent, but thankfully, Leigh Bardugo put some reminders throughout the story; I had forgotten about some of the Blake, Dean. Sandow and Belbalm storylines. I hope we see the third instalment of the Alex Stern series sooner rather than later because that ending has me needing more!

The ending of Hell Bent was perfect, especially the final chapter. I didn't see that Tripp twist coming, but I am happy it came because it was better than the alternative. Also, it was sweet to see them salt guardians protecting the Rebel Lethe Gang (not sure what to call them). I am excited about the next book, and I hope we see Alex and Darlington finally getting together because the tension between them is too much! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Bullying, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Confinement, Death of parent, Classism, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Slavery, Torture, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Addiction, and Mental illness

christina95's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I enjoyed this book soooo much more than the first! There was less ‘shock horror’ moments that didn’t add to the story thankfully and it made reading it more enjoyable. I loved the whole hell heist story line and thought it was really well laid out, but the side plot of the murders was underwhelming and felt unfinished but maybe it will get tied up in the next book and leave it in a better position. I also enjoyed the Tripp storyline and I have such a soft spot for him - he’s like a doopy golden retriever and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next there. What I also need to see is Alex and Darlington finally addressing their love for each other!!! There was so many points in this books that it could have happened so it better in the next! Overall a very enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, and Murder

meliemelo's review

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

It's hard to follow up a masterpiece such as Ninth House, and I get the feeling that Hell Bent might have been difficult to read. I found the pace a bit lacking at the start, but it does catch up towards the end of the book, and I preferred the second half overall.

Even though it didn't quite captivate me in the same way Ninth House had (and I had just reread it), I did thoroughly enjoy Hell Bent, and was delighted to get all the characters back. There are some great ideas in there, and I like the way the universe gets expanded, although I felt this same expansion could have been explored a bit more. As I already mentioned, I especially enjoyed the last part, and am looking forward to seeing where it'll go from there.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Sexual content, Child abuse, Gore, Bullying, Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, Blood, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Stalking, Murder, and Gun violence

Moderate: Confinement, Vomit, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, and Misogyny

scripturient's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Death, Police brutality, Murder, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Animal death, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, and Mental illness

Minor: Torture, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, and Racism

Just basically ALL the trigger warnings.

pinkyoshi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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: Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, and Animal cruelty

Minor: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Violence, Rape, Self harm, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Grief

celinbean's review

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.5

don’t get me wrong i loved the book i got sucked into the story even though with my exams coming up i have no time.

My main issue with the book is that there was always so much happening that neither the characters nor the reader had any time to just breath and process everything that happened before jumping into the next catastrophe thrown at them. There were no heartfelt conversations and the bonds between the characters were never truly explored.

Like when alex brought darlington back from hell by herself there was no heartfelt reunion. He barely even got a hug and a im so glad you made it back. They relayed what happened and the he just shuffles into his old bedroom and pours himself a drink and has a short pragmatic conversation with alex and that’s it. It was so anticlimactic! These people literally went to hell to get hin back each with their own motivation and then we just brush over it?? Even though that was basically the whole point of them interacting at all. That was the main plot point? Like my man spend a whole fucking year in hell and all he gets when he comes back is a clap on the back and that’s it? A “how was spain?” “Hotter than expected” off hand joke and nothing more? 

There were so many plot twists unfurling one after another without really exploring the consequences. A lot of these plot points led nowhere or were a distraction for the characters. So many themes were touched on that i wish we had lingered on more (like the corruption at the heart of academia, the cost of magic and desire, the way our most intimate traumas can shape and distort us and what it takes to survive in a world that either wants to actively get rid of you or doesn’t care about you at all). 

So overall i appreciate bardugo’s well of creativity when it comes to plot but i wish we had explored the emotional bonds between the characters more and lingered more on big reveals in the story to make them actually meaningful. 

Also why was i absolutely convinced this was a duology and i would get closure for this whole story?? Now i probably have to wait another like 2 years 😭 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Animal death, and Death

Moderate: Addiction, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Police brutality, and Rape