Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

49 reviews

rainyghost's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Gaslighting, Violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Racism, Vomit, Torture, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual assault

joensign's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

adrienreads's review

adventurous dark 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

5.0

One of my favorite Bardugo books so far - incredible read, I loved it more than the first in its series. 

This book is dark, but if the first book was too explicit/intense for you, this one definitely felt "lighter", more-or-less. Still dark and horrific, but there was far less (on-screen at least) sexual violence, and overall I had a much easier time with this one. Again, still not "light reading" by any means, but worth noting. 

If you've loved Bardugo's other books, this one scratches that same itch, and more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Physical abuse, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Murder, Addiction, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Drug abuse, Gore, Grief, Police brutality, and Death of parent

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, and Child death

Minor: Slavery, Misogyny, and Racism

morguemoth's review

adventurous 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, Gore, Classism, Vomit, and Animal death

Moderate: Colonisation, Misogyny, Rape, and Drug use

Minor: Self harm, Grief, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

alexijai98's review

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

caroline_wavesandpeanuts's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Sexual violence, Suicide, Gore, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, and Adult/minor relationship

oxfordcommas91's review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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

I really enjoyed the second installment of the Alex Stern series. It was once again packed with pulse pounding run ins with dark magic, complex relationships, and a plot to keep you on the edge of your seat, but was more sophisticated and succinct than its predecessor. The gift of not needing to do all the world building set up from the first book means that Alex and her cohort of darkly funny, talented co-conspirators could hit the ground running in a desperate attempt to bring golden boy of Lethe, Darlington, back from the underworld. The action in this one was unmatched and I thoroughly enjoyed getting a fuller picture of Dante, Oculus, and Centurion as they came up against their toughest battle yet. 
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!

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Content Warnings

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

sjbshannon's review

adventurous dark tense fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, and Animal death

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Trafficking

metaphorical_disaster's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

After reading Ninth House, I was so hesitant to start this journey. The first book left me confused at times and I felt myself losing focus. 

It took me only a few chapters to get heavily invested in Hell Bent. The story was so much more intriguing and fast paced. The characters flaws were on display and I was chomping at the bit to see what was going to happen. Loved this book. Cannot wait to see if at third will be coming soon!!!  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Rape, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

_lazyreader_90's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Sexual harassment, Murder, Addiction, Drug abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Rape

Moderate: Animal death