Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

147 reviews

randirush's review

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Sexism

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

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.

---

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

stephliljazz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

As second book in the Ninth Gate series I am just hooked to this story. I cannot wait for book three I hope it comes out sooner than later! I don't know how to describe the book without spoilers so I'll just leave it with a couple quotes.

"People shouldn't have to march through the world fighting all the time."

"I will serve you till the end of days."

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Drug use, Blood, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Torture, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, and Gore

Moderate: Abandonment, Slavery, Stalking, Grief, Vomit, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Death, Animal death, Alcohol, Violence, Torture, Classism, and Police brutality

Minor: Classism

emijoanmcn's review

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Animal cruelty, Murder, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Blood

elysianemily's review

adventurous dark 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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Grief

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, and Sexual content

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Mental illness, Racism, and Misogyny

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

---

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

green_amaryllis's review

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

---

Content Warnings

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

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

sfdogmom's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

so good

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Classism, Animal death, Death of parent, Blood, and Misogyny

peachtease's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

First book in a long while I've been dying to finish. I haven't been that invested in a character in years and it felt really good! 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent

oliviaclaire's review

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. 

---

Content Warnings

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

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