Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

24 reviews

itsheyfay's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

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

jacksons_books_and_music's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

I was told Hell Bent had better representation than Ninth House, but I’m not sure that’s true. Like in Ninth House, there were clear attempts to call out racism. In the acknowledgements is even a book recommendation on Yale’s racist history. But unfortunately, there were also moments in Hell Bent that were offensive, regardless of intent. Info about a particularly offensive moment is at the end of the review, under “Slight spoiler.”

At first, I thought I liked the story of Ninth House better than Hell Bent. But after thinking about it, I’m not sure that’s the case. It’s still a very well-written book.

I felt certain reveals weren’t set up as well as the reveals in Ninth House, even though they were set up well overall. I enjoyed the villains in Ninth House more, even though these ones were still engaging. 

I love a lot of the characters and enjoyed getting to see more of their backstories and growth. That’s where the book really shone for me. There were many exciting, engaging, and emotional scenes. There was a moment when characters are trying to cover up something they did that had me laughing out loud. The friendships and teamwork were beautiful!

I don’t want to spoil these moments by listing them. But I definitely look forward to the next book in the series!

Slight spoiler:

This was not a big part of the plot, hence why I still gave this book a high rating, but it’s still a big problem. 

I thought the protector symbol for Turner, the only major character who is Black, should have been different.  I understand the author might not have wanted to compare the only Black character to an animal, but all the other characters had animal protectors. So, it was weird when Turner was the only one who didn’t. 

I thought it was disrespectful to use an oak as his symbol, given the violence that involves trees that has historically been committed against Black people in the U.S. I get Bardugo wanted to use something strong and dependable, like a “mighty oak.” But it just doesn’t work and is actually really offensive. I wish she had realized this or someone had pointed this out to her prior to publication. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Grief, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Cursing, Death, Blood, and Violence

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Misogyny, Gun violence, and Vomit

Minor: Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Slavery, Drug use, Sexual violence, Rape, 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

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."

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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

prairieraven's review

adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Car accident, Gore, Addiction, Body horror, Gun violence, Murder, Racial slurs, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicide, Mental illness, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, Rape, Abandonment, Sexism, Slavery, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Sexual content, Violence, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, Vomit, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Cursing, Police brutality, Racism, and Toxic friendship

hannahcstocks's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Confinement, Death, Cannibalism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Blood, Stalking, and Animal death

Moderate: Death of parent, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, and Gun violence

Minor: Toxic relationship, Torture, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Abandonment, Misogyny, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, and Drug use

alicelalicon's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Self harm, Gun violence, Sexism, Violence, Animal death, Grief, Police brutality, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Gore, and Murder

Minor: Slavery

andra_mihaela_s's review

mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Death, Classism, Child abuse, Bullying, Body shaming, Abandonment, and Addiction

Minor: Animal cruelty

cfoley's review

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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Violence, Sexism, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Suicide attempt, Murder, Police brutality, Sexual content, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Drug use, Drug abuse, Self harm, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, and Grief

Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Death, Cursing, Animal cruelty, Addiction, Animal death, Sexual assault, Alcohol, and Abandonment

aseel_reads's review against another edition

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? Yes

4.0

While I still love Alex and the plot was unpredictable and engrossing, I found that the world expanded a bit too much... (Spoilers: demons??? Why???). 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual violence, Sexism, Violence, Abandonment, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Death, Drug use, and Self harm