Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

26 reviews

tallulahlucy's review against another edition

adventurous 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

If you like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you’ll probably love Hell Bent - but bear in mind this is not YA and please mind the tags 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Animal death, Violence, Blood, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Addiction and Rape

Minor: Suicide, Torture, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Self harm, Body horror, and Sexism

ashlightgrayson's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This installment gave us a much more thorough exploration of the side characters in the story. I did miss Darlington being explicitly present throughout the story, but I feel like Bardugo made up for it with how interesting everyone else was. I appreciated that we got more one on one interactions between Dawes and Alex. Both of them are connected by how much they care for Darlington and their association with Lethe. However, as the story progresses, it is clear that both of them have more in common about their past than meets the eye. They also form a more solid trusting friendship as they go through the ups and downs of the plot. This sequel leaned in more to the horror aspects of the world. There are moments that delve into the dark history of Lethe and how magic has been used in the past for less than honorable goals. I found the plot points to be creative, but still neatly interwined. I'm looking forward to seeing how some of the seeds planted in this installment become relevant in the next part of the story. I think the first book is still my favorite between the two of them. However, I think this was still a solid sequel and I'm looking forward to see what comes next.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, and Murder

Moderate: Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Self harm, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Cursing, and Pedophilia

mlewis's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Blood, and Grief

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Drug use, Stalking, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Racism

Minor: Slavery

blissofalife's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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

4.75

As convoluted and detailed as the first! It all comes back around, and every little thing tied in. And I mostly followed all of it. Great character building and witty writing. Can’t wait for the next!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, and Violence

Moderate: Cursing

Minor: Drug use, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Stalking

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

alisonkolonick's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Gore, Misogyny, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Addiction, Death, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, and Animal death

lisasbookselection's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Vomit

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Grief, Drug use, Rape, Death, Addiction, Gore, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Blood, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Racism, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Violence, Toxic friendship, Torture, Suicide attempt, Slavery, and Fire/Fire injury

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 against another edition

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

northboundreader'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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Dementia, Drug use, Physical abuse, Self harm, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Torture, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Racism, Addiction, Alcohol, Police brutality, Blood, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Grief, Violence, Gun violence, and Kidnapping