Reviews

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

beckss_055's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.25

susineub's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

lyssaczernek's review against another edition

5.0

The stakes were written perfectly. They felt just as high as they did in Ninth House and I was on the edge of my seat! I liked getting to know characters like Dawes and Trip and Turner better. With all the planning for the descent into hell I felt I understood them each more than I did in the first book. I was learning new things about magic right along with Alex and it made me feel more involved with the story. The only complaint I have is I think imagery and description were lacking when the scenes in hell took place. That was the perfect opportunity to expand and go in depth.

whitleyray's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

“The windows were beauty for its own sake, for the pleasure of it, smooth limbs, flowing hair, boughs heavy with flowers, all of it hiding in a lesson of virtue, meant as a memorial. But she liked this life full of pointless beauty. It could all disappear as easily as a dream, only the memory of it wouldn't fake the way dreams did. It would haunt her the rest of her long, mediocre life."

Leigh Bardugo knows how to write angry women well. Alex Stern continues to be one of the best angry characters I've ever read. She isn't annoying or frustrating when angry, and you really want her to succeed in tearing down those who fight her. She also doesn't pour all good, perfect qualities into these angry women but instead shows them flawed and real. Her other feminine characters are not simple side pieces designed to be backups or comedy relief but real people with real stories. 

I grew to love Dawes "Occulus" "Pammie" in Hell Bent as she played a more significant, intentional role. She and Alex work to sidestep Lethe board officials, uncover other houses' secrets, and rescue their "Virgil" from Hell. I don't know how much I want to discuss this book without giving away any spoilers for the first book, but I will say that #HellBent continues to build on #NinthHouse and how amazing the story is. I wasn't sure it could get better, but I was so happy when it did. It also qualifies as 5/5 stars. Is anyone else excited for the next one??  

cdebnath's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

rebeccareader's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I love Ninth House, it’s a big 5 star for me. Hell Bent has the same things that I loved about Ninth House (world, characters, mystery), however I found some things didn’t fully work. 

Hell Bent is less twisty turny and more slow, which is fine but I did the book dragged slightly. I also wasn’t keen on one plot line, just personal preference. I enjoyed the book overall, and it really is a book that sits between a 3 and 4 star. Definitely a good read, I just don’t rate it as highly as Ninth House.

whatnataliereadss's review against another edition

3.0

Enjoyed this, I think? Could’ve been 100 pages shorter & the pacing was a bit of a mess.

The dark academia vibes of Ninth House were sorely missed, this felt like an upper YA urban fantasy. Not sure if I’ll bother finishing the series.

katiebutterfield's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

ivy_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

giadena's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.25