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Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual violence
Minor: Addiction
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
Minor: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
The action, the plot, the betrayals - it's all there! We get to see Alex really sink into her trauma (though she's not entirely processing it yet), and finally confront some of her demons. Hell Bent really feels like the stakes have been raised in comparison to Ninth House, and it gives me the delightful heart palpitations that only Leigh Bardugo can dole out. This book is best enjoyed over a bowl of warm soup, preferably homemade, with no one around to interrupt you. Here's hoping we don't have to wait 4 years for the next one. (Because oh yes, it's another devastating cliffhanger)
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Suicide attempt
I need a next book DESPERATELY.
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder
Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Excrement
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Grief, Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Vomit
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence
Minor: Suicide attempt
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood
The book does raise some existential questions about hell (and I suppose heaven).
There's surprisingly little curiosity about hell's opposite. And maybe the existence of hell doesn't necessitate that there be a heaven but that question isn't really even raised.
It was good to see Alex realize that maybe Hellie wasn't perfect. She had some cruelty in her, too.
There was some exploration about how the way magic is used reinforces existing power structures. Since we didn't see many rituals from other houses, it was almost an aside this time, except for when they used the amethyst table. That was a really nice detail and I hope Turner did go back and smash it to pieces.
At some point it would be a good idea to ask the house library what it means to be a Wheel.
I also liked the salt guardians, that the idea that the library on campus was The Gauntlet, and Tripp and Mery's larger roles.
Moderate: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide attempt, Death of parent
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Classism
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
"We do what we have to," Alex said. "That's the only job of a survivor."
I don’t know if I liked this book as much as Ninth House. The reason being that this book felt sooo similar to NH. We don’t resolve the cliffhanger of the last book until more than halfway of this book. We still don’t have Darlington, there’s still murders on campus, Alex is still on the verge of losing everything and paying for the crimes of her past.
I love the characters but the plot/story and pacing were a bit slow. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Bardugo has a great writing style - very descriptive and poetic almost.
I loved the literary quotes sprinkled about, the history of Yale, the academic privilege that’s talked about. The imagery of the rabbits and it being a sort of guilt that Alex carried about. It’s an interesting book with very real meaning about who gets power, who’s really in charge.
The “twist” was a bit predictable and I’m a bit confused why Alex hadn’t seen it sooner. Darlington was MIA for the majority of the book (again) and we see more about him from Alex’s memories. Their reunion was a bit underwhelming but I think Bardugo does a good job of explaining why Alex wouldn’t be so much more receptive to him. I wish they would’ve had more than one conversation in this book too.
The plot wraps up pretty nicely while still leaving enough for a third book. I love all the characters in this - Turner, Tripp, Dawes and even Mercy. They were all great and I’m glad we got more backstory to them.
Overall a solid second book, looking forward to the third!
"You're the ones who fought for me. You're the ones I want to fight for."
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual violence
Minor: Slavery, Suicide attempt