Take a photo of a barcode or cover
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Well, dear reader, I thoroughly enjoyed Hell Bent.
I don't typically have a lot of books that I anticipate, but I've been waiting for this one since I closed the pages on the last one. I hate that this is true, but it's actually pretty rare for me that I finish one book and then immediately feel the need to read the next (if it's available). So when it happens, it's just... a next-level positive reading experience for me. Ninth House gave me that, and I'm happy to report that, for the most part, Hell Bent did, too. This second entry in Leigh Bardugo's Alex Stern series finds our main protagonist building a tentative alliance with some familiar names (and dealing with some mysterious/dangerous subplots) as they work to figure out how to save fan-favorite Darlington from Hell.
I don't typically have a lot of books that I anticipate, but I've been waiting for this one since I closed the pages on the last one. I hate that this is true, but it's actually pretty rare for me that I finish one book and then immediately feel the need to read the next (if it's available). So when it happens, it's just... a next-level positive reading experience for me. Ninth House gave me that, and I'm happy to report that, for the most part, Hell Bent did, too. This second entry in Leigh Bardugo's Alex Stern series finds our main protagonist building a tentative alliance with some familiar names (and dealing with some mysterious/dangerous subplots) as they work to figure out how to save fan-favorite Darlington from Hell.
What Worked For Me
The Pacing, and Balance of Plotlines: I honestly got so sucked in that I didn't take much time to smell the roses or do too much critical analysis. I just... enjoyed it. I liked almost all of the plotlines. Unlike Ninth House, where as much as I loved it, the main plot felt confusing and murky to me at times, and the book overall seemed just a bit overstuffed. Maybe it's just because I know the world better, or because the main plotline's stakes revolved around a character we actually know.
The Worldbuilding: I don't have anything especially grand to say, and I don't know that I think other people will love how the magic functions here, both literally or as metaphor. Magic is very much a metaphor for power here, a tool that is utilized to help the privileged accomplish their goals. There are some moments throughout the series of people doing casually horrific things tied to real-world brutality and exploitation. The metaphor at times becomes intentionally thin, so that you're not really looking at magic at all, just at people with power behaving in predictable yet awful ways, without much in the way of growth or clean justice. But I do like how Bardugo writes magic, as something that even the powerful don't really know how to use, but something they hoard. It works in a very academic sense, too; knowledge of ritual and language and incantation which builds upon itself. There's an interesting sense that magic (and knowledge) is meant to be safe, but that actually there are no rules, and no one is really in charge, but that there are a lot of scholars and rich people and bureaucrats that think if they establish organizations like the societies, they'll get a grasp on it. It also allowed magic and what exists in the sort of magical sphere to feel much, much bigger than the books suggest, but to show you very little of it; only what our protagonists care about pursuing, and what they accidentally interact with.
The Characters: I just like them! This isn't some sort of objective statement about how all characters should be like this (although I've made my feelings about a preference for protagonists like Alex Stern known in other reviews before). I just like them, they all worked well together, and they all felt realistically gray and flawed enough to feel three-dimensional and real, which is probably one of the things that helped me sink into the world so easily.
The Worldbuilding: I don't have anything especially grand to say, and I don't know that I think other people will love how the magic functions here, both literally or as metaphor. Magic is very much a metaphor for power here, a tool that is utilized to help the privileged accomplish their goals. There are some moments throughout the series of people doing casually horrific things tied to real-world brutality and exploitation. The metaphor at times becomes intentionally thin, so that you're not really looking at magic at all, just at people with power behaving in predictable yet awful ways, without much in the way of growth or clean justice. But I do like how Bardugo writes magic, as something that even the powerful don't really know how to use, but something they hoard. It works in a very academic sense, too; knowledge of ritual and language and incantation which builds upon itself. There's an interesting sense that magic (and knowledge) is meant to be safe, but that actually there are no rules, and no one is really in charge, but that there are a lot of scholars and rich people and bureaucrats that think if they establish organizations like the societies, they'll get a grasp on it. It also allowed magic and what exists in the sort of magical sphere to feel much, much bigger than the books suggest, but to show you very little of it; only what our protagonists care about pursuing, and what they accidentally interact with.
The Characters: I just like them! This isn't some sort of objective statement about how all characters should be like this (although I've made my feelings about a preference for protagonists like Alex Stern known in other reviews before). I just like them, they all worked well together, and they all felt realistically gray and flawed enough to feel three-dimensional and real, which is probably one of the things that helped me sink into the world so easily.
What I Have Mixed Feelings About
The Themework: This is complicated. I really do like, on certain levels, how the book casts an unflinching light on the way that wealth and academia can operate together, enabling hyper-privileged elites to do great harm in the world. Bardugo largely doesn't play at metaphor; she states directly into the text over and over and over that power and privilege harm the system and everyone standing downwind. But there are times the protagonists are in some ways the very people she's speaking about. She doesn't take them to task nearly as harshly, or she makes excuses for them because they have trauma in their pasts. (She does not state this directly. More it's implied by how the text treats those characters). The underprivileged characters never quite learn how to detach from the powerful umbrella they've suddenly found themselves under. And no one seems to really learn the "right" lessons about systemic privilege. Alex herself repeats over and over that the only good she knows is how to protect the people she cares about in her immediate sphere, and that there is no other morality. Because the book ends in a certain way, I'm not 100% sure there are going to be any future books. (Probably, but the ending seemed like it was left in a such a way that if there wasn't, it wouldn't be completely infuriating.) So it's unsure if the novel just leaves us there, with a bunch of characters who both seem to know the system is bad, but who still like Lethe and Yale and magic, still identify with it and see it as a kind of home. The reality is, IMHO, that none of these characters are quite ready to fully fight the system yet. And are actually in pretty real danger of simply being absorbed into it, whatever the narration may state to the contrary.
What Wasn't My Thing
Not Much! There were a couple of moments where my engagement (which was overall very high) stuttered out for a chapter or too. And I do think the story goes to a place around the last leg of the journey where my investment did wane a bit. But knowing other readers and what they liked from the first book, I think I'll be in the minority there.
Who This Is For/Content Warnings
The Alex Stern series really does earn the moniker "dark fantasy" in a more traditional, classic sense. Lots of really fucked up stuff happens, the characters absolutely morally gray (at times walking the knife's edge of believability). While there's sexual content and hints of romance, I'd say this isn't the kind of "dark fantasy" you see in the type of fantasy romance books for adults that are popular right now. It might have the same types of archetypes and tropes, but I'd say this leans a bit more toward the ASoIaF side of content - most of the violence (including sexual violence) exists in this series to highlight the themes. The grimdark elements here do NOT exist here as primarily tonal choices. The goal doesn't seem to be, at least to me, to shock or titillate the audience only for its own sake, or to create cheap stakes. There is theme work happening here. On the flip side, so far the way the dark elements work in this story have been what I would call expository, rather than conclusive. Which means, it's trying to draw stark, unflinching attention to the horrific realities of ivy league academia, not really in trying to offer solutions. If you like that (or can hang with it) and you like dark academia, urban fantasy, and/or a series with a lot of dangling mysteries/questions, jump right in. And if you're a fan of the first, I have a hard time imagining you not liking this one... unless the only thing you care about is Darlington being immediately returned to the real world on page 1.
Who This Is For/Content Warnings
The Alex Stern series really does earn the moniker "dark fantasy" in a more traditional, classic sense. Lots of really fucked up stuff happens, the characters absolutely morally gray (at times walking the knife's edge of believability). While there's sexual content and hints of romance, I'd say this isn't the kind of "dark fantasy" you see in the type of fantasy romance books for adults that are popular right now. It might have the same types of archetypes and tropes, but I'd say this leans a bit more toward the ASoIaF side of content - most of the violence (including sexual violence) exists in this series to highlight the themes. The grimdark elements here do NOT exist here as primarily tonal choices. The goal doesn't seem to be, at least to me, to shock or titillate the audience only for its own sake, or to create cheap stakes. There is theme work happening here. On the flip side, so far the way the dark elements work in this story have been what I would call expository, rather than conclusive. Which means, it's trying to draw stark, unflinching attention to the horrific realities of ivy league academia, not really in trying to offer solutions. If you like that (or can hang with it) and you like dark academia, urban fantasy, and/or a series with a lot of dangling mysteries/questions, jump right in. And if you're a fan of the first, I have a hard time imagining you not liking this one... unless the only thing you care about is Darlington being immediately returned to the real world on page 1.
Warnings for:
Multiple conversations referring to past sexual assault, short description of implied magical sexual assault (maybe inside the protagonist's head). Lots of gore and violence. Ghosts, and corpses in various unpleasant states. Police investigations and police characters, several scenes focused on racism within the police force, including the immediate aftermath of the murder of young Black man by police. Use of a magical artifact which had been used to hunt escaped slaves. Casual mentions of violence toward homeless people; a scene which takes place in a mental hospital, with other mentions of a past time in mental hospitals. Bullying of children, including one intense scene which almost leads to death. Bodily injury and blood rituals. Brief mentions of drug use and cravings. Murder is a major theme of this book, including by protagonist characters. High-ranking members of the military proactively plotting murder. Stealing and a pretty weird desecration of a foreign national's corpse. Graphic, prolific on-page nudity. Lol, at this point, I figure you get the picture; this is just probably not a great series for people with major triggers, or readers who prefer fluffier reading material.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Colonisation
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Slavery
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The summer has past since Ninth House left off and Alex and Dawes are still looking for a way to get Darlington out of Hell. With the same mix of present and flashback chapters, this time told in primarily Alex’s POV, Hell Bent does a good job of revealing more of the past story and weaving in reoccurring characters. Another murder mystery subplot is intriguing but not as spectacularly satisfyingly revealed as in book 1; which pretty much sums up the whole novel. Enjoyable, mysterious and a bit repetitive but not quite as enjoyable or mysterious as the first go around. Definitely worth a read though.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Murder
adventurous
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use
Minor: Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide attempt
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
i am so in love with galaxy stern i don’t actually know how to properly express it. i am obsessed with every character i love them so much and just want to protect this little found family with my life. i cannot believe this isn’t going to be a longer series now and only a trilogy :( i need a million more books with these people and in this world it’s not funny. leigh i need you to reconsider immediately
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation
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:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Leigh Bardugo owns this ass
ok ok some thoughts that ran through my head, but not a cohesive review because I will always be too insane and biased about her writing to write something balanced:
- she strikes again with the calculated development ofunconventional and intense romance! i swear that she makes an art of slipping in well-placed sentences that convey barely restrained emotional tension. I feel like similar to Kaz and Inej in the Crows duology, Alex and Darlington have such a specific set of neuroses that make them tragically terrible for each other but maybe even worse if they were to be paired with anyone else or left alone. Their dynamic is heartbreakingly good with a little sexual tension as a treat. the rest of the plot was pretty good too.
- Also I am enjoying this crew becomingmore monstrous, as their world becomes increasingly hellish. There’s something inherently queer and found family-ish about a bunch of university age adults coming together over murder and blood magic. don’t @ me.
- She did a great job of introducing antagonists into the story and slowly revealing and resolving conflicts throughout. This is something that was done well in the first book and I was pleasantly surprised that it was still so satisfying and fresh in this one.
- I was similarly worried about attempting to replicate the mixed timeline format from the first book but it was just as effective, just made me wary at first because the opening to this series was such an immediate draw for me and to see it attempted again felt like she was setting myself up for disappointment. but it did NOT disappoint.
- I was also anticipating more backstory and development for characters introduced in the first book. This met my expectations and I found their histories to be really compelling, if not admirable or enviable.I was so delighted by snippets of Dawes and Turner POVs, and I really hoped Dawes would become a more central perspective. This didn’t quite happen but I see a lot of room for that in the next book.
- The book deals with issues of race and exploitation in an okay way.I think Turner’s story was important to tell, and his actions in the moment of his flashback made the most sense for a “sympathetic cop” character to me, but all the same, his decision to not leave the force even after this traumatic moment in his career feels maybe disingenuous to me? I wish there had been more follow up about how this moment affected him afterwards. In fact, his emotionlessness being sort of explained away as a defense mechanism or a technique he developed for professional settings does not bode well for me. A Black character, by a white author, written to have no emotions? In the face of an extremely painful and fucked up line of work that sees the death of a lot of Black people? I’m sure Bardugo did her best to deal with it, but I assume it’s near impossible to do justice to Turner’s storyline in her position. Still processing this. That’s what I’ve observed and analyzed about the situation with regard to Bardugo writing a Black character in a low fantasy setting.
I could say more but I’m done ranting for now. This book truly thrilled me and I was happy to delve into this world again.
ok ok some thoughts that ran through my head, but not a cohesive review because I will always be too insane and biased about her writing to write something balanced:
- she strikes again with the calculated development of
- Also I am enjoying this crew becoming
- She did a great job of introducing antagonists into the story and slowly revealing and resolving conflicts throughout. This is something that was done well in the first book and I was pleasantly surprised that it was still so satisfying and fresh in this one.
- I was similarly worried about attempting to replicate the mixed timeline format from the first book but it was just as effective, just made me wary at first because the opening to this series was such an immediate draw for me and to see it attempted again felt like she was setting myself up for disappointment. but it did NOT disappoint.
- I was also anticipating more backstory and development for characters introduced in the first book. This met my expectations and I found their histories to be really compelling, if not admirable or enviable.
- The book deals with issues of race and exploitation in an okay way.
I could say more but I’m done ranting for now. This book truly thrilled me and I was happy to delve into this world again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Classism
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i have but a few things to say:
1. book of the year. book of the fucking century. leigh threw her whole spookussy into this one.
2. i never expected to be willing to fight a goddamn adult hippopotamus, the most life-threateningly homicidal animal i know of, for tripp helmuth, but here were are.
3. if darlington and alex don’t get it on in the next book i’m suing. the level of mutual pining and horniness here breaks the scale.
1. book of the year. book of the fucking century. leigh threw her whole spookussy into this one.
2. i never expected to be willing to fight a goddamn adult hippopotamus, the most life-threateningly homicidal animal i know of, for tripp helmuth, but here were are.
3. if darlington and alex don’t get it on in the next book i’m suing. the level of mutual pining and horniness here breaks the scale.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide attempt
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Misogyny, Slavery, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, Colonisation
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Drug use, Violence, Grief, Murder
Minor: Slavery, Police brutality
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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:
Yes
Hell Bent was a rollercoaster ride, and that ending has me wanting more!
Similar to Ninth House, the first half of Hell Bent started slow, whilst the second half was fast. At times it was frustrating how slow the start was and the many failed attempts to retrieve our "gentleman demon", Darlington, from hell , but that frustration was worth it in the end!
Alex and Dawes teaming up with Turner and Tripp was something special; these two new additions to the Darlington rescue mission were perfect. After Ninth House, I didn't think much of Tripp; however, Hell Bent added depth to his character and his development was good to see. Also, Hell Bent saw much character development for Turner, Alex and Dawes.
Although Hell Bent had some marvellous character development and storylines, some didn't hit the right spot. Michelle's storyline seemed a tad too random; it needed more explanation. Plus, I am having some trust issues with Mercy; at first, I was glad she became in the loop, but I don't know why something just isn't sitting right with her character. Finally, the bad guy in this story was too predictable.
Unfortunately, I had forgotten some of the events that had happened in Ninth House by the time I read Hell Bent, but thankfully, Leigh Bardugo put some reminders throughout the story; I had forgotten about some of the Blake, Dean. Sandow and Belbalm storylines. I hope we see the third instalment of the Alex Stern series sooner rather than later because that ending has me needing more!
The ending of Hell Bent was perfect, especially the final chapter. I didn't see that Tripp twist coming, but I am happy it came because it was better than the alternative. Also, it was sweet to see them salt guardians protecting the Rebel Lethe Gang (not sure what to call them). I am excited about the next book, and I hope we see Alex and Darlington finally getting together because the tension between them is too much!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Classism
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child abuse