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amberacademia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Animal cruelty, Blood, Racism, Grief, Physical abuse, Addiction, Animal death, Classism, Gore, and Murder
nicksalex's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Animal cruelty, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Animal death, Blood, Drug abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, Gore, and Gun violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, Slavery, Sexual violence, and Rape
britreadsbooks_'s review against another edition
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Sexism, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, and Stalking
Moderate: Drug use, Colonisation, Gun violence, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual assault, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Racism, Slavery, Animal death, Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
northboundreader's review against another edition
- 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
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
gabberjaws's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Sexual violence and Slavery
_isabel_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's really difficult for me to explain what this book meant to me, and what Leigh Bardugo's writing does to me.
I don't think I've read an author quite like her, and I don't think I can name an author whose writing manages to pack a punch like hers: it's so damn powerful, and every single sentence she writes is simultaneously brilliant, incredibly poetic and beautiful, but also easily grasped and easily capable of punching a hole through your stomach and soul.
GAH, this series!
I think (and I'm saying this a HUGE fan of Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse) "Hell Bent" might be my favourite book of hers to date. It's incredible.
I inhaled it in a few days time, despite it being nearly 500 pages long and not what I would call an easy read. It's complex, mysterious, thrilling and gut-wrenching. I loved it so much.
Alex Stern's latest adventure was unforgettable. It's a quest and a mission and a heist and a (hellish) road trip all in one, and I adored every single step of it. I also adored Alex Stern with my whole heart. I won't lie and say I can understand every single one of her choices (I'm more a Dawes with a smidge of Tripp), but I was still rooting for her with everything I had. I love how fierce she is, I love how unapologetic and ruthless she can be, I love her more tired and insecure side, and I love, love, love how protective and loyal she is towards the people in her life.
And speaking of which...
I also completely adored every single member of her band of misfits. I loved Dawes and Turner from the very beginning, and we get to know a bit more of both of them throughout this second book, but Mercy and Tripp and
I loved them so, so much and I'm both terrified and excited for their next adventure together when we'll finally get to read the third book.
This book was a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns, mysteries and action, magic and puzzles, and I'm already preemptively sobbing because even though we'll have to wait a few more years before reaching it, I'm so not ready for the end.
Moderate: Rape, Violence, Torture, and Suicide
Minor: Slavery and Police brutality
bumbee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Drug use, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Animal death, Cursing, Violence, Animal cruelty, Blood, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Grief, and Vomit
Moderate: Racism, Slavery, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Death of parent
soniajoy98's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Body horror, Racism, Addiction, Animal death, Grief, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Drug abuse, Gore, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexism, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Animal cruelty, Blood, and Vomit
Moderate: Medical content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Gun violence, Rape, Self harm, Classism, Colonisation, Sexual assault, and Mental illness
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
pages_with_panda's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.75
"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: Violence, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual violence, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Minor: Slavery and Suicide attempt
em_of_swags's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Violence, Vomit, and Blood
Moderate: Racism, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Torture, and Sexism
Minor: Slavery, Police brutality, and Body shaming