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rdmoreland0801'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
Alex and Dawes are are determined to bring Darlington back from hell. The problem is, they have to learn how to do so. Enlisting the help of Turner, Tripp, and Mercy, the group figures out the riddle to the gate and makes the descent.
As expected, nothing goes according to plan and demons follow them back. In a race to close the gate, the group finds them facing off against vampires and demons, while also trying to solve a murder.
In this wildly chaotic story, we delve deeper into the lives and pasts of Alex, Darlington, Dawes, Turner, Tripp, and Mercy.
Lauren Fortang and Michael David Axtell bring this story to life in a captivating way, leaving you wanting more. I’ve listened to both Ninth House and He’ll Bent on Audible, and I think it just adds to the experience.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Grief
Minor: Suicide attempt
suchsweetsorrow89'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
4.0
there are some specific things within this that I will spoil below, but all in all, I think this is a really fun read when you're looking to pass the time. in addition, I think the serious moments and reflections in this book are really stunning and you can tell how much leigh as evolved as a writer, philosopher, and world-builder.
- I would have liked to see more of dawes' backstory! while alex's story is special, it's also the story we have heard before. I thought one of the strongest aspects of ninth house was darlington's story, and I would have loved something similar for dawes, especially since she plays a more prominent role.
- on that note on darlington, I wish there were more of him. while I understand that's the 'point', I thought he fell way flatter than usual in his own thoughts and in his interactions with everyone after being rescued. it really did feel like he took more of a secondary/unnecessary role after his rescue, and it left me feeling uncomfortable in the wrong way (almost like it was defamation to all that his character was built up to be in the first book). I'm also not really buying that he would just surrender to alex, to his role, and to lethe as easily as he did.
- the twist was... just fine. maybe it's because I'm older, but I thought that this twist was a bit more expected than the first and just was not a page-turner in the way the other was.
- unfortunately, the ending did not make me really excited for the third book, since this new plotline just felt like a weird grab all while the one for the first book just made more sense? idk idk
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Vomit, Police brutality, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, and Police brutality
hopefully_purple'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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Misogyny, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Self harm and Suicide attempt
torturedreadersdept'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 cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, and Torture
Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol
kproctor2'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
3.75
I didn’t mind the ending except the weird awkward tension between Alex and Mercy didn’t need to happen in the first place but then wasn’t resolved; there wasn’t as much emotion or vulnerability between the group as I would’ve liked or expected; and the tension between Alex and Darlington wasn’t even mentioned like ya girl fought for a year and went to hell twice for you and you’re now supernaturally bound to her bc she saved you from hell and will “serve her forever” but y’all can’t talk about that huh? I get being scared of the demon but you just got your friend back after life or death fights, where was the emotion??
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Drug use, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
theotheleo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Racism, Torture, and Blood
Minor: Emotional abuse, Rape, Slavery, Suicide, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury
helenferg'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: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
kimmag92's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Racism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
josoko's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Grief, and Murder
kimschouwenaar'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
a little dubious about some turns the story took, but in the end there is nothing — NOTHING — I would want to see done differently. this was such a treat and is one of my new all-time-faves.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Addiction, Misogyny, and Slavery
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit