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A review by whendevreads
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
5.0
If I thought that Ninth House was sometimes slow and confusing… Hell Bent is the literal complete opposite. This book has been guns blazing, balls-to-the-wall since almost the very beginning.
For one, there is the main overarching plot of doing what they can to bring Darlington home. That is the craziest storyline and has so much to it, although I wish the conflict of getting to where Darlington is and getting home took a bit longer. But, there are also some crazy side plots that add to the level of action in this book. There are so many moments you think something is going to happen, just for it to fall through — it felt like edging, almost.
I have seen other readers say that they disliked Hell Bent because it felt like a complete other genre, like the Dark Academia vibes were completely gone. But I heavily disagree. The whole point of Ninth House is to set up Hell Bent. Hell Bent, in my opinion, is the apex/climax of the “Alex Stern” story, with some (predictably) less crazy things happen in the 3rd book that is coming. Hell Bent is still Dark Academia, there are a lot of riddles and references to that genre; but the characters don’t get the luxury of taking their time and researching and soaking up the privilege of being at Yale. It’s crazy to me to want the plot and action of Hell Bent with … what? Long, drawn out scenes of them researching or trying to crack cyphers or riddles? It can be Dark Academia without leaning too heavily into the puzzle-solving aspect of things. I personally think more research scenes would have stunted the plot pacing. It was meant to be a speed run, because the characters are literally running out of time.
Overall, I gave this book 5 stars because of the way it made me feel. I have not felt this range of emotions in a book in so long. While reading, I fluctuated between anxiousness, apprehension, disappointment, longing, and exhilaration. I did not want to put the book down because I simply had to know what happened next. I cannot wait for Leigh Bardugo to release the third book and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I get my romance I have been waiting for from the very beginning. I don’t know what to do until then (apparently 2026, sigh).
For one, there is the main overarching plot of doing what they can to bring Darlington home. That is the craziest storyline and has so much to it, although I wish the conflict of getting to where Darlington is and getting home took a bit longer. But, there are also some crazy side plots that add to the level of action in this book. There are so many moments you think something is going to happen, just for it to fall through — it felt like edging, almost.
I have seen other readers say that they disliked Hell Bent because it felt like a complete other genre, like the Dark Academia vibes were completely gone. But I heavily disagree. The whole point of Ninth House is to set up Hell Bent. Hell Bent, in my opinion, is the apex/climax of the “Alex Stern” story, with some (predictably) less crazy things happen in the 3rd book that is coming. Hell Bent is still Dark Academia, there are a lot of riddles and references to that genre; but the characters don’t get the luxury of taking their time and researching and soaking up the privilege of being at Yale. It’s crazy to me to want the plot and action of Hell Bent with … what? Long, drawn out scenes of them researching or trying to crack cyphers or riddles? It can be Dark Academia without leaning too heavily into the puzzle-solving aspect of things. I personally think more research scenes would have stunted the plot pacing. It was meant to be a speed run, because the characters are literally running out of time.
Overall, I gave this book 5 stars because of the way it made me feel. I have not felt this range of emotions in a book in so long. While reading, I fluctuated between anxiousness, apprehension, disappointment, longing, and exhilaration. I did not want to put the book down because I simply had to know what happened next. I cannot wait for Leigh Bardugo to release the third book and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I get my romance I have been waiting for from the very beginning. I don’t know what to do until then (apparently 2026, sigh).