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Hell Bent (Alex Stern, #2)

Leigh Bardugo

Start date: January 1, 2023

Finish date: January 31, 2023

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What Members Thought

Jan 17, 2023 Jenn rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal-supernatural, signed-copies, books-i-own, 4-star-reads, adult-fiction, do-you-believe-in-magic, mythology, collegiate-life, read-in-2023

Ok well damn. I don't really know how to feel about everything that went down. And a lot went down.

Despite not getting any support from Lethe House, Alex is still full steam ahead on rescuing Darlington from Hell. Unfortunately, she still needs to deal with a new Praetor and actual college life at Yale if she wants to stick around. In this installment, we get to see Alex interacting more with others - dare I say friends? - and not taking on so much by herself. I mean, sure, she still feels the n Ok well damn. I don't really know how to feel about everything that went down. And a lot went down.

Despite not getting any support from Lethe House, Alex is still full steam ahead on rescuing Darlington from Hell. Unfortunately, she still needs to deal with a new Praetor and actual college life at Yale if she wants to stick around. In this installment, we get to see Alex interacting more with others - dare I say friends? - and not taking on so much by herself. I mean, sure, she still feels the need to hide things from everyone that would probably be better spoken aloud to others, but she's getting better.

Bardugo's words... they are just otherworldly. I am just in awe of how she strings sentences together and creates not only worlds but atmospheres that just engulf you as you read. This book was perfect for the stormy weather we're having out here. All the talk about demons and devils and hell - even going there. Just what? Definitely felt like I was in a Supernatural episode.

description

But I have to admire Alex's strength. All the odds are stacked against her here but she still charges ahead at no thought to her own safety. She even gets her own little Scooby Gang who are hell bent (heehee) on going with her. The way they all stuck by her was awesome. I even loved goofy Tripp!

But I couldn't give this book 5 stars. Why? I did find some pacing issues and again the massive info dumpings where it's almost like you're in a lecture. But also, the animal cruelty. Without giving details, there is a scene toward the end of the book that if I ever read this book again, I will be skipping over. It was just a little too much for me and I felt wasn't needed. That being said, I do get why Bardugo was a graphic as she was. She wants you to be uncomfortable, she wants you to understand the weight that Alex is under. Alex is far from perfect, and honestly, she pisses me off more times than i can count. But I am rooting for her and I just want to know more about who she is because there were things happening in this book that I don't think can just be explained by her having gone to hell and back. hopefully we get the final book fairly quickly as I know from her signing that Bardugo is working on it. ...more

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Feb 18, 2023 Trisha rated it liked it

Shelves: goodreadschoice2023

"I have been crying out to you from the start.

I'm so glad I'd recently read book 1. Now that we're probably waiting for book 3, I hope I'll remember the storyline to keep going. I did like that we finally have some answers. We have some conclusions that lead to next stories. We know other people's stories and there was less build up and more action. A lot of things come to an end in this one - but many new things start.

I liked the last 100 pages or so the best. ...more

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Feb 15, 2023 Shruti morethanmylupus rated it liked it

Another slow burn like the first book in this series. This one moved a little faster because we didn't have all the world building but like the first one, it only really got engaging towards the very end. I'm invested enough to finish the trilogy but it's not a huge favorite. ...more

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Apr 14, 2023 Amanda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2023-read

When I grumbled about this book ending before I was ready to let go, my eleven year old sagely advised me to just go buy the next one. Please get on this, Ms. Bardugo. I'm not sure I can wait without getting twitchy! ...more

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