January 2023 Not First in a Series BOTM - Hell Bent, by Leigh Bardugo

[Alaina]

Wealth. Power. Murder. Magic. Alex Stern is back and the Ivy League is going straight to hell in #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo's Hell Bent.

Find a gateway to the underworld. Steal a soul out of hell. A simple plan, except people who make this particular journey rarely come back. But Galaxy “Alex” Stern is determined to break Darlington out of purgatory―even if it costs her a future at Lethe and at Yale.

Forbidden from attempting a rescue, Alex and Dawes can’t call on the Ninth House for help, so they assemble a team of dubious allies to save the gentleman of Lethe. Together, they will have to navigate a maze of arcane texts and bizarre artifacts to uncover the societies’ most closely guarded secrets, and break every rule doing it. But when faculty members begin to die off, Alex knows these aren’t just accidents. Something deadly is at work in New Haven, and if she is going to survive, she’ll have to reckon with the monsters of her past and a darkness built into the university’s very walls.

Thick with history and packed with Bardugo’s signature twists, Hell Bent brings to life an intricate world full of magic, violence, and all too real monsters.

**This BOTM thread will be open until February 5th @ Midnight (in your time zone)**

[Val]

I'm halfway through Ninth House so that I'll be ready to read this one as soon as I receive a copy from BOTM. Looking forward to this discussion!

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

I'm starting my reread of Ninth House at the end of this week so that I can immediately jump into this one on release date. So excited!!!

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

I started this one yesterday on audio and am LOVING it! I'm definitely glad I reread Ninth House directly before starting this one though, because it definitely drops you right back off in the action. I have listened to the first 50% already and am loving watching Alex and Dawes try to figure out how to get Darlington out of his current hellish predicament.

Interesting that Alex's traumatic past in California has come back to haunt her though...excited to see how that storyline wraps up with Anton.

[Jenn]

Starting this now! Literally just finished my reread of Ninth House and i am ready!

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Jenn wrote: "Starting this now! Literally just finished my reread of Ninth House and i am ready!"Yayeeee, Jenn! I'm so glad you're reading this now too. Looking forward to seeing your thoughts!

[Jenn]

I feel asleep a little earlier last night than I wanted so I only got a few chapters in but OMG (view spoiler)[is that Darlington they brought back?? He has horns?? I just want to know what's going on! (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Jenn wrote: "I feel asleep a little earlier last night than I wanted so I only got a few chapters in but OMG [spoilers removed]"😄😂 right!? I felt exactly the same way at that point!

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

I just got to a major turning point in the narrative. It actually shined a light a bit on a character I think has previously not been given enough attention. It's your time to shine, Pam Dawes! ((can't remember if that is how you spell her last name; I'm listening to the audio))

[Jenn]

Chapter 18: (view spoiler)[ ok well the new Praetor seems like hes going to be zero help. So this should be fun. Also i kinda feel for Tripp. Idk why but hes just so endearing ... but yet a murderer so who even knows. Plus demon Darlington.. i am so intrigued!! (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Jenn wrote: "Chapter 18: [spoilers removed]"Yeahhhh, I haven't figured out what the deal is (view spoiler)[the new Praetor yet? I'm interested to see if that goes somewhere unsuspected. I felt even more for Tripp after hearing his backstory...you'll get there soon... (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

megs_bookrack wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Chapter 18: [spoilers removed]"Yeahhhh, I haven't figured out what the deal is [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ i just read the chapters with all of the backstories. Poor tripp, that was horrible! I dont feel bad for that "death" at all. Spenser was a grade A dick! (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Chapter 32: (view spoiler)[ geez alex just can't catch a break. Cant get away from eltan, demons following her back from hell, posisbly getting kicked out of yale. (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Jenn wrote: "megs_bookrack wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Chapter 18: [spoilers removed]"Yeahhhh, I haven't figured out what the deal is [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"Right!?!? I was def rooting for (view spoiler)[Tripp in those moments...LOL...kidding kind of, that was horrifying to think about, but I can def understand what lead to that. (hide spoiler)] I think you have officially passed me now, Jenn!

[Jenn]

Haha we had our silent bookclub meet up today so i had 3 hours of uninterrupted reading

[Jenn]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ ok well that went crazy real fast. Darlington is back but the demon is part of him, Alex has hellfire and tripp is a vampire. I cant wait to see where this goes.

Side note: the story about the rabbit was horrible and any further reading of this book, that will be skipped over. I would have killed all of those assholes including Hellie, who Alex needs to stopnfeeling guilty over cause she was not a good person. (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Jenn wrote: "Haha we had our silent bookclub meet up today so i had 3 hours of uninterrupted reading"Oh wow, that's amazing! I am going to wait to read your finished comment until I finish too!! I am elbows deep in What Lies in the Woods right now, so that's taking up a lot of my time :)

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Chapter 28: (view spoiler)[I can't believe that the new Praetor had the audacity to kick them all out of Lethe House. Like he's been there for 5-minutes and what, are they supposed to give up on Darlington. I want them all to just move into Black Elm together and start their own secret society. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

megs_bookrack wrote: "Chapter 28: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yeah, he's a piece of work. And I thought the same thing, that they should just all become their own little group, I mean they're pretty much that all ready. (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Jenn wrote: "megs_bookrack wrote: "Chapter 28: [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"(view spoiler)[Yeah, totally. I am hoping to finish it by tomorrow night. I'm interested to see, I think they are about to try again to reach Darlington. Also, when those wolves spoke...that creeped me out! LOL (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Finished: (view spoiler)[I loved this so much!!!! So much happened, I don't even know where to start. I love the group that was created in this one. Tripp was my favorite new edition, can't believe where this one ended off with him. There's so much still to explore, with the door to hell now open it seems are characters are in more danger than ever. Now we need to wait until Book 3!? It could be years. I can't wait to read this one again before its release. (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Jenn wrote: "Finished: ok well that went crazy real fast. Darlington is back but the demon is part of him, Alex has hellfire and tripp is a vampire. I cant wait to see where this goes.

Side note: the story a..."I would have killed them all at that point too. (view spoiler)[That poor freaking bunny, he deserved so much better, the dog as well. Awful, terrible people. They got what they deserved IMO! (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

megs_bookrack wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Tripp!!!! I like how she kept him there - he's not quite human but not fully a demon either because of their protection spell. It was fantastic! (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Jenn wrote: "megs_bookrack wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"
Absolutely agree! I was surprised at how fond of him I became. It's such a great mix of characters actually :) Everyone brings a little something different to the table.

[Ellen-Arwen]

I'm finally getting back to this one! My dad managed to spill coffee all over my shiny new hardback *cries* So, I've been drying it out under weights to lessen page crinkle-age. It's... well, it could be a lot worse. The pages are stained a bit brown, but they're basically flat!

Sorry, I thought I would explain to people who would feel my pain lol

Chapters 1 - 10 (view spoiler)[

It gets going so fast! Darlington is semi-back? Frigging hell - I thought that would be at the END of the book, not so near the beginning! But he has horns and is suspiciously demon-y...

I'm really liking Alex and Pam's new relationship - and that Dawes is getting a chance to have some more character; I like her!

I'm enjoying the dual time perspective again as in the first book, but I can't see how that will keep up for all that long because basically Alex just managed to pass the year and not much else happened...

Freaky how the Greys have changed. She's playing with fire... which is totally predictable lol. (hide spoiler)]

Does anyone know if this is a duology or trilogy?

[Ellen-Arwen]

Jenn wrote: "Haha we had our silent bookclub meet up today so i had 3 hours of uninterrupted reading"

Omg, I want a silent bookclub! My book club only manages to talk about the book for about 40% of the time - the rest is politics and wine *eye roll*

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "I'm finally getting back to this one! My dad managed to spill coffee all over my shiny new hardback *cries* So, I've been drying it out under weights to lessen page crinkle-age. It's... well, it co..."She announced it is going to be a trilogy. I think originally it was supposed to be more, like 5 or something, but now it looks like just three. Dawes is such a queen, I am so glad she gets a bit more of the spotlight in this one!!! Also, bummer on the coffee stains! Geez, Dad!!

[Jenn]

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Haha we had our silent bookclub meet up today so i had 3 hours of uninterrupted reading"

Omg, I want a silent bookclub! My book club only manages to talk about the book for about 40% ..."

Apparently its a thing all over. Theres chapters in almost every state and multiple cities so i would definitely look into it!

[Ellen-Arwen]

Jenn wrote: "Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Haha we had our silent bookclub meet up today so i had 3 hours of uninterrupted reading"

Omg, I want a silent bookclub! My book club only manages to talk about the..."

That's so cool - never heard about it in the UK, but I'm gonna look into it :D

[Ellen-Arwen]

megs_bookrack wrote: "Ellen-Arwen wrote: "I'm finally getting back to this one! My dad managed to spill coffee all over my shiny new hardback *cries* So, I've been drying it out under weights to lessen page crinkle-age...."

I didn't know it was originally going to be longer - I do like long series! (only when they're good obs). And thanks for the commiserations - no one at home got how upset I was about the coffee!

I realise that after having 10 days break while it dried out I'd completely forgotten the Etain storyline!!
Chapters 11-20 (view spoiler)[
I'm surprised, but pleased, that she's told Mercy. It's nice for Alex to have someone a bit more on the outside who understands. BUT NOT FOR LONG. Why the hell is Alex letting her volunteer to do the ritual with them? I would 100% refuse to let my friend get involved. She's really lucky to have friends from her first year; I was shy and anti-social and had no one to live with in second year - she doesn't realise how awesome she is! (Or perhaps I just really suck? Lol).

Obviously dislike and am suspicious of the new Praetor - but it's fun to have a character to hate.

And I need to keep reading, because what is going on with this guy with superspeed ability??? How does Etain even know someone in this area? Bit confused, need to keep going! (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

megs_bookrack wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Chapter 18: [spoilers removed]"Yeahhhh, I haven't figured out what the deal is [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I hadn't really thought to feel sorry for Tripp; I was too caught up in the other things happening! But, yeah, I do if I'm honest. He seems a harmless kind of gormless idiot. But he has murdered someone... (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

Chapter 21 - I know I'm only one chapter on but OMG (view spoiler)[ Vampires are real?! And why the hell isn't Alex more worried about the fact that she's just been BITTEN BY ONE? God, Eitan is an absolute *****. He sent SEVEN people before her, and was just testing her out. I kind of thought Alex would have to kill him but I was hoping he'd end up dying from hijinks of his own.

Turner's agreed to be the fourth (I liked the tennis analogy lol). Tripp does seem... out of place. Their (Turner and Alex's) conversation about god/the afterlife/ground zero was interesting. (hide spoiler)]

Sorry, it was just a really good chapter!

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Chapter 21 - I know I'm only one chapter on but OMG Vampires are real?! And why the hell isn't Alex more worried about the fact that she's just been BITTEN BY ONE? God, Eitan is an absolute *****...."
(view spoiler)[OMG, right!? I was freaking out after the vampire reveal. Like, what is happening here?! Hahahahaa, is Alex a Shadowhunter now!?
I also definitely enjoy reading Alex and Turner's conversations. Glad he got a continued/bigger role in this one! (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

Chapter 22 -30 OMG, I feel reeeeeally bad for Tripp now *sobs* (view spoiler)[ That was amazing! The descent into hell was... ugh. So well done that it was actually chilling. And stupid me, I actually believed for a little bit that Hellie was back by some kind of strange magic... but Alex is right - magic is never kind. It always screws you over.

I think the fact that they have all seen and felt each other demons, their worst moments... they are going to be a force to be reckoned with. Bloody Ansell. And what's going on with Michelle?? I wish I had time to just binge read the rest!!

The wolves were super creepy. All so well done - I love it! (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

megs_bookrack wrote: "Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Chapter 21 - I know I'm only one chapter on but OMG Vampires are real?! And why the hell isn't Alex more worried about the fact that she's just been BITTEN BY ONE? God, Eitan is..."

(view spoiler)[ And all their demons will become vampires if they don't get a move on?!? That's how vampires are made?? New take on it, but I'm liking it a lot! I actually thought of Shadowhunters as well lol (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Chapter 22 -30 OMG, I feel reeeeeally bad for Tripp now *sobs* That was amazing! The descent into hell was... ugh. So well done that it was actually chilling. And stupid me, I actually believed fo..."
Right!?

[Ellen-Arwen]

To end of Part I - seems a very long part I compared to part II (view spoiler)[ Oh dear. Oh dearie dear. Darlington has not been brought back intact. But why would want those professors dead? The son had the motive, but not for killing them, he didn't intend it at all... why would Darlington? Is he just part demon now?

Loving this book, I wish I hadn't had such a big gap reading it! (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "To end of Part I - seems a very long part I compared to part II Oh dear. Oh dearie dear. Darlington has not been brought back intact. But why would want those professors dead? The son had the moti..."Yeah, I am so glad I reread Ninth House directly before starting this one. I wonder how long we'll have to wait for the next book!?!?

[Alaina]

Today is the LAST day to get BOTM points for this book!